Godwin Obaseki, the Governor of Edo State , has put the records straight on the allegation that he betrayed Adams Oshiomhole.
Naija News NG reports that Obaseki who has submitted his nomination form said his predecessor was financially broke when he came them in 2007 to help him finance his gubernatorial ambition.
You would recall that Oshiomhole contested under the Action Congress in 2007 , lost to PDP’s Oserheimen Osunbor but later clinched victory through the court a year later .
Obaseki who handed his nomination form to APC’s National Organizing Secretary, Emma Ibediro, denied ever betraying his predecessor, Oshiomhole.
Obaseki said apart from financially helping Oshiomhole to become Governor, he also made sure he became the National Chairman of the APC .
“In life, everybody gets helped, everybody gets assisted. The person you talked about (Oshiomhole), he had no money when he left labour to contest. We knew what we did to make him Governor,” he said.
“I sacrificed eight years of my life pro bono, I collected no kobo to serve him in Edo. Today, we know what we have built because of where we started from. So, when you talk of betrayal, the biggest betrayal can be when people betray a cause, when they betray an idea.
“So, when you talk about betrayal, let us be very clear. I want to put it on record that I am grateful, he assisted me just as I assisted him. I know the sacrifices we made to make him national chairman.”
The Governor also issued a warning to Osjiomhole not to interfere with the Edo governorship primary election.
He said Oshiomhole is “an interested party” and should not be involved in the primary election processes so as to ensure a free election and a chance to reconcile the party.
“I am using this opportunity to call on Comrade Oshiomhole to recuse himself from the Edo nomination process because he is an interested party,” he said.
“It is against natural justice for a man to be a judge in his own case. So I think the honourable thing to do is to recuse himself and let us have a free process and let us reconcile and build our party.
“I believe that ours is a lawful party and we will do things according to the Constitution of our party. So, direct or indirect, I am certain I will win the primaries but we have to respect our constitution and follow our constitution.”
Obaseki concluded by saying 4 years is not enough for a governor that he will need another term to consolidate .
