The Edo APC crisis of implosion appears to have worsen as Governor Obaseki dares former Governor Oshiomhole, sacking all Oshiomhole’s ‘revenue consultants’ by a pronouncement in his first ever new year state broadcast.
Governor Obaseki, reading nervously from prepared speech on a teleprompter on a screen, and referring to the thugs that he and Oshiomhole appointed as revenue collectors and oppressors of the people of Edo state, modulating his voice in a political gimmick to sound angry at oppression of the people, Governor Obaseki lambasted Oshiomhole for employing criminals and thugs as revenue collectors for Edo state, saying that it was “an àbberarion” for the former governor to appoint people who are not from any of “the three tiers of government” as revenue collectors for the state.
The Edo governor, forgetting that he himself, then as Chairman of Economic team, was actually the one who authorised most of those thugs and criminals to collect revenue on behalf of government signing a written contract with them whose tenure has not elapsed, announced orally that “from today any arrangement between Edo state and those revenue collectors is invalidated” advising citizens to report them to the police if they are found anywhere.
Investigations conducted by Our Source indicate that the new Governor is trying to play politics with the action, hoping that the people would like and accept him if they believed he is fighting Oshiomhole thugs, ahead of a possibility of a rerun in the tribunal case which the APC is very likely going to lose owing to the strong case put forward by the PDP and Oshiomhole’s body language of “I have done my best, now to your tents of Israel!”
Our investigation also revealed that, like Oshiomhole promised in 2008 when he was newly sworn in, Obaseki is not actually fighting the private collectors of revenue but removing Oshiomhole’s men so that his own men led by one of his close aides and private collector, Shaaba, can take over.
It would be recalled that Shaaba has had a running battle with his fellow merchant of violence and APC state youth leader, Osakpanmwan NoMoLess who is now in prison, over who will control the revenues in the city of Benin. NoMoLess is aggrieved that despite his daring sacrifice for the “rigging in of Obaseki” as governor, Obaseki is “giving my food to Shaaba”. Obaseki, according to our secret reporter in government house, is said to have replied ” NoMoLess and all others were fully paid for their jobs, so we owe no one!”
Investigation by our newspaper indicate that, beyond the façade of replacing Oshiomhole’s illegal revenue contractors with Obaseki’s men, the festering crisis between the former governor and the governor has to do with the choice of persons to be appointed as Commissioners.
While Obaseki needs free hand in choosing his Commissioners, our sources say Oshiomhole has instructed that Obaseki must accept the former governor’s list of Ministers prepared at Iyahmoh, which is composited of names that does not reflect the senatorial character or equitable representation of the Edo people, according to Obaseki.
Obaseki is said to be unhappy, and have expressed his dismay, that all appointments so far announced have been nominated by Oshiomhole. In fact, the apointments were actually signed before Obaseki took oath of office as governor of Edo State with his signature postdated.
For instance, the positions of Secretary to Edo State Government and Chief of Staff, are direct appointees of the former governor.
Sources say Obaseki, who recently mounted the saddle under the umbrella of the All Progressives Party, APC, would have preferred to appoint his close associates as Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and Chief of Staff, but these two positions are already occupied by persons who are cronies of the former governor.
The Icon learned that the grumbling became louder during the choice of a running mate, when the former governor imposed Philip Shuiabu on the party caucus without consulting anybody even when it was expected that the deputy governor would come from Edo Central Senatorial District.
A reliable party source revealed that the choice of Philip Shuiabu was meant to checkmate Obaseki in the event that he tried to renege on a godfather-godson agreement possibly entered into by the two dramatis personae. The source further said that the choice of Shauibu was for two reasons: due to his closeness to the governor and for his boldness.
The cold war, we further gathered, is one of the reasons it is difficult at the moment for the governor to compose his cabinet.
The icon learnt the former governor wants to dominate the day-to-day operations in the government house, hence his desire to plant his men as commissioners.
For Obaseki, the governor believes it is his time and his right; that he should be allowed to play a major role in choosing who becomes a commissioner under him.
More importantly, there is a case pending at the elections tribunal. As it stands, no one can tell where the pendulum will swing as the ruling All Progressives Party (APC) is not too comfortable with the happenings at the tribunal. For this reason, Governor Obaseki has been a bit careful not to take the fight to Oshiomhole head-on, the reason the former governor continues to dictate to the governor even after leaving office.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) might have declared him winner of the election and sworn him in as governor of the state, but the controversy that trailed the victory and happenings in the court continues to give the governor sleepless nights.
Obviously, the governor rode to power via the political structure created by Adams Oshiomhole, so it is not a surprise to see the latter being in control of the machineries and the team of lawyers Obaseki is banking on at the tribunal.
Political analysts are of the view that it will take Governor Obaseki’s strong political will to wrestle himself from the grip of Oshiomhole and at the risk of losing his case at the tribunal. Worse still is the lack of popularity of the governor in the state.
Very dependable sources close to the governor have squealed that the governor is deeply worried over the huge debt profile of the state viz-a-viz the fact that he met an absolutely empty treasury when he took over from Adams Oshiomhole. More worrisome to him is the fact that it will take time for him to fulfil the electioneering promises made during the campaigns to electorates.
A deeper insight into the cold war is the agenda of some Edo South elements in the party who are of the view that it is their time to call the shots in the governance of Edo State. They claim the Afemais had their turn in Oshiomhole’s eight years, therefore, their son should be left alone to pilot the affairs of the state without undue interference from Comrade Oshiomhole.
Our findings reveal that they are waiting patiently for the outcome of the tribunal ruling and if it is in favour of Obaseki, all Binis irrespective of political party will rally round Obaseki to ensure he succeeds and protect him from Oshiomhole’s foxes who are in government. But Obaseki still has to thank God and his political mentor (Oshiomhole) for the height so far.
Reacting to the issue of empty treasury, the state publicity secretary of People Democratic party, Mr Chris Nehikhare said, as a party, they had told Governor Obaseki to make public the handing-over note of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to ascertain the state of things as at the time he took over from Oshiomhole. He added that PDP would not take it lightly if he blamed his under-performance in future on empty treasury.When contacted for his response, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Obaseki, Mr. John Mayaki, denied the allegation but declined to respond on the issue of the empty treasury. “No quarrel anywhere my brother, thanks,” he declared.
Thanks to Our Sources For this Information.
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