All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole on Tuesday blamed that the perceived gulf between him and Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki on fifth columnists.
The alleged rift “is the creation of people with personal interests”, Oshiomhole said, describing Obaseki as his brother.
Playing host to the governor, who led members of his cabinet to pay Salah homage to him on Monday night at his Iyamoh residence in Estako West Local Government Area, Oshiomhole said he and his successor have smooth relationship.
He told reporters after a closed-door meeting which lasted for about an hour that the meeting was not unusual as he was in constant touch with the governor Obaseki.
Oshiomhole said: “From time to time, we have always been meeting. It is not an unusual visit, the meeting afforded me the opportunity to meet with my brother and with people I have worked with.”
The APC chair described as unfortunate that the media liked creating factions for their own gain.
Obaseki also noted that the visit to his predecessor was not unusual, saying that he decided to celebrate Sallah with his former boss.
He said the visit was to celebrate Edo leaders just as the former APC national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, was celebrated by the state earlier in the day.
Obaseki said: “There is nothing unusual about this meeting; today is Sallah and we have just finished celebrating with the former APC national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun in Benin City, and we decided to come here to celebrate Sallah with my predecessor.”
He added that people who think there was a rift between him and his predecessor should perish their thought.
The governor has always blamed the perceived rift between him and Oshiomhole on those opposed to the progress being witnessed in the state.
He said that his administration has been building on the foundation bequeathed to him, saying that those never wanted a new order decided to create a gulf between him and his predecessor.