WHY OMOREDE OSIFO AND PATRICK OBAHIAGBON ARE AT WAR

Former Edo State Commissioner and famous society lady, Omosede Osifo is still finding answers to what could have led to her unceremonious exit from the Edo State Government. Omorede was the state's Commissioner for Youths, Sports and Social Mobilisation. Last January, she was sacked last by the governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomole. 

Osifo, who assumed headship of the ministry in March 2013, was relieved of her position, following a litany of complaints, which bordered on her lackadaisical attitude towards her official duties. One of such complaints had to do with Oshiomole's disappointment over her inability to get the floodlights at the Sam Ogbemudia Stadium to function during a state's concert.  

Osifo's problem, according to an insider, started when the state staged a Youth Summit and Concert that featured many prominent acts in the entertainment industry. The floodlight in the stadium, which was installed during former Governor Lucky Igbinedion's failed to function on the day of the concert.This was said to have infuriated Governor Oshiomole, who queried how the Organising Committee expended the N75 million fund, which was provided for the concert.

Sources disclosed to The ELITES that, Osifo's supporters have been blaming her woes on Patrick Obahiagbon, the Chief of Staff to Governor Oshiomole. This group posited that the former Commissioner was sidelined by the Organising Committee, which was headed by Obahiagbon(aka Bombastic Igodomigodo). Osifo's suppoters claimed that Obahiagbon's grudge against her is anchored on his envy over her rising profile in the state. This, they insisted, was what led him to sideline her and made her look inefficient before the governor. 

Findings done by The ELITES revealed that both Osifo and Obahiagbon are from the same Oredo Local Government area. They had even contested for the House of Representatives seat in 2011. Invariably,the two politicians have always seen each other as rivals. Osifo's supporters maintained that Obiahiagbon always strove to make her invisible within the state government, thereby, undermining the efforts she invested in running her ministry. Sources also disclosed that Obahiagbon, allegedly blanked Osifo during campaign programmes for Oshiomole's second term. He was said to have tried to stop her from speaking at the campaign ground on several occasions. Moreover, the decision of the Bini Royal House to present Osifo with a Royal Bead is reported to have sparked up the feud between the two. Osifo's camp accused the CoS of being jealous because he was not included in the honour list. 

Meanwhile, Obahiagbon's camp has refused to be drawn into any tirade with supporters of Omorede Osifo. The group explained that Osifo has a track record of shirking in her official responsibilities. It claimed that rather than discharge her duties, Osifo always got carried away by her position and she was fond of canoodling with people who do not have the interest of the state government at heart.