WORKING VISIT TO EDO STATE GOVERNMENT HOUSE

The Editor-in-Chief of the Newspaperman organization recently paid a working/fact finding visit to the Edo State Government House to feel the pulse of the occupants following the alleged bomb attack on the home of a factional APC chieftain in Benin-city.  The outcome was telling.  Everywhere was calm.  The Editor-in-Chief spent a good two hours at the premises of the office of the Deputy Governor.  High profile officials, one of them the APC State Party Chairman, Anslem Ojezua emerged from the office accompanied by the SSG Mr. Osarodion Ogie.  Another official, Mr. Brown Ebewele also emerged from the office.  It was clear the Deputy Governor Rt. Hon. Phillip Shuaibu was having a busy schedule holding meetings.  The Governor’s side of Osadeby House was rather quiet.  Enquiries showed that the governor Mr. Godwin Obaseki was out of town.  His office recorded fewer visitors.  But the general mood was convivial; there wasn’t any indication of the smothering war of words between the two warring factions in the APC hierarchy.  A day before, there were newspaper reports of a contrived bomb attack at the home of a reputed APC Chieftain, Chief Francis Inegbiniki.  But the twist was that the “bomb” had only affected “slightly” a rickety Toyota Camry otherwise known as “pure water” packed in front of the house.  Curiously, this speaks volume considering the “might” of Chief Inegbiniki whose love for “sleek automobiles” to have such a nondescript vehicle around! Was it a hoax or orchestrated? That is left to people’s imagination.

Well, Edo State is peace loving and little surprise that a drive around town showed nothing less, a far cry from the sinister media reports billowing out signifying doom!

Away from the city, a reminder of what Comrade Adams Oshiomole could have done with his privileged position as APC National Chairman to reduce suffering and win accolades from the people.  The badly damaged highways, especially the one running from Iyamho through Okpella to Okene spelt more of danger than the diversionary bitter tussle to wrestle power from Obaseki.  That dangerous road, the base of banditry, kidnappings and armed robbery could have long been dualised with his influence.  But not so.  Instead, it is the eternal battle for control of the levels of powers that matters!  Obaseki ought to be allowed to do his constitutionally approved two term; what’s wrong with that?  There is nothing Pastor Osaze Ize Iyamu or Airevhere or anyone else is coming to prove.  Whatever is pushing Adams Oshiomole is certainly not in the people’s interest: it is his own private agenda.