Edo 2024: Declaring state burial for Anenih caused Oshiomhole’s quarrel with me — Obaseki
By Jeffrey Agbo
Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has revealed that his declaration of state burial for Tony Anenih, an elder statesman and top chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was one of the causes of his trouble with former governor Senator Adams Oshiomhole when he (Obaseki) was a member of the APC.
The governor stated this on Friday at the PDP campaign rally held at Opujie Primary School, Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area, Anenih’s native land.
Obaseki said, “When Chief Anenih died, I was not in PDP, but I declared a state burial for him because of his contributions to our dear state and Nigeria. This was one of the things that created issues between me and Oshiomole who never wanted it. He considered it an unforgivable sin which he could not overlook. But I have to do what is good. We are all one. Edo State is one.
“And that is why I am here today. For Edo to be one and united, I have to support Esan man for governor. And not just Esan man but a capable, competent, intellectually sound with good track record in the person of Asue Ighodalo.”
The governor further said, “The candidate the APC brought was a Benin man and that the APC never believed in an Esan governorship agenda or an Esan man becoming governor until it dawned on them so they hurriedly packaged one through the back door.”
He declared that the need to move Edo forward requires a candidate like Ighodalo.
“The PDP candidate is more experienced and competent to take Edo to the next level and so I urge you all to come out en-masse and vote on the 21 and elect him as the next governor by voting for the PDP,” he said.
In his address, Ighodalo thanked the people, saying “Uromi is a great place with great people. It is the pride of Esanland.”
He promised to complete all ongoing projects in Esanland I will complete all on and create more. “We will complete all ongoing projects in Esan North East and across all Esanland. Be it water, roads, hospitals, schools or anything, we will complete them and create new ones.
“Edo will be self-sufficient under my administration and become a state other states will come to. With us, Edo will not suffer poverty.
“Let us support the good work to continue. Obaseki has done well and we will build on the foundation,” he declared.
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Earlier in his welcome speech, the LGA Chairman, Inedegbor Kelly, thanked the governor for promising Esan people the governorship and fulfilling it. He said the governor not only fulfilled the promise he gave Esan credible and competent candidates in the persons of Asue Ighodalo and Osarodion Ogie.
He asserted that PDP is Esan North East and Esan North East is PDP, assuring the governor of victory in the local government.
A former council chairman, John Yakubu, also affirmed the submission of the local government boss while re-echoing that PDP will produce more than 75% vote in Uromi.
Senator Clifford Ordia, the DG of the Asue Ogie Campaign Council, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, the state party chairman, Tony Aziegbemi, urged the people to come out en masse and vote for the PDP with the umbrella as symbol.
While eulogising the governor in melodious Esan songs, Prince Joe Okojie told the people that Obaseki promised him at the beginning of his first tenure that he would handle over Edo to Esan son as governor. And that seven years plus, Obaseki has done it.
He said the APC people know that they have lost the election hence they are doing everything to see they intimidate the PDP people using police, which they have also failed.
He then sent a strong warning to one of Uromi’s sons, a member of the Nigeria Police Force, but parading as a politician. “I advise him to resign and be a proper policeman or resign so we know where he stands,” he said.
Okojie said Uromi people cannot be intimidated and that on Election Day they would all come out and vote massively for PDP.
Some APC leaders led by Musa Isiwele led hundreds of defectors to join the PDP, saying that they can’t support incompetence.