Oshiomhole Vs Obaseki: Godfather Confronts Godson as History of 11 years repeats itself

Political stakeholders in Edo State are watching with bated breath as Governor Godwin Obaseki confronts his political mentor and predecessor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole in a battle of wits that is being said to be a repeat of a classic battle 11 years ago.

Oshiomhole, Obaseki

High ranking political stakeholders told Saturday Vanguard that the ensuing battle in the state is a repeat of the dragged battle between former Governor Oserheinmen Osunbor and the late Chief Tony Anenih and the follow-up battle between Oshiomhole and the Igbinedion family.

In the ensuing battle just like the case eleven years ago, prisoners are not being taken as the contending forces aim for maximum damage.

In the latest development in Benin-City yesterday, supporters of Governor Obaseki were celebrating a court summon on a leading member of the Oshiomhole aligned group of legislators, Dumez Ugiagbe.

Mr. Ugiagbe, member-elect for Ovia North-East 1 State constituency is part of the 14 members of the House of Assembly aligned to Oshiomhole.

 

12 of them remain members-elect because they have refused to recognize the leadership of the House of Assembly that is aligned to Governor Obaseki.

Yesterday, a court in Benin ordered for the arrest of Ugiagbe following his absence in court on an allegation of certificate forgery brought against him over the alleged mutilation of the West African Secondary School Certificate (WASC) he presented for his election.

The acrimony remarkably is despite the total control of the State House of Assembly by the All Progressives Congress, APC in the 24 member House.

After the setback in the presidential election when the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP won the presidential election and two of the three Senate seats, the APC reinvented itself with the Oshiomhole and Obaseki forces joining hands to outwit the PDP in the state legislative election. 

The victory was helped by the loss of morale by the PDP after President Goodluck Jonathan conceded the election to his APC rival, Muhammadu Buhari.

However, following the common victory of the Oshiomhole and Obaseki tendencies, sharing the victory turned into an issue as the two sides struggled for dominance over the control of the legislative house.

The inauguration of the House of Assembly was dragged. After dithering procrastination, Obaseki issued a proclamation order for the House on June 17, 2019. 

However, the majority of the members-elect who were aligned to Oshiomhole and had their preference on who to elect as Speaker were locked out of the inauguration which has now been ratified by the courts.

Emboldened by the court declarations and the traction he has obtained on ground by the relatively impressive achievements, and the political bridges he has built with Oshiomhole’s foes, Obaseki is now pressing for reelection without the support of his former benefactor.

Meanwhile, associates of the National Chairman of the APC are pressing with their demand for an alternative candidate for the party that is due anytime from the middle of 2020.

Their eyes are now focused on former minister of state for works, Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, former army general Gen. Charles Arihiavbare and former deputy governor, Dr. Pius Odubu who has also been nominated for the position of chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.

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All three were aspirants for the governorship ticket in 2016 but were brushed aside by Oshiomhole who foisted Obaseki on the party as the candidate using the power of incumbency.