*Buhari Advises Edo Gov To Iron Out Issues With Oshiomhole As Chair of Party
Three weeks to June 22 All Progressives Congress’ guber primary in Edo state, it appears all that incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki, could bank on at the moment to emerge as the APC candidate is President Muhammadu Buhari’s support, if the governor’s words while addressing journalists at the Aso Rock Villa, Monday, are anything to go by.
According to the Governor, Buhari wished him good luck and assured him of his support in his bid for re-election after a meeting with the President. But given Buhari’s disposition and hands-off approach to party’s affairs as well as APC gubernatorial primaries in the past, in the meantime, it remains unclear how this will play out internally within the party, few days from now.
Presidency sources confided in The New Diplomat that the President advised Governor Obaseki to consider going to meet the national chairman of the APC, comrade Adams Oshiomhole, to iron out issues. According to impeccable sources, Buhari was said to maintained that as the national chairman of the APC, the former Edo sate governor, comrade Adams Oshiomhole was in the best position to address whatever political concerns or issues the Governor may have.
The New Diplomat had reported that Obaseki in company of APC Governors met with a national leader of the APC, Bola Tinubu on Sunday and the National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole on Monday. However, both meetings were reported to have failed in delivering any concrete promise to address the stormy situation surrounding the Governor’s re-election on the APC platform.
At both meetings, Tinubu and Oshiomhole stuck to the direct primary mode already adopted by the APC National Working Committee, something that Obaseki wants the party to change by opting for the indirect mode which should perhaps, serve as a booster for his chance of getting the party’s ticket as he continues to trade tackles with a formidable challenger he’s got in Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, already backed by the APC faction loyal to Oshiomhole.
Meanwhile, Obaseki told journalists that he was in the Presidential Villa to formally intimate the president of his intention to seek re-election as governor of Edo on the platform of APC.
“When I showed him my Expression of Interest form, he looked through it and teased me that he would not have to go through this again and wished me good luck and assured me of his support,’’ he said.
The meeting which was at the instance of the governor, came ahead of the governorship primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC), scheduled for June 22, 2020.
The governor, who is believed to be at loggerhead with the APC National Chairman, Oshiohmole, over his second term ambition, presented his Expression of Interest form to the president for blessing.
“I came to see Mr President to formally inform him of my desire and intention to seek re-election as governor of Edo State on the platform of the APC in the forthcoming gubernatorial election.
“As a father of the country, as our president I should not just assume or take things for granted – I have to come to inform him and solicit his support in my gubernatorial bid, and the president was quiet warm and quiet welcoming.
“When I showed him my Expression of Interest form, he looked through it and teased me that he would not have to go through this again and wished me good luck and assured me of his support,’’ he said.
On the political tussle in Edo, the governor stated that the crisis was being instigated from outside the state.
Obaseki also described the political misunderstanding between him and Oshiohmole as very unfortunate, saying however that he was ready to reach a truce with all aggrieved members of the APC.
“It is unfortunate that he (Oshiohmole) is taking the position he has taken. I believe that he was not properly guided.
“I am his Governor and it is my responsibility to seek peace for my State and with all my citizens.
“I will continue to strive for peace, I will continue to pursue peace, seek the interest of our people and I am open, that we should talk about how to move things forward.
“The relationship is still frosty but I am doing all I can to try and make it warm just for the sake of Edo people. I am committed to whatever it will take to have peace and not to lose lives in Edo, within the law, whatever I can do that is constitutional, I will do,’’ he stated.
