As the race for the 2024 governorship election in Edo State draw closer, the Coalition for Good Governance,(CGG), and member of the Labour Party (LP) in the state, Comrade Richard E. Idemudia, says Kenneth Imasuagbon remains he best option to fly the party's ticket and the man Edo people can trust.

In a statement made available to newsmen in Benin appealed to the party faithfuls not to make the mistake of handing the ticket to money bags that have suddenly emerged as aspirants, said Imasuangbon's political sagacity has placed him poles ahead of other aspirants for the ticket.

He said not only has the lawyer turned educationist built bridges across the three senatorial districts of the state, he has in addition been in the game of politics long enough to master the intrigues of the game.

He noted that the 2024 governorship poll is going to be a tough one and will see the major political parties putting forward their best candidate and there require an experienced aspirant to emerge as the party’s candidate.

According to him, "The election is certainly going to be an interesting one and hence, the need for LP to be well prepared because, we are obviously going to be the party to beat.

"LP stands a better chance of clenching the Dennis Osadebey Avenue Government House seat judging by the party's performance during the 2023 general elections in Edo state.

“However, to sustain that performance, we must put our best forward. Our best in this case should be a household name, someone who has built bridges across the state.

"That one person who readily fits into this description is Kenneth Imasuangbon. Not only has he been in the game long enough, but also has links with key political players across the three senatorial districts of our dear state.

"Am not saying the ticket should be handed to him on a platter of gold, of course not. However, a level playing field must be provided for all the aspirants to test their popularity at the primary.

"The party will have itself to blame if it allows money bags to have their ways. Leadership of the party must be circumspect not to go into the election proper as a divided entity and the only way to ensure this is by creating that level playing field for all to test their political might."

The National Movement for the Actualization of Good Governance (NAMAGG) has called once again called on Nigerian Regulators, Government and the British Government to save Nigerian Patients, Shareholders and Employees of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Consumer Nigeria PLC as GSK UK, finalizes its plan to force the shut down of the GSK Consumer Nigeria PLC.

In a Statement in Benin City, Edo State Nigeria by the National President of the Movement for the Actualization of Good Governance (NAMAGG)-Douglas Ogbankwa Esq., on Wednesday 2nd August,2023 on this matter states inter alia thus:

"The National Movement for the Actualization of Good Governance (NAMAGG) can now confirm with gross disquietude that GSK UK has finalized plans to forcibly shut down the GSK Nigeria business in the month of August, lay-off all employees and put shareholders investments at significant risk.


"At a time when the Nigerian Government and regulators are focused on increasing the volume of drugs and vaccines manufactured in Nigeria. GSK UK has gone ahead to force the board of GSK Consumer Nigeria to shut down its operations in Nigeria and move to an importation model like it did in Kenya and other African countries.

"As reported earlier, this decision to force a shutdown was resisted by one of the oldest board members of the of GSK Consumer Nigeria – Mr. Samuel Kuye, who was the lone voice of reason on the GSK UK selected majority board. Mr.Kuye has since resigned from the board to maintain his integrity and vision which focuses on local manufacturing and exports from Nigeria and not gross importation of medicines.

"We are further appalled by the process and purpose for which this force shutdown of one of the largest and oldest pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria. To achieve this forced shutdown, we have seen documents that show that GSK UK deliberately stopped the supply of critical medicines and vaccines to Nigeria which has led to the widely-reported astronomical rise in the prices of GSK medicines, thus putting the lives of the average Nigerian at serious risk.

"By starving GSK Nigeria of medicines and vaccines supply this year, GSK UK was successfully able to put Nigerian patients’ lives at risk while forcing GSK Nigeria to shut down and lay off all its employees. They intend to move to importation via a foreign distributor which is akin to turning Nigeria to a dumping ground for GSK medicines. GSK UK also disingenuously tried to pin the scarcity of their products on the Nigeria forex challenge with a statement released by their communication director.

"This has since been debunked by the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Government with the deregulation of forex supply.
We have also received confidential documents that confirms our initial analysis that this move by GSK UK is driven by greed, disregard for the Nigerian people, Government and shareholders. By shutting down GSK Nigeria, GSK UK also plans for force the GSK Nigeria board to transfer the market authorization permit of its drugs the new foreign distributor this month. This is similar to what they have done in other African countries and will rob the Nigerian shareholder of the over 30yrs investments they have made in GSK Nigeria.

"With the forced shut down of GSK Consumer Nigeria, GSK UK will be eliminating jobs in Nigeria and saving and approximate 35% of its cost which is estimated to be about $355million (three hundred and fifty-five million dollars) in 10years. We have also been well informed that GSK UK was only able to implement this forced shutdown by arm-twisting the GSK Nigeria board to use the services of a financial adviser that works for GSK UK.

The group maintained that while it cannot stop GSK from making changes to its business, we believe that the current process has been far from transparent and should be scrutinized and investigated by Nigerian regulators as it goes against the Nigerian patients, employee, Shareholders and Government.

"We once again call on NAFDAC, the SEC and the Ministry of Health to intervene and investigate the move to turn Nigeria into a dumping ground of GSK medicines. GSK Nigeria in recent past had multiple factories and sales and distribution operations which employed over 600 highly skilled workers (largely pharmacists). Over the years GSK UK has systematically refused to invest in Nigeria while reaping significant profit. Forcing the shutdown of GSK Nigeria will be final blow to over 50years of Drugs manufacturing and distribution in Nigeria"

The National Movement for the Actualization of Good Governance (NAMAGG) has called on Nigerian Regulators to save Nigerian Patients, Shareholders and Employees of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Consumer PLC 's from the plans of GSK UK to unfairly shut down GSK Consumer PLC Manufacturing and Distribution operations.

In a Statement in Benin City, Edo State Nigeria by the National President of the Movement for the Actualization of Good Governance (NAMAGG)-Douglas Ogbankwa Esq., on Wednesday the 12th July, 2023 , on this matter states inter alia thus :

"The National Movement for the Actualization of Good Governance (NAMAGG) has observed with dismay, the unfair related party trade practices of GSK UK, which is aimed at shutting down GSK Consumer PLC local production of its drugs and vaccines in Nigeria.

"As was previously reported, GSK UK who are related trading partners of GSK Consumer PLC has deliberately refused to supply the Nigeria market its life saving medicines- Asthma, Antibiotics and critical vaccines. This action has led to an attendant astronomical increase in the prices of the drugs and vaccines in a way that makes these critical medicines beyond the reach of the ordinary Nigeria.

"We are also aware that this action and the plan to shut down GSK Consumer PLC operations was rejected by some board members and has led to the resignation of one of the oldest board members on the GSK Consumer PLC Board – Mr. Samuel Kuye.

"Mr Samuel Kuye is a chartered accountant and Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA) who has served as an independent executive director on the GSK Consumer PLC board for 9years resigned due to the coercive plans of GSK UK. With Mr. Kuye’s resignation and the appointment of 2 GSK UK employees as board members, GSK UK now has majority board members on the GSK Consumer PLC Board.

The Diversionary Comment of GSK Communications Team that it is the paucity of forex that is responsible for the current GSK drug supply scarcity and price increases is utterly false. Forex Trading and access has been liberalized in the present Administration, so they putting the blame on Forex is a hoax.

"We believe that the primary purpose of Government is the protection of lives and properties of Nigerians and we call on the Government to intervene and stop this anti-Nigeria agenda by GSK UK. Shutting down GSK Consumer Nigeria PLC which is the 2nd largest healthcare company on the Nigerian Stock Exchange goes against the local medicines production improvement plans of NAFDAC and the Bola Ahmed Tinubu plans for the Nigerian Economy. The time for the local regulators to act is now!

The Statement Concluded.
A medical doctor who spoke anonymously complained about the silence of the local regulators like NAFDAC. “Would GSK try this in any other country? This is simply RACISM at its worst, why will a UK multinational deprive Nigerians of its life saving drugs and vaccines?

" If you go to their global website, you will see that they are still able to supply Ukraine medicines during a War but are unable to provide medicines in Nigeria. Why will they stop supply of products and lie that the problem is due to forex?

" This administration has made changes to the Nigeria foreign exchange policy which has seen significant flow of foreign exchange and confidence in the Nigeria Economy by investors, GSK and its employees have been unable to restart supply of their products, instead they are planning to shut down the company.

" Shut down and turn Nigeria into a dumping ground for imported medicines instead of one that is producing pharmaceutical products. NAFDAC and the current government has made it clear that they want to improve local manufacturing and supply of medicines in Nigeria and across Africa. I would call on NAFDAC to stop this disgraceful action of GSK UK especially as it is obvious that local shareholders are not in support of this plan”


Speaking to a capital market specialist about this new development " he said, it is obvious that this is all about more money for GSK, if GSK UK successfully moves GSK Nigeria into a distributor model like they did in Kenya and other parts of Africa, they could reap an estimated extra 30 million pounds of profit yearly from their sales of medicines to Nigeria.

" This is approximately 300-million-pound profit in 10years - profit that we think can be used to build new antibiotics factory in Nigeria, instead they have sold their factory, sold their brands and have taken the money out of Nigeria with the support of the Board".

A Member of the Federal House of Representatives, representing Ovia Federal Constituency, Dennis Idahosa, has condemned Thursday attack on EndSARS protesters by hoodlums in Benin, Edo State capital City.

