By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
There are indications that the attempts by former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Adams Oshiomhole, to woo Esan voters for Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the APC candidate in the September 19 election, has been rejected.
Oshiomhole, who has been visiting palaces of traditional rulers in Edo to canvass support for Ize-Iyamu, made entreaties to the Onojie of Uromi, HRH Anselm Okojie, Aidenojie II, seeking reconciliation for dethroning him in 2016.
The moves by Oshiomhole is believed to be a desperate attempt to woo Esan voters to support Osagie Ize-Iyamu. But the traditional ruler, it was gathered, asked him to come back after the gubernatorial election if he is committed to genuine reconciliation.
Sources familiar with the development, said Oshiomhole’s overtures were informed by the growing number of Esan people opposed to Ize-Iyamu’s candidature, more so, with Oshiomhole leading his campaign trail, and eating words he swore to, four years ago.
Commenting on the planned reconciliation, Convener of Esan Agenda, Akhere Obozele, said “Oshiomhole is insincere and only wants to use the so-called reconciliation to beg for Esan votes.”
He added: “So Oshiomhole has just realised that what he did to our Onojie four years ago was wrong, with less than two months to the gubernatorial election. He actually thinks he is smarter than everybody in this state. He has been going about performing kneeling stunts that he is using to deceive people.
“Interestingly, I heard that our royal father has asked him (Oshiomhole) to come after the September 19 gubernatorial election. So if the former governor is sincere about apologising to our royal father, he can come after the election, when he will have no election-related requests to make.”
Obozele maintained that “Esan people have decided to reward Governor Godwin Obaseki with our Esan votes for the good work he has done and more importantly, for reinstating the Onojie to the throne of his forefathers.
“We do not want any trickster at the palace of our royal father, who will come and perform kneeling stunts for votes. We know that Oshiomhole’s sudden realisation of his indiscretion is about Esan votes and nothing more. Esan people are wiser than that.”
Oshiomhole had in 2016, sacked the Onojie of Uromi three days to the end of his second term as governor, in a brazen manner and over issues, many Edo people said, could have been resolved by the Edo State Traditional Council.
The dethronement of the Esan monarch infuriated his subjects and millions of Edo people, who described the then governor’s action as a desecration of their age-old customs and traditions, which they hold dear.
However, barely six months after assuming office, Governor Godwin Obaseki reinstated the monarch.
