TELL Magazine

Former member and Minority Whip of the House of Representatives representing Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode Federal Constituency of Edo State, Samson Osagie, on Tuesday said the reign of governor Godwin Obaseki in the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC was a very rough and tough one before his defection to the Peoples Democratic Party.

He said this while reacting to the successful conduct of the just concluded APC’s primary in the state.

Osagie who said Obaseki’s reign in his former party was tough for them all, said it is his prayers never to have such a person as a governor in the state again.

“We have been through thick and thin, we have been through a lot of troubles. Since through his election to the post of governor of Edo State and through his administration, it has been a tough, rough journey for the party as a whole and we pray and hope we will never experience the kind of torture we went through with him”, he said.

He hinted that the exit of the governor from the party was a good one for the party and that the four months left for him as the governor of the state is for the PDP to have a feel of him.

“I strongly believe that APC will hold on to power by November this year. These four months are a period of grace we have given to PDP to celebrate and taste government; that seat is for the APC. And we decided to take that risk for the overall good and future sustainability of our party.

“APC practically rejected Obaseki; you can see what is happening now. He joined the PDP last week and today, there is a court order against him by a member of the party restraining him from contesting. He carried his troubles to PDP. He is not qualified to participate in that exercise. Ogbeide-Ihama is exercising his legitimate right.

“How can Obaseki be qualified to run for PDP primaries when he joined the party last week? The sale of forms has been concluded, including screening of aspirants.
I am not a PDP man; let them test their constitution”, he said.

Commenting on the outcome of the APC primary election,, Osagie said it was the first time in the history of the state that there was no rancour after the exercise

“I want to congratulate the All Progressives Congress in Edo State for the successful completion of the governorship primary by direct election. It is one process that was quite peaceful with the police and security agencies exhibiting uncommon professionalism in ensuring the peaceful conduct of that primary election.

“Now, the party has a candidate in the person of Osagie Ize-Iyamu, with the very kind cooperation of other aspirants. This is one occasion where a party’s candidate emerges without rancour”, he noted.