A statement signed by his media aide, Osaro Aghedo, described the attack on the protesters as barbaric, unjustifiable and a direct assault on human rights of the people.

The House of representative member further said the attack was not only disgraceful but criminally motivated.

He stated that the agitation of the protesters is genuine and should enjoy the support of all and sundry.

Idahosa who commended the protesters for conducting themselves in an orderly manner and putting aside their political, religion and social cultural differences to stand firm and demand for what is just, said he strongly believes in the across-the-board reform of the Nigeria Police Force.

He task the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu to come up with a permanent solution that will end the police brutality on the people, especially the Youths in the country.

Idahosa the IGP to urgently commence investigation into the attack on innocent protesters in Benin.

Idahosa concluded with an advise to the youths to remain calm and resolute and not to result to violence, no matter the provocation.

Following speculation in some section of the media that Edo born Business mogul and the Chairman, Ocean Marine Limited, Capt Hosa Okunbo, has taken ill and flown abroad after the Edo September 19th Governorship election, a close aide to the philanthropist yesterday said his principal is hail, hearty and bubbling.

The aide who crave anonimity while describing the report as not only wicked but nonsensical and lies from the pit of hell added that there is no iota of truth in it and urged the public to disregard such report.

"The election has been fought and won, why are they desperate to rubbish the image of Capt Hosa and even wish him dead if they don’t have a hidden vicious agenda of vendetta against him?”. the source queried

"In a rare show of statemanship Capt Hosa congratulated the winner of the election, something I am sure they would not have done if the pendulum swung the other way around, the source noted.

On the allegations that Capt Hosa took contracts from Edo state government which he never executed as another lies

"The records are there for anyone to check if Capt Hosa participated in any so called contract sleaze. In any case, Governor Godwin Obaseki has been in office for almost four years now, why has he not come out with any evidence and proof that Capt Hosa is a defaulting contractor to Edo state?

Also, talking about the Benin Airport road project that Servtek construction company was involved with under Comrade Adams Oshiomhole’s government said there records are available in Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC to show that Capt Hosa is not the owner of the company as being bandied around by those who want to mislead the public.

"In any case, how come a contract Comrade Oshiomhole awarded for less than N7 billion naira is now suddenly put at over N40 billion naira if not that those intent on tarnishing the image of an achiever like Capt Hosa are blinded by lies and hate?

"Capt Hosa was never involved in the construction of Benin Airport road and he has addressed the issue long ago during the tenure of Comrade Oshiomhole. The desperation of his traducers are pushing them to be recycling valueless materials and misinformation"

He futhered added Capt Hosa has since moved and concentrating on his numerous businesses across the globe.

The Nigeria Elections Debate Group has been forced to call off its scheduled debate between contenders in the Edo governorship race after the PDP’s candidate, Governor Godwin Obaseki, announced a sudden pull-out from the debate citing unpreparedness, according to inside reports.

The debate, previously scheduled for Wednesday, September 2, with the candidate of the APC, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, amongst the first to confirm his attendance, will no longer hold.

It was the first of debates meant to showcase the contenders, particularly candidates of the two major parties, before the electorates to speak directly to their manifesto and entertain difficult questions on their intentions and the viability of their plans for office.

Reacting to Governor’s sudden pull-out, the APC says Mr. Godwin Obaseki is ashamed of his poor records and is unable to defend it without first perfecting his script of half-truths and lies.

In a statement by Mr. John Mayaki, the Chairman of the Edo APC media campaign council, the APC said Mr. Godwin Obaseki is terrified of the prospect of being confronted with his failures in four years, hence his ‘cowardly pull-out’ on the grounds of lack of preparation.

He said: “What we have here is the pathetic case of a man ashamed of his own abysmal records in office and unable to defend it.”

“Incumbents who performed in office seize any opportunity to showcase their achievements to the people, especially in national debates meant to deepen the democratic culture and offer electorates a front-row seat at an event where those seeking their votes are made to answer difficult questions on why they are deserving of the office they seek.”

“But in the case of Mr. Godwin Obaseki, having failed in all ramifications, most notably his central promise of creating 200,000 jobs, he is playing hide and seek with organizers of debate events, citing unpreparedness and campaigns.”

“The sad truth is that Mr. Godwin Obaseki is never prepared for anything, including governance. To debate, he needs his thousands of aides, most of whom he hired at the dawn of his forgettable tenure, to help him perfect a script of lies and untruths.”

“He doesn’t have a known or documented manifesto. His comical ‘MEGA’ plan, which in any case is an admittance of failure, was hurriedly put together as a response to the widespread criticism of his lackluster campaign and the lack of any documented policy promise. Since the launch they staged where Mr. Godwin Obaseki mumbled, stuttered, and unwittingly betrayed the fact that he was also seeing the paper for the first time, we have not heard anything of it since.”

“Mr. Godwin Obaseki knows he cannot spend an hour at a debate name-calling Oshiomhole or regurgitating any of his tired refrains premised on buck-passing and denial of responsibility. At some point, he would be asked to speak of his own achievements and explain why schools in most communities in Edo state have just one teacher. This is why he is hiding.”

The candidate of the Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has called off his rally at Usen, following a road crash.

Before Oluku junction today, a trailer ran into the travelling campaign entourage of top chieftains of the APC, claiming lives.

In a statement endorsed by the Chairman of the APC Media Campaign Council, Mr. John Mayaki, the campaign said it was suspending the scheduled event, to honour the dead.

On behalf of Pastor Ize-Iyamu and the APC, Mayaki condoled with the families of the victims, saying they were not alone in their grief.

He pledged that the campaign would do everything within its powers to ameliorate their grief.

Reaching out to the families of the policemen involved in the fatal crash, the campaign said Edo would never forget their supreme sacrifice.

The statement called on everyone to pray for the soul of dead, and against the recurrence of such tragedies.

Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the APC governoship candidate in the September 19 election, has said he is running to fix Edo State.

“We have seen a government completely distracted by needless wars of self-aggrandizement and a complete lack of administrative control,” he said in an interview, “which resulted in endless internal squabbles between aides, many of whom lost faith in the governor and his style of leadership.”

Pastor Ize-Iyamu regretted that such loss of faith in the present governor’s ability has cost the state dear, stalled the people’s development and compelled an urgent change to reset the state and start afresh.

“All of these,” the candidate rued, “depleted state resources, oftentimes through questionable means, and took a great toll on governance.”

He said education was a prime victim of this gubernatorial lack of leadership and executive in-fighting and confusion.

“Not a single teacher was hired in four years despite the fact that schools in our rural communities suffer acute shortage of teachers and other personnel.”

He said his priority would be to correct this anomaly, because a government that failed in education had failed in everything; and merited to be replaced and fast.

“A government that failed to prioritize the education of our children, particularly at the primary level, which is the bedrock of all other levels of learning, has failed in its mandate and betrayed the trust of the people — no ifs and buts,” he declared.

Ize-Osagie added that it was to fix these serious problems and salvage the state from poor leadership that he was running.

He hoped the Edo people would honour him with their mandate on September 19, however adding from their reception of both his campaigns and SIMPLE agenda ideas, he had no doubt that would happen on September 19.

Edo Election: Wife Of APC Candidate, Idia Ize-iyamu Visits Oregbeni Market

..Preaches 'Simple Agenda' Project

As the 2020 Edo gubernatorial election draws nearer, the wife of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Professor Mrs. Idia Ize-Iyamu has continued to trump up support for her husband Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu through public engagements and sensitization programs in the state.

In company of the state APC Women groups, her recent points of call were Oregbeni market, Ramat Park, Ikpoba hill, and other public places in the Edo state capital, Benin City to interact with market women, workers and other relevant stakeholders about the opportunities of her husband’s ‘Simple Agenda.’

After her introduction to a mammoth crowd in Oregbeni market by Deaconess Mrs. Maryam Jibrin, Director women mobilization APC Women Campaign Organisation, Prof. Mrs. Ize-Iyamu presented the benefits of the Simple Agenda and why the women and other voters should rally round Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu to better the lives of everyone in the state.

Prof. Mrs. Ize-Iyamu decried the current poor state of the markets and the untold hardship experienced by the traders and their children. She assured them of their place in the Simple Agenda and how things are going to change if they vote-in APC candidate in the September 19 election.

‘’I have been sent by my husband to assure you of our commitment to all market women. We can see all the suffering going on. In this market, there are no basic infrastructures like water, toilet, stalls, roads, and security. With Simple Agenda, all these infrastructures will be duly provided for everyone. It is part of what we call urban renewal, which is inside the Simple Agenda. These infrastructures are your rights and you do not need to pay to enjoy them. Our markets, villages, towns and cities are going to be properly developed and maintained,’’ she said.

Speaking further, she also told the traders that under the Simple Agenda, they are going to be able to access soft loans to expand their businesses. According to her, small and medium scale enterprises are going to be among the major beneficiaries of the agenda which is very concerned about economic revival.

One other way she said this is going to be possible is through skills acquisition. She said most market women and other entrepreneurs will be trained in whatever skill they choose, after which they will get start-up funds to implement their skills and make more money and feed their families. According to her, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu has a strong war to fight against poverty in the state.

