The Edo State Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo, on Monday, stated that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, does not have the power to determine the next governor of the state.
His statement was a response to Wike’s claim that he told Governor Godwin Obaseki when he came with the PDP candidate that he would not back Ighodalo at the September 21 governorship poll in the state.
Ighodalo spoke when he was featured as a guest on Monday’s Channels Television’s Politics Today.
The development comes three days after the former Rivers governor disclosed on Friday’s edition of the same programme that Obaseki brought his political godson to seek his support for the forthcoming Edo governorship election.
Wike said he was surprised to hear Edo PDP chairman, Tony Aziegbemi, asking the Independent National Electoral Commission to redeploy the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Anugbum Onuoha, some days before the election because of his ties with him.
The INEC REC, who is also Wike’s first cousin, served as his special adviser on lands when he was the 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 disappointment in the position of the FCT minister, saying that wasn’t exactly the outcome of the meeting he earlier had with him.
He, however, stated that the outcome of the September 21 election would be decided by the Edo people and not by Wike or any other political figure 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 emphasised that he would concede defeat and congratulate the winner if his party lost the political contest.
The PDP candidate, however, expressed strong conviction that he would 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.
Punch