Osagie Ize-Iyamu, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming governorship election in Edo state, has described Godwin Obaseki, his rival, as a “typical green horn”, urging the people to reject the All Progressives Congress (APC) flagbearer in the September 10 election.
Accusing Adams Oshiomhole, the outgoing governor, of using money to woo voters for Obaseki, Ize-Iyamu said Edo people have developed beyond the level of voting based on financial inducement.
He criticised Oshiomhole for his recent donation of N120 million to some market women in Benin, alleging that pensioners and local government workers have not been paid 10 to 15 months salaries.
“The electorate are ready to reject and punish the Pseudo Comrade, Adams Oshiomhole, and his party, the on September 10 for subjecting them to untold hardship in the past seven and a half years,” read a statement issued on Ize-Iyamu’s behalf by his campaign organisation.
“The good people of Edo have made up their minds to take their destiny in their own hands by sensibly picking the best candidate that can move the state beyond where it is now; and that candidate is Pastor Ize-Iyamu… No one can bamboozle him to derail governance as can be done to a typical green horn like Godwin Obaseki.”
The campaign organisation added that the “swelling popularity of the PDP candidate and the determination of the people to vote out the APC are already making Oshiomhole and his puppet’s candidate, Obaseki panicky”.
The statement challenged the outgoing governor and Obaseki to explain to the people how they allegedly depleted the state treasury in the past seven and a half years.
“For all that we have heard, we are yet to be persuaded by Oshiomhole/APC’s weak argument and misinformation that there is a better prepared candidate for the Edo state governorship position in any of the political parties than Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu,” the statement read.
“Having served in the past as chief of staff to the Edo state government and later the secretary to the state government (SSG), Ize-Iyamu had piloted the engine of governance and would therefore need no induction course to swing into action from day one.
“Perhaps, the most popular criticism is that Pastor Ize Iyamu served in Chief Lucky Igbinedion former administration – a government in which all the critics themselves served or garnered immense advantage.
“And we ask: is it rational for instance, for us to blame the current Chief of Staff, Mr. Patrick Obahiagbon and the SSG, Professor Julius Ihionvare, for the financial bleeding of the state in the past seven and a half years? Surely no.”