As a woman herself, she promised to be a mother to all, and stand in for them whenever they need loans or whatever kind of support they require from the government when her husband wins. She also promised an end to the current level of multiple taxation on small businesses which is making things difficult for many.

‘’Many traders cannot make a decent living or expand their trade because of so many taxes and levies on them. We shall put a stop to this. Our agenda is not to take from you, but to give to you,’’ she guaranteed.

On girl child education, she mentioned that Pastor Ize-Iyamu is not happy to see school age children hawking in the markets and not being able to attend schools. She said it is the plan of Ize-Iyamu to build more schools and make quality education accessible to all, irrespective of background. According to her, Ize-Iyamu’s mission for education is to get all children back into schools. Things like child labor, she said, is going to be a thing of the past.

‘’Our children are the next generation. They are supposed to be in schools, not in the markets or on the streets. We are going to train them to become lawyers, doctors, engineers, and many other great professions. We shall bring back scholarships for our brightest children and subsidize the current cost of education so that no one is left behind’’ she said.

According to her, the Simple Agenda is very much centered on job creation. ‘’We are tired of seeing our sons and daughters sit at home without jobs to do. There is a very great plan in the agenda of Ize-Iyamu to create multiple jobs and make our people happy and prosperous again.’’

Prof. Mrs. Ize-Iyamu and her entourage proceeded to the residence of the head of Oregbeni community, Pa David Ehigie Osemwenkha, the ODIONWERE OF OREGBENI ward 2, Ikpoba Okha local government Area

She conveyed the positive message of Pastor Ize-Iyamu to the Odionwere and all that were present. She assured them of the good intentions of her husband and the great benefits of the Simple Agenda for all sectors of the society.

In his response, the Odionwere said that he was very familiar with Pastor Ize-Iyamu and believes in his ambition to change the state.

He gave his blessings to Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and said that he will convey his message to the elders and other stakeholders in Oregbeni.

He said the victory of Ize-Iyamu in the election will be possible as long as Ize-Iyamu remains committed to the development of Oregbeni.

The Odionwere complained about the condition of Oregbeni which remains neglected in spite of the presence of public and private institutions in the community.

He appealed to Prof. Idia Ize-Iyamu to tell Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu that when he becomes governor of Edo State he should help provide employment for the youths of the area and improve the general well-being of the people.

Prof. Mrs. Ize-Iyamu assured the Odionwere and his people of a positive response from the aspiring governor, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

The APC has alleged plans by Governor Godwin Obaseki and the PDP to arrest its leaders over staged kidnappings in Edo State.

John Mayaki, the Chairman of the APC Media Campaign Council, raised the alarm in a statement on Thursday.

He said Governor Godwin Obaseki and the PDP are concluding plans to fake the kidnap of some identified PDP members across the state and blame the APC for their disappearance.

He says Governor Obaseki is already intimidating the Police to join in the plot by arresting and remanding APC leaders over the staged kidnappings to prevent them from continuing their grassroots mobilization of voters.

The statement read: “We have been made aware of plans by the outgoing Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, and his party, the PDP, to stage kidnappings of some of their members across the state and blame the APC for their disappearance.”

“We have confidentially obtained the list of some PDP members penned for the fake kidnappings in Edo South Senatorial District and the proposed cash allowance the Governor is offering them in exchange for their cooperation in the reprehensible plot.”

“We are also aware that Mr. Godwin Obaseki is already mounting pressure on the Police to play along in this shameful plot. He has requested that they commence arrest of our leaders across the state and keep them in detention over the fake kidnappings just to keep them out of circulation and prevent them from continuing their grassroots mobilization of voters.”

“This desperate and disgraceful plan was borne out of the Governor’s frustration with his repeated failure to inflict harm on APC leaders through his hired thugs who he continues to illegally funnel arms and cash as motivation to unleash mayhem, especially in APC strongholds in Edo State.”

“Some of the PDP members whose purported kidnap will be staged are already informing their families and close friends of their brief disappearance in the coming days, encouraging them not to worry, and familiarizing them with the timeline prepared by Mr. Godwin Obaseki, including media charades meant to whip up sympathy.”

Mayaki advised the Police not to lend itself to the alleged plans of the Governor and his party, stating that the APC and its leaders are law-abiding and are the victims of the Governor’s growing of abuse of office, orchestration of violence, and intimidation with state agencies constitutionally required to be apolitical.

Mr Dennis Idahosa, a member of the House of Representatives has began the construction of a Secondary School at Evbuonogbon Community in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo to save the students the stress of travelling over 20 KM to attend classes in neighbouring Ondo State.

This is coming on the heel of complete reconstruction of six block of classrooms at Ekosodin Secondary School, Ovia North East Local Governement Area of Edo by the lawmaker.

The representative of the Ovia Federal Constituency, who said the new school will consist of six classrooms with principal office, noted that it was part of the promised made during his electioneering.

Idahosa said he was moved by the plight of the students who have had to travel several kilometres to attend secondary school.

"When this is completed, the need of haven to travel to attend secondary school in Ondo State will not only stopped but will also encourage others to go to school.

"My responsibility is not only to see to its construction, but timely completion of the project as well," he said.

Speaking at the Ekosodin, the lawmaker who bemoaned the state of the exiting structure in the school, noted that no meaningful learning can take place if something was not done urgently.

He said decision to intervene in the school is also to dicongest the primary school, where students of the secondary school receives their classes in Ekosodin.

"You can see that there is nothing in place to call this a school; the people now receive their classes in the primary school"

"I am placing priority on education because of the need to see that our children have a secured and better life.

"We are just not going to provide the structures as you see, we will make sure that the classrooms are equipped with furniture." he said.

Other projects by Dennis Idahosa includes construction of six blocks of classroom at Egboha II primary school in Alfa camp, Okada East ward, Construction of six blocks of classrooms at Sule Camp Primary school, Okada West ward both of Ovia North East Local Government.

Others are reconstruction of Obanosa Primary School, Iguoshodin ward, reconstruction of Ezuwarha primary school, Iyorwa, Adolor ward, Ovia North East and reconstruction of Okoro Primary School, Iguobazuwa West Ward, Ovia South West Local Government Area.

He urged the people to continue to support the government of President Muhammadu Buhari for them to continue to enjoy more constituency projects.

...invade venue of APC rally

Armed thugs mobilized by Edo Deputy Governor, Mr. Philip Shaibu, have occupied the venue of APC's rally in Jattu, Edo North Senatorial District, and are scaring away residents and other supporters of the APC with gunshots, multiple reports have shown.

The thugs, chanting war songs, have insisted on preventing the APC rally from holding as the Deputy Governor, Mr. Philip Shaibu, is keen on demonstrating his capacity for violence to Governor Godwin Obaseki and other members of the PDP who are battling him for the control of the PDP campaign funds.

Multiple eye-witnesses in Jattu confirmed the arrival of the armed thugs in a convoy personally led by Mr. Philip Shaibu at Jattu junction where they proceeded to the venue of the APC rally, shooting recklessly and causing terror.

Some residents are presently fleeing the area for safety as some of the thugs pour on the streets reportedly seeking out leaders of the APC to attack.

Mr. John Mayaki, the chairman of the Edo APC Media Campaign Council who confirmed the incident, accused the Deputy Governor of masterminding the attack and invasion.

He said the thugs have since been hired and lodged in hotels by Mr. Philip Shaibu who preceded the carefully-planned attack on its party and leaders with a false petition to the Police to deflect attention from himself and blame the violence on others.

He said: "The PDP has continued its attack on our campaign with armed thugs, militias, and other groups. Yesterday in Owan East, thugs invaded all three venues of our campaign events, breaking chairs, and destroying facilities in the area."

"These thugs were driven to the event venues under heavy protection supplied by the Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, who is the mastermind of the recent attacks."

"Today in Jattu, he has charged the thugs to ensure that no APC rally takes place because the sheer number of residents who are planning to attend will expose his rejection to the whole world and advertise his defenestration as a good-for-nothing liability on the PDP ticket."

"From the start, his inclusion on the ticket was an afterthought as Obaseki was willing and ready to sell him out in his negotiations with the PDP. He had to force himself in and he continues to face internal resistance from members of the party over control of their stolen loot designated for the campaign."

"The shootings and violence ongoing in Jattu are happening at the behest of Mr. Philip Shaibu for the singular reason of repressing the voices of the same people he pretends to represent in government."

"We are also aware of the three hotels fully booked in Okpella where he is lodging another retinue of armed thugs to continue their attack on our campaign."

"We have called the Commissioner of Police and will follow that with a petition to the IGP for the investigation of Philip Shaibu's activities in Edo North, especially his convoy which has now become nothing but an official transport service of thugs and illegal arms for violent attacks."

...as Obaseki quietly replaces Commissioner arrested abroad for money laundering

Governor Godwin Obaseki has been asked by the APC to offer an explanation on the whereabouts of Mr. Osaze Ero-Osemwingie, the Edo Commissioner for Arts, Culture, and Tourism who was arrested last year in France in possession of an unexplained two million dollars for money laundering.

The party made this challenge on Wednesday following what it described as the Governor's quiet replacement of the remanded Commissioner with the swearing-in of Mr. Lawrence Ogieva as the new Commissioner for Arts, Culture, and Diaspora Affairs.

