Governors from the South South region on Tuesday, November 24 held a presidential meeting with the Chief of Staff to the President, Amb. Ibrahim Gambari, at the Rivers Government House, in Port Harcourt.
At the meeting, where some decisions were reached, were Governors Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Ben Ayade (Cross River), Emmanuel Udom (Akwa Ibom) and Nyesom Wike (Rivers).
In attendance were: Godswill Akpabio, Minister of Niger Delta; Timipre Sylva, Minister of State for Petroleum; Goddy Jedy Agba, Minister of State, Power; Festus Keyamo, Minister of State, for Niger Delta; Osagie Ehanire, Minister of Health, the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammad.
Others include: The Director General of Department of State Services, DSS, Yusuf Magaji Bichi and the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, among other dignitaries. Transportation minister, Rotimi Amaechi, was noticeably absent.
A photo from the meeting, which has since gone viral, however stood out and has got people talking. It captures moment Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, was almost kneeling to greet the President’s Chief of Staff.
Obaseki, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) defeated Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of Gambari’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the September 19 Edo Governorship election to win re-election.
The election was not without any drama as the processes leading to the poll were characterized with both dramas and intrigues which eventually saw Obaseki leaving his former APC party for the PDP.
But despite leaving the APC, rumours were rife that the Presidency worked for Obaseki’s victory. The rumour was further heightened following the congratulatory message from the President to Obaseki even while his Party’s candidate was yet to concede defeat.
Despite public comment from the ruling party accepting the outcome, and asking its candidate Ize-Iyamu to do same, Obaseki and the APC candidate are currently in court, with other political parties seeking nullification of the poll and disqualification of Obaseki over alleged certificate forgery.
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