By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin City.
A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo state, Chief Francis Inegbeneki on Tuesday said
the party would not hesitate to welcome back Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki to the All Progressives Congress (APC) should he indicate interest.
Speaking with Newsmen in Benin City, Inegbeneki said, the governor made a mistake on his recent onslaught on members of the APC in the state, insisting that the party has remained strong, united and better prepared for future elections in the state.
Lamenting the antagonistic tendencies of the state governor to APC leaders and his former party members in the state, Inegbeneki said it was unfortunate that Obaseki has continued unabated to treat members of APC that groomed him with utmost disdain.
He added that the APC with the array of persons holding leadership positions is determined to more than ever deliver the party in future elections as it was noticeable during her recently held ward Congress across the 192 wards in the state.
“The APC Ward Congress in Edo State was a successful exercise. The party has been able to bring various factions together and also harmonized.
“Edo state is an APC State. During the last election in the state, there was a misunderstanding among us in the APC, which led to the state governor leaving the party to join PDP. of course, the result is what we are all aware of.
“Now, APC as a party in Edo State have come together. We have learnt our lessons and we have regrouped.
“I can tell you now that people are decamping from the PDP to the APC because there is crisis in the PDP again. The governor of the state has carried the crisis to PDP, which is always full of crisis.
“Now , those who are not comfortable with the crisis in the PDP are now moving to the APC. In future elections, I know APC will be very strong again and reclaim Edo state.
“I advice Governor Godwin Obaseki to return home and back to the APC because this is the party that made him Governor.
“We in the APC groomed him. If he returns home , we will be willing to accept him back. One thing I know is that we all have learnt our lessons. We will accept him if he wants to join the APC. Our door is open, we are not closing our door against any person. The door is still open.
“Returning to the APC is the best bet for him. As you can see, there is crisis already in the PDP in Edo state.
“He went to join the party from the APC. The moment he joined PDP, and tried to repeat the same thing he did while in the APC, the PDP resisted him, that’s why today, you hear about old PDP and New PDP. They don’t hold meetings together, they hold their meetings separately and that is a fact , that there is faction in the PDP. Obaseki has factionalized PDP.
“The PDP wouldn’t allow him to come and lord himself over them. So, the best bet for him is to return back to the APC.”he said.
On his onslaught on perceived political opponents in the state, the APC Edo Central Leader said the Governor should toe the path of peace and return the Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) on a land measuring over 18 hectares, belonging to Osagie Ize-Iyamu despite the political disagreement between the duo.
“Obaseki has stepped on many tolls. My house was attacked with bombs. Some unknown persons threw explosive into my house prior to the APC primary. For me, I have forgiven him and I am ready to receive him back to the APC.
“What he has done by going to take back that land, which of course ,we all know rightly belongs to Osagie Ize-Iyamu is unacceptable. A land Osagie Ize-Iyamu has owned for years, which has been used for agricultural purposes and to train people. Now the governor has used the state apparatus to take over the land from the man.
“He has to return the land back to the man and seek his forgiveness. Osagie Ize-Iyamu is a man of God. He will forgive him if he goes there to return his land to him.
“However, with or without that land, we will welcome him back to the APC.”Inegbeneki said.