Understanding The New Confusion In Oshiomhole’s Camp

It was reassuring that the acting chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Edo State, Mr Jarett Tenebe on Thursday evening came out to denounce reports he said linked Senator Adams Oshiomhole to the alleged plot to screen out some formidable aspirants in the contest for the party’s governorship ticket.

The report had among others claimed that the penultimate governor of the state, Senator Osehreinmen Osunbor was screened out by the Prof Julius Ihonvbere-led committee that had been mandated to prune the number of governorship aspirants in the APC from 29 to a manageable size.

The committee had initially proposed 10 aspirants with four from Edo South and three each from Edo Central and Edo North.

The exclusion of Osunbor from the three initially recommended from Edo Central was especially shocking.

The three aspirants recommended from Edo Central were Festus Ebea, former APC state chairman, Dave Imuse, and Senator Monday Okpebholo.

The three recommended from Edo North were erstwhile minister of National Planning, Prince Clem Agba, Prince Kassim Afegbua, and Dr Ernest Umakhihe, who recently retired as a permanent secretary in the Federal Civil Service.

The four recommended from Edo South were Lucky Imasuen, Pastor Ize-Iyamu, Mr. Dennis Idahosa, and General Charles Airhiavbere.

However, what raised uproar among APC stakeholders on Thursday when GWG.ng published its report was the pressure on the committee to further prune the list to six.

The committee was expected to prune the list to six with two aspirants from each of the three senatorial districts.

Once the online newspaper published the report, a storm arose over the leak.

Two issues from the leak were the personalities that were reportedly being edged out. In Edo South, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the party’s candidate in the 2020 election and General Airhiavbere were to be pruned out leaving Idahosa and Imasuen. In Edo North, Prince Afegbua was also listed to be removed while in Edo Central, Ebea was to be removed.

The first takeaway from the plot was that the party was determined to give equal opportunity to each of the three senatorial districts despite the sentiments on the ground.

Another matter which GWG.ng did not cite was the fact that all of the six who would have emerged would be acolytes of Senator Oshiomhole.

While many believe that Airhiavbere may have the money to bulldoze himself, others are also of the opinion that Ize-Iyamu with his network and name recognition could be a good match for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP especially if it comes up with a disagreeable candidate.

Those who suggest that Oshimhole is the one pushing the panel to remove Ize-Iyamu suggest that the senator may not be able to control pastor if he becomes governor.

However, the suggestion that Oshiomhole is opposed to Ize-Iyamu does not explain why the same man backed him to the tilt just four years ago. So what may have changed between 2020 and 2024 for Oshiomhole to supposedly oppose Ize-Iyamu?

In Edo North, many are also puzzled by the push for the former permanent secretary, Umakhihe, who joined the party less than two months ago. How could he come up to displace someone like Prince Afegbua?

There are many questions being asked and puzzles that do not add up in the gripping political panorama in Edo State.

Whatever, as it is now generally being alleged, the comrade-senator who is popularly acclaimed as the state leader of the party is said to be confused over the choice of a candidate for the APC.

For the comrade-senator, the political dynamics envision pushing forward a popular candidate to win the election or bringing forward a suppliant candidate that could lead the party into another four years of opposition in Edo State.

Many political godfathers who persist in playing the godfather role with seemingly suppliant successors have more often than not harmed themselves.

In Enugu, it is easily remembered how Governor Chimaroke Nnamani APPOINTED Sullivan Chime as his successor apparently with the belief that the more popular Ike Ekweremadu could cage his influence. Rather, it was Chime who caged him and Ekweremadu who gave Nnamani succor in his days while in political oblivion.

Or is it the unfolding development in Rivers State between Governor Simi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike? The comrade-senator even has a personal testimony of the humiliation appointed successors sometimes do to their godfathers.

After his experience with Godwin Obaseki it is shocking if Oshiomhole would allow himself to be a partaker in a plot to foist a candidate on the party in Edo State.

Whatever, politicians need to put themselves in a balance of knowing when to leave the stage at the state level as Senator Kashim Shettima and Ifeanyi Okowa appeared to have successfully done for their successors.

Nyesom Wike is on the opposite side of the pole. It is remarkable that as Wike appeared to be preoccupied with developments in Rivers State, bandits from around Abuja descended on his new post in the FCT.

That led to unsavouring agitations that he should choose between being minister of the FCT and being the political leader of Rivers State.

Oshiomhole is now a senator of the Federal Republic, foisting his will on Edo State could distract him and smear his legacy!

Send Us A Press Statement Advertise With Us Contact

 And For More Nigerian News Visit GWG.NG