*APC Alleges PDP's Plot Hack into INEC Server*

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised the alarm of plot by the Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) to undermine results of the coming September 19, 2020 Edo State Governorship Election, by hacking into the official serve rof the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

APC in statement said the plot was discovered by its Strategic Undercover Team (SUT) deployed to clandestinely monitor activities of the intelligence unit of the PDP in relation to the Edo governorship election.

The party in a statement by the Chairman of the Media Campaign Council, Mr. John Mayaki said, “this plot was being hatched in conjunction with a few unscrupulous persons with names withheld”.

The party also fingered the former Campaign Organisation of the former presidential candidate of the PDP in the 2019 Presidential Election, which it said had re-assembled the Organisation's Electronic and Server Manipulation desk, dissolved at the end of its petition at the Supreme Court.
This revived team according to APC is being coordinated by a server specialist, from Kenya.

The party has also called on the leadership of INEC to shine its eyes and beware of what it called, "moles and enemies within bent on sabotaging its efforts to deliver, fair and credible election in Edo".

It further charged the electoral body to beware of alarmists employed by PDP to raise false alarms and hoax with a view to stampeding and blackmailing the agency to bend its rules and decisions in its favour.

*A-B-O-M-I-N-A-T-I-O-N*

*Outrage greets Obaseki over social media attack on the Benin Palace*

A peal of thunder and lightning is coursing through Benin nation against Governor Godwin Obaseki following a social media attack launched Monday morning against the revered Benin throne believed to be orchestrated from the Benin Government House.

Adopting a pseudonym “Osaro Omoruyi (Canada)”, the post rained abuses on the Oba of Benin over his peace gospel ahead of the September 19 governorship polls which ironically has attracted praises for Oba Ewuare II across the state and the nation at large.

While hosting the peace meeting in the palace last week, Oba Ewuare II had enjoined both candidates of PDP (Obaseki) and APC (Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu) to rein in their thugs and ensure the polls held in a peaceful atmosphere.

Apparently, Oba Ewuare‘s peace message did not go down well with Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu.

Specifically, Oba Ewuare II, who fondly describes Edo Deputy Governor as “my son”, urged him to keep the peace.

Several media reports had earlier linked Shaibu to the recruitment and arming of thugs who have been terrorizing political opponent across the state.

Apparently unhappy at the outcome of the parley which observers believe exposed Obaseki and his deputy as the aggressor and the chief promoters of violence, Obaseki’s agents decided to launch the attack against the monarch.

Interestingly, nimble computer software deployed on the social media soon after the post started trending seamlessly revealed the origin as Benin, not Canada as falsely claimed by the author.

Specifically, the online thread led back to Government House in Benin.
While describing the Benin monarch in unflattering terms, Obaseki’s “Osaro Omoruyi (Canada)” came close to insinuating that the Oba risked suffering the fate that befell the recently deposed Emir of Kanu, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.
Sanusi was controversially deposed earlier this year by Governor Ganduje for not supporting his re-election in 2019.

Besides, “Osaro Omoruyi (Canada)” made an elaborate effort to launder the image of the governor’s grandpa, Agho Obaseki, often referred to in history as “traitor” for betraying Ovoramen to British invaders in 1897 despite being a beneficiary of the Oba monarch.
Rather, “Osaro Omoruyi (Canada)” described Agho Obaseki as the one who did Ovonramwen a big favour in the episode.

Reacting yesterday, prominent Benin sons and daughters condemned Obaseki for this “taboo”.
Said Dr. Odigie Obasuyi, a Lagos-based historian of Benin origin, “With this, Obaseki has crossed the red line. This is unacceptable. In my view, Oba Ewuare II acted like a true sage in that widely reported peace parley. Obaseki’s desperation for second term will lead him to a political ruin.”
Said Mr. Osasuyi Agbonifo, a Benin-based businessman: “People don’t seem to learn from history. Recall that once upon a time in the 90s, one wayward Miitary administration of Igbo extraction tried to be rude to Oba Erediauwa over the king’s principled pro-democracy stand. He didn’t end well.”

