*Gov. of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki presenting his nomination form to President Buhari in Abuja on June 1, 2020 (Photo Courtesy: State House, Abuja)
Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the incumbent Edo State Governor who is seeking reelection for a second term in office was in Abuja earlier on Monday to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House. Obaseki is working at getting reelected on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) party, which is the party that delivered Buhari as President of Nigeria after they toppled the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which is touted as the largest political party in Africa.
Obaseki is having a running battle with Comrade Adams Oshiomhole who is allegedly ploting everything withing has powers to ensure that Obaseki was not returned as Governor. Ironically, Oshiomhole handed over to Obaseki after serving eight uninterrupted years in office. After handing over, Oshiomhole, became the National Chairman of the All progressive Congress (APC) party. But both men do not see eye-to-eye. Although both men tried to hide their dispute, but it got to a level where both men took their fight to the media.
Political observers in Edo State Obaseki who are surprised that both the Governor and the APC Chairman need not quarrel as members of the same political party, it was however alleged that Oshiomhole’s insistence to play the role as Edo State political godfather to Obaseki was the root of the problems. Obaseki, an accomplished Nigerian businessman and politician, who also served as the Chairman of the Edo State Economic and Strategy Team when Oshiomole was governor has refused to be handheld by Oshiomhole.
*Adams Oshimhole
Although Obaseki was at the State House to present President Buhari his re-election form, we gathered he may have used the opportunity to disabuse the mind of Buhari whatever Oshiomhole may have planted in his mind especially since the APC governorship primaries has scheduled for later this month. After the meeting with Buhari, Obaseki described the president as ‘his father,’ and hence, it would be wrong of him to take things for granted by assuming that it’s unnecessary to inform him (Buhari) about his re-election bid.
