By Uzor Odigbo
- You can’t extend your political empire to Edo – Obaseki
- Edo people are wise, will make their choice, says Oyegun
Former governor of Lagos State and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, stirred the hornets nest on Tuesday when he appealed to Edo electorate to reject Governor Godwin Obaseki in the off-season governorship election on Saturday.
For his efforts, he has come under scathing attacks from many quarters including Obaseki and former national chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie Oyegun.
Tinubu, in a sponsored broadcast on Tuesday on his private television station, TVC, said Governor Obaseki doesn’t deserve a single vote for alleged non-performance and violation of democratic values.
“He (Obaseki) does not deserve any democratic ballot paper. Don’t vote for him, I appeal to all of you.”
Tinubu said the Edo electorate should not vote for Obaseki because while he was taking part in the democratic struggle in the 1990s, the governor was allegedly nowhere to be found.
“I want to appeal to you to reject Godwin Obaseki in this coming election. I have suffered with many others to bring about this democratic regime, that today, we are enjoying in the country. Then, Godwin Obaseki didn’t participate in any aspect of the struggle to enshrine democracy in the country.
“Therefore, he could not understand the value and the pains associated with this democratic struggle,” Tinubu began.
The former governor of Lagos State claimed that Obaseki not only prevented 14 of the 24 elected Edo lawmakers from being inaugurated but also refused to take the advice of the National Assembly and the Attorney-General of the Federation on the matter.
He alleged that rather than let them be inaugurated, Obaseki supervised the destruction of the House of Assembly complex to prevent them from being sworn-in.
For these and more, he said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate should be punished with vote rejection.
But in a swift reaction, Obaseki faulted Tinubu’s claims.
Accusing the former Lagos State governor of plotting to extend his political empire to Edo State, Obaseki advised him to perish the thought.
Obaseki reacted through a press statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie.
The statement titled, “You can’t extend your political empire to our state – Edo govt tells Tinubu,” said Edo people were determined to end the godfatherism in the state.
Obaseki said, “Our attention has been drawn to a television broadcast in which a former Lagos State Governor and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his quest to extend his political dominance and empire to Edo State, decided to take over the role of Edo people to choose through the ballot who to govern them for the next four years.”
“It has become obvious that the spirited fight which Edo people have put up against godfatherism has sent tremors beyond the shores of Edo to the likes of Tinubu, who has for years sustained a stranglehold on Lagos and other states in South Western Nigeria, hence this desperate, last ditch effort to rescue the unproductive political instrument, now popularly referred to as godfatherism, with which he has feathered his nest and built his political empire at the expense of the people.”
Stressing that Edo people are committed to ending godfatherism in the state, he said: “Tinubu knows clearly that come September 19, when godfatherism would have been dismantled in Edo State, the people of Lagos may just have found the recipe and formula for removing the chokehold placed on their collective destinies for decades by Tinubu, hence the inciting television broadcast.
“He should take note that Edo people do not yield their will, liberty and power of choice to oppressive figures because they are perceived to have economic and political means. Like one of the great sons of Edo, former Governor and former National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, recently said, our people do not give in to ‘primitive loyalties.’ We always chase noble causes and a little study of our history, should show Tinubu the indomitable spirit of the Edo person.
“Edo stands in the heart of the old Midwestern Region, which was the only region created through plebiscite, which underscores our capacity to determine our destiny as a people. The blood which ran in the veins of the leaders of that time is still the same that runs in the vein of the leaders of Edo State today.”
He urged: “We call on all Edo people, friends of Nigeria and all lovers of democracy to disregard all the comments by Tinubu, as the allegations about the Edo State House of Assembly and other claims in the broadcast are completely false.
“We urge the irrepressible people of Edo State to disregard the threats and come out en-masse on September 19 to vote for Governor Godwin Obaseki and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as their voice and vote are supreme in the governorship contest.”
He maintained that “the outcome of next Saturday’s election would reinforce the reigning saying in Edo’s public sphere, Edo No be Lagos, and provide for the people of Lagos a template to dislodge godfatherism as well as set the stage for the realization of the full potentials of Lagos, which Lagosians have been denied of for decades.”
Oyegun chides Tinubu, says Edo people are wise, will make their choice
In the same vein, former National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, said outsiders such as Tinubu can never determine the choice of the people of Edo State.
He stated this in a statement issued on Tuesday, where he called on all political gladiators to ensure that Saturday’s election is peaceful.
“I read with great consternation and disgust a statement purportedly issued by me on a so-called outcome of the gubernatorial election in Edo State.
“First let me state emphatically that at no time did I issue any statement, verbally or written, on the fortunes of the APC, or any other party in the imminent election. The said statement which is making rounds in social media could only have originated from sick minds and desperate persons of criminal orientation.
“My views and statements on the Edo State political situation have been consistent.
“I strongly advised against the mistreatment of Governor Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki by the late unlamented National Working Committee (NWC), of the APC and his subsequent forced exit from the APC. Governor Obaseki stood bravely for the dignity and pride of his people and in the process suffered unacceptable indignities.
“In the matter of who governs Edo State, the people are sovereign and no individual or group, whatever their status, can decide on their behalf. I stand with the people of Edo State and urge them to come out massively to exercise their democratic right! They should vote for good governance, common decency, principled leadership, especially in the political arena and the protection of their vital democratic rights. They should by their votes, make clear that it is their right to choose their Governor and nobody else! There is no room for fence sitters.
“This is a special situation and primitive loyalties should and must be set aside. Remember Mr President’s admonition in an equally challenging pre-election situation in Imo State. “Vote your conscience”. There will be peace on Saturday. Come out and vote your conscience.”
Meanwhile, Social Media users have knocked Tinubu for urging the people of Edo State to reject the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Governor Godwin Obaseki in Saturday’s governorship election.
They accused him of plotting to ensure that the APC wins Edo State at all cost to aid his supposed 2023 presidential ambition.
@AlexEBGold said, “Dear BAT you told us to reject GEJ and Nigeria’s problems ll be solved. See where that has brought us today. Now you are telling us to do same in my dear State Edo. Going by status quo pls allow us to vote our choice. Remember 2023 is close pls sow good seed”.
@saunkeys said, “Lol, just like ambode abiii, na the pastor deserve vote. Tinubu is too desperate about 2023.”
@UmebulueRobins1 wrote, “And Ize is the one who deserved it abi? Old age is really disturbing Tinibu to think that he can say that and people will follow him. You marketed Obaseki then so why reject him now because he did not give you a portion of your demand. People self.”
@Tonyhamilton922 also wrote, “A man who unloaded 3Bullion Vans of Cash on the eve of General Elections & recruited Thugs led by MC Oluomo to stop & burn Ballots in opposition strongholds think of himself a True Democrat? Does Democracy have different meaning in Nigeria?
@rvdipson said, “Ask Tinubu, what has Obaseki done for him? I think it could be your perceived notion that he could a threat to your 2023 inordinate presidential ambition. Nigeria will reject you too. For same measure will be measured for you.”
@abimbolatof wrote, “Tinubu supported Bello for the second tenure despite his glaring failure, now same Tinubu is asking Edo people not to vote Obaseki despite his giant strides across all sector. Tinubu is an enemy of progress and should be ignored, he’s only interested in Edo’s treasury.”
