Edo: Wike, other PDP governors urged to rally round Obaseki
As events continue to unfold in the build up to the September 19 Edo state governorship election, a call has gone to the Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike and other Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors in the South – South region to rally round the embattled Edo governor, Godwin Obaseki.
Wike was particularly enjoined to show leadership and prevail on PDP stalwarts in Edo to give governor Obaseki a soft landing in the party which is capable of giving him succour.
A political activist and former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Timi Frank, made the call Monday in a statement in Abuja.
Frank said there may be clashes of interests with some bigwigs in Edo state chapter of PDP but Wike as one of the active and respected leaders of the PDP in the South-south should make the aggrieved see reasons to give Obaseki a chance.
He believes that the forum of the APC governors failed to protect their colleague from the leadership of APC, hence PDP governors, especially from the South-south should prove to be different.
He said PDP through Obaseki as flag bearer, PDP could realise its dteam of regaining Edo state.
He said “,findings have shown that if PDP reject Obaseki, other political parties are waitng to recieve him and those who want Obaseki to join the party which comprises of National Assembly PDP members, other leaders of the party in the state and many others will go with him. So, if PDP is not careful embracing Obaseki now, the party may eventually lose the governorship election.
“Governor Wike should know that Obaseki is a big fish that should be accommodated if the party is serious in winning Edo state, hence my appeal to all the warring parties. It is obvious that if Governor Wike intervene now and call the members in Edo chapter to order it will go a long way in resolving the crisis”.
According to him, Governor Obaseki’s move to join the PDP should be a welcome idea to all, adding that “although some leaders of the party in Edo state chapter may consider the move as injurious to them but considering the political exigence, it will later turn out to be in their best decisions.
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“I therefore appeal to the Rivers state governor Wike, who has shown more commitment and dedication to ideals of democratic party and one of the highly respected leaders of the party in the South-south to rally round Obaseki and provide a soft landing for him.
Frank also called on governor Obaseki to quickly reach out more and give assurance of peace, togetherness and understanding to the warring members of PDP in Edo.
“I will also urge governor Obaseki to be strong and focus at this period of his political trial. The governor should know that he has been betrayed by a party he worked to build and people he helped to power. That is the nature of APC politics. But it is not over for him because the Edo people know the truth and will surely reward him at the poll”, he added.
