Edo PDP tags visit to Obaseki by Igbinedion, Ikimi ‘private’

Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the visit of the Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion; and Chief Tom Ikimi to Governor Godwin Obaseki as “private”.

The party’s spokesman, Mr. Chris Nehikhare, stated in Benin City yesterday that the visits were private and so were the comments, discussions and purported endorsements credited to them.

Igbinedion, a PDP chieftain, visited the All Progressives Congress (APC) governor on Wednesday and identified with his achievements.

Similarly, Ikimi, another PDP chieftain, urged Obaseki to remain focused and continue to work for the common good.

When he visited the governor at the Government House yesterday, the former Minister of External Affairs noted that the governor wormed his way into the hearts of Edo people with impressive performance since he took office as governor.

According to Nehikhare, Edo PDP has dissociated itself from all that transpired between the aforementioned leaders and the governor.

Meanwhile, APC leaders in Edo have warned aggrieved members of the party to desist from mischievous behaviour capable of putting the party at risk in the state.

The party leaders gave the warning yesterday in Benin City during an enlarged meeting convened by Charles Idahosa.

Idahosa said the leaders had worked so hard and made necessary sacrifices to build the party culminating in its victory in November 2008 when Adams Oshiomhole recovered his mandate through the judiciary.

His words: “Since then, the governor and the leadership of the party have worked together to ensure the enthronement of purposeful and responsible governance for the good people of Edo.

“In the past two and half years, Governor Godwin Obaseki has been generally acknowledged by the leadership of the party and the good people of Edo as an exceptional performer.”

In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the leaders noted no fundamental rift among Obaseki, Oshiomhole (the party’s national chairman) and leaders of the party.