Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has mocked and insulted the former Edo State governor and the current national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, saying he has dumped his “ordinary khaki” for “safari with diamond buttons”.
Gov
Wike described
Oshiomhole as a “character
that nobody should associate with”. He plunged his party into needless crisis and does not have the
support of many governors.
He said the person who was
wearing “khaki”, a cloth made from wool or
cotton, claimed he was a unionist, now wearing “safari”,
a cloth made from expensive fabric and mostly used by those who are well to do.
Recall that, Oshiomhole had kicked against the Supreme Court ruling in Bayelsa State, which he described as an attempt to impose an unpopular candidate on the people of Bayelsa.
Last week Thursday, the Supreme Court had sacked the Bayelsa Governor-elect David Lyon because of Degi-Eremieoyo, his running mate forged certificate and ordered for the withdrawal of his Certificate of Return and issuance of same to Douye who came second in November polls.
The apex court in a unanimous decision by a five-man panel of Justices led by Justice Mary Odili held that Degi-Eremieoyo presented forged certificates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In a reaction to governor Wike saying Oshiomhole, who adopted the khaki since his days as president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) asked Oshiomhole to steer off the issue in Bayelsa and the APC chairman subsequently described the Rivers governor as a violent politician.
The governor said Oshiomhole ought to have accepted the Supreme Court ruling, “whether good or bad”.
“Oshiomhole cannot destabilise this country… who the hell is Oshiomhole to say that nobody can be sworn in when the Supreme Court has made a pronouncement?” he asked.
“Oshiomhole claimed he was a unionist. He said he worked in the textile industry. Mention one man who works in the textile industry and is as rich as Oshiomhole today. He used to wear ordinary Khaki, today he wears Safari with diamond buttons.”
Wike also called for the resignation of Oshiomhole, describing him as a “character that nobody should associate with”.
He said the APC chairman plunged the ruling party into needless crisis and does not have the support of many governors.
“Because of people like Oshiomhole and his style of leadership, his party lost so many areas they ought not to have lost. What made them not to have candidates in Rivers State and Zamfara, its because of Oshiomhole. Oshiomhole led to the problem they have in Bayelsa,” he said.
“Oshiomhole said he fought godfatherism and at the same time, he wants to install himself as a godfather in Edo State. Why is he fighting Obaseki because the man doesn’t take instructions from him? He (Oshiomhole) preaches what he doesn’t practice.
“He was taught a lesson in Rivers, a bitter lesson and I want to repeat, if you come to steal our mandate, the people will respond accordingly. They will oppose your stealing of their mandate. So, Oshiomhole thinks that because he is in the ruling party, nobody should say anything or do anything. . You may be closer to the President and that is not the way to retain your position as Chairman of the party because Oshiomhole doesn’t have the support of most of the Governors because of his style of leadership.”
The governor said he stopped attending the national economic council meeting because Oshiomhole allegedly turned the forum into an avenue to bash former President Goodluck Jonathan, even when he had gone to praise Jonathan at Aso Rock for ensuring credible elections that made him governor of Edo at the time.
“When Jonathan left office, one of the reasons why I didn’t go to NEC meeting was because of Oshiomhole when he was a member. When Jonathan left, there was no day at the NEC meeting Oshiomhole would not bring Jonathan down,” he said.
“Meanwhile, this was the same man Oshiomhole went to praise for allowing ‘one man, one vote’. But when the man (Jonathan) left, Oshiomhole changed. That is his character.”
