OBASANJO'S VISIT NOT TO ENDORSE OSHIOMHOLE -PDP

Sunday's visit of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole in Benin, is causing ripples within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Obasanjo resigned last Tuesday as Chairman, PDP's Board of Trustees (BoT)

The state PDP's Publicity Secretary, Matthew Uroghide, yesterday in a statement, said yesterday that the visit was not an endorsement by Chief Obasanjo of the Comrade Governor.

The gubernatorial election comes up on July 14, 2012, the governor is Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate.

'We wish to make it clear that the visit of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, ex-President of Nigeria and ex-Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees to Edo State Government House must not be misconstrued as support for Governor Adams Oshiomhole. Chief Obasanjo transited the Benin Airport en-route Delta State to attend the birthday party of his long-time friend, Colonel Mike Okwechime.

'As an elder statesman who is versed in official protocol, Chief Obasanjo thought it appropriate to pay a courtesy visit on the governor of Edo State. The visit which lasted for just about 10 minutes must not be mistaken by Edo State PDP members and indeed the people of Edo State to mean endorsement for the governor.

Governor Oshiomhole is well known to the ex-President as two-term president of the NLC at the same time that Chief Obasanjo was president (1999 and 2007).

According to Uroghide, 'this position will hopefully be made apparent when Chief Obasanjo addresses the people of Edo State at the presidential rally to conclude the gubernatorial election in the state.'