EDO PDP: WHO BETRAYED THE PORT-HARCOURT AGREEMENT? By Tonye Barcanista

BACKGROUND

In June 2020, Governor Godwin Obaseki was kicked out by APC Screening Committee from contesting for Party’s primary as a result of how he betrayed and blackmailed his benefactors. Obaseki ran to PDP at the National led by Prince Uche Secondus. But the PDP in the state under the leadership of Chief Dan Orbih were not involved. When Obaseki saw that Rt. Hon. Omorogie Ogbeide-Ihama, when defeated him at the 2019 election in Oredo federal constituency, unstoppable in the race for PDP ticket, he ran to Governor Nyesom Wike for refuge.

At the instance of Governor Wike, a meeting was held between Governor Obaseki, Chief Dan Orbih (representing interests of Edo Legacy PDP) and Rt. Hon. Ogbeide-Ihama in the Government House of Rivers State. Also present at the meeting were Governors Aminu Tambuwal (PDP Governors Forum Chairman), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Seyi Makinde (Oyo) and Prince Uche Secondus (PDP National Chairman).

At the meeting, the following agreement was reached as precondition to allow Governor Obaseki run alongside Philip Shaibu under the PDP platform, he will appoint into his government the following from Legacy PDP when reelected;

1. 4 Commissioners
2. 4 Special Advisers
3. 4 Special Assistants
4. 4 Council Chairmen during council election.

For the 2023 election, it was agreed that:

1. That Rt. Hon. Ogbeide-Ihama who sacrificed his gubernatorial ambition be exclusively given the PDP ticket for the Edo South Senate.

2. Legacy PDP be given Senate ticket for Edo Central

3. Governor Obaseki camp be given Edo North Senate.

4. Edo Legacy PDP be given 5 Reps and 11 House of Assembly tickets

5. Obaseki group be given 3 Reps and 13 House of Assembly tickets.

Obaseki proposed most of these terms, which in all honestly was highly favorable to him as he is to have the Governorship, Deputy, SSG, Chief of Staff, 14+ Commissioners, 14+ Special Advisers, numerous Special Assistants, etc.

At the election, Wike served as Chairman of PDP National Campaign Council, Chief Orbih Served as Chairman of the Edo State Campaign Council, Ogbeide-Ihama was the PDP Agent at the Collation Centre.

Despite these Sacrifices, Governor Obaseki failed to keep ANY of the terms of agreement.

Instead, Obaseki in October 2021 sponsored the suspension of Chief Dan Orbih (Chair of Edo Campaign Council who received him), Ogbeide-Ihama (PDP agent who stepped own for him), Hilary Otsu (state PDP Secretary) and PDP ward chairman in his ward (who gave him PDP card) from the Party – similar to what he did to Oshiomole. But the Court dismissed the kangaroo suspension.

Meanwhile, Wike became an enemy to Obaseki simply because he told him to be faithful to the Portharcourt Agreement. Not only Wike do Obaseki see as enemy, he also sees Makinde (who sacrificed time and resources to get him reelected) and Governor Ahmadu Fintiri (a witness to the agreement) as enemies for the same reason.

In addition, Obaseki alone filled candidates for ALL NASS positions in 2023(they were humiliated by APC and LP candidates) and denied Legacy PDP any position in his government. At the just concluded Council ‘selection’, he refused to cede a single Chairmanship seat to the Legacy PDP.

EXTRA:

Obaseki was alleged to have collected $300k from Philip Shaibu to ‘settle’ Legacy PDP – but no such money was received by anyone. I shall talk about this another time.

● Tonye Barcanista posted this piece on Twitter [now x] @TonyeBarcanista