Charles Idahosa, a one-time Political Adviser to the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has said his former boss cannot stop Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki from getting re-elected for a second term.
Idahosa spoke against the backdrop of a statement attributed to Oshiomhole wherein he was alleged to have said it would take a miracle for Obaseki to win next year’s governorship election even if he gets the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Party (APC)
The former aide to Oshiomhole fielded questions from reporters as part of the activities to mark his 66th birthday.
He said he recently escaped an assassination attempt for saying the truth as gunmen rained bullets on his convoy.
Idahosa said Oshiomhole lied that he said he nominated only one Commissioner to the State Executive Council.
According to him, Obaseki has won the heart of the people through infrastructural projects that cut across the state, adding that he has brought sanity to governance.
He noted that the quarrel between Oshiomhole and Obaseki would be difficult to settle because it emanated from envy and jealousy.
Idahosa said, “Oshiomhole said he brought only one Commissioner. That is a lie. Oshiomhole brought the Deputy Governor. He brought the APC State Chairman and he brought the Secretary to the State Government (SSG).
“The main issue between Oshiomhole and Obaseki has not been brought to the fore. We know they are busy working underground to stop Obaseki but nobody can stop Obaseki from having his eight years.
“Obaseki’s record is so intimidating. Oshiomhole wants to be the lone star in the state. The truth is that Oshiomhole is envious and jealous of Obaseki.
“The people are with Obaseki. We, the politicians are angry because Oshiomhole pampered us. Obaseki is not ready to be calling us and be giving us money. The people are with him. Then, why must we not be happy? Now the state is working.”
Idahosa described the two leaders as one and the same but with different approaches to governance and issues.
“Obaseki and Oshiomhole, as far as I am concerned, are one. Obaseki is a creation of Oshiomhole. I knew all was not over after Obaseki visited Oshiomhole. I knew they were busy working underground. Nobody can stop Obaseki from doing his two terms. We are behind him.
“Oshiomhole is envious and jealous of Obaseki’s achievements. Oshiomhole ruled here for eight years. Nobody challenged him. The one that challenged him, he messed them up thoroughly. Why would Oshiomhole be interested that Obaseki took people with small computers to be collecting revenue? Did Oshiomhole prefer a situation where bunch of illiterates will beat up people to collect money to now that there is sanity?
“Oshiomhole promised not to intrude in governance. He is now saying Obaseki should settle politicians. The people that are the masses are happy. We no longer see pensioners on the street demanding for their money. A National Chairman with 36 states to supervise is only interested in Edo.
“This matter can never end. Obaseki’s record is so intimidating. He has made Oshiomhole looked ordinary. Go out and see what Obaseki is doing. I am the first person to take on Obaseki when he started looking down on leaders. I suspended my membership of the APC,” Idahosa said.
Reacting, a member-elect of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Washington Osa Osifo, described Idahosa as a failure.
“I said in a live show yesterday that Governor Obaseki is a victim of wicked advisers with very inordinate ambition that will not benefit him and his government. I am not surprised that Hon. Idahosa has said what he said. That he has even judged Oshiomhole that way is a sign of his own failure because he was Oshiomhole’s adviser for eight years. It is like saying God is envious of we mortals even when he created us. Comrade Oshiomhole is not God, but he made Obaseki who he is today. He threw in everything to make him governor,” Osifo said.
He criticised Idahosa for allegedly not doing enough for his people despite his close relationship with government over the years.
