Obaseki Takes On Oshiomhole, Says The Lion Caged In The Zoo

Governor Godwin Obaseki has taken a dig at his former political godfather, Adams Oshiomhole, following his victory in the just concluded Edo State governorship election.

Obaseki said by defeating Oshiomhole’s favoured candidate in the September 19 election, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, he had finally “caged the lions” in Edo politics and sent them to “the zoo where they belong.”

THE WHISTLER recalls that ahead of the keenly contested election, Oshiomhole, a two time Edo governor and former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), had described himself as “a political lion”.

He had also vowed to help Ize-Iyamu defeat Obaseki, whom he described as “a snail”.

But the election saw Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), defeating Ize-Iyamu of the APC by a margin of over 84,000 votes.

The governor-elect addressed his supporters at the Kings Square in Benin, the Edo State capital, where he took a swipe at Oshiomhole.

He said, “You have helped me cage the lions and tigers in the State, you will never see them again in Edo because they are all in the zoo now where they belong.

“Today, I promise you that we will work for Edo people because no one will hinder us from delivering the dividend of democracy to Edo people.

“My Deputy, Philip Shaibu, and I will go back to the office and work for Edo people. I want to thank everyone residing in the state; you spoke and we have heard you and ready to ever work for you.

“The next four years in the state will be the one that all citizens will live to remember as we will consolidate on our developmental achievements in the State. Thank you all,” he said.

Meanwhile, after withholding it’s congratulatory message for close 24 hours, the national leadership of the APC finally congratulated Obaseki for his victory at the polls on Monday.

The party said it remained committed to, “free and fair elections’ in order to strengthen ‘the foundation for our political and moral authority’,” adding that, “We commend INEC, our security agencies and all political parties that contested the election for the successful conduct of the election. As a governing party, we will take every step necessary to support the Federal Government to consolidate all the gains achieved.”