Bisi Olaniyi, Benin
Governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State Pius Odubu has described threats to the National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as the handiwork of detractors.
He said the challenges will soon be over and the party will come out stronger under Oshiomhole’s continued leadership.
Odubu, during an interactive session with reporters, said his commitment to Oshiomhole’s leadership remained unwavering despite conspiracy by some party members. According to him, Oshiomhole has shown he is a leader and a tough man.
He said: “We all know that tough times do not last, but tough people do. The number of lives Comrade Oshiomhole has touched and the development he brought to Edo State outweigh his shortcomings. God will give him victory over the people that he raised, but are now plotting his downfall.
“I urge APC members and leaders across Nigeria to leverage on Comrade Oshiomhole’s skills to deepen the positive leadership he has provided for the party. My supporters across the 18 local government areas should keep faith with my desire to provide them robust and approachable leadership with a human face, in addition to rallying support for the party and our chairman, Comrade Oshiomhole.”
On allegations that Oshiomhole’s attempt to become a godfather was responsible for the crisis between him and Governor Godwin Obaseki, Odubu insisted that it was far from the truth.
“There is no godfather in Edo politics. Comrade Oshiomhole fought godfatherism to a standstill and he ensured that every vote counted, while the people also led. They are just giving a dog a bad name to hang it.
“On many occasions, we have challenged Governor Obaseki to name the overbearing tendencies or proclivity of Comrade Oshiomhole, and how he has tried to influence political activities. Comrade Oshiomhole said some time ago that he influenced the appointment of only one commissioner in Obaseki’s cabinet, while the commissioner had since been sacked. Is that the way of a godfather? They know there is no other way they can possibly fault Oshiomhole than to come up with the nebulous terminology that he is playing godfatherism.
“Obaseki’s problem in Edo State is not located at the doorstep of Comrade Oshiomhole. The governor is responsible for his own problem, because he has refused respect members and the party’s leadership in the scheme of things,” Odubu added.
He also admonished Obaseki to stop blaming Oshiomhole for his travails ahead of the September 19 governorship election.
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