Oshiohmole, Obaseki Shun Each Other As Priest Fails To Unite Them

The crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress, APC in Edo State may not be over anytime soon if the drama that played out between the three major players in the imbroglio, Governor Godwin Obaseki, Adams Oshiomhole and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Francis Okiye is anything to go by.

The trio, who met at the venue of the thanksgiving service for the 90^th birthday of the Iyase of Benin, Chief Sam Igbe over the weekend in Benin were called by the officiating priest, Friday Imaekhai to embrace peace during his sermon at Our Saviour Anglican Church.

Imaekhai invited them to the altar and joined their hands together, saying the people of Edo were looking up to them.

But as soon as the service ended, Obaseki and Oshiomhole went their separate ways.

While Obaseki was said to have taken a seat behind the ex-Commissioner of Police, Igbe at the venue for the reception, Oshiomhole, who is the governor’s immediate predecessor and National Chairman of the APC was said to have stole the show as he walked in with people at the venue shouting his name excitedly.

According to reports, at the end of the programme, Oshiomhole refused to answer questions from reporters who besieged him like he did after the thanksgiving service earlier in the day.

The ex-Labour leader was also said to have rather than attending to the reporters, rushed to his waiting car, with security officials shielding him from admirers who sang his praises.

Recall that during a recent interview, Oshiomhole accused Obaseki of making a bad situation worse by firing his only nominee in his cabinet, an indication that hopes for peaceful resolution of the crisis is far in coming.

Obaseki while addressing reporters after the thanksgiving service, described the Iyase as an icon of the Benin culture, history and people.

He said, “We celebrate him at 90, we wish him good health and pray to God Almighty to continue to protect him and take care of him.”

Oshiomhole described  Igbe as a man of immense discipline and patience.

The ex-governor said, “He is a man of clean heart and truly believes in the development of his community and that explains why he is the Iyase of Benin Kingdom.

“Everybody prays to reach age 90. From the bottom of my heart, I celebrate with him and his family.”

Reports further added that among other dignitaries at the thanksgiving service were the Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion; former Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase; ex-Edo State Deputy Governor,  Mike Ogiadomeh; and the  Iyalode of Lagos, Chief Bintu-Fatima Tinubu.