Godwin Obaseki, Edo state governor, has vowed to deal with Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), if he keeps “disrupting activities” of Edo APC.
Oshiomhole, who was instrumental to the emergence of Obaseki, fell out with
the governor shortly before he declared his reelection bid.
Their misunderstanding reached its height last year when the Edo house of
assembly was divided along their loyalists.
Lawmakers loyal to the governor had taken oath of office secretly, leaving
out their colleagues in the camp of Oshiomhole.
Stakeholders in the APC did not succeed in their bid to reconcile the
governor and his estrange benefactor.
Speaking at a meeting of chairmen of the APC in the 18 local government areas in Edo, Obaseki said he is prepared to “show Oshiomhole” that he is the governor of the state.
He also directed the party chairmen to deal with any person or group
carrying out activities that are not in the interest of the state chapter of
APC.
“He is not a party man. Look at the dump he kept the party as a
Secretariat. With all the resources we had he could not support the party until
the landlord evicted us. You are Governor or chairman based on the platform
that elevated you. That is why I looked for one of the most beautiful building
along Airport Road and said this is the secretariat of the party,” he said.
“All these nonsense they are doing. If anybody in the name of our party
tries to do anything contrary to what we have agreed as a party, we will deal
with that person ruthlessly no matter who he is.
“If you are elected a chairman, your attitude should show if you believe in
the party. Party supremacy means the leadership of the party must respect the
membership. It is the members that make the party supreme because the members
subscribed to a constitution which governs the conduct of the party. One man
cannot be the party.
“I am the Governor of Edo State and I so authorise it. If anyone comes to
your ward or local government to do things outside what the party has agreed I
hereby authorise you to deal with that person seriously.
“We are warning the suspended National Chairman. If he continues his
activities in Edo State, I will show him that I am the Governor of Edo State.
While he was governor, he did not tolerate a fraction of the misdemeanor and misbehavior
he is undertaking today. I have declared that if Oshiomhole comes here to Edo
to say he wants to disrupt the activities of the state and the party, we will
deal with him the way we know how best to do it.”
Obaseki said Oshiomhole remains suspended and he would be expelled if he
does not retrace his steps.
“Comrade Oshiomhole stands suspended from the party. In due course, we will expel him if he does not behave. The party does not belong to him, it belongs to all of us. We are following the wish of our people,” he said.
“Our next step is to make sure we convince more people to join our party so
that all of us can move this state to the next level. I will give you all the
support to strengthen the party at the local government. Monthly meetings must
hold. Monthly wards meetings must hold. Attendance must be taken. Wherever
there are issues, you sit down and discuss it.”