- Gov accused of use-and-dump tactics
- It’s not true – Osagie
- Oshiomhole promises to intervene
A crisis is unfolding within the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, as the youth wing of the party has accused Governor Godwin Obaseki of using them for his election and dumping them thereafter, among other grievances. They are now calling on the national chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, to call Obaseki to order, as they threaten to work against him during the next election if he doesn’t reconcile with them. OSEMWENGIE BEN OGBEMUDIA reports from Benin City
All is not well within the All Progressives Congress in Edo State as the youth wing of the party is set to battle the State Governor, Godwin Obaseki. The youths had, last month, accused Obaseki of using them to win the 2016 governorship election in the State but later dumped them after his success at the
poll.
The youths had, therefore, threatened to take their pound of flesh on the governor during his re-election bid even as they blamed the
party’s national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, for their predicament, saying he (Oshiomhole) “brought them to work for Obaseki.”
Edo South Youth leader of the party, Comrade Tony Kabaka and former youth leader of the state APC, Comrade Osakpamwan Eriyo, are leading the youths in seeking justice from what they described as Obaseki’s use and dump tactics as they also accuse the governor of intimidation, arrest and failed
promises.
At a meeting held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists Centre in Benin City, the youth leaders made their grievances against the governor known to the
public.
THE GRIEVANCES
“We want to inform the public of what the APC youths in Edo State are facing after helping Governor Obaseki to win the governorship election in 2016. We are here in Edo NUJ because we don’t want what happened in Ekiti State to happen in Edo State where outgoing Governor Ayodele Fayose neglected all those who worked for him.
“Those who worked for Obaseki to ensure that he succeeded in the election have been neglected. The first appointment we got from the governor was to be sent to the prison. We worked for him for continuity in government and to consolidate on the good works of Oshiomhole.
“All the minor and major works in Edo State are given to people outside the state at the expense of the Edo people who brought him into office.
“For instance, his Personal Assistant is a Yoruba man who is busy acquiring eye-popping properties everywhere. But can any youth from this state get a job from any of the Yoruba States?,” Kabaka stated .
He lamented that they would have been treated well if they had supported the duo of former deputy governor, Pius Odubu or Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, during the governorship primary election.
OTHER ALLEGATIONS
Kabaka also listed politicians in the state that Governor Obaseki had allegedly forced into political retirements to include Mr. Charles Idahosa, Gentleman Amegor, Rev Mike Egharevba, General Charles Airiavbere, among others. He threatened that the youths will withdraw their support from future engagements and vowed never to be used again by the governor in future elections, adding that what befell Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State would befall Obaseki, unless he carries members of the party along, henceforth.
The angry APC youth leader said after one year and seven months in office, the only empowerment Governor Obaseki has given to them is the alleged imprisonment of the party’s Women Leader.“If we cannot benefit from the government we worked for now, then, there is no time we will benefit from it. If you talk, you will die, if you don’t talk, you will die. “Obaseki said that the deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, will be in charge of youth in the state, but how is he representing the interest of the youths today? Let him come out and tell us,” he added .
IT’S NOT TRUE
However, the Governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Crusoe Osagie, in a reaction, faulted the position of the youths, saying it was wrong for the aggrieved youths to speak like politicians. According to Osagie, “the allegations do not carry any weight.”
OSHIOMHOLE RE-ASSURES
But succor may soon be on the way of the youths as the APC National Chairman, Oshiomhole, appears to be ready to address their grievances. Apparently speaking on the grievances of the youths at a reception held for him at the Benin Airport last week, Oshiomhole appealed to them to remain calm, assuring them that nobody will be used and dumped by the party.
“To our people here, I want to assure you that I will work together with our governor and ensure that any error, any concern that you have are addressed satisfactorily. And I want to assure you that the tradition of carrying our people along will be sustained; you represent what I call our infantry division, you are the ones, who, on election day, ensure that our voters come out, you are the ones who ensure that the Peoples Democratic Party rigging machine was defeated.
“We must keep you as a standing force, together we will match on and will ensure that everyone who works is looked after. I know there are people with all kinds of stories but let me assure you that after the storm, the weather will settle.
“Trust me, as you have not abandoned me, I will never abandon you and to our youths, I want to particularly appeal to you; don’t lose faith. There will be work, there will be participation; there will be involvement, there will be crucifix, we will not throw away anybody. Nobody will be used and dumped. If yesterday has come beautiful, tomorrow will be better, I am back home,” Oshiomhole told the mammoth crowd of youths, market women and party leaders, who came to give him a rousing welcome at the Benin airport.
They were there to welcome their son and former governor of the state, who was visiting after he emerged as the national chairman of the party. As early as 7.00am, party faithful had occupied virtually all available space within the airport premises, chanting praises in support of the former labour leader .
The excited APC youths could not hold back their admiration for the former governor as they chanted “Oshio baba”, “Oshio-quake” “You are our hero”, “Oshiomhole na you we know, save us from Obaseki,” which rented the air for quite a while.
At exactly 10:45am when the private jet carrying the National Chairman of the party arrived, the already excited crowd of party supporters went wild in jubilation even as security had a hectic time controlling the crowd.
For the youths, it was a golden opportunity to express their grievances over the way and manner Governor Obaseki had allegedly mal-treated and relegated them to the background, having worked for his victory in 2016.
They blamed the Oshiomhole for their predicament having pleaded with them to support Obaseki’s candidature against Pius Odubu and Engineer Chris Ogiemwonyi whom, they said, would have being better choices. They said while Oshiomhole held sway for eight years as the governor, he was able to strike a workable balance between the political class and governance which, they noted, was largely responsible for the stable political peace inherited in the party by Obaseki.
TALKING TOUGH
They however warned that should the total disrespect of party leaders by the governor continue, APC in Edo State will vote against President Muhammadu Buhari and the party in the 2019 general elections. They also threatened that should the National Chairman of the APC fail to address what they described as the total disconnect and abandonment by the governor and party leaders in the state, they will have no choice than to defect enmasse to the opposition party.
ENGAGEMENT TO CONTINUE
To those who defected to the opposing PDP, the APC national chairman said for a party that is committed to the people which he agreed to lead, the party will continue to engage them and pro-attack at the same time, irrespective of the people branding him an attack dog.
“Whether they call me an attack dog or not, I will rather be an attack dog than be a mushroom eater. I asked you to understand that what is at stake is beyond the APC and the PDP. Nigeria is much more than the sum total of all the political parties. When you see all the sponsored debate, I am at home. We will see who will be president next year
February.
“In Edo, they made this argument that politics is different from labour, we used labour tactics to humble them and they became converted. Exactly the same way we used it in Edo, we will use it either in Kwara, Benue or Sokoto or anywhere.
“Be fair in your reportage, this is not about me, it is not about them, it is about the Nigeria people. We cannot for those questioning my choice of style.
I will not adopt the ruling class tactics to deal with a cankerworm of disease. I offer a different style in order to get different outcome,” Oshiomhole declared.
While commenting on the state of the party in the state, an impeccable party source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated: “There is no point pretending that all is well in Edo
APC.
We are all maintaining a graveyard silence while the party is drifting to a precipice. We are only consoled by the fact that we believe that Oshiomhole will call Obaseki to order soonest.
“Even those who are close to the governor are afraid to tell him the truth. If election is conducted today in Edo State, APC will be extremely lucky to take the day.”
