Oshiomhole I’ll Deal With You If You Disrupt Edo – Obaseki Boasts At Party Meeting

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has sent a strong warning to his former political ally and national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, threatening to deal with him if he keeps “disrupting” the state.

Obaseki issued the warning at a party meeting attended by APC chairmen in the 18 local government areas in the state.

Obaseki issued the threat not minding that Oshiomhole, who is his predecessor, was instrumental to his emergence as governor of the state in 2016.

“We are warning the suspended National Chairman. If he continues his activities in Edo State, I will show him that I am the Governor of Edo State. While he was governor, he did not tolerate a fraction of the misdemeanour and misbehaviour he is undertaking today. I have declared that if Oshiomhole comes here to Edo to say he wants to disrupt the activities of the state and the party, we will deal with him the way we know how best to do it,” said the Edo governor.

The problem between Obaseki and Oshiomhole was said to have started after the inauguration of the Edo State House of Assembly when lawmakers loyal to the governor “secretly” took oath of office and left out those loyal to Oshiomhole.

It was alleged that the move was to prevent lawmakers loyal to the Oshiomhole from becoming principal officers in the house.

At the meeting with the LGA chairman on Wednesday, Obaseki was said to have directed them to deal decisively anyone caught disrupting activities of the party in the state.

Attacking the APC national chairman, Obaseki said: “He is not a party man. Look at the dump he kept the party as a Secretariat. With all the resources we had he could not support the party until the landlord evicted us. You are Governor or chairman based on the platform that elevated you. That is why I looked for one of the most beautiful building along Airport Road and said this is the secretariat of the party,” he said.

“All these nonsense they are doing. If anybody in the name of our party tries to do anything contrary to what we have agreed as a party, we will deal with that person ruthlessly no matter who he is.

“If you are elected a chairman, your attitude should show if you believe in the party. Party supremacy means the leadership of the party must respect the membership. It is the members that make the party supreme because the members subscribed to a constitution which governs the conduct of the party. One man cannot be the party.

“I am the Governor of Edo State and I so authorise it. If anyone comes to your ward or local government to do things outside what the party has agreed I hereby authorise you to deal with that person seriously.”

The governor said Oshiomhole remained suspended from Edo APC, while also threatening to expel him.

“Comrade Oshiomhole stands suspended from the party. In due course, we will expel him if he does not behave. The party does not belong to him, it belongs to all of us. We are following the wish of our people,” he said.

“Our next step is to make sure we convince more people to join our party so that all of us can move this state to the next level. I will give you all the support to strengthen the party at the local government. Monthly meetings must hold. Monthly wards meetings must hold. Attendance must be taken. Wherever there are issues, you sit down and discuss it.”