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Former Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, and his successor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, were engaged in tete-a-tete and photo opportunities at a public function in Benin on Monday.
It was from the same function that the embattled Deputy Governor of the State, Comrade Phillip Shuaibu stormed out in protest against the decision by the security operatives attached to the governor to block his media crew from attending.
The media crew allegedly arrived at the venue late in breach of protocol, and publicists of the State Government would thereafter explain that in a statement through which it also announced the disbanding of the crew.
The media coverage of the deputy governor’s activities has now been put as a schedule under the state Ministry of Communication.
As the face-off between Governor Obaseki and his deputy worsened, the governor’s open embrace of his former boss, Comrade Oshiomhole was captured by the horde of paparazzi at the venue.
The pictures have since been trending on the social media and causing bedlam in the Internet space.
This is understandable. Oshiomhole coupled the Obaseki-Shaibu guber ticket in 2016.
Immediately the government was inaugurated, things went awry with the relationship between Oshiomhole and Obaseki.
Shuaibu, who was the political godson of Oshiomhole, was implicated in the sour relationship as one that ignited and stoked the flames of discord between Oshiomhole and Obaseki.
Shuaibu, who was entrusted with the management of Oshiomhole’s structure, would abandon Oshiomhole to work with Obaseki.
Obaseki was denied re-election ticket in the APC, and had to move to the Peoples Democratic Party with Shuaibu to pick the guber ticket. He negotiated with the PDP to allow him retain Shuaibu as his running mate.
What seemed to be Shuaibu’s loyalty to Obaseki came under the strictest of test at the point of inauguration of the State House of Assembly.
Shuaibu who is positioning himself for the 2024 guber race attempted to torpedo the governor’s original leadership plan so as to install the leadership of the legislature in aid of his guber bid.
That enraged the governor. That became the point at issue. Obaseki became angry with Shuaibu and reportedly plotted to remove him as deputy governor.
Shuaibu has since gone to court to obtain a restraining order against elements cited in the plot to remove him.
Besides, Shuaibu was said to be planning to return to the APC , a move he hurriedly denied when Oshiomhole sent a warning shot that the APC was not a rehabilitation centre for political betrayers.
Monday’s drama happened at a colloquium organised by the state government to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Midwest Referendum which birthed Edo and Delta States, held at the Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
The colloquium, with the theme, ’60 years after the referendum, which way Midwest?’ had in attendance leaders and stakeholders from Edo, Delta and Bayelsa States and across the South South region.
Meanwhile, the photos of Obaseki and Oshiomhole in a warm embrace have come to many as a surprise as both men have been seen as sworn enemies since their fall out ahead of the 2020 Edo governorship election.
