How OBJ Pushed My Re-Election In ACN – Uzamere

Senator Ehigie Uzamere the fist Benin man to serve two terms in the Senate has opened up on how President Olusegun Obasanjo helped him to achieve the record.

Uzamere who was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in 2007 and in 2011 was re-elected on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN in his unpublished memoir disclosed that Obasanjo helped to broker an agreement with Governor Adams Oshiomhole in a meeting that also involved a few political figures from Edo State.

Uzamere said that it was in honour of that agreement that also involved the immediate past Oba of Benin that compelled him to support Oshiomhole at the expense of his cousin and life long friend, Gen. Charles Aihavbere in the 2012 governorship election in Edo State.

Uzamere who is a leading supporter of the second term aspiration of Governor Obaseki released excerpts from his unpublished memoir, ‘I Am Because We Are.’ His assertion is against claims among some that he should support Oshiomhole’s stance against the re-election of Governor Obaseki.

He said:

Comrade Adams Oshiomhole was the governor of Edo State ( 2008 – 2016 ). A very pleasant man and superb orator. We met in the aircraft several times, but on this particular occasion, he graciously gave me an appointment to meet with him at his Abuja residence that same evening. I requested for his address, and he was shocked that I, who out of the 3 Senators from Edo State, single handedly helped to clear his NDDC nominee, Mr Don Omorodion of blessed memory at the Senate, did not know his house. He then asked his ADC to give me the address.

That singular act of helping to clear the Edo State NDDC nominee, made it possible for ACN a regional party to have their party member on a Federal board. It was not an easy task, I must say.

We met in his house as agreed. He thanked me again for being the only Edo Senator that assisted him clear his nominee for NDDC Board and also reminded me of the day he came to see the Senate President during the period of Doctrine of Necessity, that I was the only Edo State Senator who waited to receive him at the main gate of the National Assembly.

He accepted my request to join ACN and reminded me that Hon  Samson Osagie and Patrick Obahiagbon had since crossed over to his party. Yes, the three of us had met in my house and agreed to move over to ACN. He wondered  what I was waiting for.

I was a bit uncomfortable, because Pharmacist Matthew Urhoghide, my very close friend, had been in politics long before me, and had his eyes on Edo South Senate seat under the ACN.

I was still not sure of moving until I met Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of Nigeria at the Presidential Villa one evening, while waiting to see President Goodluck Jonathan. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo walked out of the office with the President Jonathan, we all stood up to greet them. Chief Obasanjo held my hand as he walked towards his car and asked; what is happening? Are you not contesting to return to NASS? I replied in the affirmative but told him that Edo State PDP had refused me the ticket because I went against some of their decisions. I informed him that I was discussing with Adams Oshiomhole about the possibility of my return to NASS, through his party, ACN. He said it was a good idea, and that I should arrange a meeting between himself and Oshiomhole at my Abuja house during the week. He also said to me that Oshiomhole should call him, as he would like to speak to him, which I did. They both spoke and agreed on a date, time and venue.

For me it was a miracle about to happen in my life. OBJ in my house?

Obasanjo arrived earlier with his daughter, Funke as Oshiomhole was still on his way to my house. Obasanjo alighted from his car and shouted Alamieyeseigha Ole! Then turned to me and said you’re a kind-hearted man and a true friend to DSP Alamieyeseigha, to which I replied in affirmation and thanked him profoundly.

“I told him that you only know your true friends when you are out of power. He smiled. Not too long after Chief Obasanjo settled down, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and his SA, Hon E. J Agbonayinma, who knew my house arrived and were ushered in by my senior legislative aide, Hon Frank Osayande.

We exchanged pleasantries. Present at the meeting were, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Pa Sunny Uyigue and my humble self. The meeting lasted about one hour. The meeting was successful, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole agreed to allow me  contest under his party, and he also said that I will have the liberty return to my party PDP after litigation if there would be any. For this I am eternally grateful.

Election came and we all won. He took all of us that were elected under his party to the Benin Palace, to introduce us and also to thank his Royal Majesty, Oba Erediauwa for his prayers.

The revered monach again asked the Iyase to pray for us. Immediately after the prayers, Oba Erediauwa admonished us to ensure we reciprocate what the Comrade Oshiomhole did for us by supporting him the following year when his election for second tenure comes up. We all responded in unison.

Then came the election year 2012, for the second term election of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. His strongest contender was Major General  Charles Ehigie Airhiavbere, (rtd) whose mother is my first cousin. In other words, Gen Charles Airhiavbere’s mother and I share the same grandparents. I was faced with choosing between my blood, a brother who was also my childhood best friend and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole who assisted me a year before his second term election.

I had no alternative than to chose to support Oshiomhole because he stood by me when I  needed a shoulder to lean on, and also I had given our Royal Father Oba Erediauwa my words that I will support Comrade when it was his turn to contest. My childhood relationship with my blood relation General Charles Airhiavbere became strained and suffered a setback, because of my choice to stand with Oshiomhole. Our bond became broken. I merely proved to the people of Edo South Senatorial District that it is always good to stand by anyone that assists you in life  as loyalty is reciprocal. However, like most decisions I have taken in my life… It was a matter of principle, Comrade Oshiomhole assisted me and I had no option than to reciprocate same to him.

My political disagreement with him is based on principles. I will always remember him for standing by me in hours of need. May God bless his bloodline.

I grew up with General Charles Airhiavbere like brothers. We were very close and there was no state, station or any part of the world that he was transferred to when he was serving in the military that I didn’t go to visit him and spend time with him. We were that close but when it came to paying back a good deed, I had to do otherwise because I was raised not to pay anyone who was good to me with ingratitude. It was a tough decision I had to take in my journey in life. Years after 2012 governorship elections, Gen Charles and I sat down a little over a year ago, at his house to review our differences. This was before the burial of our senior brother in March 2019, Late  Chief Emmanuel Ufumwen Uzamere, his mother’s immediate senior brother who is my uncle.

We have since put the past behind us and reunited again as family

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