Godfatherism, Loyalty And Brinkmanship: How Edo People May Respond To APC’s Disqualification Of Obaseki
The Oasis Reporters
June 14, 2020
Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki.
Nigerians saw how independent minded Edo people in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region who cherish and adore their monarchy struggled and fought godfatherism when their own party, the PDP allegedly rigged to cheat the then opposition party candidate, Adams Oshiomole who had no financial might to fight for his rights and retrieve his mandate, twelve years ago.
The people backed Oshiomole and he won in the courts, eventually becoming a two term governor.
After concluding his constitutionally mandated two terms, the same man has emerged as a strong man godfather, whose obvious behind the scene moves have led to the disqualification of a second term seeking governor.
At a time PDP stalwart, Femi Fani-Kayode was tweeting about Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, lecturing about loyalty and politics in the face of formidable godfathers.
One of the most important virtues in life is LOYALTY. Never bite the finger that fed you. Obaseki has learnt this lesson the hard way. I have known Oshiomole for years. He is a formidable adversary, a skillful fighter &a tough cookie. Obaseki could never have outmanouvered him.
— Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) June 12, 2020
Another People’s Democratic Party, PDP, stalwart, Reno Omokri was tweeting @renoomokri questioning, “How could Governor Godwin Obaseki have been qualified by the @OfficialAPCNg to contest the Edo gubernatorial elections in 2016 and not be considered eligible for the same position in 2020? Same state. Same position. Same party. Same man. Same qualification” ?
He added further thus, “Wow! So the @OfficialAPCNg has disqualified Governor Godwin Obaseki? My counsel to Mr. Obaseki is to immediately cross over to the @OfficialPDPNig” because “You can’t get justice in General @MBuhari’s party. What happened to @AkinwunmiAmbode may happen to you! Move fast!”. Apparently he did that for Fani-Kayode expressed gladness that Obaseki has now joined the PDP.
And why does Oshiomhole want Obaseki out as Edo governor ?
Gen. Ishola-Williams (rtd) offers an insight on why the APC national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole is desperate to sack Godwin Obaseki as Edo state governor.
“Look at what is going on in Edo state, an individual wants to decide who becomes the governor of the state, and the reason for that is that he wants to ensure that he installs his own candidate because he wants to protect his personal interests. I’m talking about Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the APC national chairman. Having served his own term, he should allow Governor Godwin Obaseki to be.
“Why is Oshiomhole so desperate? Oshiomhole is afraid because he doesn’t want to get exposed. He wants to install somebody that will cover his track”, the retired Army General, Ishola Williams said.
All Progressives Congress (APC) Screening Committee for Edo State Governorship election on Friday declared Governor Godwin Obaseki unqualified to contest in the election due to some discrepancies in his educational certificates and National Youths Service Corp, NYSC.
Others also disqualified are Hon. Matthew Iduoroyekemwen and Egnr. Chris Ogiemwonyi.
The committee however cleared Pastor Osagie Ize- Iyamu, Dr. Pius Odubu and Hon. Osaro Obazee.
Submitting the report of the screening to Oshiomhole, Ayuba said the report was conclusive.
He added, “Every member signed and has agreed with what we have decided at the committee level. This is essential because we want to be judged by what we have done and what we are presenting.
“We were thorough in the manner in which we conducted the exercise. We recorded live the interaction with each of the aspirants. The unedited clip is what we are giving as part of our report. We want to be judged by what we have done and not by what a third party says or by rumour.”
He said out of the six aspirants screened, three were eligible to contest while three were deemed ineligible to contest.
Giving details of Obaseki’s disqualification, the panel chairman said, “Though His Excellency, Godwin Obaseki, in his nomination form claimed to have obtained a Higher School Certificate from an Institute of Continuing Education, Benin. It was observed however, that no educational certificate such as HSC is known in Nigerian educational system. Even then, the same HSC was never presented in the course of the screening exercise. The aspirant admitted that he has never collected it.
“The attestation from the Institute of Continuing Education, Benin from where the alleged HSC which was indicated in the field of attendance as obtained is of no consequence, as it only attests that Obaseki was a student of the institute. So, what we had was just an attendance, it was not a result.
“Although, the committee received a petition on his University of Ibadan Bachelor of Arts Classics certificate which he submitted to INEC in 2016, when he first contested as governor. The committee on further probing was presented with original certificate issued by the university and the original was sighted.
“On the NYSC certificate dated 6th August 1980, the committee observed that he bears the name ‘Obasek’ Godwin. While this may be an error on the part of the issuing authority, we observed however that the aspirant has not taken any step ever to have the anomaly corrected by the issuing authority.
“In our interaction with issues raised, we concluded that (the) HSC was defective, the NYSC certificate (too) and based on the party’s constitution, this has made us to recommend that Obaseki is not eligible to participate in the election.”
While receiving the report on behalf of the APC NWC, Oshiomhole expressed gratitude to the panel and urged all those who were unsatisfied with the report to approach the appeals panel”.
The report clearly revealed the guidelines on the disqualification exercise. Some Edo people may likely believe that there was some political guidance and that Godwin Obaseki was simply not wanted in the party.
Barring any incidences of voter manipulation, Obaseki may get some formidable amount of sympathy votes, because simply put, the people more often than not, never allow fat cats to eat up their fish and spit the bones in their face. They may not wish another godfather on their heads.
Nigerians watch as the political struggle heats up in the coming months .
