The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has blamed former Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, for the defeat of Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party candidate for the 2024 governorship election in the state.
In a viral video watermarked AIT, the former Governor of Rivers State admitted that Ighodalo, though a better Candidate in the contest, had to fail for the Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Governor Monday Okpebholo, to emerge as the winner.
He credited the victory to the Rainbow Coalition he led as a PDP leader, adding that the likes of Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North Senatorial District, and Governor Okpebholo can attest to the outcome of the governorship poll.
The FCT Minister stated that he has no regrets about his decision not to back Ighodalo, who visited him over three times ahead of the election.
He alleged that the struggle was between them and Obaseki, whom he claimed was denied the privilege of producing his successor.
”Let me say this for people to know. A lot of people deny obvious facts. In the last governorship election that took place in Edo State, the result was as a result of the Coalition between the legacy PDP and APC.
”We had to work together to ensure the former Governor, Obaseki, did not produce his successor. And that is the truth. I was behind it, and I don’t have any regrets about it.”
Saying it is misleading for anyone to deny the existence of the Coalition, he stated, “But for that purpose, I said I will not support the incumbent Governor (Obaseki) to produce a successor, even though the PDP candidate was very good—a former Managing Director of a bank.”
Wike also said, “He (Ighodalo) came to my house more than three times. I told him, ‘You are a good candidate, but this election is between us and the man who is bringing you—Obaseki, an ingrate and ungrateful person. So, returning you (Ighodalo) is like bringing him back. So, I am sorry—you had to fail.’ So he failed.”
