…Says Voters Will End APC’s Politics Of Godfatherism On Saturday
By Augustine Akhilomen
Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has laughed off the broadcast by the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying that it will not in any way influence the outcome of the election on Saturday.
Wike, who spoke in a two-hours no-holds-barred interview with Gbenga Aruleba of AIT, said the APC leader could see the handwriting on the wall and the imminent defeat of their party, hence the last-minute effort to de-market Governor Godwin Obaseki.
The Rivers Governor, who is the Chairman of the Campaign Council of the PDP for the Edo governorship election also dismissed Tinubu’s position that Obaseki is not a democrat, saying that he was not in a position to determine that, but a decision of the Edo people.
“It is the Edo people that will determine if Obaseki is a democrat and not Tinubu. Just like what is obtainable in Lagos, where one person determines what happens, that cannot happen in Edo.
“With all due respect, if Bola Tinubu says Obaseki is not a democrat, that is his own view because Edo people know that Obaseki is a democrat. How do you now know who is a democrat? When it was in 2016, did he not say that Obaseki is the man the people should vote for? So these are the things I say am not worried about. I don’t think his statement will have any influence on Edo people at all.”
He said the people of Edo have made up their mind to use the election to send a strong message to the former National Chairman of APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, and put a final nail on the coffin to the era of politics by godfathers in the State.
“Edo people must be careful with what they hear from Oshiomhole. This is an opportunity for the Edo people to send a message to him that Oshiomhole can not be dragging them left and right. But for them to put an end to godfatherism in Edo State. If APC loses on Saturday, watch what will happen in other States.
“Oshiomhole as the godfather said this young man did very well and that you should listen to him and they voted for him in 2016. The same man said Ize-Iyamu cannot be trusted with public funds and is the same person that is facing corruption charges will you now vote for him. He turns mouth and said I made a mistake in bringing Obaseki to you, now I want Ize-Iyamu so vote for him. Only God knows what he will say tomorrow. Edo people must not allow one man to decide their fate,” Wike said.
He expressed optimism that the PDP will clinch victory in the election, just as he urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to resist the temptation to directly or indirectly compromise the electoral process.
According to him, “All eyes are on Edo State. People across the world are watching to see if they will want to tamper with the will of the people because they know that in a free and fair election, Obaseki will win hands down.
“We have to let the people of Edo State know now that if we follow what is on the ground and the kind of campaigns that the party has carried out, honestly, we are seeing a victory. But then again, it is not enough. Yes, the police have assured that they will not allow thugs to destroy the ballot box and that the election will be free and fair. But what disturbs us is that this is not the first time they have said that. In every election, police have said they won’t allow rigging, and INEC too will say something but at the end of the day, they still fail us.
“Yes they have said so, Yes we believe them but we still have to be vigilant. Vigilant because APC as a party is desperate. The desperation has shifted to Edo State. See, this election is not only about Obaseki, this election will make people understand the need for them to determine what their fate will be.
“This election will help to resolve whether Nigeria is ready to stop this godfatherism politics, where an elected governor can not carry out his own functions until the godfathers tell you what to do.”
He added that the candidate of the APC, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu was no match for Obaseki, saying that the election contest was not between the two candidates but between the people of Edo and Oshiomhole’s overriding influence in the political process in the State.
“I think we have done very well and the message was clear, the difference was clear. The people of Edo State have found faith in PDP and we are not worried about anything. No amount of propaganda or blackmail will change it.
“I believe the message that Tinubu was sending, he didn’t get the idea properly. But they all know that there is no comparison no matter how you paint Obaseki. He cannot be compared to Ize-Iyamu. It is like if it is not Coca Cola, it can’t be Coca Cola,” Wike said.
