Obaseki to Oshiomhole: ‘The fight is over’

By Kolawole Ojebisi

“ON a special note, I want to use this occasion to call on the former chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Aliu Oshiomhole, that, the fight is over.”

With these words, the re-elected Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, extended hand of fellowships to his predecessor and former political leader, Oshiomhole, with whom he fell apart in the run-up to the election held on Saturday.

Obaseki made this remark shortly after he alongside his deputy,

Phillip Shaibu were presented their certificates of return by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The presentation was conducted by INEC’s National Commissioner, in charge of Edo, Rivers, and Bayelsa, Mrs May Agbmuche-Mbu, today at the INEC office in Aduwawa, Benin City.

In his press briefing after the presentation, the governor asked Oshiomhole to “come and join in building the house, where he was part of laying the foundation”.

He continued, “We have no malice. The only thing we disagree on is on the approach in moving Edo forward.”

The Edo governor also called on his strongest opponent in the election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the APC, saying; “we are one family in the pursuit to provide services and public vote for our citizens.”

“I want to put it on record that the election of September 19, 2020 has been adjudged as one of the best conducted election in terms of it being free and fair.

“Our citizens have decided that for now, they trust us more with the affair of leadership. It does not mean that they did not have a role to play. It does not mean that they are not part of a family.

 “So, I am using this opportunity to extend a hand of fellowship to my brother, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, and his other colleagues in the APC to join us and work with us so that we can move Edo State forward.”

Obaseki, the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) defeated Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by a margin of over 80,000 votes.

Recall that winning the election was a tortuous journey for Obaseki, following his disagreements with his predecessor in office, Oshiomhole.

 The All Progressive Congress (APC) screening committee had in June disqualified Obaseki, and two others from participating in the party’s primary election to select its standard bearer for the governorship election. The screening committee disqualified him by saying one of the certificates he presented was defective.