Share!
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has expressed confidence he will win a second term in office despite the lingering crisis in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
In an interview on Channels TV programme, ‘Sunrise Daily’ on Wednesday, Obaseki noted that he is not a violent man but no man can stop him from returning as Edo State’s governor.
“I am not a violent person. But I am confident that the way I got into power is the same way I will return,” he said.
“God gave me power. If he wants me to return I will continue. No man can stop me. Power comes from God.”
Commenting on the crisis in the state chapter of the APC, the governor said,“we have always canvassed for peace. What are the issues in Edo and what are the issues that cannot be resolved in a democracy. Our concern is to use the resources of the people to develop the state.
“This shouldn’t lead to bloodshed. We will not accept to be cowed and intimidated because some people think that they can manipulate rules and cut corners.”
When questioned on what resources he used to become governor, Obaseki responded, “i have friends with resources. I worked for eight years behind the scene before I became governor.
“So all that insinuations about using somebody’s resources…I became Governor on the platform of the party and I am grateful for it.
“It does not matter whether it is direct or indirect (primaries), I will win.”
The ruling APC in the state has been stretched to two opposing sides, with one faction reportedly loyal to National Chairman of the party and former governor, Adams Oshiomhole and the other, to the incumbent, Obaseki.
Ahead of the governorship elections which is expected to take place in September, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC had decided to use direct primary method to determine the party’s flag bearer to contest the election.
Oshiomhole had on Thursday, May 22, through the National Publicity Secretary of APC, Mr. Lanre Isa-Onilu, announced the decision of the NWC to adopt direct governorship primary in Edo, barely a month to the election.
The Guardian reports, with the decision, the hope of getting a second term ticket by the incumbent governor, Obaseki remains uncertain.
The former national chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, warned against such decision in one of his interactions with The Guardian, saying, “If the NWC eventually adopts a direct primary to decide who picks the party’s ticket for the governorship primary election Obaseki may likely not win, but that the development may also affect the chances of APC to retaining Edo State come September.”
Odigie-Oyegun said, given the widely known peculiarities of Edo State, “if a consensus could not be built behind Obaseki, everything must be done to ensure that the persons in the leadership of the party at the centre who are part of the contrived crisis in Edo State must not even remotely be allowed to plan, participate or supervise the primary election. It is of critical importance that the primary is seen even by a blind man to be free and fair otherwise there could be political consequences. Allowing any member(s) of the national leaders who have been involved in the contrived crisis in Edo State would equate to making such person or person judges in their own case. This is contrary to the principle of natural justice and will be naturally resisted.”
Explaining the choice of a direct primaries, National Vice Chairman (North-Central) APC, Suleiman Wambai, explained that its national headquarters had taken a position, which is direct primaries for the September 19 governorship election in Edo State because there are factions in the state.
“If you allow any of the factions to select the governorship candidate for the party in the state, it can be quashed by the courts just like it happened in Zamfara State during the 2019 elections. So to avoid the Zamfara episode, the party at the national level decided that direct primaries is the only option,” wambai stated on Tuesday while speaking with newsmen in Lafia.
