A former National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief John Odigie-Oyegun has described the frosty relationship between Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki and his predecessor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as ridiculous.
Odigie-Oyegun who held the reins of power in Edo State during the aborted third republic between 1991 and 1993 confessed that as an indigene, he was ashamed of the feud between Comrade Oshiomhole and Governor Obaseki who before now had a very robust relationship.
The night time inauguration of the Edo State House of Assembly by nine of the 25 members on June 17 which witnessed the emergence of Speaker Frank Okiye (Esan North East 1) who was supported by Governor Obaseki instead of Mr. Victor Edoror (Esan Central) witnessed the climax of the cold war between the APC national chairman and the governor.
The ex-governor who spoke weekend in Benin when the leadership of the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State Council visited him on the occasion of his 80th birthday celebration said that it was cause for concern that the impasse had defied all predictions, adding that those dancing around the main actors in crisis were ignorant about how it started.
He said: “All of us are dancing round the crisis, but we do not know how and what started the conflict between the two friends.
“Quite frankly, what is going on is ridiculous. We are beyond this kind. I am ashamed. Our people have contributed so much to the stability of the state.”
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Odigie-Oyegun, however, conceded that the fallout between the godfather, Comrade Oshiomhole and his acolyte, Governor Obaseki was “a disagreement between two friends.”
He added: “But for me, I took a point of principle of who the people say is performing. Please, let him continue if the people feel he is doing well.
“I would not allow anybody embarrass me as a governor. We are in a democracy. You have a right to say that you do not like a person, but let the people decide.”
Oyegun noted that it was unfortunate that the Heartbeat State has been in the news for the very wrong reasons, stressing that, Edo people have been abusing themselves but the media owe the nation a great commitment towards making sure that the truth eventually prevails.
He challenged the media to set agenda for good governance by putting the interest of the state above personal interest, advising journalists to always be upright as a lot of strange things, which he insisted were ordained by God, have happened in the state of recent.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Correspondents Chapel, Mrs Nefishetu Yakubu, who was represented by the Vice-Chairman, Mr. Gabriel Enogholase said the visit was to felicitate with the former National Chairman of APC on his 80th birthday celebration.
Mrs. Yakubu said the chapel was committed to ensuring that its performed its role as the watchdog of society as well as set agenda for good governance.
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