The political rivalry between the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, and his predecessor in office, who doubles as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has taken a new dimension and now taking a toll on the political harmony in the state.
The situation has now led to a full blown division within the APC as checks by Saturday Telegraph last night revealed that the ‘Oshiomhole 15’ have relocated to Abuja to avoid being attacked by hoodlums allegedly sponsored by the state, just as our correspondents gathered that there are intense consultations and lobby from the state government to bring the 15 into the fold under the leadership of Okiye.
Sources close to the ‘Oshiomhole 15’ informed Saturday Telegraph that the group was already being wooed by the government while negotiations are ongoing to give them between N5m and N10m with a Pajero SUV each. One of the lawmakers who confirmed the imformation, said that the battle is not being orchestrated by Oshiomhole but they are fighting a just cause.
He said: “Some of us still have integrity, Oshiomhole has no hands in this crisis. We are only fighting for the children yet unborn and this fight must stand.
“They are begging us with N5m for those of us they believe have less influence and N10m for others that are strong. We have relocated to Abuja because they want to kill us; they sent thugs after us,” he said.
The source also informed that there is pressure on Okiye by some key stakeholders in the APC to ensure that the Clerk carries out another inauguration ceremony for the group of 15 on Monday.
Both sides are now trading blames as the crisis continues to rage. While a section blame Oshiomhole for not speaking out since the imbroglio began, the group loyal to Obaseki insists the governor must be allowed to go for a second term The situation has led to a sharp division among the political class in the state and they are now giving different reactions and interpretations to the situation.
While some call the assembly crisis a comedy, satire, melodrama, others say it is a political quagmire and a show of political power by the incumbent governor who wants to tell his former boss that he has come of age and now charge of affairs in the state.
We have no reason to induce anyone, says govt The state government however denied the allegation, saying that there is no need to induce the lawmakers either in cash or kind. Speaking with Saturday Telegraph, the Special Adviser (Media) to governor, Crusoe Osagie, said It was a blatant lie. “Why do we need to induce anyone? The EDHA has already been inaugurated and the main principal officials have been elected.
All these were done independently and that is all that is important to us as the executive arm. “These are two independent arms of government and as the executive arm, we do not meddle with the affairs of the other arms of government. We are happy that the House has been inaugurated and a substantive speaker and deputy speaker have been elected meaning that legislative functions are actively being carried out in the House.
“All other discussions will take place only among the members and executives of the EDHA. The governor and the executive arm have absolutely nothing to do with their internal affairs in the legislature”, he said.