Also reacting, a prominent palace chief condemned the media post, warning those trying to discredit the Benin Oba for his otherwise sagacious role, risked incurring the wrath of the ancestors.*

*Outrage greets Obaseki over social media attack on the Benin Palace*

A peal of thunder and lightning is coursing through Benin nation against Governor Godwin Obaseki following a social media attack launched Monday morning against the revered Benin throne believed to be orchestrated from the Benin Government House.

Adopting a pseudonym “Osaro Omoruyi (Canada)”, the post rained abuses on the Oba of Benin over his peace gospel ahead of the September 19 governorship polls which ironically has attracted praises for Oba Ewuare II across the state and the nation at large.

While hosting the peace meeting in the palace last week, Oba Ewuare II had enjoined both candidates of PDP (Obaseki) and APC (Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu) to rein in their thugs and ensure the polls held in a peaceful atmosphere.

Apparently, Oba Ewuare‘s peace message did not go down well with Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu.

Specifically, Oba Ewuare II, who fondly describes Edo Deputy Governor as “my son”, urged him to keep the peace.

Several media reports had earlier linked Shaibu to the recruitment and arming of thugs who have been terrorizing political opponent across the state.

Apparently unhappy at the outcome of the parley which observers believe exposed Obaseki and his deputy as the aggressor and the chief promoters of violence, Obaseki’s agents decided to launch the attack against the monarch.

Interestingly, nimble computer software deployed on the social media soon after the post started trending seamlessly revealed the origin as Benin, not Canada as falsely claimed by the author.

Specifically, the online thread led back to Government House in Benin.
While describing the Benin monarch in unflattering terms, Obaseki’s “Osaro Omoruyi (Canada)” came close to insinuating that the Oba risked suffering the fate that befell the recently deposed Emir of Kanu, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.
Sanusi was controversially deposed earlier this year by Governor Ganduje for not supporting his re-election in 2019.

Besides, “Osaro Omoruyi (Canada)” made an elaborate effort to launder the image of the governor’s grandpa, Agho Obaseki, often referred to in history as “traitor” for betraying Ovoramen to British invaders in 1897 despite being a beneficiary of the Oba monarch.
Rather, “Osaro Omoruyi (Canada)” described Agho Obaseki as the one who did Ovonramwen a big favour in the episode.

Reacting yesterday, prominent Benin sons and daughters condemned Obaseki for this “taboo”.
Said Dr. Odigie Obasuyi, a Lagos-based historian of Benin origin, “With this, Obaseki has crossed the red line. This is unacceptable. In my view, Oba Ewuare II acted like a true sage in that widely reported peace parley. Obaseki’s desperation for second term will lead him to a political ruin.”
Said Mr. Osasuyi Agbonifo, a Benin-based businessman: “People don’t seem to learn from history. Recall that once upon a time in the 90s, one wayward Miitary administration of Igbo extraction tried to be rude to Oba Erediauwa over the king’s principled pro-democracy stand. He didn’t end well.”

Also reacting, a prominent palace chief condemned the media post, warning those trying to discredit the Benin Oba for his otherwise sagacious role, risked incurring the wrath of the ancestors.

Osagie Ize-Iyamu Promises World Class Staff for Edo Public Service*

● *..will invest in ICT skills training and capacity up-skilling of all government staff*

● *..to restore Edo sporting glory*

APC governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu has said that his government after his victory in the Edo governorship election and subsequent inauguration will invest in ICT skills training and capacity up-skilling of all government staff to the International Computer Driving License standard (ICDLS).

The ICDLS is an internationally recognised qualification that enables personnel in all sectors of an economy to certify their computer skills to an internationally recognised standards.