In a statement by Mr. John Mayaki, the Chairman of the APC Media Campaign Council, the party accused Governor Godwin Obaseki of attempting to sweep the scandal under the carpet despite alleged confessions that Mr. Osaze Ero-Osemwingie was running errands for the Governor in Europe before he was arrested by INTERPOL with an unexplained two million dollars.

Mayaki said Governor Godwin Obaseki's official silence on the matter is suspicious and conspiratorial. He demanded a full explanation of the source of the two million dollars Ero-Osemwingie was caught with and the nature of the errands he was running for the state government before his arrest in Europe.

He added that the swearing-in of the new Commissioners is unknown to law, as they were presented before an illegal Assembly, and demanded that the Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Diaspora Affairs be subjected to a thorough, independent investigation by the EFCC to ascertain the involvement of the state government in the arrested Commissioner's money laundering scheme and whether the alleged crime was state-sanctioned with the Ministry used as a cover.

The statement read: "At the fall of last year, before the rage of Covid-19 pandemic, Governor Obaseki's Commissioner for Arts, Culture, and Diaspora Affairs, Osemwingie Ero, left the shores of Nigeria to, according his own words, 'run errands for the government.' But for over 9 months now he has not returned having been arrested in France with an unexplained two million dollars and jailed on the charges of money laundering."

"However, in a fresh development, Governor Obaseki on 25th August, illegally swore-in alongside other persons, Lawrence Ogieva as the new Commissioner for Arts, Culture, and Diaspora Affair after months of suspicious and conspiratorial silence as if the image-denting arrest of Osemwingie Ero never occurred. "

"This silence and pretense imply that the Government of Edo State, which the jailed commissioner expressly stated he was running errands for, has questions to answer on the two million dollars Commissioner Ero-Osemwingie was arrested with as well as the other pieces of evidence that have emerged on the network of foreign accounts he illegally operates through proxies across Europe."

"Could this be the reason Governor Godwin Obaseki appointed Osemwingie-Ero and quickly promoted him to his kitchen cabinet as one of his closest allies before a mission was aborted in France?"

"There are several questions begging for answers and the people of Edo State, and the family of the arrested Commissioner, are by the dictates of the constitution and democracy which compel every election government to be accountable to the people, entitled to hear the answers to the questions from no other person than Mr. Godwin Obaseki himself."

"No responsible and guilt-free government would keep mum while its senior official and one of the Governor's closest allies remains languishing in a foreign prison over credible allegations of money laundering."

"Attempt to sweep the matter under the carpet, just like all other credible allegations of fraud and corruption established against the Obaseki-led government, will be futile as we will continue to mount pressure on all relevant authorities to uncover details on what could potentially be a state-sanctioned fraud involving the criminal transfer of public funds into private accounts operated abroad."

"In the meantime, we are demanding the nullification of the illegal swearing-in of the new Commissioner and the pending of any such replacement until the completion of a full investigation of the Ministry by the EFCC to determine the extent of the government's involvement in Osemwingie-Ero's alleged money laundering and other crimes."

The All Progressives Congress has denounced allegations by the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Mr. Philip Shaibu, that its candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, and former National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, are planning an attack on him as the delusion of a distressed politician at the end of his career.

In a statement released by Mr. John Mayaki, the Chairman of the State Media Campaign Council of the APC, the party said Mr. Philip Shaibu’s petition to the Police is a makeshift plan to dubiously attract sympathy after his initial plot to stage an attack on his own convoy and blame it on the APC was foiled by the party with a public alarm that revealed the shameful strategy.

The party dismissed the petition filed by the Deputy Governor asking the Police to arrest its candidate and Adams Oshiomhole as a cheap ploy to use the authorities to carry out the plans his armed thugs couldn’t fulfill, and urged the Police not to waste its resources on it.

The statement read: “Mr. Philip Shaibu is a distressed politician at the end of his political career in Edo State. He has failed his people, betrayed his region, and has been rendered homeless by his greed and desperate ambition to replace Obaseki as Governor in 2024.”

“He is a politician without a base; an earthly roamer who cannot find solace anywhere. He is not one to be taken seriously and we hope that upon his departure, the Police dispatched his petition to its shredding room.”

“He has tried, without success, to obstruct the campaign of the APC with attacks on our leaders and candidate using armed thugs, seven of whom were arrested on the day he, alongside the Governor, invaded the Assembly Complex and removed its roof.”

“Unable to live with his failure in this regard, and thrown off balance by the massive protest staged by the women of Jattu who placed ancestral curses on him for his infamous role in all the deaths and destruction happening in the state, he has grown even more delusional, and has now resolved to blackmail the Police into running his errands.”

“He is yet to substantiate his previous claims of assassins or any of other numerous allegations he has made in his trademark terrible English language to cover up the iniquities of the PDP and to resuscitate their dreadful campaign across the state.”

“Like all failed politicians who spent time in office abusing the powers of their office and accumulating wealth through illegal diversions, Mr. Philip Shaibu is terrified of life without the covers of immunity as a private citizen, hence his delusions and paranoia.”

“But there is time for everything and whether he wishes it or not, he would soon be made to answer for all his crimes to Edo people, especially the people of Edo North who he has brought shame and disappointment.”

Incumbent governments run for re-election on their achievements and records in office but Governor Godwin Obaseki has only excuses, deceit and blackmail to offer Edo people, the APC has said.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the party said Governor Obaseki and the PDP's charge for another four years at the helm in the state has run on lazy gossips and tactless lies peddled in the media to generate sympathy and distract attention from their failures.

Mr. John Mayaki, the Chairman of the Edo APC Media Campaign Council, who endorsed the statement said Governor Godwin Obaseki is a confused candidate spurned by his closest aides and associates because he lacked administrative skills and frittered away his goodwill on lazy, and corrupt, endeavors that yielded nothing but worthless MOUs.

He says the Governor's incompetence is made worse by his refusal to accept responsibility for his failures, a flaw, which according to Mayaki, led the Governor into declaring at a recent rally that "Edo State has been thrown in darkness in the last five years by the APC."

He mocked the Governor for forgetting that he had in fact been in office for four out of the five quoted years and the indicting fact cited by him on the poor state of electricity only reinforces the claim of the that his emergence has been a tragedy that must be reversed on the 19th of September.

Mayaki said: "Mr. Godwin Obaseki's re-election campaign is an assault on common sense, decency, and ethics. He has failed to articulate his achievement in the last four years, even in special media charades put together by what is left of his tattered team of staff."

"When they rushed to launch a farcical 'MEGA' plan that is now nowhere to be found and thrust the embattled Governor in front of a camera, he stuttered, fumbled, and ended up saying nothing other than the fact that his administration was a MEGA failure and his entire re-election campaign, a MEGA circus."

"Unfortunately for him and his people, the people of Edo State are not in need of clowns. What they want is a prepared Governor like Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the APC who has a visible manifesto and specific plans on how to deal with the challenges confronting the state."

"Obaseki has continued to whine and sulk because he was served a rejection notice everywhere he has been in the state with his fellow clowns. Even at their recent event, he was heard criticizing the APC for the state of electricity in Edo in the last five years, forgetting that he was Governor for at least four out of the five."

"All promises including the GeleGele Seaport, Benin Industrial Park, and Mini-stadia in all 18 LGAs of the State have been abandoned for name-calling and finger-pointing."

"Obaseki's answer to the people's question of what he has done in the last four years and why he has done to deserve re-election has been "Oshiomhole said". Sadly for him, Oshiomhole is not on the ballot. Before he realizes though, it would be too late. He is indeed the sluggish Governor who is slow to everything, including basic understanding."

●..insists he has no plans to return them back to the street

●..accuses Obaseki of deceit, tax collection fraud

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the Edo Governorship election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has said he has no plan to return the loosely organized gangs commonly known as ‘AGBEROS’ to the streets of Edo State, clarifying that he instead intends to rehabilitate and reintegrate them into the society as useful and responsible participants if elected as the next Governor of Edo State.

In a statement released on Monday by his Campaign Organization, Ize-Iyamu attributed the false report of his purported plan to return the gangs back to the state to terrorize residents as a deliberate falsehood manufactured and spread by the opposition to deceive the electorates and conceal the hypocrisy and alleged fraud of the incumbent Governor Obaseki.

He says Governor Godwin Obaseki continues to obtain tax with questionable and non-state actors such as Chief Odion Olaye, Austin Edosomwan, who was the former Vice to Comrade Tony Kabaka, Kelly Okungbowa (aka Ebo Stone), and many others despite awarding a corrupt contract to his personal firm, VIISAUS, to claim nearly 10% of all collected taxes.

Ize-Iyamu said while Obaseki has merely entrusted power to his own brand of loyal thugs who continue to fleece the state and terrorize the people, he would bring the problem to a conclusive end with a transitional program contained in the Manpower Development section of his SIMPLE agenda meant to rehabilitate and empower the agberos before their re-integration into the society to live responsibly and make useful contributions.

The statement read: “It is important to state categorically that there are no plans to bring “Agberos” to the state as being erroneously peddled by the opposition and their co-travelers.”

“Unlike the incumbent who merely politicized the situation and compounded it with his reckless actions that reflect the scattershot approach and unpreparedness of his administration to offer conclusive solutions to the problems confronting Edo State, our manifesto, the SIMPLE agenda has already captured and proffered solutions to the ‘Agbero’ situation, specifically under the ‘M’ which stands for Manpower Development and Training.”

