Edo 2016: Tension in APC over Oshiomhole’s rumoured endorsement of Obaseki

BENIN—THE rumoured endorsement of the chairman of the Economic Team of Edo State Government, Mr Godwin Obaseki, as Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s preferred governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, ahead of the 2016 governorship election in the state is causing tension in the party.

Obaseki-Oshiomhole

The tension is due to the calibre of aspirants in the party, including the Deputy Governor of the state, Dr Pius Odubu, former governor of the state, Prof. Osarhiemen Osunbor, Oshiomhole’s Works Commissioner and political son, Osarodion Ogie, former Minister of State, Works, Dr \
Chris Ogiemwonyi, Kenneth Imasuagbon (Rice man) and Gen. Charles Airhiavbere.
Obaseki’s emergence in the governorship race came as a surprise to many due to the fact that he is seen as a technocrat and not a politician. He is alleged to be backed by business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote.
However, tension heightened in the state’s APC last week after some leaders of the party informed their followers that Obaseki was the governor’s anointed and urged them to key into it. Vanguard learned of an alleged plot to ensure that his emergence was frustrated at the primaries by other aspirants. Oshiomhole had in an interview with Vanguard, expressed his respect for each of the aspirants and assured that the leadership of the party would ensure the emergence of a candidate that will sustain the infrastructural development he put in place.
But a chieftain of the party, Rev Michael Egharevha, dismissed such threats, saying: “If Obaseki is the governor’s choice nobody will stop him. Oshiomhole made most of us what we are today and if he decides it is Obaseki, so be it, we will all support him. So if anybody is threatening, it is only a waste of time. (Vanguard)