Edo Governorship Race: Why Oshiomhole’s backing Obaseki — Bello-Osagie

BENIN CITY—FORMER member of House of Representatives, Mr Rasaq Bello-Osagie, has said that Mr Godwin Obaseki’s credentials as a management expert was what Edo State people need as the next governor of the state.

He urged the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state to commend Governor Oshiomhole for his preference for Obaseki as APC governorship candidate ahead of the governorship election in the state, saying that being a politician alone cannot guarantee positive future for the people of the state, adding that those insisting that Obaseki was not a politician should have a rethink.

Bello-Osagie, who represented the people of Oredo federal constituency of Edo State from 2011 – 2015, said, “Oshiomhole was never a politician before he ran for the governorship of this state. But today, Edo State is one of the most vibrant states in the country despite its meagre resources.

“When Oshiomhole came, he constituted a team and this same Obaseki for instance, from day one, put a team together to support the governor. He supported the process to raise a strong team of professionals to help the administration of the governor. He remained in the policy cockpit of the Oshiomhole administration.

“What is needed in Edo State now as a recipe for development, not restricting the choice of candidate to those who see themselves as just politicians. We are looking for managers who can creatively manage our meagre resources for the benefit of Edo State. His antecedents as a management expert qualify him to aspire to the position of governor of Edo State. Edo State as presently constituted, in line with its own vision for the state needs a super manager not just a politician.”