Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has minimized the influence of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on the upcoming governorship election set for Saturday.
While Wike was instrumental in Obaseki’s switch from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2020 and played a key role in his re-election campaign, the two have since had a fallout. Wike has publicly declared his neutrality and stated he will not support the PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo, in the September 21 poll.
Obaseki responded to Wike’s comments, expressing confidence in the wisdom of the Edo people to make their own voting decisions without external influence. He stated, “Edo people are not that dumb; they know who to vote for.” He emphasized that citizens are capable of determining their choices based on their needs and priorities.
The Governor also mentioned that he has no regrets about distancing himself from certain political allies, including his predecessor, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, and Philip Shaibu. He noted that some politicians are unhappy because he is using government funds to address the needs of the community.