Post-Obaseki’s Misguided Government In Edo (4) By Erasmus Ikhide

GOVERNOR Godwin Obaseki’s dilemma after he walked himself into boobie-trap all by himself and out of office remains a pitiable laughing stock. Now, he’s seeking empathy in the court of his former formidable adversary, the PDP and has begun worshipping at the door step of his known earlier traducer, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State.

Last year at a campaign venue in Port Harcourt, Governor Wike to whom Governor Godwin Obaseki now seeks solace, lampooned him for his failure to keep his certificates and the discrepancies therein. Governor Godwin Obaseki was in Port Harcourt during the final campaign for the Rivers State legislative election rerun along side the APC governors to campaign for their party candidates.

Governor Wike started his verbal attacks with Ganduje describing him as a 100 years old Governor of Kano State. “Look at the man, 100 years old, the governor of Kano,” he bellowed. “Up till now, the man cannot even set up a panel to find out what happened to the wreck of his family.”

Then for the Edo State, Governor Wike practically finished Obaseki. “Look at the one they say is the Governor of Edo, he doesn’t know his left and right, he doesn’t know where his certificates are…and he’s coming to Rivers State. Obaseki is a shame and disgrace to governance, he claims to be a technocrat but has no single certificate, very shameful, Wike said. Tragically, it’s the same Mr. Wike that is now campaigning for Mr. Obaseki for a second term in office along side with the PDP in Edo State without minding that the same individuals launched venomous tirades at him, less than four years ago.

The matter at issue now should be, is Mr. Obaseki qualified to stand for election as Governor of Edo State given his academic credentials in the public domain in any political party with the following six reasons for which he was disqualified by his former political party namely; Claiming to have a Higher School Leaving Certificate from an Institute of Continuous Education which is not known to the Nigerian Educational system, allegedly being in possession of an Affidavit disowned by a High Court in the Federal Capital Territory, error in the National Youth Service Corps discharge certificate which bears ‘Obasek instead of Obaseki’, loss of original Primary, Secondary and Higher School Certificates, alleged violation of Article 21 D (V) of the APC Constitution, which forbids members taking the Party to Court and legal precedents occasioned by the judgments of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court on discrepancies in names.

Those who opposed my scathing criticism of Mr. Godwin Obaseki have no idea about my moral stand point and disagreement with the argument of gaining admission into a prestigious University of Ibadan (UI) with the merest of three credits and three passes to study Classics. The question is why register for A Level examination administered by WAEC and present a testimonial from an unrecognized institute instead of WAEC A Level certificate? What  qualified him to gain admission into UI in the first place?

Don’t forget that from his school certificate he made a pass in English Language. There is no where in the university administration system in Nigeria where you’re allowed to gain admission with a pass in English Language, much less reading a course in the Humanities with a pass in English Language. Also, Mr. Obaseki never said he enrolled for a remedial program at UI before gaining admission in the same institution. This is the first time I’m hearing of the acquisition of a degree certificate that stands on frivolity and fraud. Even if that was true, why not approach the NYSC for correction of his name that was wrongly spelt since 1980 to prove that it was not acquired from Oluwole in Lagos?

Apart from these visible discrepancies in his certificates, major discrepancies characterized his government in almost four years of his administration. The Governor has been fighting real and imaginary political enemies. What could have instigate assassination attempts on the life of a former Attorney General of the state and a former Local Government Chairman of Egor, Barrister Henry Idahagbon on January 30, 2020 when gunmen riding in an alledged Edo State Government House Hilux Van stormed his law office looking for him? The head hunters perforated his office building with bullets. Seventy Seven bullet holes were left on his seat. All the window glasses were shattered with bullets. Even though the police picked up 29 cartridges at the scene of crime, they’re yet to make any arrest.

There are several indications suggesting that all is not well with the Governor’s camp. A video making the rounds which has gone viral over whether or nothing his followers have benefited from his government has amplified and compounded his electoral woes. The video constituted a mockery of the make-believe performance of the Governor as his admirers would want the general public to believe.

There can’t be a better and vivid demonstration of failure when Obaseki/Shuaibu Movement (OSM) coordinator was openly jabbed for lying that they have all benefited from GovernorGodwin Obaseki’s government.

“Oga Correct Yourself” rent the air when the coordinator said “you have all benefitted from Obaseki’s government”. The meeting ended abruptly. It was a moment of truth to Mr. Obaseki’s handlers that they have been deceiving themselves, all along.

Governor Godwin Obaseki’s disqualification from the APC and his subsequent resignation from the party is the best thing to have happened to the party in the last four years. APC has saved itself from probable pyrrhic victory in Edo State after ruining her chances in Rivers, Zamfara, Benue, Bauchi, Bayelsa.

To be continued.

Ikhide, A Social Crusader, Journalist and Security Expert writes from Lagos, Nigeria.

Email: ikhideerasmus@gmail.com

Follow me on Twitter @ikhide_erasmus1