Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has slammed his Rivers state counterpart, Nyesom Wike over his verbal attack against his deputy, Philip Shaibu.
It would be Recalled that the Rivers governor had slammed Shaibu for threatening to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the crisis rocking the Edo chapter of the party.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Eastern Bypass Road project in Port Harcourt on Saturday, Wike described Shaibu as an ingrate for calling out the national leadership of the party over the matter.
In a statement sent on Naija News on Monday and signed by his spokesman, Crusoe Osagie, Governor Obaseki described the attack against Shaibu as most unfortunate and totally uncalled for.
Recall that the Rivers governor had slammed Shaibu for threatening to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the crisis rocking the Edo chapter of the party.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Eastern Bypass Road project in Port Harcourt on Saturday, Wike described Shaibu as an ingrate for calling out the national leadership of the party over the matter.
In a statement sent on Naija News on Monday and signed by his spokesman, Crusoe Osagie, Governor Obaseki described the attack against Shaibu as most unfortunate and totally uncalled for.
The governor urged the national leadership of the PDP to call Wike to order, stating that the opposition party is not his personal property.
Obaseki stated that the issues raised by his deputy during a recent interview were germane and needed to be resolved in the interest of the party.
The governor said his River state colleague should have reached out to him to express his concerns about the views made by my deputy governor, rather than embarking on the needless scathing attack.
The statement reads: “The recent personal attacks by His Excellency, the Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Nyesom Wike, against my Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu is, to say the least, most unfortunate and totally uncalled for.
“If Governor Wike was one who is wont to show respect and courtesy to his colleague-governors, he would have ordinarily reached out to me to express his concerns about the views made by my deputy governor, rather than embarking on this unwarranted public onslaught.
If Governor Wike was one who is wont to show respect and courtesy to his colleague-governors, he would have ordinarily reached out to me to express his concerns about the views made by my deputy governor, rather than embarking on this unwarranted public onslaught.
“My deputy governor was a former National President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and his comment is representative of the essence of the nation’s youth population, who are inclined to openly speak up and question the status quo. If Governor Wike cannot understand and adequately respond to the style and character of the Nigerian youth, how can he aspire to lead them?
His Excellency, Governor Wike should have taken a cue from the manner in which the National Chairman of our party, Sen. Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, responded to my deputy’s remarks, as a conscientious leader who is able to show empathy and consideration.
“The concerns expressed by my deputy governor bordered on pertinent issues affecting the PDP in Edo State which since the September 19th 2020 elections, has been able to register over 500,000 members; and till date, these new members have not been properly integrated into our party after two years.”
He continued: “Also, the leaders, executives and members who came with me into the party have still not been accepted, integrated or harmonized into the party.
“More worrisome is the fact that old members of Edo PDP, who are open to inclusion and supportive of building a large party are being vilified and ostracized by a cabal purportedly led by Chief Dan Orbih, who is your perpetual guest in Port Harcourt and is remotely used to orchestrate the destabilization of the party in Edo State.
“It is necessary to recall at this point that a political solution gave rise to the emergence of Chief Dan Orbih first as Acting and then as Substantive National Vice Chairman, South-South, of our party, when Chief Emma Odidi resigned that position to allow Chief Orbih to ascend.
“It is, therefore, curious why this type of political solution is no longer tenable to resolve the political impasse in Edo State PDP.
