By Olawale Olaleye

With the political situation in Edo State APC currently what is locally called, “Yam pepper scatter scatter” in Yorubaland, the equation might have returned to its old fluid state. Nothing is subject to near accurate projection for now. But a few guesses are still plausible.

If you share the position that this is not about what Governor Godwin Obaseki chooses to do with his brother and friend, Adams Oshiomhole but the battle for 2023, which a majority of the actors have begun to position for, then, it means a new deal that is being pondered is feasible.

So, what’s that deal? The deal, as I gleaned from inside sources, might be to sacrifice both of them (Obaseki and Oshiomhole) and start on a new and clean slate for Edo State and the party. That way, the eventual decision of the party would not have made either a victor or the vanquished from the Edo debacle.

Without a doubt, the main problem all other actors see ahead of the 2023 elections is Oshiomhole. For as long as Oshiomhole is out of the way, Obaseki could as well face the consequences of his choices, they all seem to think. Who cares?

The meeting of the governors and President MuHammadu Buhari, yesterday before which no one knew the court was going to throw spanners in the works for the Oshiomhole camp had already sealed Obaseki’s fate, especially, after he had reportedly resigned from the APC.

Although the Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, was said to have made a very good case for Obaseki, however, by the time Oshiomhole responded to the issues raised by the CoS on the instruction of the president, it was case closed.

The president, sources claimed, had simply asked Oshiomhole to go ahead with whatever he was doing, more so after Oshiomhole had asked the president, whether or not he submitted himself for primary ahead of the 2019 elections and also citing the Zamfara and Bayelsa cases, which he noted many blamed him for.

But shortly after the meeting with Buhari, which had excited Oshiomhole as “end of discussion”, the Court of Appeal gave a different verdict, which was: “discussion continues”.

With the confusion in the APC struggling to build up to stability, the argument gaining grounds now is to sacrifice both of them, so that no other person sees Obaseki’s approach to a personal disagreement with Oshiomhole, which unfortunately had brought embarrassment to the party, as the way to go. This is also realising the excesses of Oshiomhole, who failed to act true to his position as a leader. The scores are settled!

The new deal is not final yet. But there’s a feeling that granting Obaseki victory could be embarrassing to the president, not even after he had held a meeting with the governors of his party and taken a stand, supposedly so, in addition to factoring Obaseki’s resignation from the party into the mix.

Again, it stands to reason that, if it is true Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State is the chairman of the new screening committee, need I tell you, where his loyalty lies? Can you remember how he got to where he is? Obaseki, as it is, had better moved on with his earlier decision to pitch tent with the opposition PDP.

Besides, the Lagos Landlord is also said to have asked to see the president on the latest developments. But as at the time of writing this, that request was yet to be granted. But trust the Villa man, he’ll always see this ally of his from Lagos.

Ultimately, how all of these are going to play out is yet to be seen. But, make no mistakes, the equation is already back to being fluid and the leadership is evidently in a state of flux. Fingers crossed 🤞