Edo APC crisis: Oshiomhole remains suspended until he apologise- Obaseki

Anietie Udobit

Mr. Godwin Obaseki, Edo State Governor, has said that the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, remains suspended until he apologises to the party.

Speaking during an expanded meeting with leaders of the APC from all the wards and local government areas in Edo North at Jattu-Uzaire, Etsako West Local Government Area, Obaseki insisted that due process was followed in the suspension of Oshiomhole, adding that any action taken by the suspended national chairman remains ultra vires.

Obaseki said Oshiomhole would only be readmitted into the party if he apologises to members of the APC, noting that the national chairman could not take any action on behalf of the APC because he was validly suspended from his ward.

“Can you imagine a national chairman that is creating problems in his own house? Because of that, we had to suspend him and he remains suspended.

“We pray that God should have mercy on him because he has done something bad against God and the people of Edo State. He should find his way back into the party and apologise to all of us.

“If he comes back remorseful and apologetic, we will consider taking him back” Governor Obaseki said.

The governor dismissed the speculation allegedly peddled by his political opponents that he was leaving the APC, noting that it is the persons involved in anti-party activities that will leave.

“If you cannot be a disciplined member of the party, you will leave the party, whether you are a national chairman or not,” he warned.

Obaseki said the APC national chairman lied in his claim that he nominated only one commissioner in his (Obaseki’s) cabinet, adding: “He cancelled the primaries that were initially done by the party at the state level for the 2019 general elections and did his own. Because he could not control us in the executive, he manipulated the legislature so he could use the house to impeach us.”

The governor said he sympathises with the deputy governor, who he said was deceived by Oshiomhole, a man who he had always looked up to in politics, describing his deputy as a trusted friend and strong politician.

“Oshiomhole thought he was setting a trap when he chose Philip Shaibu as my deputy and Osarodion Ogie as Secretary to the State Government. He was thinking that we will always quarrel, fight and then run to him for settlement.”

Obaseki maintained that the party and its members do not support godfatherism in the state, adding, “If you behave like a godfather, we will fight you.”

He added that he attended the meeting to thank the party members for their support for his administration and for standing behind their son, the deputy governor of the state.