Edo PDP Leaders Ask Dep-Gov, SSG To Resign

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Edo State has called on Comrade Philip Shaibu and Osarodion Ogie to respectively resign as deputy governor and Secretary to the State Government, SSG to allow the harmonization of the party structure as demanded by the camp of Governor Godwin Obaseki.

Their position was articulated in a strongly worded petition channeled to the National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus following an expanded meeting of the State Working Committee, SWC.

In it they expressed strong reservation to the demand from the governor and some chieftains of the old PDP for the dissolution of the party structure.

 GreenWhiteGreen GWG reports that the governor surrounded by about ten of his allies who crossed over with him from the All Progressives Congress, APC met with Dr. Tony Aziegbemi last Saturday during which a proposal was put forward for the state PDP structure to be dissolved to accommodate the governor’s interests. Also present at the meeting were Chief Tom Ikimi, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe and Dr. Raymond Dokpesi, elements of the old PDP who the PDP resolution described as paper weights who were of electoral insignificance in their polling units.

The State Working Committee, SWC at a meeting with all the Local Government Area chairmen of the party at a meeting had flatly rejected the proposal for the dissolution even as they flayed at the continued exclusion of party officials who worked for the governor’s re-election in the new government.

While affirming their determination to stay put, they also lamented that no commitment was extracted by the national leadership from Obaseki before he was welcomed to the party.

In their resolution to the national leadership they said Governor Obaseki should start his desire for harmonization from his government by asking Ogie to resign as SSG and his deputy, Shaibu to step down.

They said:

“We hereby reiterate to the National Executive Committee of our party that the issue of dissolution of executive committees in Edo State is “subjudice” and it will be an act of contempt of court to revisit it by the Party.

“The genesis of this looming crisis results from the acquiescence of the National Working Committee members who negotiated Godwin Obaseki’s movement to PDP, to reach a verbal or written agreement on the integration of the new members vis a vis the sharing of appointments, after the elections had been won.

“We therefore condemn Gov. Obaseki’s re-appointment of his former SSG without any consideration for the legacy PDP he joined. To this end, they have consistently sang a tune of “harmonization” ever since Obaseki was sworn in, knowing that he now has the “yam and the knife”.

“We have resolved strongly, that if any harmonization MUST take place, it MUST start from the Governor’s office, where his Deputy Governor should resign and a Deputy nominated from the old PDP is sworn in. This can be a spring board for broad harmonization across the state party organs.

“The proposed dissolution and, or harmonization are designed to hold Edo people and the PDP to ransom by the Obaseki led administration. WE WILL NOT ACCEPT THIS. Edo people voted for PDP and Godwin Obaseki to deliver the dividends of democracy to them, but if Gov. Obaseki wills to conduct governance by a triumvirate of the Governor, the Deputy Governor and the SSG, so be it.

“If he wishes to appoint only his friends and former APC colleagues in his cabinet and sundry positions, and leave out the legacy PDP members, so be it. We, the Peoples Democratic Party leadership will not accede to any form of harmonization that has no backing or interpretation in our party constitution.”

GreenWhiteGreen GWG, reports that the proposal by the Edo State chapter of the PDP for the two senior government officials to resign is expected to be the response that will fend off the governor’s camp from their desire to take over the PDP structure.

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