- Wants PDP To Adopt Gov Obaseki As Its Candidate For Edo Guber Poll
- Friends Counsel Gov: Weigh Options Very Carefully Before Jumping In
From Joseph Obukuta (The New Diplomat’s N/D Correspondent)
Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, a South-South Leader and former minister of information, has criticized the Screening Committee the All Progressives Congress (APC) for disqualifying Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State who was seeking a second term under the party’s platform.
Governor Obaseki was disqualified alongside Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi and Hon. Matthew Iduoriyekemwen by the APC national screening Committee. According to the committee, the three were disqualified on various grounds ranging from discrepancies in their educational credentials, and inappropriate actions as in the case of Iduoriyekemwen.
Chief Clark, who said he has since retired from active politics but decided to speak up as a statesman, expressed disappointment over the action of the screening committee led by a professor Ayuba, saying what his committee “did is a shame to the academic world.”
Chief Clark’s statement is coming amidst calls and strong counsel by friends and close allies of Governor Obaseki to carefully weigh all options before deciding on his next line line of action. According to them, there are three options open to Obaseki. One, stay in APC fight the disqualification. Two, move to PDP and seek the party ticket to vie for re-election. Three, bow out most honorably at this time rather than throwing in all in an unpredictable political contest.
Said a close friend of the Governor who wishes to remain anonymous : ” Sometimes, these politicians will lead you on. They will say, yes, the field is clear for you to win. That the election is all yours for clinching. When that doesn’t happen, they will say oh, we will face them at the Tribunal and get the judiciary to upturn the election and swear you in. All that comes with lots of sacrifice, expenses, and logistical demands. The traditional politicians know how to play those cards very well. These are things the Governor has to weigh very carefully and make up his mind. The final decision is ultimately his.”
However, Chief Clark also accused the Professor Ayuba Jonathan-led Committee of being used to edge out the Edo State governor from the governorship race in the state.
Recall that The New Diplomat had reported that Professor Ayuba Jonathan-led APC screening committee had last week disqualified Governor Obaseki on alleged discrepancies in his educational certificates.
The Committee why explaining reasons for disqualifying Obaseki had said: “Though, His Excellency, Godwin Obaseki in his nomination form claimed to have obtained a Higher School Leaving Certificate from an Institute of Continuing Education, Benin. It was observed however that no educational certificate such as HSC is known in Nigerian educational system. Even then, the same HSC was never presented in the course of the screening exercise. The aspirant admitted that he has never collected it.”
Also, the Appeal committee led by Dr Abubakar Fari while citing existing discrepancies in the dates on Obaseki’s University of Ibadan certificate affirmed the Governor’s disqualification.
According to Clark, the failure of the committee to give Governor Obaseki a clean bill of health on his certificate despite a confirmation by the management of University of Ibadan that the Governor graduated from the institution in 1979 is an indication that the Screening committee was out for an unfair screening with a predetermined outcome.
In a statement he made available to newsmen on Monday, Clark urged leaders and members of the PDP both at the national and state levels of the party to adopt Obaseki as its gubernatorial candidate for the Edo state governorship election.
The elder statesman said he strongly believe that PDP has a chance to reclaim the state from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) if the party field the embattled governor as its governorship flag-bearer.
He said: “I am indeed, very disappointed and embarrassed that Professors, noted for rationality, judiciousness and erudition, should now be allowing themselves to be used by people, who, educationally, are not their peers.
“What the Professor Ayuba Jonathan-led APC screening committee did is a shame to the academic world, not listening or accepting the statement from the Registrar of the University of Ibadan, the country’s premier University, instead, it resorted to adopting pettiness and irregularities, to achieve a predetermined outcome. The subsequent upholding of that illegitimate decision by the APC Appeal Committee is yet another action that leaves a sour taste in the mouth.”
He added: “While, I am not a member of the APC, or of PDP, or any other political party, for that matter; it is regrettable that the All Progressives Congress in Edo State, is being destroyed as it was in some other States, in 2019; when due to the same manipulation, and rascally interferences, leading to wrong decisions, the APC lost Zamfara State, Bauchi State, and Adamawa State, to the PDP, and did not have Candidates in Rivers State, for the elections.
“Situations that were sufficient to be a serious lesson for the APC, on its leadership mismanagement, but it seems not so. It is, therefore, most disgusting that in 2020 APC is towing that same path, in Edo State. If the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, including Mr. President, fails to intervene in this unfortunate crisis in the Edo State, I would appeal to the opposition, People’s Democratic Party, PDP, to take advantage of the situation.
“I repeat, PDP, should take advantage of this unfortunate crisis in APC, to adopt the incumbent Governor of APC, Governor Godwin Obaseki, as their candidate. It is a golden opportunity for the PDP to take over Edo State because Governor Obaseki has so far, done well.
“I want to believe that he will continue the good work if given a second chance. I also appeal to the people of Edo all over the world to support him to achieve his second term bid, and to PDP aspirants to also sink their interest for now in the overall interest of their Edo State.
“Likewise, I would strongly advice, Governor Godwin Obaseki, to in the overall interest of Edo people, declare for the People’s Democratic Party, and contest for his second term, for him to complete his job to the people. He won’t be culpable of any blame; he has tried to be a loyal and dedicated member of his party.”
Many commentators who are very familiar with the political permutations in Edo state as well as the usual attitude among politicians to encourage and lead people on even in the midst of unenviable political situation however urged Governor Obaseki to examine all the options before throwing his hat into the political ring once again.
To keep his re-election hopes alive, observers believe members of the Governors team had to weigh various options open to him. One of the options, according to them is for Gov Obaseki to defect to the PDP, and secure the party’s ticket to contest for the governorship seat in the scheduled September governorship election in Edo state.
Another option, is to stay put in APC and fight to upturn the disqualification at the courts. And a third option, according to members of his team is to bow out honorably from the race, and use the remaining part of his administration to consolidate on his achievements for posterity.
Sources told The New Diplomat that the team may have opted for the first option which entails decamping to the PDP, and securing the party’s ticket to run for the governorship election.
