I’ve Nothing To Gain Stopping Obaseki’s 2nd Term Bid – Oshiomhole

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, says Governor Godwin Obaseki’s second term bid as Edo State number citizen has nothing to do with their simmering political face-off.

He said contrary to insinuations in some circles, the disagreement only relates to issues of inclusiveness and fraternity in governance.

Dismissing as untrue allegations that he is against the Governor seeking a second term in office, the APC National Chairman said he was only concerned about the need to carry political players and leaders in the party along as key stakeholders in the State.

Comrade Oshiomhole told Channels Television that there is nothing to gain by stopping the governor from returning to office and that can therefore not be a bone of contention in the crisis on ground.

According to him, the differences have nothing to do with monetary gains from Obaseki’s administration, or about him blocking the governor’s second term bid as being speculated.

Explaining the situation further, the former Edo State Governor said at a meeting both of them held with four serving governors, Obaseki confirmed that only one of over 20 commissioners in his cabinet was nominated by the APC National chairman.

Comrade Oshiomhole said without any recourse to him, Governor Obaseki later removed the said Commissioner, along with seven others, a development he didn’t take any offence because the governor is the one in charge and responsible for his government.

“We have no argument over money or appointments… In the meeting we held with four governors, including Governor Bagudu, I asked the governor, how many commissioners I nominated into his cabinet. He agreed that I only nominated one person out of more than 20 commissioners.

“Not many Nigerians will believe that because for me I was out of government and I have convinced myself that the day I step out of government, that is it. After that first meeting, the governor decided to remove that one commissioner along with seven others. But that is not my business”, the APC chairman said

Comrade Oshiomhole said though there are concerns over Governor Obaseki’s decision to abandon some of his projects, he was not under any threat.

“The governor can never tell you that I have interfered in his choice of projects and so on. The only thing I feel a bit worried about is that some of the projects we started together have been abandoned. There is no way to solve disagreements without talking to the aggrieved parties.

“Let me assure you. This governor is not under threat. It is those who make money from crisis, those I call merchants of confusion, who can tell the governor that he wants to be impeached.”

Comrade Oshiomhole however, said the issues are not so bad that they cannot be resolved as a cohesive political family.