Governor Obaseki had before now, been antagonistic to his predecessor, now Senator, representing Edo North in the National Assembly, following a face-off with him ahead of the 2020 Edo gubernatorial election, where Obaseki emerged victorious for a second term as governor against Oshiomhole-backed Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
While it was clear that Oshiomhole was instrumental to his emergence in his first term as governor in 2016 under the All Progressive Congress (APC), Obaseki in November 2019 told a gathering of APC members in the state capital that the former labour leader did not contribute to making him governor.
According to Obaseki, “Nobody, but God made me governor of Edo State.
“I am not an ungrateful person. No one made me governor. I became governor by God’s grace, with the support of many other people.
“If God had said I would not be governor, no way would I have been a governor. It is wrong for someone to say he made me governor,” he told the gathering then.
However, four years after, at the ongoing economic summit, Obaseki made a u-turn, praising Oshiomhole for making it ‘possible’ for him to emerge governor, to the surprise of many.
Oshiomhole, who was present at the summit alongside former Governors John Odigie-Oyegun and Chief Lucky Igbinedion, was presented with an award by the governor.
“As governor of Edo state, you made it possible for me to become the governor of Edo state.
“If you did not, I will not be here tonight… I will forever be grateful to you,” Obaseki told Oshiomhole while presenting him with the award.