Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state has revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari has mandated the local leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to reorganise the party in the state.
The governor, who has been at logger head with the party national chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, also said Edo people no longer have confidence in Oshiomhole, stressing that the former governor, does not enjoy the support of the people.
Obaseki, who made the remarks at Owan when leaders of the party hosted him, dismissed the party national chairman saying his antics to create factions of the party in the state would fail.
Further, he said APC in Edo under his leadership remains intact, strong and united, especially, according to him since the suspension of Oshiomhole over alleged divisive and anti-party activities.
“f you are a progressive, you must be a real progressive’ adding that all those working to destabilise the party would be shown the way out.
“Members of the EPM are trying to frustrate the good plans we have for Edo people as their plan is to burn markets and government buildings. Their intention is to discredit our administration but the people of Edo know better.
“APC is one party; those that say they are in EPM are not APC, including their National Chairman who we have suspended in Edo State. Those mistakenly elected into Edo state House of Assembly (EDHA) who are members of EPM have been thrown out and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is aware and will soon announce date for a fresh election, where we would have opportunity to elect credible representatives who will represent us in the House.
“Any person doing anti-party activities, President Muhammadu Buhari has asked us to deal with them. We have been told to go back to organise our party; that’s why we are here.
“As a ruling party in the state, we have done a lot for Edo people, moving the state forward progressively but EPM are afraid of progress and will do anything to ensure we don’t get another term.”
Speaking further, Obaseki said work would soon commence on Sobe-Sabogida-Ora road.
“I have told the contractor to start work on the Sobe-Sabogida-Ora road. In that road alone, I want to do 5,000 hectares of cassava farm; I am a governor for development.
“The support here today is massive and it speaks volume, further showing that the suspended National Chairman’s antics will not work. He no longer has the support of Edo people.
“The act of trying to create faction of APC in Edo state can’t work; we are still intact, strong and united. Our politics in Edo state is transparent and can’t tolerate any act of dubiousness. If you are a progressive, you must be a real progressive.”
Meanwhile, the host, Sir Tony Ezekiel, an APC leader in the area, who alleged that he was intimidated out of the state four years ago, said he has now returned to join hands with the governor to develop the state.
“Obaseki is doing well in developing the state; I have gone around and seen the work of the governor. He has developed the agricultural and educational sectors; trained teachers and civil servants; constructed roads and a lot of other things to make life better for Edo people. We will support him all the way.”