Speaking about Manpower Development and training aspect of his manifesto, the Simple Agenda relative to In-service training Youth and Sports development, he said , "Our government would actively encourage private sector businesses and industries to likewise invest in up-skilling their staff ICT skills and capacity", to enable them maximize accrued advantages in this digital age.

"Our government will encourage applied industrial development and cutting edge technology research. We will encourage industries to build partnerships with our tertiary institutions".

On youth and sports development, the APC candidate pledged that for Edo State must regain her premier position in sports in the country, "Special funding will be allocated to improve facilities, hire coaches and motivate sports men and women to attain national and international excellence in sports".

In addition he said, "The Simple Agenda will treat youth, sports, recreation and cultural activities as a business model for job and wealth creation" and, "Young people will be encouraged to create businesses in youth development, sports, recreation, and cultural activities".

To activate this process will however be in, "collaboration with donor agencies, NGOs, corporate bodies, and financial institutions, government...to create platforms where young people can access financial assistance for such businesses across the 18 Local Government Areas of the state".

As part of the restoration of the state’s lost glory in sporting activities, Pastor Ize-Iyamu declared that his, "Government will re-introduce school sports in all public and private primary and secondary schools in the state, as this will enable us identify young talents for national competitions".

On the Insurance Football Club and other sports clubs and associations he said they, "will be given special consideration and government will partner with reputable stakeholders to sponsor and promote these clubs".

To boost Sports tourism. Pastor Ize-Iyamu said, "in partnership with the private sector, we will re-introduce the Ogbe Hard-Court Tennis Championship as an annual event", while reputable sports marketing companies shall be encouraged to establish sports academies in the state to engaging many Edo youths.

The APC candidate's plan to reclaim Edo State's leading role in sports will see to the renovation and re-equipping of boxing gymnasiums located in the State and the resuscitation refurbishing and expansion of the Afuze Games Village.

Meanwhile, it is Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu's vision as Governor of Edo state after winning the September 19, 2020 gubernatorial elections to, "promote mainstream equality in sports including encouraging gender parity and disabled equality in participation across a range of sports".

#EdoMustMoveForward
#SimpleAgenda
#PastorOsagieIzeIyamu
#Edo2020

*Akoko-Edo APC blames PDP, and its thugs for attack on Pst. Osagie Ize-Iyamu's campaign train.*

● *calls on the Nigerian Police to investigate the role of Mr. Jeffrey Obasanmi and Mr. Peter Ologun in the attack*

The campaign Council of the All progressives Congress, Akoko-Edo Chapter, has condemned in totality, the attack on Pst. Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the governorship candidate of our peace loving party, APC, and his supporters, during his ward-to-ward campaign tour in Akoko-Edo.

Pst. Ize-Iyamu, had embarked on ward-to-ward campaign, after successfully concluding his local governement-to-local government campaign tours, to seek for votes ahead of the September 19th governorship election. But, his campaign train came under attack yesterday, 28th of August, 2020 by PDP thugs at EKPE community while, heading to Ososo, ward 10, which was the next location for the campaign.

The PDP thugs we learnt were mobilized by one Mr. Jeffrey Obasanmi, and Mr. Peter Ologun, who happens to be an indigene of the community of Ekpe, destroyed many vehicles in the campaign train of the APC candidate, and left many with injuries of different categories.

We as a party committed to peace, and progress of the entire Akoko-Edo, hereby, wish to condemn this attacked on our party's candidate campaign train in its entirety. We wish to state categorically that, there was no need for this ambush on our candidate, and his supporters who are carrying out peaceful campaign to seek for the people's votes.

Our candidate just left Ekpedo, the headquarters of ward 9, a community that shares boundary with Ekpe community, and heading to Ososo, when the PDP, and its thugs decided to set canopies and chairs on the major road leading to Makeke-Ososo. An act that depict total lawlessness, which the Peoples Democratic Party is known for. And, in the process of stopping to beg them to please, clear the way for the train to have access, their thugs started throwing stones, and all kinds of dangerous objects at the convey of our candidate and supporters. This led to many of our supporters who were on the train injured, and vehicles destroyed.

