The Deputy Governor of Edo State Comrade Philip Shaibu, has expressed confidence that Governor Godwin Obaseki will win any form of Primary election in the State, even with 24 hours notification.
He said the administration’s performance in office was sufficient to guarantee victory at any poll even with a short notice but equally stressed that they preferred indirect primary as this was the only appropriate method in view of the committed efforts and precautionary guidelines and directives, put in place to curtail the spread of novel coronavirus pandemic in the state.
In a statement issued by his Special Assistant On Media, Mr Benjamin Atu on Thursday, Shaibu said: “Despite this confidence and assurance that the victory of Governor Obaseki is not in doubt, we are not ready to go the way of the Direct Primary.
“Our Preference for Indirect Primary is because we don’t want to secure victory at the expense of the health of those we are seeking to rule.”
He maintained that some media mercenaries and miscreants who were recruited to create a negative impression, provoke, ignite tension and apprehension across the state, have outlasted their usefulness since the governor will win even if the election is tomorrow.
According to him, the Governor owes the state the responsibility of safeguarding the people against any form of hazard like COVID-19 and other situations that may endanger their lives and the governor will not relinquish such important decision for others to decide for him.
“As the Chief Security Officer of the state and first among equals, the Governor has decided to conduct the affairs of the state in the way that will ensure the safety of its citizens.
“As at today, Godwin Obaseki is the Governor of Edo State and has the capacity to determine the direction of the state. That doesn’t amount to fear of failure in facing any election but rather putting the interest of the public above desperation to win an election.
“People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has a National Chairman, for instance, the National Chairman of PDP doesn’t usurp the Sovereignty of the PDP states. The Sovereignty of the state can’t be submerged at this critical juncture of our lives. The indirect primary will make it more convenient for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to supervise and will be more transparent.
“The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman is insisting on direct primary because the result of the yet to be conducted direct primary election is already written by him, just waiting to be announced.
“The state is sovereign but not enjoying its sovereignty because some few people are determined to ruin the state by hand twisting the government and governor as a stooge.
“What the APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomole is doing is trying to usurp the powers of the State Governor by thinking and making decisions for the Government of Edo State.
The deputy governor added that: “Chief John Oyegun was the former governor of the state and he didn’t usurp Oshiomole’s power in the name of ex-Governor. Oshiomole is not the first ex-Governor in Nigeria. He should give the people and the Government of Edo State peace to enable them reason collectively together.”
“Obaseki is currently the Governor of Edo State and his office must be respected because we can only have one governor at a time. He has spoken and there is no going back on the indirect primary. Direct Primary will heighten COVID-19 transmission and infection at the community stage and the state is not ready for such emergency,” Comrade Shaibu said.
