- Obaseki ‘An Errant, Ill-Discplined Governor,’ Says Tinubu
- PDP: Tinubu ‘Colouring Illegality Because Of Personal Interests’
By Gbenga Abulude
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has responded to National leader of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu over his attack on Edo state Governor, Godwin Obaseki.
Tinubu had flayed Obaseki on Friday, saying his actions and standpoints on the leadership crisis rocking the Edo State Assembly are “cowardly” and “perverse.”
Tinubu also said the decision of the Governor to block 14 members-elect of the APC from being sworn-in represents a direct threat to representative democracy, adding that the Governor has taken the state back to what Nigeria experienced during the dark days of military rule, The New Diplomat had reported on Friday.
Condemning the Governor’s interference in legislative matters, Tinubu in a statement he personally signed said: “In the context of a constitutional democracy such as ours, the legislature’s authority stems, in effect, from the recognition that it is the authentic mouthpiece of the people, entrusted with the responsibility of representing their collective will and the power to interpret and mould it into the laws of the land. It is, in short, not to be toyed with as a plaything of an errant and ill-disciplined governor. Undermine the legislature and you imperil democracy and allow governance to descend into anarchy.
“By all appearances, the Governor is punishing these legislators for their loyalty to a party that is no longer his own. If every governor behaves as he, obstructing the performance of any legislator who does not pledge to him their undying fealty, the entire edifice of democratic governance in Nigeria would grind to a complete halt,” Tinubu, a former Lagos governor stated.
But the PDP in a statement released by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan on Saturday said the outburst confirms allegations that some people in the APC are bitter with Governor Godwin Obaseki because he (Obaseki) refused to allow the APC cabal to have access to Edo treasury as well as his refusal to foist illegal levies and taxes on the people adding that Obaseki has committed no impeachable acts for putting the interest of Edo citizens over the party.
He stated that Tinubu’s comments
has further proved the allegations that the horrendous attempt to seize the Edo legislature has the fingers of the APC leadership for their personal reasons. He said that the party stands with the people of Edo state and Governor Obaseki in their firm decision not to allow certain APC interests to impose and collect suppressive levies and taxes from the people who are struggling to make a living in Edo State.
The statement advised Asiwaju
not to allow himself to be dragged into putting personal and group pecuniary and political interests over and above the collective interest and wellbeing of the people of Edo state.
The statesman reads in part: “The APC cabal is distraught because Governor Obaseki will never compromise or mortgage the welfare and wellbeing of the people of Edo state, hence their desperate attempt to foist their stooge on the state.
“We wonder if Asiwaju, as a senator, abandoned his seat at the parliament for 180 days. Of course, he did not, because he is aware of the implications. Our campaign therefore counsels Asiwaju and indeed other APC leaders to desist from any attempts that would colour illegality because of personal interests.
“Our campaign which enjoys the full followership and support of the Edo people wants Tinubu to know that contrary to his claims, Governor Obaseki has committed no impeachable acts by working in the interests of the people of Edo State.
“Governor Obaseki towers high above the shenanigans of the APC Cabal and will be overwhelmingly re-elected by the people of Edo state,” the party said.
