Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has cautioned Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo against investigating his predecessor, Godwin Obaseki, and encouraged him to concentrate on the state’s progress instead.
Wike’s warning went against what former governor and senator Adams Oshiomhole, who represents Edo North, had previously advised Okpebholo on Friday. warning went against what former governor and senator Adams Oshiomhole, who represents Edo North, had previously advised Okpebholo on Friday.
As governor, Obaseki succeeded Oshiomhole, but the two parted ways in the run-up to Obaseki’s second term after Oshiomhole, then the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress, pledged to oppose him.
With significant assistance from Wike, Obaseki switched to the Peoples Democratic Party, where he ultimately won a second term without Oshiomhole’s help.
After Obaseki and Wike had a falling out in the latter years of his administration, the FCT minister backed Okpebholo and organized against Obaseki’s candidate, Asue Ighodalo, for the 2024 governorship election.
“You now have the time to look into that hotel about which they say Edo money, in tens of billions of naira, was spent, and now they claim it’s just a minority shareholding,” Oshiomhole said during a celebration of the Supreme Court’s ruling.
“You have time to revisit all those roads that were built at the worst costs compared to the ones I built and that are still there. Governor Obaseki must come out of hiding to answer these questions.”
Speaking to party leaders, young people, market women, civil servants, and others after Oshiomhole’s speech, Okpebholo announced that his administration would form a commission of inquiry to examine Obaseki’s records.
Wike argued against the action on Sunday night, claiming that questioning Obaseki would not produce any significant results and might divert the governor’s attention from his governing duties. Wike had traveled to Benin to officially open the Edo State Benin Central Bus Terminal’s second phase, the New Edo Line Terminal.
However, after former President Muhammadu Buhari passed away, the event was called off.
“If there is someone who would have encouraged Okpebholo to probe and prosecute Obaseki, that person should be me,” Wike said in a statement released on Monday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka. “but what I suffered in ensuring that he returned for a second term and how he paid me back is now in the past.
“We must pass through this process in life, and move on for the development of Edo State. Don’t do it, I’m the one who should have told you to pursue this man, I know what I passed through.”
“I should be the one to prosecute Obaseki but what is it in life when God has given you a position?
“If it were to be his power, you wouldn’t be here, but God has told him (Obaseki), you don’t have it and I have given it to whom I want to give,” he said.
Wike apologized and publicly acknowledged previous conflicts between him and Oshiomhole. “Leader, I know how pained you are and what you passed through, I know the suffering you suffered and it was like a humiliation to you.
“I was part of it because I humiliated you. I apologised on national TV to you. Sorry for what I did to you, leave it and let them carry their wahala and go.
“Focus on the development of Edo and you will see what you will achieve at the end of the day,” he said,” he said.
