By DADA AYOKHAI
Showing that age may not have sufficiently toned down the fiery and combative nature that saw him lead several successful anti-government protests during his heydays as the number one Labour leader in the country, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole once again led his supporters to “invade” and converted the Ikelebe Sports Arena Auchi venue of the Labour Party rally to that of his party, All Progressive Congress APC .
The scanty LP supporters quietly left the venue of their scheduled campaign rally on sighting the “Oshiomhole troops” coming towards them.
Edo North APC campaign organization were scheduled by arrangements to flag off the Edo North APC presidential/ Senatorial rally at the Sports complex of the Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi.
The two campaign venues are miles apart from each other but an exasperated Oshiomhole , who is the APC senatorial candidate for Edo north district and also among to be presented with party flag felt dared in his backyard by the LP candidate who chose the same date for a campaign rally as his.
Employing large doses of local parables to whip his supporters into a frenzy, the comrade governor then led them in a match to the venue of the LP rally as a test of strength and to also let the “stranger’ (Obi) know who the owners of the land are.
Mr. Peter Obi had earlier arrived at Auchi in a chopper and drove straight to the palace of the Otaru of Auchi, HRH Alhaji H.A Momoh to receive royal blessings, while a few of his supporters patiently waited for him to arrive at the campaign venue before embarking on the activities lined up for the day.
On seeing the Oshiomhole troops coming their way, the LP supporters quietly left the venue .
The former APC national chairman and his legion of supporters took over the venue.
Feeling triumphant at the ease with which he and his legion of supporters subdued the Obi supporters, Comrade Oshiomhole ended up delivering two addresses, the first at the Auchi Poly Sports complex.
He told the enthusiastic crowd of supporters that it is an insult for the LP candidate to schedule a campaign rally on the same day as his, adding that such an effrontery should not go unchallenged.
Indeed, some of those who witnessed the drama hailed the action of the former comrade governor, saying it shows the amount of clout and respect he commands as a kingmaker and leader in the locality.
But for the Obi supporters whose scheduled was botched by the invading party stalwarts , the APC senatorial candidate has once again proven to be a ‘bully”.
A jubilant Oshiomhole, satisfied that his mission to ” run Mr. Obi out of the town” has been accomplished, gleefully rocked to the beats of the songs “Obi run away” that made a mockery of the LP candidate.
Ironically, some of the policemen on duty at the instance of the Labour Party Campaign Organisation appeared helpless and rooted to the spot.
