TELL Magazine

Immediate past governor of Edo State, and senator representing Edo North in the National Assembly, Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole said he may not have been alive today, and his political adversaries would have gloated over his misfortune if he had lost the election.

The former national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC however said he was ready to sacrifice his senatorial ambition for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to win his presidential election.

Imagining the fate he would have suffered if he had failed, Senator Oshiomhole said his political opponents would have harassed him out of Edo North but he was ready to take the risk for Tinubu.

Speaking on Saturday in his country home in Iyamho, Etsako West local government area of the state at a post-inauguration/thank you party held in his honour by friends and well-wishers, he said the people of Edo North voted for him because they wanted him to repeat what he did for the state as governor, and promised that he would ensure that the district and the state got the dividends of democracy from the Tinubu-led APC administration.

According to Oshiomole, “During the campaign, I told you if you want to give me one vote, give it to Tinubu. I said to you it was better he won as a president even if I lost as senator, than for me to win as senator and he lost as president. In the end, I’m very proud to say, and to repeat today here and now, that in each of these six local governments, every ward, Bola Tinubu won; every ward, Adams Oshiomhole won.

“Today, I can say I will proudly carry the results of the Afemai people, and I will say, Mr. President, this is my certificate; my people voted for you”.
While thanking the people for overwhelmingly voting for President Tinubu, he assured that the president would “change the face of Nigeria” and will make Edo State better.”

On his success at the polls, Oshiomhole said “I don’t know what would have happened if you had voted against me. My blood pressure would shoot up, and that is if I’m still alive.

“The jubilations by the opponent would have been such that they will come and lock my small door, and break my small bones, and harassed me out, but you said no. I thank the Afemai people for that.

“There were sitting governors who contested for the senate across the country, and many of them lost. I left office seven years ago, and my people still honoured me with victory. How can I thank you enough?

“Take this message home that I will represent Edo North, but I have an obligation to Edo State and tinubu’s interest in Edo State”