‘We Have No Fear at All’, Obaseki Dares Abuja Politicians 

Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki has declared that the people of the state are battle ready for politicians who have gone to Abuja to plot the takeover of the State House of Assembly. 

Obaseki issued the warning on Thursday in Benin City at a rally organized by pro-democracy groups to protest against godfatherism in the state and to rally support for for his re-election. 

He said,“Those people who are parading themselves, singing everywhere for themselves and their pockets, Edo people are watching you. Those of you who have gone to Abuja to say people should come and invade Edo and seize our House of Assembly, we are waiting for you.

“We have no fear at all. We have resolved to continue to do what is best for our state and for our country. We have no doubt that we are on the right course. We know that Edo is with us. We know that the people are with us. We know that teachers, traditional rulers, labour unions are with us. Anybody that try to stop us, come here and you will see.

“We dare you that nobody can stop the progress in Edo State. I assure that you have a government that is resolved to make Edo number one. Help us maintain peace. Without peace, there will be no prosperity.

“They know that if we continue to have the peace we had in the last two years, nobody will catch us. In a few years time, those of them parading themselves as democrats whereas they are not, people who say they represent us in Abuja no longer come. They stay there and start throwing stones at home.
“Those Abuja politicians who will we refuse to send back and those who got there by mistake want to disturb the peace of Edo. We will not let them.

“Go about your businesses peacefully. There is nothing they are doing now that will stop us from continuing to construct your roads. We will build our schools and create jobs for you.
“Whatever they try and do will not stop us. As long as you have us in government and in Government House, Edo will continue to move forward.”

The House of Representatives on Tuesday decided to intervene in the crisis rocking the state assembly following a motion by a loyalist of the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, professor Julius Ihonvbere (representing Akoko-Edo federal constituency). The House announced a 13-member committee to investigate the crisis and report back within a week. 

Obaseki fell out with his immediate predecessor, Oshiomhole who is planning to replace him with another candidate ahead of next year’s gubernatorial election in the state.