As the Edo State governorship election date approaches, the state governor, Godwin Obaseki, who is running for re-election is intent on keeping his political structure to improve his chances of emerging victorious at the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship primary elections slated for June 2020.
Obaseki who has been at political loggerheads with his predecessor, Adams Oshiomhole, is said to have threatened his commissioners who intend to resign with arrest.
According to a source, “the governor summoned all his commissioners to an emergency meeting at his Benin residence on Sunday, April 26, 2020, and warned them of the dire consequences that will follow if any of them decides to resign.”
Five influential commissioners had concluded plans to resign from their roles in the administration of Governor Obaseki due to internal squabbles.
The commissioners are mainly from Edo North, the stronghold of the former governor of Edo State and former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Adams Oshiomhole.
The planned resignation of the commissioners may not be unconnected with the power-play by a “cabal” in the Obaseki-led government who have reportedly shut out every other person.
A government source said, “It’s true the governor met with his commissioners on Sunday. After the meeting, some of the commissioners who had initially concluded plans to resign their respective positions had to soft-pedal for fear of arrests and probably play along with the governor pending when the coast will be clear for them to do so. But some are hellbent on leaving no matter what happens at the end.”
Recall, Governor Obaseki’s chief of staff, Taiwo Akerele resigned his appointment on Saturday, April 25, 2020, on personal differences with the governor whom he said was sidelining him in running the state. But less than 48 hours after he resigned, no fewer than 25 operatives of State Security Services, SSS, reportedly invaded his residence in Benin City on Sunday evening.
The operatives were said to have arrested Akerele’s personal assistant, Jaspa Olowojoba, whom they reportedly used to search Akerele’s house located off 1st Ugbor Road in Benin City, even as the whereabouts of Akerele were unknown as of press time.
Hattip: The Witness
