Edo State government, on Tuesday, said the Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu cannot extend his political empire to Edo State as Edo people are determined to end godfatherism in the state.
Crusoe Osagie, Special Adviser to Edo State Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, in a statement issued to journalists in Benin City, urged Edo people to disregard the threats and come out en-masse on September 19 to vote for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Godwin Obaseki.
He said Edo people are committed to ending godfatherism in the state, noting that the voice and votes of the people are supreme in the governorship contest.
“Our attention has been drawn to a television broadcast in which a former Lagos State Governor and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his quest to extend his political dominance and empire to Edo State, decided to take over the role of Edo people to choose through the ballot who to govern them for the next four years.
“It has become obvious that the spirited fight which Edo people have put up against godfatherism has sent tremors beyond the shores of Edo to the likes of Tinubu, who has for years sustained a stranglehold on Lagos and other states in South Western Nigeria, hence this desperate, last ditch effort to rescue the unproductive political instrument, now popularly referred to as godfatherism, with which he has feathered his nest and built his political empire at the expense of the people.
“Tinubu knows clearly that come September 19, when godfatherism would have been dismantled in Edo State, the people of Lagos may just have found the recipe and formula for removing the chokehold placed on their collective destinies for decades by Tinubu, hence the inciting television broadcast.
“He should take note that Edo people do not yield their will, liberty and power of choice to oppressive figures because they are perceived to have economic and political means. Like one of the great sons of Edo, former Governor and former National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, recently said, our people do not give in to ‘primitive loyalties.’ We always chase noble causes and a little study of our history, should show Tinubu the indomitable spirit of the Edo person,” he said.
He maintained that “the outcome of next Saturday’s election would reinforce the reigning saying in Edo’s public sphere, Edo No be Lagos, and provide for the people of Lagos a template to dislodge godfatherism as well as set the stage for the realization of the full potential of Lagos, which Lagosians have been denied of for decades.”
Also, a movement for the re-election of Godwin Obaseki, “No Sidon Look, Edo No be Lagos” chided Tinubu for meddling into the political affairs of Edo State.
In a telephone conversation with BusinessDay, the Director General of the organisation, Portrait Peterson, said the former Lagos State governor can continue to make his statement from Lagos, noting that Edo people are determined, unduanted, and resolute to vote for Obaseki for a second term
“When people like Tinubu make some statements, for people like us that are still young, we imagine if this man is worth calling a leader of a political party.
“He sees himself as a self-aclaimed king. He has lost grip over the South-West, and that is why the People’s Democratic Party is ruling Oyo State. If he was on ground, then where was he when PDP won Oyo state?
“Godwin Obaseki has transformed the State; without him, who would have given us a refinery, power plant or reform the civil service? I want to remind him that Edo is not Lagos State. Ambode and Obaseki are two different individuals,” he added.
Similarly, Mohammed Zibiri, PDP chieftain said whatever statement Tinubu made is of no substantial consequences as Edo election is concerned.
“It is clear that Edo State is not Lagos. He is not in Edo, he doesn’t know the level of performance of the present government. He is talking like an ordinary Nigerian and his voice is irrelevant as far as Edo election is concerned,” he said.
Meanwhile, social media has been awash with the video, and some users have questioned the chieftain’s desperation to control the politics of Edo State, noting that the broadcast has once again strengthened the resolve of the Edo people to end godfatherism in Nigeria.
A Twitter user said, “Edo is not Lagos, where one man decides the future. Vote for Obaseki and reject Tinubu’s statement.
Another user said, “When his party Increased price of Premium Motor Spirit, he didn’t address the Nation. When they were killing in Southern Kaduna, he didn’t address the Nation.
“When they were screening Obaseki in his first term, Obaseki was a democrat. When they were shooting at armless protesters, he didnt address the nation.
“Now, Obaseki is in PDP, he’s talking about Democrats, Does he know what being a Democrats means? Anyway, It is left to Nigerians and those concern to act.
