Prince John Mayaki is the Director of Communication and Media, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu Campaign Organisation. He is a former Executive Director (Media) to former Governor Adams Oshiomhole and ex-Chief Press Secretary to Governor Godwin Obaseki. In this interview with TEMIDAYO AKINSUYI, he speaks on the controversy trailing the mode of primary to be adopted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the selection of its governorship candidate in Edo state.

Excerpts:

What is your take on the controver­sy trailing the mode of primary to be adopted by the APC in selecting the party’s flagbearer in the September 19 governorship election?

There is no controversy other than the fact that Governor God­win Obaseki and his co-travelers have continued in their shameful, anti-party act of undermining the leadership of the APC. The National Working Committee (NWC), accord­ing to the constitution, is the body empowered to conduct and prescribe the mode of primaries. And they have decided that the more inclusive and democratic direct mode is what should be adopted in Edo State. But because Obaseki is desperate to hide from the assessment of party mem­bers he has badly treated since his emergence, he is protesting the deci­sion, disguising concerns for his own personal political survival as a public health issue using COVID-19. If that’s the controversy you’re talking about, it is understandable.

Again, I have also listened to the Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu calling on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Governors to come conduct the primaries in the state and I was wondering if the deputy governor lost his mind and being un­able to distinguish between internal party politics, democracy and gover­nance especially in the conduct of party primaries which is the respon­sibility of the party’s NWC.

The Governor too is also said to have been running from one Gover­nor to another among the Progres­sives’ governors and leaders of the party across the country asking for an indirect party primaries. That’s a man who claims to be fighting ‘godfatherism’, .It is astonishing that Obaseki is now pleading for an ‘enthronement’ instead of a clearly defined democratic process based on popular choice.

And so, to answer your question, I do not see any controversy because those whose responsibility it is to decide the type of primaries the par­ty would conduct in Edo state have gone ahead to say so and we expect Obaseki and Philip Shaibu to pre­pare themselves for the exercise and stop fidgeting and setting the rules for an examination in which they are students.

18 Local Government chairmen last week Wednesday said that Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu is not a member of the party in the state. Do you think their argument is valid?

Let’s not attach importance to the political theater that these people are staging. How can you say an aspirant who got the endorsement of virtually all respected and capable leaders of the party in Edo State is not a mem­ber? As Vice-Chairman of the Com­mittee that drafted the constitution of the APC at its founding stage when the likes of Obaseki were nowhere to be found, Pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu has a clear, robust understanding of the party rules. When he made the deci­sion to return home, he satisfied all conditions required to be a registered member and there is an abundance of evidence to back this. What those people did on that day was just borne out of pressure from the Governor. We have it on good authority that they were all induced to sign the said state­ment and are even being pressured to proceed to court. This was Obaseki’s plan all along and that was why he tried to frustrate the return of Pastor through different means, including using state agencies and issuing ar­bitrary bans to block a ceremonious rally held by the party last year.

Let me quickly add this, do you need to bribe local government party chairmen to deny a member of party membership? I have it on good record that even members of the state house of Assembly got N100,000.00 each to append their signature in a document disclaiming the membership of Pas­tor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and you begin to ask yourself, why this desperation? It is not in their place to determine the membership of anyone in the party; it is the national secretariat of the party that has the final say on the membership of anyone in the party and not a few hungry guys who sold their conscience tot the governor just to clinch a second term ticket. For me, this is Democracy and it is the more, the merrier. If the governor thinks he has performed, provided the 200,000 jobs he promised, and popular among the people, he should stop these she­nanigans and surrender himself for direct primary elections. Governor Obaseki is reported to have been spon­soring his friends to pick the party’s nomination form. We are aware of one Matthew Iduoriyekemwen who was reported to have picked form while others are lined up to also pick on Monday or Tuesday. The reason is not far-fetched – create crisis in the party while planning to run the elec­tion on the platform of another polit­ical party. We however wish him well in his political voyage to nowhere.

How will you react to their claim that only the NEC can grant waiver to Ize-Iyamu and not NWC?

Proponents of this claim are peo­ple who have a poor understanding of the party constitution and they keep exposing their ignorance with this ill-advised challenge of Pastor Ize Iyamu’s membership. To address this issue comprehensively, it must be stat­ed that the NWC has long been given the powers to draw up guidelines for party primaries and this includes the power to grant waivers where neces­sary to a person who is not ordinarily otherwise qualified to seek elective office on the party’s platform. In the case of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the waiver was just a political act meant to symbolise his reunion with his political family. As a duly registered member of the party, he is already, by party constitution, free to be nominat­ed for elective post on its platform and this has been affirmed by the party leadership with a final say on the mat­ter. Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu is neither new to politics nor the rules of the APC. He was Vice-Chairman of the Committee that drafted the rules. So these people making ignorant claims should come to him for guidance.

There’s nothing wrong if anyone wants to live in self-delusion over this matter. If Obaseki and Philip Shaibu think they can blackmail the leader­ship of the party to gain sympathy, they are joking. Obaseki cannot be governor of Edo state and at the same time attempt to be the National Chair­man of the party by dictating how his own election should be conducted. It smacks of arrogance, party indisci­pline and anti-party activities.

Some party chieftains such as Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and Deputy National Chairman, Lawal Shuaibu are claiming the primary will be bias with Oshiomhole as National chairman. What is your reaction to that?

