Asue Ighodalo, the Edo State Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, declared on Monday that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, does not have the authority to appoint the state’s next governor.
His statement was in response to Wike’s accusation that he told Governor Godwin Obaseki when he arrived with the PDP candidate that he would not support Ighodalo in the September 21 governorship election in the state.
Ighodalo spoke during a guest appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday.
The incident comes three days after the former Rivers governor revealed on Friday’s episode of the same show that Obaseki had brought his political godson to seek his support in the upcoming Edo governorship election.
Wike claimed he was startled to hear Edo PDP chairman Tony Aziegbemi seek the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to redeploy State Resident Electoral Commissioner Anugbum Onuoha a few days before the election because of his ties to him.
The INEC REC, who is also Wike’s first cousin, was his special adviser on lands while he was governor of Rivers.
“When Obaseki brought Ighodalo to my house two times to support him, they did not know the REC was my cousin. It is just today that they know that he (Onuoha) is my cousin. That is the problem I have with this country.
“I told them (Obaseki and Ighodalo) when they came to see me that I’m not going to support Ighodalo. Neither am I going to support anybody. The one I supported never helped anything but rather I was insulted,” Wike stated.
Reacting on Monday, Ighodalo expressed dissatisfaction with the FCT minister’s position, claiming that it did not reflect the conclusion of his previous discussion with him.
He did, however, emphasise that the outcome of the September 21 election would be determined by the Edo people, not Wike or any other major person in the country.
He said, “Sometimes when gentlemen talk in some kind of privacy or arrangements, we don’t voice out what has been said. But it is not correct that former Governor Wike said he wasn’t going to support us. That’s incorrect. But events may have overtaken his decision at that point, and he is free to change his mind.
“I believe, as a gentleman, he would adhere to the word he gave me. But if he changed his mind, so be it. When he and I spoke, we deliberated on issues around fair governance and how we can create a better country and Edo State. At the end of the day, we ended the conversation at a point where Wike said he would mind his business and Edo State is not part of his business.
“Again, if he has decided to change his mind, that’s fine. But the decision as to who becomes the next governor of Edo State is the decision of the people. It is not his or anybody else’s to make.
“Whether you are a governor or a minister, it is only Edo citizens and residents who have their PVCs who can take that decision with the support of God Almighty. I fear no man; I only fear God.”
He made it clear that if his party lost the political struggle, he would confess defeat and congratulate the winner.
However, the PDP candidate voiced tremendous confidence in his ability to defeat his political opponents.
“Honestly, if we lose this election and we know we’ve lost it fairly and squarely, I will be the first to concede. But I know we can’t lose this election if there is a level playing field for everybody.
“We have related with the people of Edo State and told them what we plan to do for them. They trust us and will vote for us. All the polls and indicators (seen so far) support us. So I have no fear,” he stated.