We want to use this medium to call on the Nigerian Police, and other law enforcement agents, to as a matter of urgent public importance, launch investigation into this wicked act, with a view to bringing the perpetrators, and those who masterminded the action to book. This will serve as deterrent to others who will want to embark in this act of lawlessness in future. We have had enough of this same Mr. Jeffrey Obasanmi, who claimed to be Vice Chairman of the Council.

Since, he started parading himself as the Vice Chairman, Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, we have witnessed one form of violence and the other. We as a party, feels it is time the law enforcement agents do the needful by investigating the activities of these individuals, before it is too late.

Signed.

Steve Adepoju.
Chairman,
Akoko-Edo APC Campaign Media Committee.

The SIMPLE Agenda: A Manifesto of Hope

EMPLOYMENT CREATION & SOCIAL EMPOWERMENT (1)

With the “SIMPLE” Agenda, we will create an enabling business environment in the state, that can attract honest investors to take advantage of all our PPP initiatives.

Thousands of jobs will be created through the following government activities:
In the execution of the various programmes of the “SIMPLE” Agenda, job creation components and sustainability thereof will be the critical factor in measuring performance and success.

The goal of “SIMPLE” Agenda is to generate jobs from programmes, projects and activities in each of the 18 Local Government Areas.

For the PPP industrial schemes in each of the senatorial districts, it is reckoned that each of the clusters should be capable of accommodating up to 10 separate industrial firms and would give direct employment opportunities to well over 3,000 persons and another 5,000 persons indirectly, providing the raw materials, goods and services, across the state.

It is also planned to attract over 5,000 persons to the Farm Settlement, while at the same time, Youth Empowerment through Agricultural and Farmer’s Support Programme (YETA-FSP) will be established to support 500 youths from each of the 18 LGAs every year. (To be Concluded)

#EdoDecides2020
#EdoforAPC
#PastorOsagieIzeIyamu2020
#TheSimpleAgenda
#ManifestoOfHope
#EdoMustMoveForward
#POIGANI

*Where is Osemwingie-Ero' – APC kicks 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."

*“Philip Shaibu is distressed, at the end of his political career” – APC*

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.”

*Ize-Iyamu to train, rehabilitate ‘Agberos’ in empowerment, transitional program*

● *..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."

*Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu’s SIMPLE agenda will empower, protect Edo women” – Prof Idia*


Prof. Idia Ize-Iyamu, the wife of the APC candidate in the Edo Governorship election, has assured women of plans in her husband’s manifesto, the SIMPLE agenda, to empower and support women with investments in the businesses and protection against abuse.

She gave this assurance while speaking at a campaign rally at Uzebba, Owan West Local Government Council on Sunday.
Prof. Idia Ize-Iyamu, alongside other Edo APC Women leaders including the wife of the Deputy Governorship candidate, Hajia Nana Audu, and the APC State woman leader, Mrs. Betty Okoebor, met with excited supporters from Owan West, Owan East, and Akoko Edo councils who all declared their support for the APC and promised to vote the party at the polls.

Prof Idia said Pastor Ize-Iyamu has careful plans to expand the trade and businesses of the women with government support, improve security, especially in rural communities to ensure the protection of women and other residents, and to care for the elderly.

In her words, “we are here to tell you that our Governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, will boost your businesses, create jobs for your children, and take care of your welfare.”
He will also support your farming activities and ensure your markets have water and toilet facilities”

She said being a medical practitioner, she would assist her husband to revamp the health sector of the state if elected.

“Most of our hospitals lack doctors, nurses, drugs; I will contribute my professional experience to ensure that all these are provided in our state government hospitals so that you can access good medical services.”

