[dropcap]R[/dropcap]ivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has said he did not influence the decision of a Federal High Court in State that blocked Governor Godwin Obaseki from participating in the Peoples Democratic Party’s Edo State governorship primary.

Wike’s denial was made public by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim, who quoted the governor in a statement as also describing some members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) as tax collectors.

He said instead of the NWC to carry everybody along in Edo state, they resorted to using the media to blackmail him.

“They said because an order was obtained from a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, then I am responsible.

Wike said he would no longer participate in any reconciliation and wondered why the NWC wanted to consult governors of the party. He questioned why the NWC did not consult with governors in the case of Bayelsa State.

The governor warned that if PDP was not careful, the crisis in the All Progressive Congress (APC) would be a child’s play.

“Nobody can threaten me because I said things must be done constitutionally. I will always continue to satisfy my conscience.

[dropcap]A [/dropcap]High Court of Justice in the Ekpoma judicial division on Tuesday restrained the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from excluding Governor Godwin Obaseki and the other cleared aspirants from participating in the Edo State governorship primary.

The court ordered that the PDP and the electoral umpire should not exempt any of the aspirants who have been cleared by the party from participating in the gubernatorial primary slated for the 25th June 2020.

With this decision, Governor Godwin Obaseki has been given the statutory right to participate in the gubernatorial primary.

[dropcap]G[/dropcap]overnor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta has urged contractors handling housing projects in the state to redouble their efforts and meet completion deadlines.
Okowa made the call on Friday while speaking with newsmen after inspecting some ongoing housing projects in Asaba.
The projects inspected were the 2,000-sitting-capacity Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Ecumenical Centre, Delta State Traditional Rulers Council Secretariat and new residential and office complex for top government officials under the Governor’s Office.
The governor, however, lauded the contractors handling the projects for not allowing the lockdown occasioned by the COVID-19 to disrupt their pace of work, and said that he would sustain regular inspection of projects across the state.

He particularly expressed delighted with the level of work at the traditional rulers secretariat, but urged the contractor to increase the pace to enable the project to be inaugurated on time.
On the Ecumenical Centre, Okowa disclosed that the project had 18-month time-frame for completion, and that the contractor had done much on site within six months.
He affirmed that his administration was irrevocably committed to completing all projects initiated in the housing sector and called for the support of the supervising ministry of the projects.
“In spite of the effects of COVID-19 which had slowed down the pace of work by many construction companies, I am glad to note that the contractors handling housing projects in the state are doing well. I am quite impressed with the level of work done so far.
“You can see right from the outside of the Traditional Rulers Council Secretariat that the quality of work is obviously very high.
“The contractor handling the project had promised to deliver the project in September this year, and I am quite happy with that. We look forward to delivering this project so that our traditional rulers can have where to meet.
“I must appreciate the quality of the contractors chosen by the Ministry of Housing and I also believe that regular supervision had enabled them to have the quality of work that we have at the moment,” Okowa added.
The Commissioner for Housing, Chief Festus Ochonogor, who conducted the governor round the project sites, assured that no effort would be spared in routine supervision of projects under his ministry to ensure that contractors executed projects in line with contractual agreement.

[dropcap]W[/dropcap]onders shall never end. The dramatic nature of Nigeria politics is getting more interesting on a daily basis. A season film that is more luring and captivating than Spartacus; political warriors are showing what they are made of in all ramifications. A politics of godfatherism and lordship in display. We heard of Ambode and Tinubu of Lagos state, Akpabio and Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State and now, it is Oshiomhole and Obaseki of Edo state. Of course, the number of episodes that have been staged by these set of politicians is a long one. No one dares to watch till the end.

Politics is not only a dirty game but funny game. The mantra of no permanent friend and no permanent enemy in politics is very apt and thoughtful. Everyone in political circle is eager to achieving permanent interest. No godfather will ever fight for good governance, their fights always revolve around personal interest. As the clash of interest occur, Oshiomhole who introduced Obaseki to Edo state politics was the one that shot him in the leg. What a drama inside life!

Oshiomhole said in one of their campaigns in 2016 that Obaseki graduated from University of Ibadan with flying color and proceeded to abroad for his Master programs. Oshiomole said Obaseki came back to Nigeria and helped people to set up businesses in Edo state, he said Obaseki was among those who set up many of the second generation banks in the state. Oshiomole said everything concerning academic credentials of Obaseki was accurate, correct without any falsification. My God! I was laughing while watching the video skit. So, Oshiomhole had once said those good things with flowery language about Obaseki before ? Another picture of the duo on Edo street eating maize was a jumbo lesson that nothing last for ever in life. As a matter of fact, political godfathers care less about good roads, hospitals, education and quality health care. What matters to them is their interest. Simply put, Oshiomhole destroyed what he built not because of Obaseki’s poor governance but for the clash of interest. Wonderful!
I don’t want to take side here, but sincerely speaking, Obaseki got himself into the mess. Apart from biting a finger that fed him, the place of loyalty in relationship can not be measured. Relationship is like an onion, the layers will peel to the last layer and that is when deterioration will set in. But the loyalty will uphold the things shared in common firmly without getting exposed. Obaseki exposed many things done behind the scene with his master. Obaseki said he didn’t know his commissioners , Oshiomhole gave him names. Obaseki stepped on toes as an authority without minding his second attempt. He said nobody can remove him from that seat. His impact in the plot to remove Oshiomhole as the National Chairman was pellucid. Had Oshiomhole been removed, Obaseki would have been a warrior by now for relagating his benefactor but Oshiomhole being a political ‘jugunu’ played his politics politely and stick to Jagaban of Lagos. His in-depth loyalty to Tinubu inundated him and foiled his removal. Now, Oshiomhole is the warrior and Obaseki is looking for where to hide is head under PDP’s umbrella. The cordial relationship now taste sour. What an irony of life!

Worse still, the same certificate Obaseki used to serve his first tenure was used against him in his second attempt. This is not about certificate, it was a conspiracy and willful decision of the party to deal with Obaseki. Maybe in his next attempt, he will learn how to respect elders with loyalty. Before then, I pray for his political career to rest in perfect peace.