Former Edo State Governor and former National Chairman of the All-Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole has criticised the Edo Peoples’ Democratic Party’s 2024 governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo, declaring him unelectable following alleged constitutional violations and fraud.
Oshiomhole in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Wednesday, accused Ighodalo of manipulating the political process and failing to connect with the people of Edo State, citing Ighodalo’s inability to speak his native language and his reliance on an interpreter during his campaign.
Oshiomhole described Ighodalo as a “double-breasted consultant” out of touch with local issues and stated that he cannot support someone he views as inadequate for governance.
“Asue Ighodalo is not electable. Right now, he fraudulently, according to the federal high court, manipulated and disobeyed the constitution, as we speak, he is not even a candidate. Nigerians don’t want a double-breasted consultant, transaction expert with one hand in the pocket.
“He doesn’t understand the people, he doesn’t know Edo state, he can’t speak the language of his own village. Even the day he went to announce himself, he carried an interpreter to speak to his own villagers. When he finished, he went to Benin, he didn’t sleep in the village because according to his view, local people are all witches and Wizards. A man like that can’t govern. How can I secretly support him? For what? Asue is a worse version.”
On the matter of Philip Shaibu’s public apology to him, Oshiomhole clarified that he did not request Shaibu to kneel, emphasising that it was Shaibu’s own choice to seek forgiveness.
He expressed a willingness to accept Shaibu back into the APC, highlighting forgiveness as a key aspect of their reconciliation.
He acknowledged Shaibu’s past mistakes but expressed hope that the experience would lead to a renewed commitment to the party, leaving future loyalty as a subject of time.
“On the issue of Shaibu kneeling before me in public, I didn’t ask him to kneel down. He said he is a prodigal son, that is biblical. Who am I to stop him? A father must have a large heart. We have welcomed him back into the APC family. It is not about whether he disrespected me.
“He did things I would never have approved of. I have forgiven him and I hope he has learnt his lesson that you don’t throw everything away. Somebody asked me if I can trust his future loyalty and I said that it is a matter of time. For now, forgiveness is the name of the game and I have forgiven him.”
Chioma Kalu
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