'Edo electorate will punish PDP for Obaseki's failure'

• Published date: 03 February 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

Chief Francis Inegbeniki is a traditional tittle holder in Esanland, Edo State and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In this interview with South-south Bureau Chief Bisi Olaniyi, he x-rays the performance of the Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) administration led by Governor Godwin Obaseki and how it will affect the two major political parties in the state in the forthcoming general elections

As an opposition party, the APC does not appear to be vibrant enough to checkmate the excesses of the ruling PDP in Edo State. How do you react to this?

Let me start by saying that Governor Godwin Onoghoghase Obaseki has failed to live up to the expectations of the Edo people. I remember telling the Edo people in an interview not to vote for Obaseki for a second term. He was in the APC and we saw how he governed the state; we saw that his performance was poor and we warned the Edo people not to support him for a second tenure. But, he sold a dummy to the people that the genesis of his problem with the APC was that party functionaries asked him to give them money meant for infrastructural development to share but he refused. It was an outright fabrication and I am sure that Edo people now know better.

Those who clapped for him with the slogan of 4+4, following his re-election victory are now regretting it. The APC is warning the people again not to be deceived by Obaseki for a third time.

Edo people should not vote for the PDP during the forthcoming election because Obaseki has nothing to show the people.

The issue of some elected APC members of the House of Assembly who were not inaugurated alongside their other colleagues is still lingering. What does this portend for the APC in the current election cycle?

Obaseki is a product of Adams Oshiomhole but because he believes that the other 14 members would be loyal to Oshiomhole, he decided to lock the door against them. We are very disappointed, we have gone to court but we can not resort to self-help. The highest thing one can do is go to court and we have done that. But, again, we all know the slow pace of the judicial system in Nigeria today. The 1999 Constitution states that a House of Assembly shall not be less than 24 members. But, today, look at the situation in Edo State today, which has desecrated the constitution. What can we do? Obaseki as the governor has power over everything. To a very large extent, he has gotten what he wants; Edo is quiet today without any opposition even though things have...