Both men you have mentioned are merely using the situation to voice their personal vendetta against the National Chairman for reasons best known to them. We know that the grouse of Chief Oyegun against Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is still not over; the fact that he lost his position even though under his lead­ership, the party was thrown into a cesspit of disorderliness, indisci­pline, and was on the path of losing the general election but for the quick intervention of members who unan­imously agreed that he had to go. The logic they are employing here is, to be blunt, not sound. If we stretch it further, can we also ask Obaseki to relinquish the powers of his office as Governor pending the completion of the election because he is also an ac­tive contender and should not have such an advantage? At least, in Obase­ki’s case, there are clear proofs of him using the powers of state to tilt the balance in his favour. For all we know, the National Chairman has been fair in his dealings to all. The only person that has a problem with his fairness is Godwin Obaseki who, like in 2016, wants him to use his personal influ­ence to help him win.

https://www.independent.ng/edo-apc-primary-obaseki-as-a-student-cant-set-rules-for-an-examination-mayaki/

Make public service Free, all these nonsense will stop.

They're all fighting for who takes a larger share of taxpayers money

Like it always happens... the reasoning of most Nigerians during election periods turn to butter..

In all honesty why would anyone pick Ize iyamu over obaseki?...

- A rejected, abused, denigrated candidate from same party stalwarts in 2015.. the question is "What changed"?... nothing but sharing formulae.
- A candidate 7 party stalwarts stood down for, where do you think their compensation would come from, if it's not your scarce resources and positions?
- A return to acute bolstered godfatherism...
- A kitchen cabal formation should incase ize-iyamu wins..
- A morale boost for thugs...
- An appointment that would be filled with score settlings and little or no Governance to you...
- A homage paying Governor with scarce resources...
- A merger of the old PDP cabal and the Oshomole cabal that Nigerians are trying to get rid off..

Ask anyone why they pick Ize-iyamu, you would find out they have no response rather than sheeps blindly following leaders that has kept you as poverty capital of the world, the worst of it all is that, they discuss elections like it's not you and myself that would cast ballot.. they discuss it like they have written your faith in their private rooms..

Please can anyone give one reason at all, tangible or not why Edo should opt for Ize-Iyamu?

To think that this Oshimhole is thesame man that was NLC president then is mind rousing. Humans only need power to bring out the real them

This life sha, I remember how Oshomole did every thing to make sure Obaseki becomes the governor, he even went against his party members, now see their lives

Apt. Like, I don't know how someone can claim to be fighting godfatherism and still be making overtures to ensure a fair and transparent manner of election is not conducted. What is Obaseki afraid of sef? Like this like this, e Don be for am. He shouldn't have gone on an all out war like that with Oshiomole. It's a high stakes game. You either win it all or lose it all. There's no middle ground They said Edo is not Lagos Las Las, na Lagos dem dey run go. Why is Obaseki afraid of direct primaries sef? I'm fully in Edo with my ears firmly on the ground and like this like this, na only God go fit win am for Obaseki

handie:
Apt. Like, I don't know how someone can claim to be fighting godfatherism and still be making overtures to ensure a fair and transparent manner of election is not conducted. What is Obaseki afraid of sef? Like this like this, e Don be for am. He shouldn't have gone on an all out war like that with Oshiomole. It's a high stakes game. You either win it all or lose it all. There's no middle ground They said Edo is not Lagos Las Las, na Lagos dem dey run go. Why is Obaseki afraid of direct primaries sef? I'm fully in Edo with my ears firmly on the ground and like this like this, na only God go fit win am for Obaseki

The problem with Nigerians is, they are too afraid to solve their problems... you have your solution and the problem on both palms boldly written on them.. but you still fail to see it..

Why pick Ize-iyamu over obaseki?..

Esseite:


The problem with Nigerians is, they are too afraid to solve their problems... you have your solution and the problem on both palms boldly written on them.. but you still fail to see it..

Why pick Ize-iyamu over obaseki?..

Because as an Edolite, I make bold to say that Obaseki has failed and someone else should be given a chance. Forget about what you read on the traditional and social media. Apart from some civil service reforms and a repositioning of the basic education sector, Obaseki has failed woefully in governance. He'd best be remembered for his fight against Oshiomole....

handie:
Because as an Edolite, I make bold to say that Obaseki has failed and someone else should be given a chance. Forget about what you read on the traditional and social media. Apart from some civil service reforms and a repositioning of the basic education sector, Obaseki has failed woefully in governance. He'd best be remembered for his fight against Oshiomole....

You noted civil service reforms, repositioning of the education sectors aswell as prompt salaries and pensions and some more, but you see failed to say how he failed woefully...

Is the fight against oshomole in your favour or against it as an "edolite" as the case was majorly on imposition of appointments?

Esseite:


You noted civil service reforms, repositioning of the education sectors aswell as prompt salaries and pensions and some more, but you see failed to say how he failed woefully...

Is the fight against oshomole in your favour or against it as an "edolite" as the case was majorly on imposition of appointments?

Why do u think Oshiomole's fight with Obaseki is about appointments and sharing of resources? There was a infrastructural masterplan Oshiomole had in place. Obaseki was supposed to continue from where he stopped. In four years of Obaseki's administration, the Edo storm water project is still at d stage Oshiomole left it. D Central hospital has become one of his tools for his political war. Even in road construction, he has failed. The only road he can he can proudly lay claim to in Edo state is TV road. If you ever were in Benin and Edo in general pre and post d Oshiomole's years, you'd understand my points. Infrastructurally, Obaseki has failed. His job creation moves are only seen on paper. Not trying to defend Oshiomole who's too loquacious and whose style of leadership leaves much to be desired. Even if the disagreement arose from appointments, didn't Obaseki know what he was getting himself into? Would you as an individual be happy if d Oshiomole treatment was meted out to you? Lemme tell you one fact ::Obaseki was a non entity in Edo politics prior to 2016 and all through the campaigns, Oshiomole did majority of the talking. People voted for Obaseki because Oshiomole said he's his son and he trusts him.

18 Local Government chairmen last week Wednesday said that Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu is not a member of the party in the state.