By Shola Abayomi.
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has rebuked the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Adams Oshiomhole over statements credited to him concerning the conduct of the Edo State House of Assembly.
Recall that the national leadership of the party, led by Oshiomhole had earlier rejected the inauguration of the State Assembly, demanding for a fresh exercise.
Governor Obaseki, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy, Crusoe Osagie, dislodged Oshiomhole’s assertion, warning him to respect the party’s decision.
The statement reads: “We read with utter astonishment, a statement credited to the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, with respect to Governor Godwin Obaseki’s alleged role in the inauguration of the Edo State House of Assembly.
“Apart from the fact that he based his conclusion on a totally false and baseless premise, we believe that he could have shown that he does not have a vested interest by simply inquiring from his friend, the governor or any official of the State Working Committee of our party as to what actually transpired.
“His failure to satisfy the basic tenets of natural justice, which makes fair hearing from all sides of a matter mandatory, has clearly exposed his bias on this issue. For the avoidance of doubt, all the decisions relating to the leadership of the Edo State House of Assembly recently elected by the House were taken by the State Working Committee and leaders of the party from across the state.
“In reference to the rule of party supremacy, which our national chairman so eloquently professes, the governor and all party members are obliged to respect the party’s decision, as we expect the national chairman to also do.”