“The government of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu will not force all the actors or people referred to as ‘Agberos’ on self-exile to Libya or the Mediterranean Sea to die as they remain sons and daughters of Edo State. Instead, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu will institute a transitional and rehabilitation program for the training and empowerment of these actors to help them become self-sustaining entrepreneurs in a chosen field to help them useful to themselves and the society at large.”

“Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu will also take the actors through a re-orientation process that will make their future operations, if any, conform with current global best standards and practices in the revenue collector sectors.”

“These are practical plans that will bring this problem to an end. It is not enough to merely replace a set of collectors with another set as the incumbent government has lazily done, despite embarking on a campaign of deceit to blur the facts.”

“Edo people should ask the government of Governor Godwin Obaseki the roles and job functions of the following individuals and their companies in the revenue collection process at the state and local government level: Chief Odion Olaye (Olaye International Nigeria Ltd.), Pastor Sunny Erhahon (A.E Contractors Ltd.), Austin Edosomwan (former Vice to Comrade Tony Kabaka), Kelly Okungbowa (aka Ebo Stone), S.I. Ofeimu (Uniworld Integrated Service), Charles Momoh (Smart Jeff Nigeria Ltd.), Samuel Kelvin Ayo (Saeppin Nigeria Ltd.), Afigie Ogene (Baskyuy Nigeria Ltd.), Dirisu Shuabi O. (Schevshenco & Dad Ent Ltd.) and host of others who are all engaged in the so-called ‘Agbero’ or revenue collection in the state.”

“The real truth, which Governor Godwin Obaseki is trying to shield from the public knowledge, is that he had used the word ‘Agberos’ to blackmail Edo people while introducing his personal private company called VIISAUS that now collects a whooping percentage of 7% as service provider and 2.5% as technical partner on all total revenue collection of both Edo State Government and all the local government revenue collection in the state.”

“This runs into millions of naira every month outside the other charges for scratch cards and POS maintenance cost drawn by the Lagos companies."

...urges Christians across all denominations to vote massively for APC

The re-election bid of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the Edo APC candidate in the Sept. 19 Governorship election, gained a major boost on Monday with a weighty endorsement from a powerful coalition of Christian Leaders across Edo State.

The coalition, comprising of church leaders cutting across various Christian denominations in Edo State, announced the endorsement of the APC candidate at its one-day conference in Benin city.

It said the endorsement was informed by various meetings in which the church leaders critically examined the interest of God in relation to the election and concluded that Ize-Iyamu’s SIMPLE agenda manifesto is a plan that will place Edo State and her citizens on the path of development.

In a communique released at the end of the conference, the church leaders encouraged Christians in Edo State, notwithstanding the denominations, to vote massively for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, and his running mate, Mallam Gani Audu at the polls, while also calling for non-violent elections.

The communique was signed by highly-respected Christian clerics in the Edo State, including Rev. Dr. Samson Igbinosa, Bishop Abraham Chigbundu, Bishop James Oriebama, Pastor Dele Balogun, Rev. Onyekachi Ogbaji, Rev. Dr. Joseph M. Okeleke, Bishop Iyobosa Atoe, Rev. Collins Okonofua, Apostle Emmanuel Igiehon, Bishop Dr. Osadolor Ochei, Rev. Osagie S., Bishop Osazuwa Eguavoen, Pastor Ikponmwosa Oiluke, and H.E. Rev. Dr. Peter Obadan.

In his welcome address at the one-day conference, Rev. Jeff Iyonawan said a politically disintegrated or disengaged church is a disservice to the kingdom of God as you cannot influence a system from the outside.

“Before now, we have been told to stay away from politics and government because it is froth with corruption. Whereas, a politically disintegrated or disengaged church is a disservice to the kingdom of God. You cannot influence a system from outside, you need to get involved.”

He called on leaders of the church to take on their responsibilities as spiritual architects and co-laborers to lay a solid foundation by encouraging members and followers to actively participate in the election.

The endorsement of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu by interdenominational church leaders across the three senatorial districts of Edo State is expected to propel him in the race and strengthen his lead. His stream of endorsements offers a sharp contrast to the continued resignations and growing abandonment of the incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki.

The strong man shouts loudly to drown the cries of the ill and dying. He thinks he can outlive the dead and the sickly so that lamentations will only be heard by those who render them. Yet pestilence and death comply not with the man's desires, they persist in growing numbers.

Thus, the strong man is forced to continue shouting even beyond his normal contentment. The more he shouts the worse he gets. He will shout until he finds himself in Ikoyi, for his shout now creeps toward an intimate proximity.

Such is the pathetic situation Godwin Obaseki is confronted with. He ignorantly believed money could buy him his failed re-election bid. Now, his once insignificant chances now evaporates like the flame of a faint and laggard pyre.

Reality has a way of searing the tares of unwarranted ambition. When an ingrate cunningly gets what he wants, nemesis and tragic end must ensue.

It is now clear to the Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki that it is better to build bridges than to create enemies. The dynamics in the political space is even more complex and difficult to understand than the capital market.

Obaseki's government became loosed and exposed when his former Chief Press Secretary, John Mayaki left him, the renowned Journalist perceived a government of deceit and tryranny and quickly left his erstwhile Boss, then a renowned politician in Uhunmwonde Local Government, Hon. Kehinde Osemwengie Garrick, who was Obaseki's Director for Mobilization in Edo South in 2016, and later became the Secretary of Uhunmwonde Local Government took the bold step and resigned from Mr Obaseki's Government. His reasons were as a result of the governor's disregard for constituted authority, public ridicule against the party and leaders who fought so hard to ensure he became Governor.

Next was the Vice Chairman of Uhunmwonde Local Government, Hon Efosa Iyayi, another dogged comrade and grassroot politician, Hon.Maureen Osaro Ekhoragbon, who was Vice Chairman Ovia North East frowned at the governor's inability to manage whatever the issues were and also resigned. The height of the Implosion was when the Governor's Chief of Staff resigned, I still prefer to call him Comrade, although he owes a double Chieftaincy title in his home town in Akoko Edo Local Government Area.

The renowned technocrat, Comrade Taiwo Akerele, who was the former Coordinator for State Employment Expenditure For Results,( SEEFOR) a World Bank Agency, having distinguished himself when he laid the template for the agency that help in creating thousands of jobs through youths participation and growth expansion in various communities while he was coordinating the agency during Oshiomhole's administration resigned, his reasons were based on the principle of administration and governance.

More confusion greeted the Governor's camp when renowned grassroot politicians and key officials of his government were no longer comfortable with the governor's approach to the party they had suffered to build. The likes of Hon Christopher Adesotu, the Chairman Board for Vocational and Technical Education, the Quintessential Prince Emmanuel Odigie, Hon Benjamin Atu, Hon Paul Ohonbamu, Hon Adeyanju Noah, the director of Obaseki /Shaibu Movement Mr Patrick Iyoha also left the governor.

Also on the list of those who left Obaseki's government recently is the beautiful and intelligent queen, Barr. Mrs Dame Omoua Oni-Okpaku Alonge who was the former Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability.

The governor engaged himself on unnecessary supremacy war and abandoned governance, and threatened that it was " A fight to finish ". Governor Godwin Obaseki thinks the position of a governor is hereditary without having a clear knowledge and understanding that he has a social contract with Edo people for four years which comes to an end of his tyranny rule in November 12, 2020.

One of the things the implosion tells us is that the governor is not a good manager, his public conduct and use of incendiary speech to instigate violence shows he lacks interpersonal skills, wisdom and emotional intelligence to lead.

As at the last count, close to 100 political appointees have resigned and it is expected that more will follow suit soon. But it was an implosion foretold, but those who had resigned had shown the temerity to dump the Humpty Dumpty.

Unfortunately, when the 2020 Edo State governorship election is concluded, Obaseki will go home lamenting he lost the election much the same way he celebrated the 2016 gubernatorial election.

Williams Ifidon
For : APC Tactical Response Team

The People's Democratic Party (PDP) should quit hallucinating and face serious campaigning, the Edo APC has said.

Only an issue-based campaign, which helps the Edo electorate to clearly make their choice on September 19, will help everyone now, not wild rumours, which unfortunately have become the jittery PDP's pastime, the party added.

Reacting to the latest scare-mongering from the PDP camp, of a fictive van filled with imaginary arms, the Chairman of the APC Campaign Council, Mr. John Maiyaki said it was only in PDP's fertile imagination.

"The latest falsehood from the hallucinating PDP is a branded van, loaded with arms, from Kogi State. Let the DSS go ahead and probe this latest allegation. But take it from us: it's another ploy to divert attention from the real thing: the PDP is scared of a bad beating at the polls on September 19; and it tries to divert the people's attention.

Mayaki said the Edo APC was too busy taking its candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu's SIMPLE agenda to a receptive and rapturous Edo people that it had no time for hallucinating games.

"Compare our campaigns with theirs. Look at the Edo people's passion, as they warm up to POI's messages of hope, as we touch down in every community, in all parts of Edo State. Why would we disrupt a campaign going on so well for us, to run arms? Does a popular and accepted party need to intimidate anyone?" the APC campaign spokesperson asked.

