As the battle for the control of Edo State rages between Mr. Adams Oshiomhole and the incumbent Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, John Odigie-Oyegun, the first Executive Governor or Edo State and the immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has accused his successor, Adams Oshiomhole, of transforming himself to a local political godfather in Edo State.
Odigie-Oyegun who spoke through his Special Assistant on Political Affairs, Chief Ray Murphy said: “It is shocking that a man who boastfully claimed to have buried godfatherism in the Edo State politics could become enmeshed in playing God to his successor.”
He added that the national chairman was guilty of anti-party activities by working against the interest of the governor ahead of the governorship election taking place next year.
“Oshiomhole is not only guilty of godfatherism but also guilty of anti-party activities, considering the ignoble role he has been playing and his shameful involvement in the whole Edo crisis.”
Apparently piqued by the confusion created by the division in Edo State House of Assembly, and the allegation that he is behind the crisis in the Assembly, which led to the resolution of the House of Representatives, Oyegun said he is yet to come to terms on why Oshiomhole has easily forgotten that he never interfered in Edo State affairs as the National Chairman of the ruling party while he (Oshiomhole) held forte as the then governor.
Oyegun expressed shock why the APC Chairman who claimed to have buried godfatherism in Edo state politics could play God and become an agent of disruption in the smooth running of the state government.
“Rather than dissipating energy in fomenting more crises, Oshiomhole should rather concentrate in ensuring that the Federal Government policies conform with the party’s manifesto and campaign promises to the good people of this country.
“I appeal to him once more to stop disgracing the governing party APC and Edo State. He should give the governor a breathing space to concentrate in doing the job of serving the people of Edo state.
“I want to also appeal to the Progressives Governors not to stand aside and watch their fellow governor hampered by a party chairman whose actions may lead to political misfortune of the party in the state,” Oyegun warned in the statement.
It will be recall that the former APC National Chairman had earlier lamented that Obaseki was receiving the highest distractions from his own political party and not from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“Obaseki is the Executive Governor of Edo state and he should be allowed to exercise the powers vested in him by the law. To what purpose is this idea of the APC National Chairman putting the state under tension?
“I have not heard that PDP or Edo leaders want to remove Obaseki. What has been trending is how his predecessor who happens to be the party chairman does not want him back in the office,” he added.
But Oshiomhole on several occasions denied imposing his wish on the people of Edo State or playing the role of a godfather. He asked for proof of how he constituted himself into a godfather. On the crisis rocking the State House of Assembly, he said he stood by the provisions of the constitution on how to properly proclaim a legislature.
Oshiomhole queried reporters to show him proof that he was an aspiring godfather in the state.
“What is the evidence? It is all about accusation. The media have a duty. They have to give you the particulars of that godfatherism. What is the evidence? I am a democrat.” The embattled ex-governor protested.
However, his predecessor in office insists that Oshiomhole is guilty of anti-party activities by working against the interest of the governor ahead of the governorship election holding next year. “Today, there are all kinds of rancour coming from Edo State. They all boil down to godfatherism.