Wike apologises to Oshiomhole, says Obaseki has betrayal in his DNA

Ebun Francis| The war of words between Rivers governor Nyesom Wike and his Edo State counterpart, Godwin Obaseki got messier on Monday with Wike calling the Edo state governor ‘serial betrayer’.

The governors elected on the platform of the main opposition PDP have in recent days been trading barbs over comments made by the deputy governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu.

The Edo deputy governor had during an interview on Channels Television, said he and Obaseki may leave the PDP if the party continues to treat them as outcasts.

But responding to the threat at an event in Port Harcourt on Saturday, Wike scolded Shaibu for daring to threaten the PDP, describing him as an “ingrate”.

Obaseki, however, defended his deputy, stating that the PDP is not a personal property of Wike while urging him to treat party members with respect.

Responding to Obaseki on Monday, Wike said he regrets backing Obaseki in the 2020 governorship election.

“If you go and check the DNA of Obaseki, what you will see in that DNA is betrayal, serial betrayal, and ungratefulness,” Wike said.

“Let me stand today to apologise to Adams Oshiomhole who has been vindicated by telling us that we will see the true colour, we will see the insincerity, we will see the ungratefulness of Governor Obaseki.

“Let me apologise to Adams Oshiomhole to say you have been vindicated. You are right, we are wrong.

“I have never seen people who are so ungrateful in life. I will never betray any man. What is my DNA is sincerity, consistency, and teamwork.

“Assuming, though not conceding, I threatened the party, I have invested in the party. Rivers state has invested in the party.

“We have voted for PDP since 1999 till now; ask Governor Obaseki, has he done anything for PDP? Has he voted for PDP? The only election he voted was his own election where we gave him an umbrella.

“So who has more stake in PDP? I have more stake because I have supported PDP always. You have never supported PDP, rather it was when your godfather chased you away, that you came begging.”

Wike went further to described Obaseki as a “tenant” in the PDP, while he also proceeded to address the “bully” label.

“You came to beg a bully for you to have a ticket. A bully was your DG campaign and a bully bullied you into government house. You came back with your wife to thank the bully,” he added.

“People say it is politics. It is only politics that exposes human beings to know their character.”