In 2016, Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), showered praises on his successor, Godwin Obaseki. That was when he campaigned with him throughout the towns and villages of Edo state. He claimed he was the best man for office of the governor when he leaves office.
Photos of Obaseki and Oshiomhole eating corn on the streets of Benin City with other members of the campaign team are also seen on different social media pages. In 2016, Oshiomhole so much rested on the credentials both in academic and competence of Obaseki to take Edo to El-Dorado and possibly make it the next Dubai of Nigeria.
He praised him to high heavens, noting that major parts of his success in the governance of Edo state were the brain work of Governor Godwin Obaseki. He said Obaseki was in charge of the economic team, the team that fashioned out some of the success stories he claimed to have achieved in the state.
He noted then that Obaseki had all that state needed to succeed and that the promises Obaseki was making were not political statements but were parts of his convictions to make Edo state and its people better and great.
He told the campaign team then that Obaseki worked without asking for contracts neither money but was using his committee of friends to build Edo state. For him, Obaseki’s credentials were great and by far better than those possessed by Ize-Ize-Iyamu.
He said during his campaign, Ize-Iyamu was running from the sledgehammer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He said Ize-Iyamu studied law but never graduated from the law school. He told the people that Ize-Iyamu is not fit to be governor of Edo state.
He told the people that he must say the truth, adding that the truth could be thrown into the fire, it will come back refined and shining. He concluded that only Obaseki has the good statement and plans for Edo people but not Ize-Iyamu. He whitewashed Ize-Iyamu, making him unfit for any political office in Edo state.