"I Don’t Care If Obaseki Betrays Me" – Oshiomhole

Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole yesterday said he does not care if his successor, Godwin Obaseki, betrays him.

Obaseki of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won the gubernatorial election in the state last month and will take over from Oshiomhole on November 12.

Oshiomhole said there is nothing in the oath of office to be taken by Obaseki that stipulates that he shall not betray his predecessor.

Addressing State House reporters after a meeting between the Progressive Governors’ Forum and President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja, Oshiomhole said he had no interest to be betrayed.

The governor stated that when sworn in, his successor’s obligation and loyalty should be to the people of Edo State.

He was responding to a question on whether he was worried that he and Obaseki might later fall out with each other as witnessed in some other states where ex-governors had conflicts with their successors.

Oshiomhole explained that such conflict often arises when former governors refuse to accept that their tenure is over.

He said: “That is very important if you say he (Obaseki) will disappoint me, I am not the state. I am only one out of about four million Edo people. So, his obligation and his loyalty should be to the people of Edo State.

“The oath of office he is going to subscribe to says that he will defend the constitution of Nigeria, he will do everything to uplift the quality of lives of Edo people. Nothing in his oath office will include ‘I shall not betray my predecessor’ because I have no interest to be betrayed.”