Obaseki demands letter of withdrawal, apology from Edo PDP Chair

By TEMIDAYO AKINSUYI

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo has demanded an unreserved apology from the leadership of the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, Daily Independent has gathered.

Aside that, Daily Independent gathered that the governor also demanded a withdrawal of the letter written by the Edo PDP chairman to Prince Uche Secondus, the national chairman of the party in which he accused Obaseki of plotting to dissolve the validly-elected ward, local government areas and state executives.

The State Working Committee (SWC) in a May 10 letter signed by the chairman Dr. Tony Aziegbemi and Secretary, Hillary Otsu, and addressed to the PDP national chairman also called for the resignation of the Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, as part of the power-sharing arrangement.

The SWC in the letter said the genesis of the “looming crisis” was the “acquiescence” of the National Working Committee (NWC) members, who negotiated Obaseki’s movement to PDP and agreed on the integration of the new members and the sharing of appointments after the election.

They also said the proposed dissolution and harmonisation being canvassed by Obaseki were designed to hold Edo people and the PDP to ransom.

The SWC stated: “At an emergency meeting, the State Chairman, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, briefed the SWC and LGA party chairmen on Obaseki’s May 8, 2021 meeting at the Government House, Benin, with the agenda to propose dissolution of Edo State executive committees at all levels.

“After more than five hours of deliberations, the following resolutions were adopted: the expanded SWC and local government chairmen of the Edo State PDP reject in its entirety the proposal to dissolve the legitimately-elected executive committee members of the PDP at the ward, local government and state levels.

“We also condemn totally the convening of the meeting aimed at ambushing Edo State Chairman of PDP (who is constitutionally empowered to call such a meeting) which only three old PDP members (Dokpesi, Ikimi and Oghiadomhe attended), as against ten members from the Obaseki faction that defected from the APC to PDP.

“We, hereby, reiterate to the National Executive Committee (NEC) of our party that the issue of dissolution of executive committees in Edo State is ‘sub-judice’ and it will be an act of contempt of court to revisit it by the party.”

Speaking with Daily Independent on Thursday, a credible source during a meeting between the aggrieved PDP Exco and Governor Obaseki, said the governor who was livid at the content of the letter demanded an apology and a withdrawal of the letter.

It was also gathered that Aziegbemi and his team will soon issue a public statement on the issue. It, however, remains to be seen if they will withdraw the letter or not.

When contacted, the embattled PDP chairman said only the governor can confirm if the report is true or not.

“I’m just hearing that from you. Only the governor can confirm if that truly happened or not”, he said. (Daily INDEPENDENT)