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Oshiomhole VS Obaseki’s game: In Whose Interest?

Ranmilowo Ojalumo

The political game in Edo state is currently incontrovertibly getting more interesting. Political observers now expect at least a new chapter every day.

The game, of course everybody knows, is between the former governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole and the incumbent, Godwin Obaseki.

It is no longer news that Obaseki clinched the All Progressive Congress (APC) ticket in 2016 through the influence of Oshiomhole and subsequently become the governor of the state.

Obaseki defeated Ize-Iyamu in 2016, who ran the race in the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) this is equally no longer news.

Interestingly, Ize Iyamu was in the APC at that time and desired the governorship ticket, but the then incumbent, governor Oshiomhole favoured Obaseki, this made Ize-Iyamu to cross to PDP where he was given the ticket, that is also known by every nigerian.

During campaign, Oshiomhole called Ize Iyamu all sort of names. Today the swinging of the pendulum has changed direction. For some reasons, Obaseki is no longer in the good book of Oshiomhole, hence he doesn’t want him to do second term.

It is however ronic that Oshiomohole has favoured the same Ize-Iyamu that he called all sort of names in 2016 to take over the seat from the incumbent Obaseki.

 Ize-Iyamu defected from PDP where he ran for the seat in 2016 to APC and subsequently granted waiver to contest in direct primary which the almighty Oshiomhole allegedly influenced.

The whole essence of the direct primary, political observers believes is to ensure that Obaseki never get the ticket. Fast forwarded, Obaseki was eventually disqualified from taking part in the primary on the ground that there is disparity in his credentials, funny enough, it is the same credentials that qualified him in 2016.

 With Obaseki’s disqualification, the road was obviously clear that Ize Iyamu would clinch the ticket, the incumbent Obaseki made a move on Friday and finally joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), thereby putting to rest speculation surrounding his next move.

The governor and the party (PDP) both made the defection known on Friday at the Party’s Secretariat in Benin City. PDP on its verified Twitterhandle, said “the Governor of Edo State, H. E. Governor Obaseki has defected to our great Party, the @OfficialPDPNig. The declaration was made this afternoon at the state Secretariat of our party in Benin City, Edo State. Power to the people”.

Obaseki in his defection short message has also called on all Nigerians “within the state and across the country, to become a member of PDP.”

Since the beginning of the ongoing political game in Edo State, many questions have since been rolling in the mind of every good thinker and one of the bold question is “in whose interest is the ongoing game in Edo State? Is it in the interest of the people of Edo State or that of individual player?

Why did Oshiomhole want to unseat Obaseki? Is Oshiomohle fighting in the interest of Edo people or his own interest? Must he be the one to determine who becomes the next governor of the state?

Is Pastor Ize-Iyamu moving from APC to PDP and to APC all because he truly wants to better the life of the people of Edo state? Will he actually do better than Obaseki as governor of the state or he just want to occupy the seat for the sake of the respect, accolade, wealth and power attached to the seat?

And as for Obaseki, does he think he’s the only one that can govern the state? Must he do two terms as the governor of the state? Is he making all the effort he’s making in the interest of the masses in Edo state?

The answer to all these questions is, of course, not a hidden one as far as Nigeria politicians are concerned and until the bogus money and the abusive power attached to political offices in Nigeria is drastically slashed and reduced respectively, the do or die nature of politics in the country may remain forever.

editor

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