A Chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dan Orbih has charged governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State not to belch a foul air by arrogating to himself, a behemoth of Nigeria’s main opposition party.

The embattled National Vice Chairman of PDP, South South declared that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Presidential Candidate of PDP in 2019 general election, won Edo State while he held sway as the State Chairman of the party, against all adds.

Orbih who spoke in an interview with The PUNCH, stated however that he has no regret supporting Obaseki re-election bid in 2020.

“Don’t forget, before the coming of the governor, during Goodluck Jonathan’s election, the PDP won the presidential election. At that time, we had (Adams) Oshiomhole as a two-time governor of the state and the former governor of Edo State, John Oyegun, as the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress.

“I led the political party as the chairman at that time to victory. In 2019, while the current governor was still a member of APC and Oshiomhole was its national chairman, I again led the PDP to win the presidential election for Atiku Abubakar in Edo State. I can say without missing words that Edo State was one of the states that Atiku won in the election.

There are people who are making noise now louder than any person in the party, who could not even give Atiku 25 per cent of the votes in their state, but we didn’t have a governor, we won the election in Edo State for Atiku in 2019, we won two senatorial seats and other seats in the Federal House of Representatives.

“So, my happiness is that the PDP has always been a very strong party in Edo State. I believe I have the responsibility to continue to support that party so that it would not be worse than what it was when we did not have a governor”, Orbih said.

According to him, “The problem in Edo State PDP is an Edo State PDP problem. There are no external forces. People are shying away from addressing the problems that are there”.

While giving a reality check the remote causes and solutions to the crisis that engulfed the State chapter of PDP, Orbih said, “They (loyalists) of the Governor also don’t want to say things that may stop them from receiving pecuniary benefits. For me, they should locate Edo State PDP problem in Edo State and find solutions to the problem in Edo State”.

When asked why PDP is divided into two factions. One is loyal to Obaseki; how will the PDP in the state resolve this disagreement before the 2023 election?, Orbih said, “I don’t want to completely agree with your position. There is a world of difference between the party and the government, and it is expected that when the party has somebody in government, the person in government should be able to manage the relationship between government and the party.

“Unfortunately, I am not in government; so, I am not in a position to manage that relationship. But I have continued to ensure that we don’t allow the political party to die in the state. I have continued to pray or support the party, in my conviction that the PDP has always been a strong party in Edo State, Orbih said.

The National Vice Chairman of PDP, South South, urged the National Chairman of the party, Iyorcha Ayu who was accused of collecting N1bn, explains N100m donation by Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers State, amidst denial, to honourably resign from his position ahead of the February 2022 general election.

In what suggests to be a slap on the wrist, the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in a Communique on Friday, urged the National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, to give a firm assurance that he will resign his position after the 2023 elections.

Recall that some members of PDP in Edo State are in court over the crisis that trialed the emergence of the 2023 National and State house of Assembly primary election that produced two sets of Candidates, into all the various elective positions.