“I will ensure that elderly people and children with special needs get access to free medical services”.

She says Pastor Ize-Iyamu will address the infrastructure decay in the state, especially in the education sector to improve learning in the state and ensure that children, including those in rural communities, gain access to quality education in conducive environments.

A voter education exercise was also conducted at the rally as the women were shown the right way to cast their votes.

*Edo Assembly Invasion: Court remands arrested Obaseki’s thugs over illegal possession of firearms*

*...as Obaseki faces accusation of bribery to secure freedom for the thugs*


A Benin City High Court, Edo State, on Monday remanded seven thugs nabbed by the Police with illegal firearms during the invasion of the Edo State House of Assembly complex led by Governor Godwin Obaseki and his Deputy, Mr. Philip Shaibu.

The thugs identified as Festus Agbonrenren (25 years), Odion Osayande (23 years), Ogbeiwe Wilfred (52 years), Morgan Uwaigboe (47 years), Osayomore Salami (25 years), Ifeoluwa Oladele (36 years), and Iginobaro Collins (26 years) were arrested on August 6 within the premises of the Edo Assembly complex with five double-barrel long guns, two single barrel long guns, and 10 live cartridges.

According to several Police sources, they have confessed to being mobilized by the Governor’s aides, Mr. Kabiru Adjoto and Mr. Osaigbovo Iyoha, to deny entry to the Assembly Complex to elected members of the Edo Assembly opposed to Governor Obaseki with violence.

They provided cover for other thugs who removed the roof of the Edo Assembly complex, vandalized its chambers, and tipped heaped of sands at its entrance in violent chaos supervised by the Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and his Deputy, Philip Shaibu, to widespread condemnation from rights groups and residents of the state.

The presiding Judge, his Lordship, Hon. Justice Efe Ikponmwonba, ruled that the suspects should be remanded in the Police custody pending the determination of the case on August 25.

However, in a decision said to be indicative of the sensitivity of the case and the highly-funded plot by Governor Obaseki to prevent the thugs from standing prosecution, the Judge asked that the suspects not be brought to court during the next sitting but kept in the Police custody where developments on the case will be relayed to them by their legal representatives.

Several prominent Civil Society Organizations have called on the Police to follow the prosecution to a conclusive end and resist the reported attempt by Governor Godwin Obaseki to either influence the testimony of the thugs, who have already allegedly confessed their ties to the embattled Governor, or procure freedom for them without prosecution.

One of the groups condemned the Governor’s invasion of the State House of Assembly, saying it set terrible precedence that pose a serious threat to the democracy of the State, and urged the Police and State Judiciary to consider the trial of the thugs caught with the illegal arms as the starting point to reaffirming their commitment to the rule of law and the stamping out of impunity and violence.

PDP plans rigging using retired INEC staff and Obaseki's cousin, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi

The APC Media Campaign Council for the Edo Governorship election has accused the PDP of colluding with a senior INEC staff, Mr. Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, to rig the Sept. 19 election in the state having failed to convince the people to overlook the failure of its candidate and incumbent Governor of the State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki.

According to the party, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, who recently quietly retired as INEC’s Director of Voter Education, is a first-cousin to Governor Godwin Obaseki and has been identified in a plot to trade sensitive inside information on the results collation process of the electoral body with the PDP in exchange for unnamed benefits.

The party alleged that Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi had initially refused to bow out of INEC despite the expiration of his tenure at the electoral commission but was forced out following the revelation of his strong ties with the Edo Governor and his secret plot to stay put at the commission to gain access to sensitive information on the Edo election.

Nonetheless, the APC says Governor Godwin Obaseki has discreetly named Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi as a private consultant in his re-election campaign with a mandate to provide tactics and strategies, using his experience at INEC, on ways to manipulate the election and substitute real results obtained at the polling units with fake results pre-written in the Edo State Government House.

