Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has engaged his Rivers State counterpart, Governor Nyesom Wike, in war of words.
The squabble between the duo heightened on Monday after the deputy governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, tongue-lashed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over party infighting therein, last week.
Mr Shaibu outburst came after his loyalists and those of his principal were suspended over alleged breaching of the party’s constitution and manifesto. They were also said to be suspended for disobedience and neglect lawful directive of the party’s organ and officers therein.
Lamenting, Mr Shaibu accused the national leadership of the opposition party, he and his principal joined in 2020 to win their re-election bid after being disqualified from using the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC), of instigating the crisis in the state chapter.
The deputy governor was reported to have warned of dumping the PDP, a threat Mr Wike described as showcasing of ungratefulness while weighing in on the matter. The Rivers governor opined that a disciplinary actions should be instituted against the deputy governor.
Defending his deputy, Governor Obaseki lambasted his Rivers counterpart, reminding him that he does not own the opposition party. In an advertorial on national dailies on Monday, Mr Obaseki urged Wike not to cause disruption in the party because all members therein are equal.
Describing his Edo counterpart as an ungrateful fellow and a serial betrayer, Governor Wike apologises to former Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole who spearheaded the disqualification of Messrs Obaseki and Shaibu from seeking re-election using the APC platform.
Speaking on Monday at the inauguration of Community Secondary School, Omuanwa, in Rivers state, Wike maintained that he had contributed to the fortune of the party more than Obaseki.
“I am not in the class of Obaseki, never! We are not the same, we can’t be the same. I was the DG of his campaign, I went there (to Edo) for three days.
“I stayed there without having my bath. I have never seen somebody like that in my life – a serial betrayer.
“Let me tell you Obaseki, I know your cohorts and I will smoke all of you out. This is not the Benin artefact that you were challenging the Oba (of Benin), this is politics.
“Obaseki, I have more stake in PDP than you. I have fought for this party, mention one thing that you have done for the PDP.
“If you check the DNA of Obaseki, what you will see in that DNA is betrayal, serial betrayal, and ungratefulness.
“Let me stand today to apologise to Adams Oshiomhole who has been vindicated by telling us that we will see the true colour, the insincerity, the ungratefulness of Governor Obaseki.
“We have voted for PDP since 1999 till now; ask Governor Obaseki if he has done anything for PDP (or) voted for PDP. The only election he voted was his own election – where we gave him an umbrella,” he concluded.