He said given the deceit and dissembling that PDP had used since the campaign began, it shouldn't surprise anyone if the so-called vans are PDP creations, imaginary or real.

"All I know is we're too busy selling our resonating message of hope to have time for any illegal or illicit activity. Let the PDP campaign as we are doing and get serious. Maybe then, they would have less time for old wives' tales. An idle mind, they say after all, is a devil's workshop.'

But Mayaki stated that his party was in it to win and win well, and is working hard to attain that goal.

"Governor Obaseki wasted four years and yet couldn't prove himself. Now, his adopted party are wasting the short campaign period, passing around rumours, simply because they lack winning ideas. When we win big on September 19, they will mouth another set of rumours and lies. But we wish them well: hard work, not wild rumours, win elections. We mean serious business. Let PDP continue wasting precious time. They will see the result on September 19."

Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, easily the preferred candidate by Edo people to win the State governorship election, according to opinion polls, says that his government will review the Benin Storm Water Project and complete it within a reasonable period when he takes office as Governor of Edo state.

He also says that erosion reclamation projects across the state will be tackled to completion while all outstanding obligations to World Bank and other relevant agencies will be honoured.

The APC candidate speaking about the infrastructural development and urban renewal component of his manifesto, the Simple Agenda, in Benin City said that his government's emphasis will be the reconstruction and rehabilitation of existing road networks with a view to bring the various communities back to life and improve environmental sanitation, public health and security of lives and properties.

He said, "all on-going projects will be completed to ensure value for taxpayers’ money", while the rehabilitation of roads, particularly in the Local Government Councils shall be a policy directive to Council Chairmen and in conjunction with the State Government.

Pastor Ize-Iyamu added, "in specific terms, adequate funding will be extended to roads and drains within the local government areas. We will deploy both primary and secondary drains that will properly channel floodwaters".

He said communities across the state shall also be encouraged to embark on self-help projects to which the LGAs and the state government shall contribute meaningfully.

The APC candidate also spoke of his coming government's deliberate plan to create new towns and settlements around Benin City, the building of a second bridge to link Upper St. Saviour and Ikpoba Hill as well as the extension of the Airport Road across the bridge to Evbuodia-Utagba Village to join Ekenwan Barrack road by Ojemai farms.

And as part of efforts to allow motorists have a new experience and open up several communities to boost socio-economic integration between Edo North and Edo Central, Pastor Ize-Iyamu said the road traversing Auchi Polytechnic gate in South Ibie to Ekperi and Anegbette will be continued to Ugboha and Uromi.

While promising to, "construct some overhead Bridges in strategic locations across the state to decongest and ease traffic flow", he said part of his government's agreement with construction firms will be that they locate their plants and equipments in each senatorial district and, "draw their labour (skilled and unskilled) from host communities.

Meanwhile, Pastor Ize-Iyamu has said that an Edo State Road Maintenance Agency with full complements of earth moving equipment will be established to carry out regular maintenance of all the roads when he assumes office.

...urges an issue-based campaign

The APC Candidate in the Edo Gubernatorial election has criticized the incumbent Governor and standard-bearer of the PDP, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, for running a campaign focused on inanities and slander, rather than selling his programs to the people of Edo State.

Ize-Iyamu said this at an interactive session in Abuja on Thursday and urged an issue-based campaign characterized by meaningful debates focused on programs and policies.

He cited an example of the Governor’s mounting of a digital billboard in Benin City displaying disputed videos of the Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje; 2016 addresses of former Edo Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; and the sponsorship of distortion and falsehoods on his involvement in a N700 million case by the EFCC, alongside the Edo PDP Chairman, Anthony Aiziegbemhin, and his predecessor who is now the campaign DG of Governor Obaseki, Dan Orbih.

Declaring that he never took a dime of the N700 million in question, Ize-Iyamu said he had never been indicted for any cause of fraud in his public life, pointing out that “I was Chief of Staff and Secretary to the State Government and nobody indicted me for taking a kobo. I did not take a kobo from the said N700 million.”

He clarified that he was only at the bank to sign for the money that was meant for election purposes as the coordinator of the then PDP Presidential Campaign in Edo State along with two others, stating that after that, the bank officials took the money to Chief Tony Anenih’s house where it was distributed to the chairmen of the 18 local government areas, who signed for the money they were given.

He also disclosed that the fund was insufficient for the earmarked electioneering campaign purpose and the late Chief Anenih added to it from his personal funds.

Ize-Iyamu, who reviewed Governor Obaseki’s first term in the saddle, concluded that the state had not fared well under his leadership because the governor had not done well compared to the amount of financial resources at his disposal.

He said he was long on signing Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) within and outside the state but short on fulfilling his campaign promises.

In order to cure the mischief of Obaseki’s poor governance, Ize-Iyamu said he would deploy in the rescue mission in the state his SIMPLE agenda, which, according to him, was a realistic footpath to take Edo State to the land of prosperity.

...says Governor collaborating with other PDP Governors to mar election

…calls for prosecution of Obaseki’s aide caught with rifles

The All Progressives Congress, Edo State Chapter, has raised alarm on an alleged illegal arms build-up by the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, and a reported criminal collaboration with other PDP Governors, particularly Senator Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, to mar the Governorship election slated for Sept. 19 in the state with violence and intimidation.

At a press conference addressed by Col. David Imuse (Rtd), the Edo APC Chairman, the party said the Governor, fearing defeat, has committed state resources to the illegal importation and distribution of firearms to recruited thugs and has begun the mobilization of criminal groups into Edo State, including one Sunday Igboho from the South West.

He demanded the prosecution of Mr. Roland Ogbomo, an SSA to Governor Obaseki, who was recently arrested with pump-action rifles, and arrested thugs reportedly ferried into the state by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State responsible for the shooting of Mr. Ernest Otoide in Igueben Local Government at a PDP ward campaign event.

He said: “Despite persistent warnings and alarms, Godwin Obaseki and his Deputy, Phillip Shaibu of the PDP have remained adamant, persisting on their wicked intent to unleash mayhem in Edo State in order to subvert the election and scare away voters who have expressed their resolve to eject the incompetent governor and usher in a new lease of life with Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the APC.”

“Although the outgoing and embattled Governor Godwin Obaseki leads the way in this criminal and condemnable plot to mar the September 19 election, recent facts have confirmed that he is not alone, but rather enjoying the support of some PDP governors in an evil partnership premised on a shared debased character of criminality, electoral violence, and a mockery of the law.”

“Godwin Obaseki is in cohorts with the Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, with both characters forming a combo that is apparently, as the recent developments have shown, productive in the industry of violence. This time, their evil proficiency is focused on setting Edo State ablaze.”

“The Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, who shot his way to a contrived victory in Delta State, has begun to lend his rotten hand to the desperate Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, with the supply of thugs and gangs charged with the mission of unleashing violence and rigging the election.”

“Acting under the marching orders of the tax-collecting leadership of their umbrella party, they are executing a do-or-die approach where they must either forcefully impose themselves on the people of Edo State for another term or burn the whole state to the ground, making a sorry scene and an ungovernable entity.”

“This manifested on Wednesday, August 19, in Igueben Local Government when Ifeanyi Okowa, the Governor of Delta State, suspiciously attended a single ward political event with an army of thugs with the objective of contributing to their militarization of the state and to spread panic and intimidate voters.”

“In this ungodly process, one of the beastly thugs devoid of human conscience that Okowa brought to the Ward rally shot an innocent bystander, Mr. Ernest Otoide, causing the innocent citizen to be hospitalized and bringing avoidable sadness and pain to his family.”

“Although some suspects with dangerous firearms have been arrested and transferred from Area Command, Irrua to Police HQ in Benin City, the deep question that remains to be answered is: is this what we must endure just because of Godwin Obaseki’s self-proclaimed non-negotiability of his second term?”

“As if the shameful bestiality of Okowa’s boys is not enough in the furtherance of this evil, the sad event was followed by another disturbing development involving the arrest of a Senior Special Assistant to Governor Godwin Obaseki, Mr. Roland Ogbomo, from Ward 5, Ikpoba Okha Local Government with two pump action rifles and other ammunition by the Police.”

“Why all this violence and intention to wreak havoc? The answer may be unclear but the implication is bright and vivid. The resort to violent means is a testimony of Obaseki’s political failure both as a leader and as a personality. The departure from democratic means has always been the way of incompetent tyrants, unfortunate despots, and inept authoritarians.”

“Gov. Godwin Obaseki, aided by his Deputy, Mr. Philip Shaibu, and the questionable retired Police officer from Kogi State, Mr. Haruna Yusuf who is now the Obaseki-administration’s executioner-in-chief in the mobilization of thugs and orchestration of violence, the Governor has caused an illegal arms explosion in Edo State.”
“We are also aware of one notorious criminal with the name Sunday Igboho brought in from the South West to help with their plans to violently subvert the will of the people and mar the election.”

Col. David Imuse (Rtd.) says the party has written a petition to the State Commissioner of Police and called for swift and solid actions from the security agencies to protect the integrity of the election and prevent the Governor and his PDP allies from continuous execution of their plot to rig its outcome through violence and chaos.

● Raises alarm over proliferation of firearms

Ahead of the September 19 Governorship election in Edo state, the All Progressives Congress APC has asked the Governor of Edo state, Mr Godwin Obaseki not to be too desperate to get reelected, counselling him on the need to understand that his ambition is not worth the blood of any Edo citizen.

