. Again, Oshiomhole, Obaseki’s followers in Spiraling War of Words
By Hamilton Nwosa(Head, Data and Poll Tracking Desk)
The raging political crisis in Edo State between Governor Godwin Obaseki and his predecessor, the national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC), comrade Adams Oshiomhole may have throttled out of control as the Edo State Government on Wednesday made real its threat to demolish Latifah hotel and suites belonging to Mr. Tony “Kabaka” Adun, a former aide of comrade Oshiomhole. Mr Adun is believed widely to be Comrade Oshiomhole’s political protege.
The Edo State government under the leadership of Governor Godwin Obaseki had reportedly threatened to demolish the property for allegedly violating building laws of Edo State. While justifying its intention, the state government had insisted that the hotel in question was erected across a road in the Ugbor-Amagba axis of Oredo Local Government Area of the state thereby breaching building permit laws of the state.
The massive hotel building which was pulled down on Wednesday afternoon, after an injunction reportedly secured by Mr Adun against the demolition was allegedly vacated by the state government, has continued to trigger serious concerns in political circles fueling apprehension that the crisis may have reached “a point of no return”. In a Statement signed by the Special Adviser to Governor Obaseki on media and communication , Mr. Crusoe Osagie, the Edo State government stated that “the deed of transfer being paraded by Mr. Adun is also not registered with the state government, according to court papers filed by Solicitor-General of Edo State, Mr Oluwole Iyamu, SAN.”
But keen political watchers of the soaring political tension in Edo State believe that the hotel owner, Mr Adun may have been caught in the political crossfire as the escalating political war between Obaseki and Oshiomhole threatens to tear down the political roof of Edo State. According to insiders, Adun had approached a Benin High Court to grant him an extension of the initial 14-day restraining order which temporarily prevented Edo State government from pulling down the structure which was earlier marked for demolition.
The Court which was presided over by Justice D.I. Okungbowa declined Adun’s request following a counter argument by Edo State Solicitor General, Oluwole Iyamu(SAN) to the effect that the restraining order can’t be extended beyond the acceptable 14-day time frame.
However, in his interlocutory application, Mr Adun’s counsel, Mr Osa-Uwagie had posited that the Edo State government did not designate the area in question as a planning area and did not also gazette it accordingly in line with Town Planning and Country Laws of the Old Bendel State 1979 CAP 165, Section 6. He had insisted that the Edo State government was engaging in a political witch-hunt of his client because of political differences. But the State government’s counsel, Iyamu , SAN disagreed, stressing that the exercise was necessary to address issues of environmental control, etc. According to the State government, the environmental situation in the area especially with regards to sewage disposal and other related matters make it mandatory for the said structure to be taken down. In effect, the structure, according to the State government, was illegal.
Shortly after, bulldozers and caterpillars roared into action as they were mobilized to the site for the exercise while security operatives mounted guard to ensure the process was not disrupted by thugs purportedly loyal to Adun.
Recall that the political tension in Edo State has consistently soared following altercation by followers of both Obaseki and Oshiomhole. Only two days ago, Governor Obaseki reportedly wrote a to the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, canvassing the immediate arrest and prosecution of the APC National chairman, Comrade Oshiomhole for allegedly escalating political violence in the State.
Edo State Deputy Governor, Hon Philip Shuaibu, who made this known to journalists in Abuja , on Monday, had said a copy of the petition would also be sent to the Director-General of DSS, Department of State Security Services. Shuaibu who accused the APC’s national chairman of instigating political violence in Edo state by consistently working against the state government’s order banning political rallies in the state insisted that Oshiomhole was not above the law and Edo State government has the duty to call him to order. But loyalists of Oshiomhole including Hon. Pally Iriase, a Former Deputy Whip of the House of Representatives had taken up the governor accusing him of working to cause chaos in the State while also challenging him to account for his huge security vote. According to Iriase, Oshiomhole would not reply Governor Obaseki as a person because they (Oshiomhole followers) are equal to the task of taking him on all fronts politically. He said: “Health care system is in limbo without infrastructure and inadequate personnel, while construction of durable well-drained roads we had become used to in the state, had been stopped…”
Sources had hinted The New Diplomat at the weekend that a top Nigerian international businessman who would not want his name mentioned had stepped up fresh initiatives to reconcile both Governor Obaseki and Comrade Oshiomhole. It was also gathered that some member of the Governors Forum were making frantic efforts to settle the raging dispute. Said an insider: “ Originally, Alhaji (businessman)said he won’t intervene again after he tried the first time. But seeing that the crisis has escalated and he was one of those who is really very close to both of them , he has stepped in again. He is doing something to try and resolve their differences.” But with this latest development, it is not clear if the notable businessman would still be keen on following through with his peace initiaves.
It would be recalled that political concerns have continued to surge in Edo State following the rancorous war of words between Governor Obaseki, and the National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Oshiomhole. The crisis once again deepened endlessly as both political figures exchanged fiery words and opened fresh cans of worms.
The blistering war of words and raging altercation have heightened serious apprehension amongst mutual friends of both Obaseki and Oshiomhole, who had expected some cessation of hostilities, while working to enlist the intervention of pragmatic diplomats, neutral political icons, religious doyen, and development pundits to help put off the ballooning political crisis.
Read also; Edo 2020: As Obaseki, Ize-Iyamu, Others Go for Broke!
Notwithstanding this acrimonious differences between Governor Obaseki and Comrade Oshiomhole, some mutual friends who spoke with The New Diplomat at the weekend said they are working very hard to resolve the crisis, stressing that the issues central to the bitter altercations would be amicably resolved.
