Groups trade words over Ize-Iyamu, Iduoriyekemwen

The leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the national level is already taking its toll on the Edo State chapter of the party.

As a result of the crisis, there is a widening rift between groups, which are loyal to either the official party candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu or the factional nominee, Matthew Iduoriyekemwn.

A socio-political group, the Next Generation Foundation, yesterday lauded Iduoriyekemwen for his consistency in the party as a foundation member.

In a statement by Osaretin Omobude, the group said, “No PDP youth will speak that way against Iduoriyekemwen, because he has been the rallying point for Edo youths from the beginning.”

The group’s stance was in reaction to a statement credited to another group, the Edo Youths PDP Vanguard, a staunch supporter of Ize-Iyamu.
Which had alleged that the factional candidate was inconsistent in his political activities.

Omobude said it was laughable to accuse Iduoryekenwen of inconsistency, when on the contrary, it was Ize-Iyamu who fought Tony Anenih to destroy the PDP in 2006.

According to the New Generation Foundation, “Ize-Iyamu had left the PDP for the then Action Congress (AC) because he wanted the governorship ticket. But when his then friend, Adams Oshiomhole schemed him out, he ran back to PDP.”

Meanwhile, another group, the United Frontier for Good Governance, wants Ize-Iyamu to acknowledge the good works that Oshiomhole did in his almost eight years rule.

The group expressed concern that Ize-Iyamu never criticised the Benin water storm project and others, while he served under Oshiomhole.

It said: “Every now and then, you see pictures of bad roads in the state on the social media, without showing the beautiful roads that the Oshiomhole administration has done. Does that mean that the his administration never built any road?”