Edo 2020: Obaseki Not Afraid Of Oshiomhole – Shaibu

Ahead of the June 22 governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, the deputy governor of the state, Comrade Philip Shaibu has declared that Godwin Obaseki will win the party’s ticket.

He stated that no matter the form of primary adopted by the party to choose its candidate, Obaseki would still emerge victorious.

Naija News recalls Obaseki and his camp favour an indirect mode of primary election while the faction loyal to the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole prefer direct primaries.

However, Comrade Shaibu in a statement issued in Abuja by his Special Assistant on Media, Benjamin Atu noted that Governor Obaseki would win any form of primary election in the state, even with just 24-hour notification.

“Despite this confidence and assurance that the victory of Governor Obaseki is not in doubt, we are not ready to go the way of the Direct Primary.

“Our preference for indirect primary is because we don’t want to secure victory at the expense of the health of those we are seeking to lead”, he said.

He maintained that the achievements of the Obaseki administration within his first term in office would be enough to swing votes in his favour.

“As the Chief Security officer of the State and first among equals, the Governor has decided to conduct the affairs of the State in the way that will ensure safety of its citizens.

“As at today, Godwin Obaseki is the Governor of Edo State and has the capacity to determine the direction of the State. That doesn’t amount to fear of failure in facing any election but rather putting the interest of the public above desperation to win an election.

Shaibu also accused Oshiomhole of attempting to usurp the sovereignty of states with governors elected on the platform of the APC.

He added that Oshiomhole is attempting to manipulate the outcome of the primaries by insisting on direct primaries to choose the party’s candidate for the September 2020 governorship election in the state.

“PDP has a National Chairman for instance, the National Chairman of PDP doesn’t usurp the Sovereignty of the PDP States. The Sovereignty of the State can’t be submerged at this critical juncture of our lives. The indirect primary will make it more convenient for INEC to supervise and will be more transparent.

“The APC National Chairman is insisting on direct primary because the result of the yet to be conducted direct Primary election is already written by him, just waiting to be announced.

“The State is sovereign but not enjoying its sovereignty because some few people are determined to ruin the State by hand twisting the government and Governor as a stooge.

“What the APC National Chairman is doing is trying to usurp the powers of the State Governor by thinking and making decisions for the Government of Edo State.

“John Oyegun was the former Governor of Edo State and he didn’t usurp Oshiomhole’s power in the name of ex- Governor. Oshiomhole is not the first ex-Governor in Nigeria. He should give the people and Government of Edo State peace to enable them reason collectively together.

“Obaseki is currently the Governor of Edo State and his office must be respected because we can only have one Governor at a time. He has spoken and there is no going back on indirect primary. Direct Primary will heighten Covid 19 transmission and infection at the community stage and the State is not ready for such emergency,” Comrade Shaibu said.