By Simeon OSAJIE
A
former Director of Media and Publicity for Adams Oshiomhole campaign
Organisation, Comrade Orobosa OmO-Ojo JP has formally withdrew his support
for Mr Godwin Obaseki, Governor of Edo State and the People’s Democratic Party,
PDP.
Comrade
Omo-Ojo explained that he took his decision to save his relationship with those
that look up to him for leadership in community service.
Speaking at the All Progressives Congress, (APC) State Secretariat in Benin City where he was received back to the party by the Chairman and Secretary of Ward 3, Ovia North-East Local Government Area, Comrade Omo-Ojo disclosed that Governor Obaseki’s refusal to pay N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) only to the family of late Joseph Igunma for his burial, was the last straw in a series of horrible actions of Obaseki that led to his decision.
Comrade
Omo-Ojo flanked by Engr. Lawrence Okah, APC State Secretary; Mr. Akenbor
Godwin, APC Ward 3 Chairman; Mr. Peter Omorodion, Secretary, APC Ovia North
East Local Government Area and Hon. Gabriel Osayande, former Supervisory Council.
“We lost a very reliable community mobilizer a day
after the last Presidential and National Assembly elections in my ward. He was
the coordinator appointed to manage one of the units in my ward. That unit was
one of the 3 units PDP struggled to win in my community.
“During our strategic meeting for the State House of
Assembly election, I cautioned the governor in the presence of other leaders
that, the party must reward those that delivered their units, including the
late Joseph Igunma who had spent his resources to deliver his unit before he
slumped and died. Obaseki asked for a written request from the family, which
they did.
“Obaseki eventually approved the sum of N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) well
after some community members contributed money and buried their son,” he said.
Going
further, the former Commissioner of Solid Minerals, Oil and Gas, as well as
Commissioner of Transport, explained that till date, Obaseki has refused to
approve the release of the paltry sum, despite his repeated reminder. This
situation he said is capable of making him contemptuous in his community.
He
added also that he has become wired, tired and exhausted from the series of
unending fights Obaseki has engaged his supporters in, which had distracted him
from achieving his campaign promises.
“Today the 15th day of April 2014, I have come to the realization that you can lead
a horse to water but you can’t make him drink.
“I have given Mr. Governor (Obaseki) opportunities
to turn better leaves and act in a different manner or change his understanding
of leadership but to no avail.
“In 2020 when situations forced some of us to
regrettably shift political affiliation to the PDP alongside Governor Obaseki,
I have persistently cautioned against incessant intra-party fight between irate
forces backed by the governor and the ‘parent Legacy PDP’.
“My peaceful disposition was nonsensically seen as
affront to the belligerent group that see political victory as spoils of war.”
In
the end, Comrade Omo-Ojo said, the PDP suffered the worst political defeat in
Edo State, where the governor, commissioners and majority of the PDP leaders
lost their units and wards.
“I have decided to listen to the call by my
community and friends to disassociate our support from the governor,” the former
Special Adviser on Arts, Culture and Tourism to Oshiomhole said.
The
journalist cum publisher is a foundation member of Action Congress (AC), Action
Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and All Progressives Congress (APC).
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