You can’t extend your political empire to Edo, Obaseki replies Tinubu

The Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the Edo State Election , Godwin Obaseki , has faulted claims made by the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress , Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in a televised broadcast on Tuesday.

Obaseki said this in a press statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr . Crusoe Osagie.

The statement was titled ‘ You can ’ t extend your political empire to our state – Edo govt tells Tinubu ’ .

Obaseki boasted that Tinubu cannot extend his political empire to Edo State , noting that Edo people were determined to end the godfatherism in the state .

In the broadcast , Tinubu had said Obaseki does not deserve a single vote in Saturday’ s election , asking voters to reject the PDP candidate .

Reacting, the statement read , “ Our attention has been drawn to a television broadcast in which a former Lagos State Governor and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress , Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu , in his quest to extend his political dominance and empire to Edo State , decided to take over the role of Edo people to choose through the ballot who to govern them for the next four years .

“ It has become obvious that the spirited fight which Edo people have put up against godfatherism has sent tremors beyond the shores of Edo to the likes of Tinubu , who has for years sustained a stranglehold on Lagos and other states in South - Western Nigeria, hence this desperate , last - ditch effort to rescue the unproductive political instrument , now popularly referred to as godfatherism , with which he has feathered his nest and built his political empire at the expense of the people .

“ Tinubu knows clearly that come September 19 , when godfatherism would have been dismantled in Edo State , the people of Lagos may just have found the recipe and formula for removing the chokehold placed on their collective destinies for decades by Tinubu , hence the inciting television broadcast . ”

Obaseki described the allegation that he prevented the inauguration of lawmakers in the state as “ false ” .

“ We call on all Edo people , friends of Nigeria and all lovers of democracy to disregard all the comments by Tinubu , as the allegations about the Edo State House of Assembly and other claims in the broadcast are completely false , ” he added .

The crisis in the Edo State House of Assembly began when it was inaugurated under controversial circumstances at night with only nine , out of 24 lawmakers - elect , on June 17 , 2019 , following a proclamation by the governor .