Genesis Of Edo PDP Crisis, Moments Of Truth
GOV.GODWIN OBASEKI AND THE 2020 PORT-HARCOURT AGREEMENT.
Lack of Information leads to Assumptions.
In June of 2020, in a bid to seek refuge in PDP to achieve his 2nd Term bid, Gov. Obaseki, who had illegally joined the Edo Governorship race in PDP after the processes had closed, was restrained in court by one of the leading aspirants whose right was being violated.
Fellow PDP Governors led by Gov.Wike and Okowa decided to intervene to rescue an already sinking Gov. Obaseki by appealing to the Aspirant to temper justice with mercy.
This meeting was held in Rivers State Government House at the instance of Gov. Wike the then Rivers State Governor. After hours of deliberations from 11pm until 6am, the Aspirant, Rt.Hon Ogbeide-Ihama decided to yield to the appeals of the PDP Governors as a sign of Party Loyalty and for the numerous Benin Elders, Religious Leaders, Family and Leaders of Thoughts across Edo State who also prevailed on him.
This settlement was not without firm Agreements, it was decided that Gov. Okowa will stand for Gov. Obaseki and Gov. Wike will stand for Rt.Hon Ogbeide-Ihama but all under the supervision of the then PDP Governors Forum Chairman, Gov. Aminu Tambuwal.
Agreements reached were as follows;
Obaseki to give the Aspirant, Rt.Hon Ogbeide-Ihama for his huge supporters and sacrifices;
4 No, Commissioners in Edo State Government
4 No, Special Advisers in Edo State Government
4 No, Special Assistants in Edo State Government
4 No, LGA Chairmanship Slots out of 18 LGA’s
Chief Dan Orbih, the leader of PDP Edo State, was immediately elevated to the PDP National Vice Chairman, South South.
And for the Aspirant himself, who expressly said in the open meeting that his Ambition was not for sale, hence no discussion about monetary compensation would be entertained was then offered the EDO SOUTH SENATORIAL TICKET come 2023 General Elections to be funded by Gov. Godwin Obaseki. (As suggested and agreed by Gov. Obaseki himself)
Gov. Godwin Obaseki, who personally suggested most of these offers while in his desperate situation, thanked and appreciated all for the accommodation into PDP finally given him inspite of his illegal entry. Where did GRATITUDE go to?
Barely, One month after winning the 2020 Elections in September of the same year, an Election where the same Aspirant, Rt.Hon Ogbeide-Ihama was his sole Agent, he stood firm and even slept at the State collation centre, protecting Gov Obaseki’s votes to ensure his victory. Obaseki started fighting the same people who just helped and rescued him from the drag net of Adams Oshomole, who was then National Chairman of APC.
Until, this minute, Gov Obaseki never kept to one single Agreement from that meeting, instead he fought them all to the Supreme Court even for the Senate promise, and took all appointments in the State to himself including his recently conducted LGA Elections in Edo State.
He Broke THE PORT-HARCOURT AGREEMENT.
The issues between him and the Legacy PDP, which is the Authentic Structure of the Party in Edo State, started from that point.
All efforts by PDP Governors who midwifed the Agreements to get Gov. Obaseki to keep to his promises failed. Instead, he started fighting his fellow Governors/Colleagues.
Present at that meeting in PH, Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa, Gov. Aminu Tambuwal, Gov. Nyesome Wike, Gov. Seyi Makinde, Gov. Finitiri, Prince Uche Secondus (then PDP, National Chairman), Chief Dan Osi Orbih, and the Edo Governorship Aspirant, Rt.Hon Ogbeide-Ihama who was a serving member of the House of Representatives.
Immediately after the PDP leadership changed, with Sen. Iyoacha Ayu on-board as National Chairman, he set up the Gov. Ortom Committee to resolve the Edo PDP issues since the Governors Forum couldn’t get Gov.Obaseki ears to do the right thing.
Gov. Ortom led Committee, with Governors Okowa, Bala Mohammed, and Darious Isiaku as members, again set out new sets of Agreements in a meeting that lasted from 6pm until midnight at the Benue State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro in Abuja on the 6th April, 2022. In attendance, where Gov. Godwin Obaseki, Deputy Governor Phillip Shaibu, on the one hand and on the other hand, Chief Dan Orbih and Rt.Hon Ogbeide-Ihama.
SENATE:
Edo South was excluded for Rt.Hon Ogbeide-Ihama. (In Gov. Okowa’s words, this is settled as agreed in 2020. Moreover, he took no money for stepping down)
Edo Central was given to Legacy PDP
Edo North was given to Obaseki PDP
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
4 Constituencies, given to Obaseki PDP
5 Constituencies, given to Legacy PDP
HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
13 Seats, given to Obaseki PDP
11 Seats, given to Legacy PDP
All Parties agreed to these SETTLEMENT TERMS, and the Committee thanked all concerned. Meeting ended with closing Prayers for Edo State and a Press Conference afterwards by Gov. Ortom flanked by stakeholders.
AGAIN, Gov. Godwin Obaseki got to Benin two days later and made a complete U-TURN from the peace Agreement, saying he is the Leader of the Party therefore he wants all 24 House of Assembly Seats to himself, he wants the Edo South and Edo Central Senetorial Seats to himself.
He Broke THE ORTOM COMMITTEE’S AGREEMENTS.
He immediately entered into monetary deals with National Chairman Iyoacha Ayu, who tried to support illegal primaries without State and Local Government Party Excos nor INEC involvement. A situation that ended up at the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
He compromised the Judge, Justice Centus Nweze (RIP) who gave a technical judgment in Obaseki’s favour but unfortunately, all those National Assembly Elections were lost under Gov.Obaseki, and the Supreme Court Judge, suddenly died exactly Six Months later. May his Soul explain before God.
Ever since, several individual interventions had been made, from Religious Leaders, Leaders of Thoughts, Elders, Youths, and even Families but Gov. Godwin Obaseki would listen to none of the above.
Today on record, he took the Governor, the Deputy Governor, the Secretary to Government, the Chief of Staff, virtually all Commissioners, Special Advisers, Heads of Boards and Parastatals and recently all Elected Local Government Chairmen and Councillors. Who does this???
He occasionally, before Elections gave over 500 Special Assistants for a month and drive them all after the Elections, Win or Loose.
QUESTION: What exactly are PDP members quarreling amongst themselves for? What are their issues?
Gov. Godwin Obaseki has the knife and the Yam for the past three years exactly. Why can’t we now allow him to finish up the remaining active TEN MONTHS and leave?
What has Chief Dan Orbih done in all of these?
Let us always have the facts of all issues before jumping into what we don’t have details about.
_All References made above are all alive for verification and clarification, apart from Justice Centus Nweze of the Supreme Court
Courtesy: Edo State PDP Authentic Loyalist.
