The Edo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reacted to the statement credited to Andrew Emwanta, one of the aides to Godwin Obaseki.
Emwanta had said during an interview on Channels Television that the state PDP has expired, another phrase for inactive opposition”.
The aide also likened the PDP to a drug with an expiring date while calling on the All Progressives Congress (APC) faction in the state, Edo Peoples Movement to shield its sword and work together ahead of the coming governorship election.
Emwanta said “Oshiomhole people have been the one taking the role of the opposition party in Edo and as such, now that Oshiomhole has said he wants to go and sin no more, and has been forgiven, he should put that to action because just yesterday his former deputy governor Pius Odubu started attacking the governor, a former member of the House of Reps, Samson Osagie started attacking the governor.
I think the President’s intervention is very apt, very timely and I think it’s for the national chairman to reciprocate that gesture by calling on his belligerence members of the group called The Edo Peoples Movement not to play opposition politics because, for too long a time, PDP has been in Limbo.”
“As I said earlier, PDP is, actually a drug with NAFDAC number but its expiring date is showing that it is an expired party. As far as we know, we have just one party and that is the party to beat in the next election, the All Progressives Congress, the APC.”
Mr Emwanta urged the National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole to reciprocate the gesture of his reinstatement by extending a hand of fellowship to his boss, Obaseki.
“As you see, I am talking peace, so we should be ready to accept the realities on the ground.
The man has been reinstated, he was already out but he was reinstated so with that reinstatement we expect him to reciprocate and the basis of reciprocating is to ensure that he comes back with a hand of fellowship to work closely with the governor. We are going into an election we need to come together as a united front.”
In its reaction, the State Publicity of the PDP, Mr Chris Nehikhare described the opposition as an effective party in the state contrary to the view expressed by Emwanta.
He said the APC has copied the narratives set by the PDP.
“I didn’t know that Andrew Emwanta was an undertaker. I didn’t know he was also a mortuary attendant. Edo PDP an opposition has been so effective that members of the same party APC now use narratives dictated by PDP to fight themselves.”
Adams Oshiomhole and Obaseki have been at loggerhead over supremacy. While the governor described Oshiomhole as a godfather, Oshiomhole called Obaseki incompetent who has abandoned all his incomplete projects.
Oshiomhole also asserts that Obaseki has neglected those loyal to him and everyone who worked for the triumph of the 2016 governorship election that brought the governor to power.
After a federal High Court in Abuja suspended Oshiomhole, peace finally embraced the Chairman on Monday after President Muhammadu Buhari intervened in the gang up that almost saw the Chairman unseated.
As part of a reconciliation move, the Chairman agreed to move for peace and apologised to his members for his imperfection.
Meanwhile, members of the EPM have continued to stand their ground, arguing that Obaseki’s second term did not form part of the discussion for a reconciliation.
Speaking with NAIJA CENTER NEWS on Tuesday, one of the leaders of the APC in the state, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu said: “Now that the court has ruled in comrade’s favour, the Governor should be advised to give peace a chance and focus on governance which he has since abandoned.”
A former Minority Whip of the House of Representatives, Samson Osagie said “Oshiomhole does not fight with the Governor. Governor is the one fighting him and many party leaders and members.
“Oshiomhole will not compromise the party interest for the ambition of one man who has mismanaged his political capital. The Governor is the one running for elections, not Oshiomhole. The ball is in Obaseki’s court”
A chieftain of the APC, Charles Airhiavbere told NAIJA CENTER that “I don’t understand your question. Do you settle with coup plotters who wanted your life”
