By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Ahead of the September 21, 2024 Edo State Governorship Election, membership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) further dwindled yesterday as Mr. Musa Ebomhiana, a former Chief Press Secretary to ex-Edo State deputy governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu dumped the party.
In a letter dated May 17 and addressed to the chairman, PDP Ward 5, Etsako Central Local Government Area of Edo State, Mr. Ebomhiana, from the small town of Iraokhor, wrote that he was home sick and desperately wanted to go back to the All Progressives Congress (APC), where, according to him, he truly belonged as a progressive democrat.
The move by Mr. Ebomhiana followed a recent similar action by former Edo House of Assembly Speaker Frank Okiye, ex- member of PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Mr. Charles “Charlie Temple” Idahosa, eight former Edo Council chairmen, amongst other big wigs of the main opposition party, who defected to the APC.
The ex-spokesman said that he had no choice but to escort his erstwhile boss, Comrade Shaibu to the PDP during the run up to the 2020 governorship election as a loyal and “‘obedient servant’.”
He penned: “Politically, I have realised that the sojourn was leading me to nowhere. So, I’m left with no option than to retrace my steps.
“In all, I must say that my sojourn in PDP was not totally a wasted one, because a lot of political lessons have been learnt, especially the behaviour of the average Nigerian politician.”
The former spokesman said that he owed a lot of gratitude to the immediate past deputy governor of Edo State, who was Impeached on April 14 by the state lawmakers over allegations of perjury and disclosure of government secrets, adding:
“He (Comrade Shaibu) remains my boss and my admirer.”
Mr. Ebomhiana said that he is also eternally grateful to the immediate past governor of Edo State, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC- Edo North), whom he emphasized is still “my political mentor and godfather who literarily dragged me into partisan politics.”