The absence of Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State at a meeting by seven of his colleagues with the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress and other National Working Committee memberd on Monday, would have gone a long way in finding lasting solution to the feud between him and APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
According to Vanguard, Obaseki’s absence hampered the APC governors from convincing the NWC and Oshiomhole to grant the governor soft-landing in his re-election bid.
Sources at the meeting told Vanguard that the APC governors could not convince Oshiomhole to throw his weight behind his estranged godson, Governor Obaseki, for a second term, as he insisted on direct primary to elect Edo APC governorship candidate. Obaseki and his supporters want indirect primary.
Seven APC governors had met with Comrade Oshiomhole in his Abuja residence to reconcile him with Governor Obaseki. Oshiomhole and Obaseki have been at loggerheads for some time now.
The governors in attendance at the meeting were led by the Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State. Other governors present were Simon Lalong (Plateau), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Mohammed Inuwa (Gombe), Umar Ganduje (Kano), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), and AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara).
Oshiomhole surprised Obaseki, being the man in question, didn’t come
One of the sources told Vanguard that Oshiomhole, who welcomed the governors, was surprised that the Edo governor was absent. The source, however, told Vanguard that the APC chairman said he was not averse to reconciling with Obaseki.
It was further gathered that Oshiomhole, in an attempt to set the records straight, reeled out the genesis of the crisis between him and Obaseki, adding that the governor had botched many reconciliation moves made by him.
The source said: “When the governors came for the reconciliation meeting, Oshiomhole showed evidences of text messages he had sent to Governor Obaseki and his deputy on several occasions to settle the differences between them. Rather than come for the meeting, the governor failed to show up at every point in time and this makes it difficult for the comrade to do anything. It is on record that the governor has refused to patronize party elders and leaders, who will mobilize other members during the election.
“Oshiomhole made it clear to the governors that it is not about Obaseki but about the party in Edo winning the elections. Oshiomhole even expressed surprise that Obaseki was not at a meeting his fellow governors called to reconcile them.
“Obaseki and the governors visited Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the President but when it was time to meet with him, he refused to join the governors. That shows that the governor is not out for peace.
“After his remarks, the governors were shocked as they were not aware of all these details. In fact, the Kwara governor expressed shock at the meeting, saying that he was not aware of the moves made by Oshiomhole. You can see that the governor is not interested in any reconciliation move.”
The PGF chairman, Atiku Bagudu, said that the meeting became necessary to resolve many outstanding issues that almost consumed the party.
However, Obaseki said he would have been at the meeting of seven APC governors with the NWC and Oshiomhole but for the call from President Muhammadu Buhari.
Special Adviser, Media to Governor Obaseki, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, told Vanguard on phone that Obaseki’s absence was not deliberate, adding that the governor wants an end to the crisis but some people are busy stoking the fire of the problem.
His words: “Governor Obaseki was on the way with the other governors to the meeting with the NWC when the President called him. He had to turn from the convoy to go and see the President. It is not true that the governor is frustrating reconciliation moves. He wants to see an end to the crisis but some people are busy lying and fanning the embers of hatred.”
How soft-landing bid failed
Although Bagudu denied broaching the issue of the mode of primary election in Edo State, multiple party sources who were privy to the outcome of the meeting said the governors had wanted the party to sanction the indirect primary method for the state as being canvassed by Mr Obaseki.
Having listened to the governors, Oshiomhole had insisted that the mode of primary would be the direct method, hinging his action on the 2018 decision of a meeting of the National Executive Committee, NEC of the party.
Oshiomhole was said to have insisted that fielding the incumbent would incur losses for the party, saying the governor was not on good terms with political players in the state.
“There are 14 lawmakers who have not been sworn in until now by the governor. Oshiomhole told the governors who visited the party that those 14 lawmakers who were elected by their own people could go against Obaseki should he be given the ticket,” said a party source.
Another source said the party is not ready to lose the state and that the national chairman would, in the coming days, meet President Muhammadu Buhari on the Edo issue.
“Sure, he will be meeting with the president soon but of course you know that Mr President is a man who sticks to the law. He would want the party’s constitution to be respected.
“The NEC already took a position on the mode of primary elections and the president was part of that NEC meeting. If there must be indirect primary in any state, there are certain conditions that must be met and none has been met in the case of Edo,” he added.
