Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has declared to deal with the national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole if he keeps “disrupting activities” of the ruling party in the state.
Oshiomhole was instrumental to the emergence of Obaseki as governor of Edo State.
Oshiomhole, also a former governor of the state, fell out with the incumbent governor Obaseki shortly before the latter declared his reelection bid.
Their grouse between the duo reached its climax last year when the Edo State House of Assembly was divided along their loyalists.
Lawmakers loyal to the governor had taken oath of office secretly, leaving out their colleagues in the camp of Oshiomhole.
Stakeholders in the APC both in state and national level had failed in their efforts to reconcile the governor and his estrange benefactor, Oshiomhole.
Speaking at a meeting of chairmen of the APC in the 18 local government areas in Edo, Obaseki said he is prepared to “show Oshiomhole” that he is the governor of the state.
He also directed the party chairmen to deal with any person or group carrying out activities that are not in the interest of the state chapter of APC.
“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.
“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.”
Obaseki said Oshiomhole remains suspended and he would be expelled if he does not retrace his steps.
“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.”
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