Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, on Friday revealed that one of the key factors that contributed to his fallout with his predecessor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, now a senator, was his decision to declare a state burial for the late chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih.
Anenih passed away during Obaseki’s first term as governor when he was still a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Obaseki made this claim during the ongoing PDP campaign rally at Opujie Primary School in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area, the hometown of Chief Anenih.
Addressing the crowd, Obaseki urged them to support and vote for the PDP’s candidate, stressing that it was the people of the area who first insisted that the next governor of Edo State should come from Edo Central.
He criticized the APC for allegedly trying to bring in a Benin candidate but ended up presenting an Esan candidate “through the back door.”
According to Obaseki, “When Chief Anenih died, I was not in PDP, but I declared a state burial for him because of his contributions to our dear state and Nigeria. This was one of the things that created issues between me and Oshiomole who never wanted it. He considered it an unforgivable sin which he could not overlook. But I have to do what is good. We are all one. Edo State is one.
“And that is why I am here today. For Edo to be one and united, I have to support Esan man for governor. And not just an Esan man but a capable, competent, intellectually sound person with good track record in the person of Asue Ighodalo.”
He declared that the need to move Edo forward requires a candidate like Asue Ighodalo.
In his address, the candidate of the PDP, Asue Ighodalo promised to complete all ongoing projects in Esanland.
He said “I will complete all on and create more. We will complete all ongoing projects in Esan North East and across all Esanland. Be it water, roads, hospitals, schools or anything, we will complete them and create new ones.
“Edo will be self-sufficient under my administration and become a state other states will come to. With us Edo will not suffer poverty
“Let us support the good work to continue. Obaseki has done well and we will build on the foundation.”