At a news conference Friday in Abuja, the APC National Campaign Council also raised the alarm about the importation of political thugs from neighbouring states of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP.

The position of the APC was made known by a former member, House of Representatives and Vice Chairman, Communication and Publicity committee of the council, Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon who was flanked by the committee chairman, Prince John Mayaki.

According to him, firearms are now being used freely in the state by thugs as if the arms were “political chewing gums”.

The APC Campaign Council accused the PDP of using violence to intimidate the people in order to encourage voter apathy during the polls.

Obahiagbon said; “Let the whole world tell Governor Godwin Obaseki that his second term ambition is not worth the blood and life of any Edo state citizen.

“Less than one month to the Edo Governorship election, and with defeat staring Mr. Godwin Obaseki and his party of tax-collectors, the PDP, in the face, they have both abandoned their pretense at democracy and guided participation in the election, and brazenly embarked on the execution of their plans to prevent the people of Edo State from delivering a verdict on the four-year misrule of Obaseki at the polls on the 19th of September with violence and other criminal acts of intimidation.

“Let it be known by the whole world that the Governor of Edo state and his government,  in continuation of their disregard for the rule of law, democratic ethics and constitutionalism, has intensified their illegal importation of dangerous arms and ammunition, as well as the daily recruitment and importation of notorious thugs and criminals from neighboring PDP States, particularly Delta, for the purpose of causing mayhem and disrupting the peaceful conduct of the election in most parts of Edo State, said Obahiagbon.

He said while APC leaders in the state are constantly being harassed, some elements are “also tinkering with the idea of using heavy duty trailers to orchestrate road accidents of APC leaders, before or on the day of the September 19th Governorship elections”.

The council said it was alarmed at the rapid multiplication of these firearms and the now-too-common presence of violent groups with prolific ammunition who are on the march with the Edo state Governor as he campaigns from place  to place and in the process terrorizing the people.

“Rather than excite, Mr. Governor’s campaign trail has now become a bad omen, a harbinger of evil, and a stage of wanton violence and shootings, causing residents to flee their homes upon hearing news of the outgoing Governor’s visit.

“This was indeed the case on Wednesday, August 19th, in Igueben LGA when thugs hired and armed by the Edo  state government, turned their guns on each other and shot an innocent citizen in the fracas that ensued.

“We are equally aghast at the fact that a Governor that spent four years chasing away investors from Edo State with his tyranny, bad faith and targeted policies, and destruction of people’s legitimate properties on the account of their political views, has now committed state resources to the mobilization of thugs, cult groups and other criminals into the state to carry out his plans all in a bid to avoid a fate he sealed for himself with his incompetence and aloof disposition.

“All of these show clearly that the outgoing Edo state Governor has become desperate and now willing to muzzle his way back to government house but must Edo state become a carnage field of blood, tears, sorrows and deaths for the realization of his second term aspirations?

“We are not only condemning, in the strongest of terms, this daily distribution of illegal arms to mobilized thugs, we  demand an investigation and arrests that will be followed by swift prosecution as a mark of seriousness on the part of the security agencies to protect the integrity of the September 19 election.

“Arms proliferation has fueled insecurity in Nigeria for years and we are convinced that by clamping down on Governor Godwin Obaseki and his agents of terror, who on a daily basis are funneling state funds to the illegal acquisition and distribution of weapons, the security agencies would be laying a marker in the sand and sending a strong signal to other perpetrators of this crime that it would no longer be business as usual.

“Nothing warrants nor justify this undemocratic inclination to violence where the exchange of ideas should reign supreme. The protection of the integrity of the Edo Governorship election from the brooding and sprawling violence of Mr. Godwin Obaseki is a collective obligation that must be shared by all well-meaning citizens and groups interested in the survival of democracy and the constitutional right and freedom of the people to determine the leadership of their state and their representatives in government”.

…prays for quick and total recovery

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the Edo Governorship election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has sympathized with the PDP and its candidate, Governor Godwin Obaseki, over the motor accident involving their supporters reportedly traveling to a campaign event in Ivioghe, Etsako East.

The supporters, traveling in a campaign bus and another car, reportedly suffered a collision, leading to the hospitalization of an unconfirmed number of persons.

Reacting through a statement issued by the APC State Media Campaign Council, Pastor Ize-Iyamu expressed sadness at the incident and prayed for the quick recovery of everyone involved in the crash.

He said: “I have just heard the sad report of the crash involving supporters of the Governor Godwin Obaseki and the PDP in Ivioghe, Etsako East. I wish to express heartfelt sympathy to the Governor, his party, and the families of everyone involved in the unfortunate accident.”

“I am joining everyone in prayers for the quick recovery of all injured persons so they can safely rejoin the campaign of the Governor as we approach Election Day. May the Lord perfect their healing and make their recovery both quick and total. Amen.”

Divisive agents loyal to the Obaseki-led People’s Democratic Party in Edo State have sought to fabricate a most odious and polarizing narrative, to wit that the recent honorary Itsemakohna title, meaning ‘this is our own’ conferred on Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu by the Otaru of Auchi, Alhaji Aliru Momoh, Ikelebe III, is a slap on Christians and an attempt to introduce RUGA to Edo State.

This irresponsible and criminally childish narrative must be discountenanced as either the ignorant narrative of elements who know nothing about the cultural diversity in Edo State, or the tommyrot of artless mischief-makers. To set the record straight, the following are important to note.

Auchi, which is in the northern part of Edo state, popularly called the Afemai or Afenmai region is a predominantly Muslim area under the traditional leadership of the Otaru of Auchi, Alhaji Aliru Momoh, Ikelebe III. This fact has been respected by the people of Edo for a long time, and the state has been able to live in harmony despite these religious differences due to this mutual respect.

The conferment of the Itsemakohna title on Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, as explained by the candidate himself, was a mark of honor indicative of his level of acceptance in all parts of Edo State. His personal religion and position as a Pastor are not unknown to the Otaru who, indeed, refers and regards him as a Christian and ordained man of God.

The symbolic turbaning is not a religious ceremony, but a cultural one to show clearly that the people of Auchi no longer want Governor Obaseki and have embraced the APC candidate. There are many reasons for the rejection of the embattled Governor, part of which includes his flagrant disrespect for tradition and well-known divisive tendencies, a fact which he and his party have now corroborated with the evil insinuations they introduced to the event, seeking to stoke religious tension in Edo State.

The governor’s disrespect for tradition was apparent when he visited the palace of the Oba of Benin without the customary kolanut he should have carried and met a cold reception. His opponent, Pastor Ize-Iyamu, a more urbane and culturally conscious man, carried the kolanut on his visit and was met by a full regiment of powerful Benin chiefs who greeted him affectionately.

Edo has been able to steer clear of the religious tension that the rejected PDP is trying to engender because other Governors and administrators before the sad emergence of Godwin Obaseki understood the plurality of the State like most Nigerian societies, and pursued peace and unity, not actively stoke tension with poor propaganda on the account of mindless politics.

Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu does not discriminate against people because of their religious beliefs. The faith he professes and teaches, as exemplified and instructed by Jesus Christ in the New Testament, kicks against divisive actions and preaches peaceful harmony.

Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu’s honorary title by the Otaru, an Islamic traditional ruler, is a powerful attestation to his ability to preside over the affairs of the state and its diverse people with the maturity, sensitivity, and fairness required to achieve social harmony and development.

On the contrary, by seeking to add mischievous interpretations to the event, the PDP and its new leader, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, continue to burnish their reputation as an irresponsible party unfit for leadership at any level, not much as Governor of a diverse state where everyone must be treated with respect, irrespective of leaning and religious beliefs.

Perhaps the PDP, hardened publicans by their own confessions, need to dine at the table of the hospitable pastor. He treats all men with equal respect.

Edo Insecurity: Ize-Iyamu promises swift action, adequate support for security agencies

The candidate of the APC in the Edo Governorship election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has promised swift actions to tackle the insecurity problem of Edo State and the provision of adequate support for the Police and other security agencies, including vigilante groups, to improve intelligence gathering and crime-fighting if elected as the next Governor of the state on the 19th of September.

He made this promise on Wednesday while addressing supporters and scores of PDP members who decamped to the APC in Auchi, Etsako West, at the Sports field of the Auchi Polytechnic which served as the venue of the APC campaign rally.

Pastor Ize-Iyamu said Security/Social Welfare is the first item of his manifesto, the SIMPLE agenda, because of its importance to development and the government’s primary responsibility to provide security and welfare to the people.

He criticized the deterioration of security in Edo State since the emergence of Governor Obaseki in 2016 and accused the Governor of failing to provide adequate support to the Police and other security agencies.

“If there’s no security, development is impossible. There’s too much insecurity in our state. Those days when I was in government, we supported the vigilante to great effect in combatting crime, especially in rural communities. When Comrade (Oshiomhole) was governor, he supported them but not so for the present government,” he said.

Furthermore, Ize-Iyamu said the other items on his SIMPLE agenda manifesto, including Infrastructure development and urban renewal, Manpower development, Public-Private partnership, Leadership by example, and Employment and empowerment are crucial to the restoration of growth and development in the state and expressed confidence that his outlined plans will achieve their set-goals within the specific period.

