Exclusive: Messy Details Of Battle For The Soul Of Edo State: Why Wike Is Against Obaseki

• Secondus, Other Gladiators’ Connection

Some of the events of the past few days might have complicated the political situation in Edo State ahead of the September 19 governorship election, with the recent threat by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike to pull out of any truce initiative being the latest in the streak of the commotion trailing the exercise.

Wike, who was visibly displeased with the report by a national daily, which described him as a burden to Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, has however threatened to sue the prominent national daily for allegedly conniving with some members of his party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to slander him.

Curiously, First Weekly sources hinted that Wike had also confided in some people that the publication was with the connivance of the party’s National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, a man he (Wike) made PDP Chairman despite the huge opposition from different quarters to his choice.

But there seems to be more to Wike’s anger than what is currently in the public space.

First Weekly gathered that at his first meeting with Obaseki, preparatory to his crossing over to the PDP, Wike told his Governor colleague that put differently Adams Oshiomhole’s excesses, he (Obaseki) too has not acted right with a man, who made him Governor against all odds.

According to inside sources, Wike said one thing he frowned at in his political career was disloyalty, which he claimed was becoming a rarity, wondering that if Obaseki could go all out against his benefactor, he was not sure he would not do more harm to an already fragile PDP.

Besides, Wike did not also hide the fact that he had always had an interest in the aspiration of Omeregie Ogbeide-Ihama, a man he was said to have nurtured to test his mettle on Edo’s political firmament, but Obaseki’s membership of the PDP is now obviously threatening his long-nursed aspiration.

He was also said to have argued that Obaseki knew some six months ago that the ship of the APC in Edo State was sinking, but refused to make any conscious and practical political moves, perhaps, by way of courting and bringing members of the opposition closer, only to start running around at the eleventh hour and also determined to rest the ambitions of older hands in the PDP in the state.

In addition, Wike was said to have frowned at Obaseki’s alleged domination approach, which is not only asking for the governorship seat, but also demanding, not to choose a running mate from amongst the PDP members, but coming with his old APC ally, Philip Shaibu, to take them all and make other members of the party feel the leadership sold out.

However, First Weekly gathered that, when it was clear that Wike was hesitant, a prominent colleague Governor from the Southern region, was said to have brokered truce at a meeting held in his house in Abuja, the nation’s capital with three representatives from each side, where Wike was eventually persuaded to let the Obaseki plan fly, if not for anything, but the need to get rid of Oshiomhole as quickly as possible as he might constitute threat to both parties in 2023.

Although Wike was said to have consented to the plea and agreed to let go, sources posited he was not fully moved to be part of the Edo battle any more especially, on account of the fact that he was said to have considered Obaseki a betrayer that could do more harm to the PDP.

Furthermore, the governor of the oil rich state was said to have buttressed his position with the Rivers situation, citing how former governor Peter Odili mentored all of them on the state’s political soil, only to be relegated by another of his political son, Rotimi Amaechi, before he (Wike) came on board and resuscitated him, the reason he brings him along to some of his events.

But with the latest developments and the stand of Wike, it is yet to be seen how Obaseki’s candidacy would fly seamlessly in the PDP, even though the crisis situation in the APC does not present a better scenario.