Drama as priest fails to unite Oshiomhole, Obaseki

L-R: Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki; National Chairman, All Progressives Congress, Mr Adams Oshiomhole; and Deputy Governor, Mr Philip Shaibu, during the governor’s visit to Oshiomhole in Iyamoh, Estako West Local Government Area, Edo State …on Monday. Photo: Edo State Government House

Sola Shittu

There was drama on Saturday as the three major players  in the crisis  in  the ruling All Progressive Congress in Edo State,  Governor Godwin Obaseki, Adams Oshiomhole and   House of Assembly Speaker, Francis Okiye,  met  at the venue for the thanksgiving service   for the 90th birthday of   the Iyase of Benin, Chief Sam Igbe, in Benin.



In his  sermon at Our Saviour Anglican Church, the officiating priest, Friday Imaekhai, called for peace in the state and invited the trio to  embrace peace.

Imaekhai invited them  to the altar and  joined their hands together,  saying the people of Edo were looking up to them.



But as soon as the church service ended, Obaseki and  Oshiomhole went their separate ways.

At the venue for the  reception, while Obaseki  took his seat beside the ex-Commissioner of Police Igbe, Oshiomhole, who is the governor’s immediate predecessor and the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress,  however stole the show as he walked in with  people at the venue shouting  his name excitedly.

At the end of the programme, Oshiomhole refused to answer questions from reporters who besieged  him like he did after the  thanksgiving service  earlier in the day.

Rather than attending to the reporters,  the ex-Nigeria Labour Congress leader  rushed to his waiting  car, with  security officials  shielding him from admirers  who sang  his praises.

Hopes for a peaceful resolution of the crisis was dashed by a recent interview by Oshiomhole accusing Obaseki of making a  bad situation worse by  firing his only nominee in his cabinet.

Addressing reporters  after the thanksgiving service, Obaseki described the Iyase as an icon of the Benin culture, history and people.

He said, “We celebrate him at 90, we wish him good health and pray to God Almighty to continue to protect him and take care of him.”

Oshiomhole described  Igbe as a man of immense discipline and patience.

The ex-governor said, “He is a man of clean heart and truly believes in the development of his community and that explains why he is the Iyase of Benin Kingdom.

“Everybody prays to reach age 90. From the bottom of my heart, I celebrate with him and his family.”

Among other  dignitaries at the thanksgiving service  were the Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion; former Inspector-General of Police, Solomom Arase; ex-Edo State Deputy Governor,  Mike Ogiadomeh; and the  Iyalode of Lagos, Chief Bintu-Fatima Tinubu.