National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole on Christmas eve rejected gifts from the Edo State Government, official said.
Mr Crusoe Osage, the Special Adviser to Edo State Governor on Media and Communications, disclosed this in a statement in Benin on Wednesday.
According to him, messengers from the state government were dispatched to deliver the conventional Christmas presents reserved for former governors of Edo State to Comrade Oshiomhole but were turned back.
“The messengers said they met the mother of the former governor, who rejected the items, stating that her son would not accept the gifts.
“The gift items meant for Comrade Oshiomhole include four cows and ten bags of rice.”
The distribution of Christmas gifts, he said is an annual ritual by the state government, which serves as an expression of love, further strengthening the ties between the government and the people.
“The gifts are distributed to government functionaries, political appointees, heads of security agencies, traditional rulers, religious leaders, heads of institutions of higher learning, among other prominent people in the society.”
The State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and Comrade Oshiomhole have been locked in a political tussle over what the government says is the governor’s policy choices focused on prioritizing the peoples’ welfare as against pressures by a handful of politicians to share the state’s resources.
The governor, Osagie said, had set the political rift aside to perform the ritual of sending the gifts to Comrade Oshiomhole.
As at press time, Alltimepost.com could not reach former Governor Oshiomhole’s office for comments.
