Goodluck Jonathan visits Godwin Obaseki amid rancour in Edo State

Amid rancour in Edo State, former President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday visited Governor of the State, Godwin Obaseki.

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TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Jonathan said he was in the State to visit the family of Chief Gabriel Igbinedion.

He said the visit was to show appreciation for the honorary doctorate degree conferred on him by Igbinedion University, and the renaming of the university’s College of Arts and Social Sciences after him.

Speaking on his private visit to Obaseki, after visiting the Igbinedion family, Jonathan said, as a former President, it was not out of place for him to visit the Governor of the State if the Governor was chanced.

“Traditionally, for somebody who has been a President, when he goes to a state, he has to pay a courtesy call to the Governor of the state. If you are not free, fine, but at least I informed him,” Jonathan said while addressing newsmen.

When questioned to assess the government of Governor Obaseki, Jonathan, who was visibly in a hurry to leave, simply said, “people are pleased”.

TNG reports Obaseki took advantage of the occasion to take a swipe at the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, accusing him of deliberately breaking protocol every time he visits the State.

He said it was unfortunate that Oshiomhole, who has served as Governor of the State does not realize that courtesy demands that he (Oshiomhole) should inform him (Obaseki) as the chief executive in charge of his security when he is in the State.

“He (Jonathan) is just extending the courtesy, as someone who has served the country in the highest level and you heard what he said.

“There is a courtesy when you are going to visit a State, you want to inform the person in charge of the State that you are coming and when you have time during a visit, you can now pay him a courtesy call.

“Unlike the unfortunate incident, we have been having in Edo State. It is really sad where somebody who had been the Governor of a State visiting the State and does not realize that courtesy demands that he should inform the Governor or the Governor apparatus of his visit as the chief executive in charge of his security when he is in the State.

“It is really sad and unfortunate that people who have served, who should know better, decided to behave the way they do or behave with impunity and sense of lawlessness,” Obaseki said.

Recall Oshiomhole was in Benin on Saturday to attend the burial ceremony of late Madam Cecilia Agbonyinma, mother of Ehiozuwa Agbonyinma, and was booed at the Benin Airport by some youth.

His convoy was also pelted with empty water can, even as heavy security presence at the airport barred the youths from getting close to the convoy.

Also, the road leading to Oshiomhole’s residence was barricaded with two trucks, one of which was later set ablaze.

It was gathered that the barricade was to prevent any political meetings from holding at Oshiomhole’s residence.

Security was later beefed up around the house to forestall any attacks at night.

Speaking to newsmen about the airport incident, Obaseki said Oshiomhole should have informed the State government about his visit to the state.