By Gbenga Abulude (Politics and General desk)
Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki has described the Rivers State governor, Chief Nyesom Wike as God sent for his re-election. Governor Obaseki said his Rivers state counterpart’s intervention was God ordained to enable him secure his second term in office.
The re-elected governor, Mr Obaseki who led his team on a ‘Thank you’ visit to Wike at Government House in Port Harcourt, Wednesday, said he sought the Wike’s help when he was rejected by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement by Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr Paulinus Nsirim, Governor Obaseki acknowledged Wike’s immense support in ensuring he won the election despite attacks from the opposition party, APC.
He said: “After I was pushed out of my former Party, this house was the first place I sought solace. You took me in as a brother, out of the storm, changed my cloths and gave me food to eat.
“It was in this house, the Campaign Council met to work out the key strategies that led us to victory. You mobilised people across the country. You moved to Benin, went through the humiliation and attacks. You supported us and we won.
“It will be a sin against God if we do not come to say thank you. Even if the victory we are celebrating is from God. He has used people like you to make it happen”.
In his response to Obaseki and his visiting team, Wike said he was buoyed to render the support because he saw that Obaseki was courageous and fearless. Chief Wike noted that standing against godfathers was not easy but that Obaseki made himself available to protect the interest of Edo State.
“Our work would have been difficult if he did not make himself available. I cannot support a lily hearted person. Governor Obaseki was firm. It is not easy to fight godfatherism. But he has the interest of Edo people at heart. Together, we have conquered it”, he stated.
Wike also explained that unity within the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) play a huge role in projecting a common front in the election. That situation of things, he said, paid off because the party went into the electoral battle as a united family and clinched the victory.
“I did not want division. I insisted that it will be good we are all together. This will make it easy to go into the electoral battle and win.
“I thank you my brother, Obaseki for carrying everybody along in the Party. Edo people are also looking up to you to forgive everybody.
“Forgive your political opponents. I am happy that today, South -South is under one political party. This will make for integration. We can speak with one voice in moving Nigeria forward. This is the sweetest electoral victory I have ever witnessed”, he added.
Recall that Obaseki against all odds won the Edo gubernatorial election held last Saturday, September 19. Obaseki under the PDP won the election by 307,955 votes defeating APC’s candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu who polled 223,619 votes.
