*As Obaseki picks PDP governorship form
The embattled governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has, according to reports doing the round, picked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship form.
The movement of Obaseki to the PDP and the high-level consultations with leaders of the party had culminated in the postponement of the party’s primary election by another three to four days.
The PDP has postponed its primary election originally scheduled for June 19 and 20 to June 23.
Amid, the political hirsetradong, a drama is playing out in Edo State as a support group in the PDP- The PDP Youths For Reformed Edo- has vowed to drag Obaseki through Ayelala shrine to swear to an oath of allegiance to their party members before they can give him support.
Ayelala is a deity known for instant justice.
The group, in a press statement by its Chairman Wilson Osamede, said that Obaseki could not be given the ticket in PDP if he did not swear to an oath to carry the party members along.
He said members who were the grassroots networks in PDP would not work if they would not be rewarded upon victory.
They claimed only a spiritual deity could compel Obaseki to take this demand serious as the Governor was known to have a history of disobeying authorities and his helpers.
The statement reads in part:
“It has just come to our notice that His Excellency, the Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has just purchased the PDP governorship ticket (form).
“We want to make it unequivocally clear that we would not support the candidacy of Obaseki if he does not take an oath before a spiritual deity.
“Obaseki who is a serial betrayal cannot come over to our party and take over the structure completely just because he gave the party leaders 8 Billion Naira (no evidence to support claim).
“We are aware of the dirty deals and compromise of our aspirants but we want to warn the party that Obaseki has a history of betrayal.
“He should swear before Ayelala to ascertain that we would not be used and dumped.
“This man threw away his campaign manager as soon as he was sworn in as Governor.
“What hope do we now have that he won’t dump us when he just met us at the junction?
“We can’t be fooled; if Obaseki is serious, he should come and swear before Ayelala and when coming he should come along with the PDP chairman.”
The statement further stated that failure of the Party and Obaseki to take the oath before the spiritual deity would lead to mass defection from the party.
Many stakeholders in the PDP have been kicking against Obaseki’s entrance into the party, citing intolerance and ingratitude as Obaseki’s bane.
(Edited version of the original report by Osigwe Omo-Ikirodah in Benin sourced from ireporteronline.com.ng)
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