Rift with Oshiomhole will soon be over —Obaseki

The Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, on Monday hinted that the rift between him and his predecessor, Adams Oshiomhole, would soon be a thing of the past.

This was as he said that he had met with Oshiomhole and that there were no fundamental issues between them, adding that their current rift created by third parties would soon be resolved.

The governor spoke during a mass at the St Paul Catholic Church in Benin City, to mark the 80th birthday of the first executive governor of Edo State, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

“I thank you very much for the remarkable homily. I listened very attentively and I have taken every word in your remark to heart and very seriously. I want to assure you that we are in pursuit of peace and we will have peace in Edo state.

“We have met – me and my predecessor in office – and fortunately, we do not have any fundamental issues. And because we do not have any fundamental issues, I believe that whatever third parties are trying to propagate I am sure we can talk over it. I assure you that very soon things will return to normalcy in Edo state,” he said.

On Oyegun’s birthday celebration, he said his government in line with Nigeria’s national anthem, would always remember the labour of past heroes “which shall never be in vain”.

He added, “Today we are here to celebrate our own Chief Odigie-Oyegun. On behalf of the people and Government of Edo State, I want to congratulate you on your 80th birthday.”

The governor at the occasion said the state government had named the soon-to-be-completed Civil Service Training Center after Chief Oyegun.

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He said the decision was based on his contributions to the development of the state and Nigeria.

“For your contributions and what you have done for our dear state, I have decided to name the public service academy, which is under construction, after you. We know your passion for public service; we know and acknowledge the contributions you made to public service in Nigeria.

“Therefore, we have decided to name this edifice which will be completed within the next 60 days, by the grace of God, after you. President Muhammadu Buhari will come and commission the academy, with you standing beside him. It will be known as the John Odigie-Oyegun Institute for Public Administration,” he said.

The rift between Obaseki and his predecessor and national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, over apparent fight of who controls the state legislature and governance, has kept Edo State in political crisis for some time now.

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