After Oshiomhole alleged gang-up between Edo govt and police, Obaseki warns officials ‘never to join issues’ with APC chairman

The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has again called on the state government officials never to join issues with the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole.

The governor made this call in a statement issued on Wednesday by the state Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Paul Ohonbamu and his Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy, Crusoe Osagie.

The statement read: “The Edo State Government has again taken notice of extremely hostile, malicious and incorrect statements attributed to Oshiomhole by his media aides in various newspapers and media outfits.

“This continuous spewing of invectives and purposely distorted accounts are aimed at creating a sense of tension and crisis in and around the state and the country when none exists.

“Governor Godwin Obaseki has, therefore, restated that on no account should any government official in Edo State join issues on the continuous unwarranted vitriolic comments on the person of the governor and the government by Oshiomhole’s media aides purportedly acting at his behest.

“The position of the government is to pursue the path of peace in dealing with ensuing issues for the good of all Edo people.

“As Governor and leader, Obaseki is in firm control of the APC in Edo State and there is no reason whatsoever to even moot the idea of leaving the party where he enjoys tremendous support and goodwill both at the state and the national levels.

“The governor, however, warns those intent on disrupting public peace that he is determined in his resolve to continuously carry out his primary responsibility of maintaining order and protecting lives and property as the Chief Security Officer of the state.”

The governor, whose rift with his predecessor continues to worsen by the day, has often cautioned against attacks on the former governor.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Staff to Obaseki, Taiwo Akerele, has said the governor did not do away with projects started by his predecessor.

According to him, the governor only refused to continue with certain “bad policies” of the Oshiomhole’s administration.

He said: “If the governor wanted to be a dictator, he would take charge and not concede these decisions. He does not want to appropriate authority to himself.

“He wants the will of the people to prevail. He had come under pressure to be in charge of the party but he said ‘no’, that there is a party structure.

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“There is continuity everywhere. Was the governor not given an award recently by the Nigeria Union of Teachers?

“It was as a result of the fact that we continued from where the former government stopped, which we were part of. The former government built structures but we are building the human capacity in the schools.

“There are certain things that were bad in the previous government that we cannot continue. The good ones we will continue. They should leave the governor to work and allow him to be the leader of the party in the state,” he said.

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