INTRIGUES, BITTER RIVALRY, ENGULF EDO PEOPLES MOVEMENT AS PRIMARY NEARS.

Intrigues, suspicion and bitter rivalry appears to have engulfed the camp of the Edo Peoples Movement ahead of the scheduled June 2, Edo APC primary which may be shifted to on or before June 25.  The subject of confusion is the alleged clandestine plan by the national chairman to impose an unpopular candidate on the party apparently because of his perceived popularity, a decision which has not gone down well with majority of the supporters. “How can somebody who decamped from another party be the choice of the national chairman?” queried one Fredrick Eigbokhan, a staunch party faithful of the Edo Peoples Movement. “He was in PDP and was accused of immoral character; he was detained by the EFCC for misappropriating 700 million meant for electioneering campaign; what now makes him the rightful choice to replace obaseki” asked Mr Fredrick ? He went on to tell our reporters that for all they care, somebody may be taking them for granted.” We will resist another imposition; we cannot be taken for a ride as if we are fools”, he told our reporters. “If we are going to remove Obaseki, it must be on consensus, not by under cutting or treachery”, he stated. This level of betrayal has now snowballed into distrust and cold rivalry. Supporters are no longer satisfied with mere followership and as such there are serious intrigues playing out and underground moves to ditch the national chairman of the party comrade Adams Oshiomole. “If this is how they want to play the game, we better stick our neck with the incumbent governor”, declared Mr Christopher Erimiokhale from Esan Central local government area. “After all, how many of us have benefited from the national chairman since he assumed office?” questioned Mr Christopher. “If it is not Clement Agba, it is Pius Odubu or his brother currently in Edo House of Assembly”, he said, warning that “Our mumu don do”. According to our investigation, different meetings are on-going which may eventually turn out to be in Obaseki’s interest. Sources hinted our reporters that Oshiomole’s deceptive and cunny style is the major bone of contention and many see this attempt to deny Obaseki the ticket as a continuation of that unpopular tactics. For example, some of the aggrieved supporters are openly questioning the rationale for trying to replace Hon. Phillip Shaibu with Gani Audu, if not to spite him. They also want to know what new angle that Pius Odubu, Ogiewonyi and Osaze Ize Iyamu are bringing on the table that Obaseki has not brought before.  They also want to know why the national chairman is hotly in pursuit of Obaseki. “Obaseki is the popular people’s choice; he controls the Edo State APC party machinery, the Executive members, the LGA chairmen, and other fringe politicians”, said Alhaji Saliu Muhammed; “Unless they write the result, there is no way they can pull Obaseki out”, he disclosed adding ominously though “their penchant for criminality know no bounds, so we won’t be surprised if they just go ahead and announce results of non-existent primary, then they will know that times have changed”! However, Alhaji Saliu howevr cautions Obaseki to be wise: “This is politics and for years to come people will be governor after Obaseki; therefore he should rally all the camps together and get things done”, stressing that where necessary, he has to spend the money and get results. “That’s how it works”, he concluded.