Obasekis: Deconstructing the ‘Betrayal DNA’ in a Popular Edo Family By Kabir Akintayo
POLITICS DIGEST- The impasse between Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki and his Deputy, Philip Shaibu is not one that caught many followers of Edo politics by surprise. Shaibu is presently battling for survival as Edo’s Number 2 citizen. He has accused the state assembly, aided by the governor, of plotting to oust him from office. He asked the court of appeal recently to halt an impeachment move against him.
On the other hand, Governor Obaseki alleged that Shaibu planned a coup against him. He also accused Shaibu of manipulating the election of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, Edo State chapter, to install an executive council to advance his ambition of becoming governor of the State.
“As you can see now, the reason my deputy governor manipulated your election was because he has political ambition and thought he could control and use the council to achieve his political goals. Please, I apologise. Going forward, you will have an independent, well organised and well covered transparent election,” Obaseki said.
Though Edo’s off-cycle governorship election is slated for next year, Mr Shaibu, who has remained a loyal Deputy Governor, apparently believes he won’t get the endorsement of Obaseki to succeed him, eventually.
But a cross section of observers in Edo politics had since predicted the fate that has befallen Shaibu, insisting that he (Shaibu) will be lucky if his principal does not betray him – factory the Obasekis history of political treachery in Edo.
A quick look at Edo history shows that in 1888, during the Era of Oba Ovonramwem, Obaseki’s grandfather, Agho Ogbeide was a very close friend and business associate to the Oba. It was alleged that when the British invaded Benin Kingdom, Agho aided the western soldiers to dislodge Ovonramwen who was exiled to Calabar.
Afterwards, Obaseki’s grandfather was installed as the Oba, with the support of the British. And according to history, it was meant to compensate him for his support towards the invasion. Agho Obaseki was made Oba of Benin from 1897 to 1914.
So, in the state, the name ‘OBASEKI’, has a stigma of betrayal, hence the comments of the former Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike, that betrayal is in Obaseki’s DNA.
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It could be recalled that, through the support of Wike and some PDP heavyweights, Obaseki clinched the PDP ticket after the APC gave him a red card following a feud with Oshiomhole, his predecessor. After Obaseki’s exit from the APC, Oshiomhole threw his weight behind Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who eventually won the APC ticket.
Also, Wike had headed the governorship campaign in Edo state, to ensure Obaseki was re-elected under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and after his victory, he, Obaseki visited Wike commending him for his doggedness and full support in ensuring his victory.
He said “After I was pushed out of my former party, this house was the first place I sought solace. You took me in as a brother, out of the storm, changed my clothes and gave me food to eat. It was in this house, the campaign council met to work out the key strategies that led us to victory. You mobilised people across the country. You moved to Benin, went through the humiliation and attacks. You supported us and we won. It will be a sin against God if we do not come to say thank you. Even if the victory we are celebrating is from God. He has used people like you to make it happen.”
But not quite long, the duo fell off, with Obaseki throwing shell at Wike, telling him that PDP, is not Wike’s personal property.
He said “Governor Wike and his collaborators headed by Chief Dan Orbih in Edo State will not succeed in destabilizing the PDP in Edo State as they did other states like Cross Rivers just to secure delegates to actualize his alleged personal ambition to run for presidency in 2023.
“In Edo, we don’t accept political bullies and overlords and historically, we have demonstrated our capacity to unshackle ourselves and dethrone bullies and highhanded leaders.”
However, Wike later apologized to Oshiomhole, he confessed to regretting helping Obaseki.
“Let me stand today to apologise to Adams Oshiomhole who has been vindicated by telling us that we will see the true colour, we will see the insincerity, we will see the ungratefulness of Governor Obaseki.
“So let me apologise to Adams Oshiomhole, and to say you have been vindicated and that we were wrong,” Wike said.
So, Mr Philip Shaibu should have known better even before now that, regardless of his allegiance to Mr governor, his name, ‘Obaseki’, will always come to play.
Therefore, either he forgoes his ambition of succeeding his boss as the next governor of the state or maintain status-quo and pretend everything is fine. This is because neither APC, nor Oshiomhole will receive him with open hands to fly their party ticket.
