Tension mounts in Edo State as the state governor Adams Oshiomhole adopts different strategies in depleting the major opposition party in the state the Peoples Democratic Party as 2016 draws near.
The Edo governor who had earlier stirred up controversy within his party the All Progressive Congress with a standing orders to all intending governorship aspirants from his political party not to commence campaign in preparation for the party primaries which is scheduled to hold early next year has recently in Benin City threatened to jail the former Edo governor Mr Lucky Igbinedion and his father the patriachy of the Igbinedion dynasty, Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion.
Oshiomhole had through his former commissioner for information Louis Odion issued a press statement ordered the state attorney general to probe the fomer Edo governor Lucky Igbinedion of fraudulently enriching himself of 31million dollars belonging to Edo state government.
In the statement, the Edo governor explained that the fraud which was discovered after intense internal investigations needed to be probed in order to recover the stolen monies for the use of Edo people. He said the 31million dollars was from the sale of companies belonging to Edo people.
But in a swift reaction the former Edo governor who was also a former ally of Oshiomhole denied ever enriching himself with the proceeds from the sale of Edo state companies, Igbinedion said he has for some reasons chosen to ignore Adams Oshiomhole and his tirades on his person, family and administration as a former governor of the state stressing that his dignified silence was borne out of respect for the office of a governor which he had the priviledge to occupy for eight years as well as also allowed Oshiomhole to concentrate on the business of governance.
Chief Lucky Igbinedion noted that joining issues with Oshiomhole would amount to dignifying him and his outburst thereby lending credence to his bogus allegations. In his words, “the actions of Oshiomhole to say the least is laughable and his utterances over the period portrays the state governor as one not deserving of a respect due to a governor bescause based on the strength of his vitupurations, Oshiomhole have lost touch with the people owing to his anti people policies therefore he is trying to save his face by weeping up sentiment and chasing shadow, the allegation of stolen 31million dollars from Oshiomhole is part of the antics of a drowing man”.
While cautioning governor Oshiomhole to stop probing his percieved political enemies on the pages of newspaper when there are courts of competent jurisdiction in the land, Igbinedion wondered why it took Oshiomhole over seven years to uncover a fraud of such magnitude.
Meanwhile governor Oshiomhole who rode on Lucky Igbinedion’s back to become Edo state governor as a result of the struggle to control party structure between the erstwhile Chairman Board of trustee of the Peoples Democratic Party Chief Tony Anennih and Lucky Igbinedion commenced making minced meat of serving commissioners and council chairmen in his government who suspected not loyal to the governor’s choice of successor.
Investigations revealed that despite the sack of top government officials by Oshiomhole, most of those still serving are not disposed to working for the APC and Oshiomhole. According to a serving top government official who spoke on strict condition of anonimity sixty percent of governor oshiomhole’s top government officials will disappoint the governor in the 2016 Edo governorship election just as he questioned the governor’s rationale in warning APC governorship aspirants from soliciting the support of would be delegates for their party primaries. The source stated further that with Oshiomhole’s recent anti people policies in the state which has led to frequent protest by civil society groups, market women and students, the chances of the APC wining the next governorship election might be a mirage. He said the recent 31million dollar probe ordered by governor Oshiomhole and the open insult on the esama of Benin kingdom after over seven years cannot save the governors imminient disgrace from office as according to the source “Edo people are now wise to be bamboozled by political vendetta, governor Oshiomhole must know limits as a governor. He is expected to act and always behave like an elderstateman which his office demand, he must know when to make statements”.
He said the governor is only looking for ways to thwart the governorship ambition of Pastor Ize Iyamu who is better positioned to clinch the PDP governorship ticket and governor Oshiomhole see him as the only formidable threat to whoever he wish to succeed him in the APC. The source explaining further noted that the recent probe of lucky igbinedion is one of the strategies of the governor to get at Pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu.
A chieftain of the peoples democratic party chief Emmanuel Igiebor described the recent outburst and actions of the Edo governor as not only a disgrace but demeaning of his status as a governor, while describing the administration of Oshiomhole as fraudulent and full of propaganda and deciet, Igiebor maintained that Edo state have never had it so bad in terms of governance since the creation of the state wondering why a former labour leader will be executing anti people policies. In his words, “Oshiomhole’s administration is worst than that of Lucky Igbinedion because he succeeded in runing aground all the viable companies that were hitherto met to employ youths and able bodied men and women, for example Edo line transport service, Bendel Brewery, Edo courier company, Bendel Insurance company and ukpilla cement factory. Lucky Igbinedion who we all know made it possible for Oshiomhole to become governor today did not only ensure the revitalisation of the companies, he employed workers and never owed salary all through his tenure just as he never for any reason increase school fees in any of the tertiary institutions. He established college of technology Usen, college of education (primary) Abudu, college of Agriculture Igueoriakhi, built and equipped the stella obasanjo children hospital amougst others”.
Chief Igiebor however caution governor Oshiomhole not to turn Edo to a war zone because of his despiration to install a successor at all cost.
Also commenting on the uneasy political atmosphere in the state, the peoples democratic party state publicist Chris Enekhikhare explained that with the spate of protest by various groups across the state Governor Oshiomhole should know that his days as governor is up. According to the state PDP publicist Oshiomhole government is based on propaganda and now that the people are aware of his antics, the govern resorted to blackmailing his percieved political enemies. “Oshiomhole has in order to achieve his consuming aim in government embarked on subjecting the peaceful people of the state to dictatorial regimentation: crass hollow and violent revolutionary mantras and a climate of induced fear virtually eclipsed the rationalisation of what a good government should be.”
Enekhikhare however insisted that contrary to the claim by the Oshiomhole government that they have achieved a lot, the accrued statutory allocation from the federation account and the internally generated revenue amounting to over a billion naira in the seven years so far is not commensurate with the costmetic projects the governor lay claim to he added.
