Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki, on Friday exposed one of his best kept secrets about why he fell out with his predecessor, Adams Oshiomhole, disclosing at Uromi, Esan North-East local government area of the state where he had led the campaign of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP and its candidate Asue Ighodalo, that one of the “unforgiveable sins” he committed was the state burial he accorded late Anthony Anenih, a prominent son of Esanland, and chieftain of the PDP, who hailed from Uromi....READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE ▶▶
Anenih died October 28, 2018, at 85, during Obaseki’s first term in office while still a member of the All-Progressives Congress (APC) with Oshiomhole.
Speaking at the ongoing PDP campaign rally held at Opujie Primary School, Uromi, Governor Obaseki appealed to the people to vote for the candidate of the PDP, reminding them that they (PDP) were the first to insist that the next governor of Edo State must come from Edo Central, at a time the APC was routing for a Benin candidate but reportedly brought their Esan candidate “through the back door”.
Obaseki recalled that, “When Chief Anenih died, I was not in PDP, but I declared a state burial for him because of his contributions to our dear state and Nigeria. This was one of the things that created issues between me and Oshiomole who never wanted it. He considered it an unforgiveable sin which he could not overlook. But I have to do what is good. We are all one. Edo State is one.
“And that is why I am here today. For Edo to be one and united, I have to support Esan man for governor. And not just an Esan man but a capable, competent, intellectually sound person with good track record in the person of Asue Ighodalo”. He posited that the need to move Edo forward required a candidate like Asue Ighodalo.
In his address, Ighodalo promised to complete all ongoing projects in Esanland. He said “I will complete all and create more. We will complete all ongoing projects in Esan North-East and across all Esanland. Be it water, roads, hospitals, schools or anything; we will complete them and create new ones.
“Edo will be self-sufficient under my administration and become a state that other states will come to. With us, Edo will not suffer poverty. Let us support the good work to continue. Obaseki has done well, and we will build on the foundation”.
Earlier in his welcome speech, the local government chairman, Dr. Inedegbor Kelly, thanked the governor for promising Esan people the governorship and fulfilling it with credible and competent candidates in the person of Asue Ighodalo and his running mate, Osarodion Ogie.
A former council chairman, John Yakubu, also affirmed the submission of the local government boss while re-echoing that PDP would produce more than 75% votes in Uromi.
Senator Clifford Ordia, the DG of the Asue Ogie Campaign Council, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, the state party chairman, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, all urged the people to come out en masse and vote the PDP with the umbrella as symbol
Prince Joe Okojie, while eulogising the governor in sweet Esan melodious songs, told the people that Obaseki promised him at the beginning of his first tenure that he would hand over Edo to Esan son as governor. “And those seven years plus, Obaseki has done it”.
Okojie said the APC was aware that they had lost the election hence they were doing everything to see that they intimidated the PDP people using the police, stressing that they would fail.
