Oshiomhole Tackles Obaseki Over 14 Lawmakers’ Fate

• Says God will surely deliver justice
• Accuses governor of marginalising Edo North

BY VICTOR BUORO – Immediate Past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole says God will deliver justice to the 14 Edo State House of Assembly members-elect still being deprived the privilege of performing their legitimate legislative duties by Governor Godwin Obaseki.

In what some are already insinuating as the resumption of political hostilities between him and the governor over the lawmakers’ non-inauguration two years after their election, Comrade Oshiomhole also slammed the Obaseki administration for what he described as the marginalization of Edo North Senatorial District in the scheme of things.

He pointedly accused the Edo governor of playing the politics of exclusion, saying the state government has not cited any project of note in the area.

For the former APC Chairman, no matter how long it takes, justice will certainly come for the elected lawmakers because they have done nothing wrong except to stand by their conviction for a better Edo State.

Addressing an enlarged meeting of Edo North APC leaders and stakeholders at his country home in Iyamho, the former APC Chairman insisted that there was no justification for the governor to continue with his refusal to inaugurate the 14 lawmakers-elect.

He said; “The 14 members elected to the Edo House of Assembly on APC platform, till now, have not been inaugurated. But, they committed no sin.

“They are being denied their rights to be sworn in to represent their constituents. God will deliver justice to them in His own way and at His own determined time.”

Urging APC members in Edo North to be “proud of themselves” for standing firm despite all odds, Comrade Oshiomhole noted that among the challenges are the fact that “as of today, no project by Obaseki is ongoing in their Senatorial district, apart from constituency projects by APC legislators in the National Assembly and those influenced by the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba.

“The unity of Edo North Senatorial District must be maintained, serviced, and sustained. The only way to sustain it is through unity of purpose and constant meetings at all levels.

”The former Edo governor said despite the numerous challenges they are facing in the state, all APC members and supporters should remain strong and keep faith with the party.

“Since 2012, APC has not lost any position in Edo North Senatorial District, from Edo House of Assembly, House of Representatives to Senate, not because the people elected are perfect, but because our people are determined, based on party discipline, that we must vote for the party’s candidates at all times”, he said.

The one-time Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President said the outcome of last year’s gubernatorial election notwithstanding, it is heartwarming that APC members have reasons to maintain their self-pride and confidence given the party’s impressive showing in sweeping the polls in Edo North.

“I wish to plead with leaders of APC to always have all-inclusive meetings to carry everybody along at the ward, local and state levels. Politics is a game of numbers. Everybody is something and important in politics.

“There are some grumblings and quarrels in some local government areas involving some youths and women. That is understandable, because once we relate together as human beings, sometimes, there will be quarrels. But, we as leaders must realise that we have a duty to settle such quarrels and put them behind us.”

Appreciating all the party leaders and stakeholders for remaining steadfast in the face of clearly ‘sponsored negative stories’ against some of them, the former Labour leader assured them that the future looks bright for the ruling party and its teeming members across Edo state

On his turbulent tenure as APC National Chairman, Comrade Oshiomhole said he remains grateful to God for the privilege to serve Nigeria, the party and the country

According to him, “I have every reason to be grateful to God for His grace upon me. It is on record that I did not only do eight years as governor of Edo State, but the party also worked hard to have my successor elected on the platform of APC. It does not matter what happened thereafter.

“I was also privileged to become the National Chairman of our party, the APC. It does not matter even if I spent just two days in the office. All that matters is that I occupied the office and it is a history that cannot be changed and for which I am grateful to God.

“It is for this reason that I have an obligation to continue to maintain and sustain the ladder, which by the help of other people, I used to climb up so that others too can take advantage of the ladder to even climb higher than I did.”

Also speaking at the occasion, the lawmaker representing Edo North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Francis Alimikhena, lauded all the APC members in the area for their resilience, steadfastness, and loyalty to the party.

Among the APC’s top shots that graced the stakeholders’ meeting include Peter Akpatason, Abubakar Momoh, Sunday Mayaki, Johnson Ughuma, Alhaji Jim Garuba, Chief Lucky James, and Joseph Ugheoke.

Others are Professor Marcel Okhakhu, Saliu Ahmed, Folly Ogedegbe, Abdulganiyu Lawani, Victor Oshioke, Anselm Agabi, and Mika Amanokhai.

Elected over two years ago, the 14 lawmakers’ inauguration has remained contentious because of the no-love lost relationship between Comrade Oshiomhole and Governor Obaseki over what APC insiders described as irreconcilable differences before the 2020 governorship election.

Denied the APC governorship ticket, Governor Obaskeki had jumped ship to the opposing Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on whose platform he won the polls defeating Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the APC.

For now, the Edo House of Assembly is being run by only the 10 members loyal to Governor Obaseki and they currently hold sittings inside the Government House in Benin for obvious security reasons.