A former Commissioner for Communication and Orientation in Edo State, Mr Adaze Andrew Emwanta has given insight into the feud between the Edo State governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Mr Philip Shaibu.
Emwanta, who spoke when he featured on African Independent Television, AIT’s Democracy Today magazine programme tagged, ‘Edo 2024 Governorship’, criticized the Governor for allegedly rejecting the list of Commissioner-nominees from Shaibu who is nursing a governorship ambition.
Emwanta who hails from Egor Local government Area of the State, announced his resignation from Peoples Democratic Party, PDP after he failed to make the list of 15-man Commissioners that were inaugurated on June 13, 2023.
He also alleged that the Governor whose second tenure in office will end on November 12, 2024, rejected the choice of a nominee in Egor Local government, and accused him of playing the role of a godfather, which the Governor vilified his predecessor, Senator Adams Oshiomhole for after having failed to secure All Progressives (APC) ticket for Edo State 2020 Governorship election, which the later contested and won on the platform of PDP.
Emwanta also blamed external influence into the activities of his party by a highly placed politician in the State for his resignation, predicted that the ruling PDP in the State, will lose the 2024 governorship election in Edo State.
“We are talking about joint ticket. The Governor and the deputy Governor were elected by Edo people. Can you separate that ticket? So, was it supposed to be the other way? Why is he antagonizing the deputy Governor? I am not from his (Shaibu’s) Senatorial district though.
“If the deputy governor decided to attend Oshiomhole’s inauguration because his nominees for Commissioners were not part of those appointed into cabinet are Etsako people not part of Edo State? Why were they excluded? Why was Egor excluded from the list?
“What is the crime of Egor with our underdevelopment. So, it is not about me, Emwanta, but the party that we have all laboured for, failed to develop my Local government area (Egor).
“hat matters is not only the ability for the Governor to reward loyalty, but to retain loyalty. For you to achieve that, you must have a high level of communication as a politician. I give you an example. We were to have Local government primaries. Nothing was held about the Candidates that we supported.
“During the primary election for that exercise, people were already on the queue before they started passing that message of who to support. Election was supposed to start by 12noon, people were still asking where are we going hours after the exercise began? That is not politics, but godfathersim and imposition”, Emwanta said.
TheNewspad recalls that Shaibu who shunned the inauguration of the 8th Edo State house of Assembly, attended the inauguration of the Senator representing his Constituency, Senator Adams Oshiomhole and other National Assembly members in Edo State in Abuja, leaving his fans and political allies guessing.
about his future political ambition.
The State deputy Governor had described his visit to the National Assembly as a “memorable one being in the midst of my old colleagues.
Shaibu in a series of Facebook posts said, “I arrived at the venue of the reception for the Edo State federal lawmakers in Abuja feeling excited and optimistic about the opportunity to meet with the new lawmakers, myself being a former federal lawmaker.
“As the deputy Governor of Edo State I knew that this was an opportunity to strengthen bonds and build networks that could benefit our state.
“As I walked into the venue I was greeted by the sight of several individuals with many chanting “welcome home, welcome home”.
“Ofcourse, I didn’t need anyone to tell me that i was home because being in the midst of Edo indigenes is home already for me, whether they are PDP APC, Labour party or others.
“I had an exciting conversation with the lawmakers from the APC and I am pleased to note that I was warmly welcomed and congratulated on the progress we have been making in Edo state.
“The Ceremony afforded me the opportunity of sharing my experiences and insights about the dynamics in Edo State particularly regarding governance development projects and socio-economic issues.
“I feel proud and even more inspired by the accomplishments of my party in the state, I took note of the speeches delivered by notable figures and individuals at the reception, especially their unwavering commitment to promoting the interests of Edo people and Edo State.
“I left the event knowing that I had made valuable connections and received a wealth of knowledge that would be relevant in managing Edo State as I felt re-energized and ready to continue working towards a brighter future for our state and the Country.
“I really had a good time”, he said.
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