In a statement released on Sunday, the party said “As an upgrade to the server scam that failed the PDP in the 2019 General Election because it ignorantly went with the fraud without insight on the result collation process of INEC, the party of tax-collectors, having lost all hopes of winning the Edo election in a fair contest, are concluding plans on another rigging strategy with the recent secret conscription of one Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi.”

“Mr. Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, Obaseki’s first-cousin who served for many years at INEC and had to be forced out of Commission despite his stalling tactics to stay put until the conclusion of the election which he had planned to manipulate by offering sensitive inside information to his cousin, has now fully joined the Obaseki campaign, though secretly as a private consultant.”

“His mandate, and those of others assigned to serve as his aides in the secret location where has been lodged, is to develop strategies and tactics for the party on how to substitute results obtained at the polls with fake, pre-written ballots and a corresponding reflection of the electoral fraud in any electronic transfer, using his experience at the Commission.”

“We have been reliably told by numerous sources at the Commission of Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi’s strange enthusiasm and stubborn insistence to be a part of every meeting held at INEC, even sensitive ones outside the remit of his former position as Voter Education Director, before an internal disquiet at the Commission left him with no other choices but to tender his resignation.”

The party called on INEC to strengthen its infrastructure for the election against potential saboteurs like Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, while also urging the PDP to accept its looming defeat in good fate and as deserved consequences for the failure of its embattled candidate, instead of dabbling into actions that could attract criminal prosecution and imprisonment.

*Edo2020: International Film Village Coming for Edo*

Arts and culture in Edo is a catalyst that should be exploited by the government to stimulate the tourism, hospitality, transport and entertainment sectors of the economy in a manner that can create jobs for the youths.

Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the APC candidate in the September 19,2020 Edo governorship election stated this in Benin City on Monday in an interview with AgbakaMedia.

He said Arts and culture, tourism is a critical aspect of his manifesto, the Simple Agenda, which is explained under the Manpower Development and training segment.


The Frontline Edo governorship candidate said global appreciation of Nigeria today is because of Nollywood, which through various films portray the Nigeria's rich cultural heritage evident in royalty, fashion, morals, food to a global audience.

"The good thing about about Arts and Culture is that it opens up the tourism, hospitality and transport sectors. It is something that government should be interested in. Government must appreciate the role of culture in the upliftment of our state".

According to the governorship candidate, "every state should understand what our people are good at and when it comes to tradition dancing, songs, Drama, Edo has been at the forefront. I grew up seeing Edo as the state of culture".

He said in the past Foreigners use to take pleasure in visiting the state by virtue of her rich culture and traditions and were thrilled to watch drama and cultural troupes perform at Urhokpota but not anymore.

"I do not see why Edo cannot invest in a film village. I believe that we have the talents, the traditional setting, that are attractive as film sites and the state is centrally located enough to bring artistes from far and near. So if we have a film village we are actually creating room for prosperity and discovery of new talents".

Ize-Iyamu said, "Even if the government cannot do it alone it can partner with those who can do it. That's where the Public-Private-Partnership Scheme comes in. I believe it will be good for our state; it will restore our glory and bring back our pride".

He promised that if elected as governor in September his government would also look at the prospect of establishing an International Film Village in the State.

#EdoforAPC
#PastorOsagieIzeIyamu2020
#TheSimpleAgenda
#ManifestoOfHope
#EdoMustMoveForward
#POIGANI

PDP shootings at Obaseki's rally in Igueben: APC demands investigations into Obaseki's alleged arms importation and thugs escort

The State Media Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress for the Edo State Governorship election has called out the PDP and its candidate, Governor Godwin Obaseki, over shootings at the governor's rally in Igueben, stating that the ugly incident affirms its previous allegation of the governor's importation of guns and inclusion of buses full of armed thugs in his convoy.

