A former member of the Peoples Democratic Party’s Board of Trustees, Charles Idahosa, on Monday, declared that he regretted encouraging the Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, not to resign from office when he was faced with a crisis around 2020.
The 71-year-old Idahosa said Obaseki came to his house about three times, saying he was tired of continuing as governor but he encouraged him not to resign but to pursue a second term in office.
Idahosa spoke at his residence in Benin on Monday while formally defecting to the All Progressives Congress.
The septuagenarian politician announced that he would be working with the APC to win the upcoming September 21 governorship election in the state.
He advised the APC to work hard to ensure that the PDP governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo, who is being backed by Obaseki, does not win the poll.
But in a swift reaction, the Edo State Government described Idahosa as “a butter and bread politician.”
The state Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, while addressing journalists at the Government House in Benin, said, “Idahosa is being dishournorable at this time.
“Idahosa has nothing to offer any political party he joins.”
Nehikhare alleged that Idahosa never at any time left the APC and urged him “to go and rest.”
However, Idahosa challenged Obaseki to substantiate his claim that the PDP members were defecting to the APC due to financial inducement.
He said, “When he (Obaseki) came to beg me like a weather-beaten chicken, how much did he give to me? Anytime he goes to a religious gathering, he would say those leaving the PDP have been given money. The greatest regret I have is not allowing Obaseki to resign after his first four years in office.
“He came to me three times in my house to say he wanted to resign, that he was tired of being governor but I appealed to him, telling him it was not about him but Benin’s interest. He is saying that he would win 80 per cent of the votes. Where will he get the votes?
“He said he has fought several battles but I was the one with former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Francis Okiye, and his deputy that were at the forefront, especially preventing the 14 APC lawmakers from being sworn in in 2020.”
Idahosa said he regretted supporting Obaseki to win a second term in office in 2020, declaring that “the greatest thing that will befall the APC is to allow Obaseki to win again.”
Recalling how he moved out of the APC in 2020 along with Obaseki to join the PDP, Idahosa said, “Four years ago, there was grumbling in the (APC) family and some of us had to go our separate ways. Four years later, we all are wiser now. As the secretary said, I was a founding member of the ACD, ACN and the APC. The damage we did four years ago, the APC never remained the same.
“There is no perfect political party and at 71, I am not here to contest positions or seek appointment. I am here to work. I urge members to keep their eyes on the ball. It is not over until it is over. APC members in the state must unite. This is not time for division, we will return Edo to the APC.”
The former PDP chieftain lashed out at those underrating the APC governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo’s qualification to be governor.
According to Idahosa, underrating Okpebholo is like underrating Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin.
He said despite the claim that Igbinedion did not go to school, he became the first black man to own a Boeing 747 and a university.
Earlier, the Secretary of the Edo State APC, Lawrence Okah, while introducingIdahosa, said he was a founding member of the party, adding: “We are here basically to receive him back home; he went on sabbatical.”
He then called on the Chairman and Secretary of the Uhunmwonde Local Government APC to issue the party membership card to Idahosa, who he described as “the doyen of Edo South politics”.
Also, a former deputy governor of the state and leader of the Edo South APC, Dr. Pius Odubu, said, “I am very elated to have our senior brother, Honourable Charles Idahosa, back. To have a former BoT member of another party join your party is a good catch any time, any day.
“Honourable Charles Idahosa was a former commissioner in Edo State, Special Adviser and indeed an integral part of the success story of the Adams Oshiomhole administration. So, like he said, there was a little issue and we went our separate ways, and now we are back together.
“In Benin, they say when you see hills you know that a river is close by. So with Idahosa back on board, the APC is closer now to the Promise Land. The APC will bring Edo State back to the fold of progressives. Idahosa has a large following and we are going to harness that even beyond the shores of Uhunmwonde.”
Among those who graced the ceremony were a former deputy governor and Edo South Leader of the APC, Dr. Pius Odubu, National Woman Leader of the party, Dr. Mary Alile, a member of the House of Representatives representing Uhunmwonde/Orhionmwon Federal Constituency, Dr. Billy Osawaru, and other ranking party members.