Whether or not it was a chance meeting, it happened in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ as Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki on Saturday met in Church with his predecessor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole in Auchi, Etsako-West Local Government Area of the state.
At the end of the Church service, Obaseki told journalists that he had no personal grudges against the former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He, however, said very clearly and emphatically that he disliked his (Oshiomhole’s) style of politics.
The occasion that brought together the two estranged friends was the Centenary Birthday Thanksgiving of Msgr. Thomas Oleghe and 18th Canonical Erection Anniversary of the Diocese of Auchi held at Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Auchi.
But for COVID-19 safety protocols, both men would have either embraced or pumped hands.
Nevertheless, they both exchanged greetings with an elbow-bump in compliance with COVID-19 safety protocols.
Obaseki said they were both sons of Edo with the interest of the state at heart.
According to him: “I don’t have anything personal against Oshiomhole. I may not like his politics, but he has not done anything personal against me. We all are interacting with the interest of the country and the development of our community at heart.”
The governor said the Zonal Congress of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which was scheduled to hold this Saturday, was postponed due to the local government elections taking place in Delta State.
Read him: “The Zonal Congress, which was to hold today has been postponed to Tuesday and it’s a normal routine to satisfy the party’s constitution; there is nothing amiss.”
On his part, Oshiomhole, who was a guest at the event, hailed his successor, Governor Obaseki, describing him as his “brother and friend.”
Oshiomhole stated: “Once the governor speaks, the matter ends. The governor knows that pensioners here might not be able to do much, that is why he said every other thing required to complete the hostel of the Catholic School of Nursing and Midwifery in Uzairue, his government will do.”
Recall that Oshiomhole installed Obaseki as his successor in the 2016 governorship poll in Edo on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
They parted ways due to irreconcilable differences in 2020 with Obaseki defecting to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, after he had been denied the opportunity to participate in the governorship primary election.
Obaseki, whose fight with Oshiomhole culminated in the removal of Oshiomhole as national chairman of the APC, had gone ahead to win the September 19, 2020 governorship election.
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