He also promised to run an inclusive government that will unite and bring development to all parts of the state and condemned the incumbent Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, for his attempts to divide the people through a divisive campaign after failing to record any achievement in four years.

“We want a Governor who will develop the whole state and bring development to all districts in the State just as Comrade Oshiomhole’s good works are visible in Edo South, Edo Central, and Edo North. That is the kind of work that I want to do as your governor.”

He urged the people of Etsako West to vote for the APC because the party will put the welfare of all Edo people first, not subject them to illegal, arbitrary arrests and other acts of intimidation like the Obaseki-led administration.

“A governor who does not have the welfare of his people at heart cannot continue in office. We want a governor who respects people and one who will not order the illegal arrest of their leaders,” he said.

...praises his respect for traditional institution

The Otaru of Auchi and Vice-Chairman of the Edo State Council of Traditional Rulers, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Aliru Momoh Ikelebe III, has conferred a chieftaincy title on the candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the Edo Governorship election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, as a mark of honor and full acceptance in the Auchi sacred kingdom.

The traditional ruler conferred on Ize-Iyamu the traditional title of ‘Itsemakhona’ which means “this is our own” when the APC candidate paid a visit to his palace on Wednesday.

He said the conferment and honor was hinged on Ize-Iyamu on his love for the people, track record of performance as a state government official, and deep respect for the traditional institution in the State.

The Otaru said the Auchi sacred kingdom was proud of him and his achievements.

In response, a visibly elated Ize-Iyamu expressed gratitude to the Otaru for the honor and lauded the traditional ruler as a forward-thinking ruler who has contributed immensely to the empowerment of his people and development of the Kingdom through numerous interventions and acts of leadership.

He lamented the failure of Governor Godwin Obaseki to address the erosion problem wreaking havoc in Auchi and his inability to harness and put to good use the solid minerals deposit in the area.

He promised to partner with and complement the efforts of traditional institutions in the state toward fighting insecurity.

"My promise to you is that if elected as Governor, I will fight insecurity, halt and reverse the dwindling fortunes of the youths and women by setting them in the right direction,” he said.

Also present at the palace for the visit was the APC Deputy Governorship candidate, Mallam Gani Audu, and former Governor of the State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

A member of the House of Representatives, Mr Dennis Idahosa (APC - Edo), has restated the commitment of an All Progressives Congress (APC) Government in Edo to job creation and youth development.

Idahosa who represents Ovia Federal Constituency in the Green Chamber, stated this in a statement by his media aide, Osaro Aghedo, while felicitating with the youths on the occasion of the World International Youth Day.

In statement made available to newsmen in Benin on Wednesday, Idahosa said this commitment which an APC administration had displayed in the past, should inform the choice of the youths for the September 19 Governorship elections in the State.

The lawmaker who is also the Chairman, Edo APC Youth Campaign Council for the elections, stated that the role and contributions of youths to the advancement, development of any society can not be over emphasised.

As such, he stressed that any responsible government would take note of this fact by creating an enabling environment for the youths to realise their potentials.

He said that the Edo APC Gubernatorial Candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu will provide an enabling state for the youthful population to thrive in creativity, innovation and in business.

According to him, "The man, Ize-Iyamu is not a novice when it comes to giving youths an opportunity to realising their potentiality, in actual fact, even being outside government have not prevented him form doing so.

"If you go through his manifesto named "Simple Agenda" he prioritise the issue of youths and in detail, mapped out how he intends to go about it.

"It is for this reason that i am, while congratulating the youths on this occasion of their day, I want to also enjoined them to as a matter of fact, vote for a candidate with a better plans for them."

...says Obaseki unstatesmanlike with rhetoric

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the Edo Governorship election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has expressed support for the proposed plan by foreign embassies, prominently the United States, to impose visa restrictions on political actors found guilty of sponsoring violence during elections or involved in acts undermining the electoral process in Nigeria.

He said this in a Zoom meeting with a team from the European Union Delegation, American Embassy, British High Commission, Canadian Embassy, and some other EU Member States on Tuesday.

Ize-Iyamu commended the foreign partners for their contributions toward improving the conduct of elections in Nigeria. He urged them to pursue investigations into acts of electoral violence in the country to uncover the sponsors and instigators as some political actors, after causing mayhem, often resort to media blackmail to blame the violence on others.

In a cited instance, he accused the Obaseki-led Edo State Government of invading the Edo House of Assembly with thugs and other elements while at the same time raising a false alarm to mislead the public. Ize-Iyamu demanded a conclusive investigation into the seven persons arrested within the premises of the Edo Assembly Complex with illegal arms on the day of the invasion to uncover their sponsors and the political party they represent.

Addressing a question on the nature of his party’s campaign in light of COVID-19, Ize-Iyamu said they had developed a constantly-revised crowd control measures, including distribution of face masks, sanitizers, and constant temperature checks through infrared thermometers at all campaign events to prevent the spread of the disease. He also said the campaign team has advised aged supporters to avoid campaign events given their vulnerability to the disease.

He criticized the incumbent Governor’s rhetoric, particularly a televised event in which Governor Godwin Obaseki bragged of his constitutional immunity. Ize-Iyamu said the Governor should not take his immunity as a license to unleash mayhem without consequences, and called for an issue-based campaign free of insults and mud-slinging.

According to him, his party is committed to a free and fair election as they are confident of victory at the polls.

The Chairman House Committee on Legislative Compliance, Mr Dennis Idahosa (APC - Edo), has appealed to the youths in Edo to eschew violence before, during and after the State Governorship election scheduled for September 19.

In a statement by his media aide, Mr Osaro Aghedo and made available to newsmen on Monday in Benin, Idahosa said the call became necessary to avoid destruction of properties and loss of lives.

The representative of the Ovia Federal Constituency, noted that bemoaned the avoidable tension that have characterised the state ahead of the poll.

He noted that the tension is avoidable only if political parties would adhere strictly to issue based camapign.

He stressed that elections is all about contestation of ideas, programmes and policies, and not an act of war that Edo is being turned into.

The lawmaker who is also the Director General, Youths and Students Mobilization, for Pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu Campaign Organisation, cautioned youths not to allow themselves be caught in the unnecessary acrimony as they have a greater role to play in the future development of the State.

According to him, "As political campaigns takes the center stage in the State ahead of the coming election, I owe it a duty to talk to us, especially on the need for all of us, to avoid those things that can lead to unwanted loss of lives and properties.

"Election is not about war but electing those we think can engender
development and promote a harmonious relationship anong the people of the state.

"It is in this direction that I urged us all, especially the youths, to carefully analyse the programmes or manifesto of each political party with a view to having an informed choice.

"We must remind ourselves that development can only thrive where there is peace and hating ourselves over an election that will come and go, will cause us more harm than good.

"While we caution the youths not to allow themsleves be used to perpetrate violence, the older ones must also be called upon to act responsibly as they are role models to the youths.

The State Media Campaign Council for the Edo Governorship election has said its campaign flag-off rally, attended by numerous Governors on the platform of the APC and other leaders of the party, was a display of the party’s unity and consensus to ensure the victory of its candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, at the polls.

Mr. John Mayaki, the Chairman of the Media Campaign Council, in a statement released on Sunday said the comprehensively peaceful rally showed that Pastor Ize-Iyamu has obtained the favour and love of the people and will coast to victory on the 19th of September.

He said: “Our great party, the APC has continued on its exemplary path with a campaign flag-off that only excites admiration and awe. With the comprehensively peaceful rally which drew an enormous crowd of loyal supporters after our candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, received the endorsement of the President, we have set off a campaign that is certain to bring success and victory on the 19th of September.”

“A rare kind of unity and consensus factored the rally as it converged Governors elected on the platform of our great party who vocally reiterated their support and eagerness to ensure the success of the APC and the emergence of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu as the next Governor of Edo State.”

“The leaders of our party in Edo State were delighted to receive Governors Mai Mala Buni (Yobe State), Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Babajide Sanwoolu (Lagos), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Hope Uzodinma (Imo), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Abubakar Sani Bello (Niger), Gboyega Oyetola (Osun), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Deputy Governor, Chief Edwin Onoja (Kogi), and other leaders of our party including Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, Minister Rotimi Ameachi, Minister Timipre Sylva, Minister of State Prince Clem Agba, Minister of State Uchechukwu Ogah and Minister of State Goddy Jedy Agba."

“The flag-off entailed, also, a remarkably successful outing at the palace of the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, where, having fulfilled the necessary traditional requirements, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu obtained the royal blessing which his opponent, the outgoing Governor Obaseki, failed to receive having forgotten the necessary ingredients needed for the ceremony in the usual sloppiness and disorganization that rendered his administration impotent and a complete failure.”

“The flag-off rally, through its peculiar characteristics of peace, unity, large crowd turn-out, and people-centered approach, recalls the historical electoral display of 2015 that saw President Muhammad Buhari coast to victory, riding on a nationwide support novel in Nigerian politics. The same President gave his blessings, endorsing Pastor Ize-Iyamu, and beginning the plot and setting of a similar story of eventual success preceded by a long and repeated attempts.”

“For Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the sail has set, and the winds seem aright for sure victory. Through a modern and inclusive engagement so far, he has obtained the favor and love of the people, and by the significant flag-off event yesterday, the APC will no doubt reclaim Edo State.”