Given the bitter acrimony that shadowed their relationship in late 2014, many could have considered the well circulated birthday message on April 1, 2024 from Senator David Umahi to his erstwhile boss, Mr Martins Elechi as an April Fool message.“I am most delighted to identify with your excellency, my boss and mentor, and to offer my profound felicitations to you on this auspicious and special celebration to mark your 83rd birthday,” Umahi said as Elechi turned 83.
Regularly, when Governor Godwin Obaseki travelled out of the country he almost always handed over to Shaibu as acting governor. A report in GWG.ng, an online platform few days ago, quoted Pedro Obaseki as revealing a discussion between him and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the man who was generally regarded as Shaibu’s foster father and political mentor.
It was a masterstroke by Obaseki as it enriches his political base in the decisive fight in the main election with the Akoko-Edo/Owan flank of Edo North becoming a possible fertile ground for the PDP. Rumour has it that Elechi gave him much leverage as deputy governor almost like what Obaseki gave to Shaibu. In that position, the more elderly Elechi allowed him much room to manoeuver. However, as the transition approached in 2014, Elechi favoured the then minister of health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu from the same Ebonyi South Senatorial District as Umahi as his successor. Why Elechi didn’t want Umahi as a successor has never been disclosed.