BEVERLY HILLS, May 16, (THEWILL) – Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state and the Peoples Democratic Party are embroiled in a face-off that may result in their parting of ways if the crisis generated by the governor’s move to dissolve the exco of the party is mishandled.
The Chairman of Edo State PDP, Dr Tony Aziegbemi, had on Tuesday petitioned Prince Uche Secondus, the PDP national chairman, to stop Obaseki from carrying out his alleged plan to dissolve the state executive.
According to Aziegbemi and Hilary Otsu, Secretary, the move by Obaseki was insincere as the intended harmonisation of the party in the state was hatched with some big wigs, namely, Chief Tom Ikimi, Mike Oghiadomhe and Charles Idahosa, without the knowledge of the leadership of the party.
They, therefore, asked the national leadership of the party to stop the governor, adding that if he was genuine in his decision, he should replace the Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu and Secretary to the State Governor, Osarodion Ogie, with PDP members.
THEWILL investigation shows that the current crisis is a recent development of a deepening crisis that started in December last year shortly before the former state chairman of the All Progressives Congress and a fierce loyalist of the governor, Mr Anthony Ojezu, defected to the PDP with about 15,000 members.
At that time, the governor had showed no inclination to appoint his exco ostensibly on the grounds that he wanted to run a lean government following the toll the ravaging Corona Virus had taken on finances globally amid the crash in oil prices, the country’s mainstay and the funding of his re-election.
According to a story published in the December 2020 preview copy of THEWILL Newspaper titled, ‘Obaseki, PDP On Collision Course,’ Obaseki and the Peoples Democratic Party were at loggerheads over appointments into the former’s cabinet.
The newspaper had reported that the governor had a disagreement with the party over the choice of key officers to be appointed.
Speaking with THEWILL at the time, Aziegbemi had conceded to the position and disclosed that things would be sorted out by February 2021. But Obaseki, as reported, was buying time to accommodate his APC loyalists.
Now the proverbial chickens have come home to roost. Sources say the governor is uncomfortable with the PDP exco while, “his APC people are floating.”
Speaking with THEWILL, former APC Chairman in the state, Ojezua said the position of the PDP was uncalled for.
He said, “I think the letter is uncalled for. There was no need for it. If a personality as critical as the governor were to join a political party, it is expected that the configuration will be adjusted to accommodate the governor and the people coming with him. The governor is an institution. That is what the Constitution says. He dominates.”
When asked if that equates to wanting to take over the structure of the accommodating party, Ojezua retorted, “That is a natural consequence of his defection. That is what happened when the PDP admitted governors into their fold. It happened in Bauchi, Sokoto and Benue States. The only difference in Edo State is the timing. As at the time, he (Obaseki) defected to the PDP, it was close to his re-election and there was no time to address the situation. Now that we have all collectively won the election, we should collectively share in the victory. PDP is the oldest surviving political party in the country. Whatever they do will depend on negotiations.”
Ojezua added that he did not need to discuss the matter with Aziegbemi, although they were still on speaking terms, because it was between him and the governor.
Chief Tom Ikimi, one of the key chieftains of the party in the state who is sympathetic to the move by Governor Obaseki to dissolve the exco, told THEWILL that his press statement had captured what he had to say on the matter. His reaction is similar in context with Ojezua’a position except for the restatement of his personal involvement in the emergence of Governor Obaseki as governorship candidate of the PDP.
Ikimi said, “In the PDP, I happen to have served in a special committee that handled such negotiations recently and it is indeed, a breakthrough to receive such high-calibre members.
“A state governor or leader joining your party will only do so if, among other things, he retains his status quo.
“All state governors who have relocated have done so in a joint ticket as governor and deputy governor. And the equitable sharing of structures is fundamental in the exercise.
“Retaining the tradition of the party, the governor, as soon as he becomes a member of the party, assumes the role of the leader of the party in the state.
“The state chairman and the state exco should from then on operate in consultation with the governor.”
In a swift reaction, the PDP, in clear terms, debunked his position where he stated that governors who defected always took along their deputies.
In a statement entitled, ‘The Inflated Ego of Chief Tom Ikimi Deflated by His Actions,’ the party said: “Stunned by the tone of the state exco’s letter to the national leadership of the party, Governor Obaseki reportedly conveyed a meeting of the State Working Committee in Government House in Benin-City, the state capital, and appealed for understanding, adding he was taken out of context. Moves, it was learnt, are afoot to resolve the face-off.
“Party Chairman, Dr Aziebgemi, who had agreed to speak after the reported Wednesday meeting between the exco and the governor, later changed his mind and refused to answer repeated calls to his phone, apparently to continue the discussions with the governor in camera.”
Following Aziegbemi’s refusal to constitute his cabinet since the governor was sworn in on November 10, 2020, there is an indication that more trouble awaits the party in the days ahead. The recent move to dissolve the exco and accommodate his APC loyalists may be the beginning of the crack in the relationship between the party and the governor.
About the Author
Amos Esele is the Deputy Editor of THEWILL Newspaper. He has over two decades of experience on the job.
