Erasmus I., Benin.
Our sources in the Government House have confirmed that there is an ongoing protracted cold war between Governor Obaseki and the Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Osarodion Ogie, over the handling of the crisis in the Edo State PDP which has led to the emergence of two factions: One headed by the governor with a very thin spin, while the others, with the majority of the PDP members, headed by Chief Dan Orbih, the political hedgehog giving the governor a very tough time.
From our sources, it was learned that Barr. Osarodion Ogie, being a lawyer, is not happy with the tyrannical illegalities that the Governor is employing in dealing with members of the Party who rescued them from already dug political graves they were faced with to enter when they were denied the second term in APC.
One of the first issues that brought the governor and the SSG to be at loggerheads, according to our sources, was the illegal and irrational suspension of Chief Dan Orbih, Hon. Ogbiede-Ihama, Segun Saiki, and some LGA Chairmen. It was learned that the SSG told the governor, as a lawyer, not just a politician, that such illegality cannot go through the rigors of the law, yet the governor, aided by his deputy and former Speaker, Adjoto, went ahead with the clandestine machination until it was set aside by the National Executive Committee as null, void, and illegality based on nothing before the laws and practices of the Party.
Again, the orchestrated attempt by the governor through his paid foot soldiers to stop the aforementioned leaders of PDP from attending the National Convention, which met a legal brick wall in court, was frowned at by Bar. Osarodion Ogie because there was no legal basis for it, however, the governor still went ahead through his surrogates but the attempt failed and they were all embarrassed at the National Convention by the deafening ovation when the duo of Chief Dan Orbih and Hon. Ogbiede-Ihama made their entrance.
The major problem between the two of them is emanating from the issue of the so-called ‘exco harmonization.’ While the deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, is alleged to be the person encouraging the governor to illegally hijack the excos through any means possible for his ambition of using the ‘harmonized exco’ to become the next governor of Edo State, the SSG is in favor of a peaceful resolution without the nuisance of the illegalities the governor and his deputy are employing, which are failing.
Apart from the sources, I am fairly close to the SSG who happens to be a very good man. He is not in for trouble and if as my sources are telling me, the governor has told members of his close circle that he might have to do away with the SSG since he is no longer comfortable with his attitude of arrogating to himself some conscience of being upright when there are self-acclaimed PDP leaders that he need to deal with in the Party, that means the governor will need to have a rethink. And in my own opinion, who with good conscience will be happy with the way the governor and his ilks are handling issues in PDP that gave them succor?
The SSG should not be sacked based on the fact that he is telling the governor the truth. Philip Shaibu cannot tell the governor the truth because of his ambition. He wants the PDP structure so that he can use it in 2024 to become the next governor of Edo State even when the slot is being zoned to Edo Central Senatorial District in PDP.
The deputy governor is not dedicated to PDP and he has never denied that fact. In one meeting that was held some months ago in his country home, he was alleged to have said the Governor was the one that joined the party, not him. And in another of such meetings where he was then strategizing to become the governor, he was quoted to have said they had bought PDP, and that he was surprised that the members are still holding on to the structure, that when you buy a cow, it gets to a point you will need to cut off the rope from the seller if he is still holding on to it.
This is the mindset he and his followers brought from APC to PDP; that spirit of dominance, but were surprised how Chief Dan Orbih was able to muster a stiff opposition to their shenanigans and planned atrocious tendencies in defense of the party he has been nurturing.
Recently, the SSG released a public announcement document that said the appointments were occasioned by the ‘harmonization’ in PDP. However, the mere mention of ‘harmonization’ without adding ‘excos harmonization in Edo North’ angered the governor to no small measure because his intention was that Bar. Ogie should have written ‘exco harmonization.’ Bar. Ogie knows the consequences of such an illegal publication which could put his legal career in jeopardy if he does that.
The Party could report him to the body of benchers and or its disciplinary committee for actions because apart from the fact that there was never any legal excuse for harmonization, the case itself was sub judice – that is in court so he understands he cannot alter the truth without being sanctioned. However, the governor and his deputy, as well as their flocks, can’t understand the legal and moral angle Bar. Osarodion Ogie is looking at these things from.
If the governor sacks Barr. Ogie, as purported, the public will know exactly the kind of character he is. There will be an outcry. Yes, the governor likes yesmen who will be ready all the time to be doing his bidding of fighting numerous people all in the name of politics. At least, he should retain one person that is capable of telling him the truth about the crisis in PDP. I am not saying this because I am close to Barr. Ogie to help him keep his job that is faltering now, but for posterity’s sake, the truth must be told.
