Obaseki berates Ize-Iyamu, PDP candidate faults speaker’s emergence

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The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the upcoming September 10, 2016 governorship election in Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has described his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) opponent, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, as incompetent to run the affairs of the state.

Obaseki specifically noted that his rival lacks the working experience, accusing him of being part of those who allegedly ran the state aground while his party held sway.

Speaking yesterday at a rally in Oredo and Ikpobha-Okha Local Councils, the APC standard-bearer reiterated that his promised of 200,000 jobs were not a ruse.

In Oredo, some chieftains of the PDP led by a former chairman of the council, Victor Ebomoyi, his followers and other executives defected where they were received by Governor Adams Oshiomhole and his deputy, Dr. Pius Odubu.

“Somebody who has not worked before cannot govern Edo State. Ize-Iyamu has no experience to govern the state. For the PDP to present Ize-Iyamu is the greatest insult against the people of Oredo and Edo State generally,” Obaseki said.

Meanwhile, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and another chieftain of the party, Okhaderia Ihimekpen, have differed on the emergence of Justin Okonobo as new Speaker of the state House of Assembly.

While Ihimekpen described the gesture as commendable “especially when it was taken to Okpehbolo axis that has been marginalised over the years by Chief Tony Anenih who is from Agbazilo”, Ize-Iyamu, faulted the arrangement that eventually led to the relegation of Mrs. Elizabeth Ativie as Okonoboh’s deputy.

In a related development, the Edo State chapter of League of National Patriots (LNP) failed to announce its candidate. Speaking after a meeting held in Auchi, the state spokesman of the group, Prince Abdulrasheed Dirisu, said the delay and postponement of the much-awaited decision of the group, became inevitable in view of the need to avail it more and better opportunity to carry out more thorough background check on the two Obaseki and Ize Iyamu.

The group’s founder and national coordinator, Abdulkareem Ikharo, maintained that it was doing its best to adopt the best candidate that would cater for the needs of the people especially now that the country is in a terrible economic situation.

The group had organised an interactive session with all the candidates in Edo North contesting the last general elections. The historic event also witnessed the signing of a peace pact by the various candidates across political parties. LNP later endorsed and supported various candidates that eventually swept the polls.