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)