By Titus Oise, Benin
Curtis Eghosa Ugbor, the erstwhile Senior Special Assistant to the Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole on Media, has said that his former boss was after him.
In a telephone interview from his hospital bed (name withheld) in Benin, the rights activist cum politician, said that he was being punished for no just cause.
The governor’s former aide was one of the political appointees who lost their jobs because of their perceived support for the governorship aspirations of the state Deputy Governor, Pius Odubu.
Curtis revealed that the manner of his arrest few days before he finally got the boot was an eye opener. He disclosed that his arrest on allegations of writing inciting comments on his boss was carried out by some 25 mean-looking and well-armed security personnel who thoroughly searched his modest home in the course of the arrest. He said that his problem with Oshiomhole started last year when he escorted the governor to Bayelsa State where he had gone to supervise the governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
Curtis revealed that his problem with his boss was actually aggravated by his advice that as a leader of the party he should try to be neutral in the conduct of the primaries.
His words: “The problem started after the Bayelsa State APC governorship primaries in the state. I also advised him to be neutral in the way and manner he handles the Edo State primaries as he is a leader of the party.
“I told him that even if he has a choice he should keep it close to his chest as we were all his children. However, barely a week later he announced that he was supporting Godwin Obaseki to succeed him.”
He stressed that since then the governor has been at war with those he feels are not in support of his anointed candidate. This, he added, culminated in the sack of 12 such individuals who are his political appointees.
