While dissecting the reactions that trailed Senator Adams Oshiomhole’s remarks to the First Lady of Edo State Mrs Betsy Obaseki on The Morning Show on Arise News, Dr Reuben Abati, Ayo Mairo Ese and Rufai Oseni held divergent views on the issue.
Recall that during the PDP’s campaign flag-off at Ubiaja Township Stadium in Esan South East Local Government Area, former Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, has slammed the First Lady of the state, Betsy Obaseki, over her comment that only the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate, Asue Ighodalo, has a wife among the contenders for the state governorship election.
Mrs Obaseki introduced Ighodalo’s wife, Ifeyinwa, to the crowd, emphasising the importance of having a woman in the Government House.
She said, “Let us vote for the best candidate in this coming election, and I want to introduce the wife. Incidentally, among all the candidates, only one has a wife, and it’s our own party’s candidate, Asue Ighodalo. Only he has a wife. This is the wife, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Ighodalo.
“Edo women, know that only one candidate has a wife. Better things come to women when there’s a woman in the Government House. All women in Edo, regardless of party, should see the candidate who has a wife. They will take us higher.”
On what’s trending on The Morning Show on Arise News, Seyitan Atigarin had asked the anchors for their views having read some comments trending on the issue online.
Dr Reuben Abati, in his remark said;
“This story that is coming out of Edo state is about personal insult ahead of the September 21 elections. We’ve seen the whole of campaign process degenerating to the level of gutter politics.
“The second point is that Comrade Adams Oshimhole is an elder statesman, he has been leader of Nigerian Labour congress , he has been governor for 8 years, he is currently the Senator of Federal Republic. There are certain expectations at his level. He is mature enough to know cultural sentiments in Africa.
“I think she owes Mrs Betsy Obaseki an apology and that apology should be offered publicly. Who appointed Comrade Senator Oshiomhole as family planning experts to tell Obaseki and his wife how they should run their lives.
“I think he went beyond the limit of decency in that particular regard. In any case, Mrs Obaseki was not responding to Comrade Oshimhole. If the statement was targeted at Okpebholo, the candidate of APC, the man has mouth, he should defend himself.
“We are not hearing his voice, it is Senator Oshimhole that is standing for him at all times. If I were from Edo State, I will be very worried about that.
“I don’t think it was too much for her to use it to introduce someone who could possibly be her successor in the office. The key point with which i started with is that they should elevate the discussion, as the campaign goes towards election day. I don’t think it is fair to publicly insult a woman as a barren woman, for heaven sake that is not done culturally”. Abati said.
Ayo Mairo Ese in her reaction to the issue said;
“Too far from the end of Adams Oshimhole. We don’t even know who is contesting. Is it Senator Adams Oshimhole that is contesting for the third term, or is it Senator Monday Okpebholo ? To be honest like one of the commenter said, this is below the belt. She didn’t mention anybody’s name, she said the only candidate in this election.
“There are 16 political parties, that INEC registered to take part in this election. Five of them backed APC. The only person that came out with a bulldozer if you like ‘shakabula’ was Senator Adams Oshiomhole who took personal offence. He was the one who felt the statement was credited to his candidate or maybe himself in this election, I felt that was uncalled for.
“Especially the cultural context of how Nigeria has often filed women who don’t have children, I think that is where the sensitive spot is. It is a choice if people choose not to have children for whatever reason, it is a choice. You should not question their love for children or insult them based on that.
“He shouldn’t just apologize to Mrs Obaseki, he should publicly apologize to every woman in Edo State and every woman who doesn’t have children or struggling to have children”.
Rufai Oseni said;
“For me it is a return to the days of madness in our politics. I just have to bring an insight into it. At first the person that talked that this is the only candidate that has a wife is also wrong. Is it a conversation about who has wife and doesn’t have wife ? Or the development of Edo state?”. He asked .
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