The faceoff between Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki and
the APC National chairman, Adams Oshiomole, has taken a new turn with the state
governor threatening to expel Oshiomole from the party if he continues his
''anti-party'' activities. Obaseki's faction of the APC in December 2019,
suspended Oshiomole from its party.
Both men have been at loggerheads over who should control
the affairs of the party in the state.
Obaseki handed down the threat when he spoke at a meeting of
the 18 APC local government chairmen in the state.
Reacting to the political rally Oshiomole organised last weekend
in Auchi, Etsako West local government area where thousands of people from the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) defected to the APC, the governor said former
governor would not have tolerated a fraction of the things he has put him
through since he became governor.
He maintained that should Oshiomole come to the state again
to have a ''power tussle'' with him, he would show him that he is the governor
and controls the affairs of the state.
“All this 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.
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 will not tolerate a fraction of the
misdemeanor 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. 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.” Obaseki said
Oshiomole is yet to react to Obaseki's threat.
