Oshiomhole: Why I Won’t Reconcile With Igbinedion

Edo State governor,  Adams Oshiomhole of has said that he may not reconcile his differences with the Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, because the latter allegedly disrespected his office by seeing himself as bigger than the entire Edo State.

Oshiomhole spoke when he visted Chief Igbinedion's ancestral home in Okada, Ovia North-East Local Government Area, where he commissioned class room blocks at Iguomo and a three-storey office complex which was named after the governor.

The projects were executed by the chairman of the council, Mrs Lucy Omagbon. The governor, who was responding to a plea by a leader of the community that the governor should reconcile with Chief Igbinedion, said that he had no problem with Chief Igbinedion but that his duty as governor of the state was to protect both the rich and the poor, adding that it was in the discharge of such duties that he had issues with Igbinedion.

According to him,

"I heard the Chairman talking about my quarrel with Igbinedion. I have no problem with anybody. There are only four levels of government, federal, state, local and traditional institution. The House of Igbinedion does not belong to any of this. He is a chief and I respect him as a chief but he must respect constituted authorities, the office of the governor of Edo State. This governor cannot be harassed, he cannot be blackmailed. And I stand ready to defend that office."