According to multiple reports confirmed by several residents in Igueben and hospital records, chaos broke out on Wednesday, August 19, at the Igueben, around the residence of a PDP Chieftain, Chief Tom Ikimi, when armed thugs escorting the Governor Obaseki's campaign turned on each other in a wild shooting that sent at least one person to the hospital with a leg riddled by bullets.

While confirming the shooting that left most scampering for safety, eye-witnesses and other sources in Governor Obaseki's campaign trail said the thugs, sourced from neighboring states and handed deadly firearms secretly purchased by the Governor, had maintained a fractious relationship as some of them reportedly belong to rival cult groups.

Things got to a head on Wednesday when a batch of the thugs, traveling in a separate vehicle on Obaseki's campaign trail, alleged that his group had greater notoriety for violence. The claim provoked an angry reaction from the other group and both dueled in a frantic shooting that scared guests at the event, including Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa whose security agents moved quickly to protect him from being caught in the melee.

Reacting to the incident, the APC said their previous alarm on Governor Godwin Obaseki's importation of guns and other ammunition and the hiring of armed thugs to intimidate and inflict violence on innocent Edo people who express rejection of the candidate on their campaign trail was confirmed by the shooting.

In a statement by Mr. John Mayaki, the Chairman of the Media Campaign Council, the APC said the shooting sent the whole community into a fear-filled silence and quietness, while quoting confidential sources that revealed the armed thugs responsible for the shooting routinely followed the Governor's convoy in an Audi A4 vehicle and a Toyota Corolla.

He said: "Although condemnable in every sense of it, this incidence is not totally surprising when considered against the background of emerging and developing news in the past weeks. It is important to note here that we have called the attention of security agencies in Edo State, urging them to rise to the occasion and intercept the almost unbridled influx of firearms and strange groups into Edo State by the Governor."

"We have demanded that the Inspector General of Police, the DG of the DSS, and heads of the security agencies, commence an immediate undercover investigation into the convoy of Governor Godwin Obaseki with a view to identifying all arms-bearing personnel to ascertain their status and whether they have the authorization, under the arms regulation laws of the country, to bear arms and irresponsibly intimidate the public with the same in public."

"We condemn this violent act in the strongest terms and alert the Presidency, security agencies, international bodies, election monitoring groups, and all CSOs focused on election integrity to this illegality and wanton violence funded and orchestrated by Governor Godwin Obaseki and his PDP because if unchecked, they would soon unleash worse things on the innocent citizens of Edo State who are about on their civic obligations."

"As a party confident of victory, the APC wants an election, not a war. The same cannot be said for Mr. Godwin Obaseki who both lacks achievements and vision, and has since committed state resources to the orchestration of violence and acts targeted at undermining the election."

*The SIMPLE Agenda: A Manifesto Of Hope*

Diaspora Engagement

• We will constructively engage with our citizens in Diaspora to harness the potentials in financial and intellectual investment targets.

In particular, we will actively welcome their partnership in our public private sector engagement and collaboratively promote their offer to expand private philanthropy.

• We will set an investment target of 5000 hours per year in the area of medical missions, sport diplomacy, and other areas of volunteer work. We will encourage more direct intervention projects from Diaspora by way of direct investment in local businesses or green spring projects by facilitating channels for Diaspora investments into transparent businesses.

• We will organize a Diaspora Investment Forum and explore the opportunity of a Diaspora Bond. Adequate energy will be devoted to constructive partnership with the Edos in Diaspora.

#TheSimpleAgenda
#EdoMustEdoMoveForward
#PastorOsagieIzeIyamu
#Edo2020
#ManifestoOfHope

Edo 2020: Apprehension in Okpella as Police besiege town on the orders of Godwin Obaseki

● Over 50 policemen occupying residence of Obaseki's aide

● Terrorize residents at night

● APC petitions CP over mission of officers


The Edo State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised the alarm over a strange dispatch of a team of Police officers, numbering over 50, to Okpella community where they are occupying the private residence of a political appointee of Governor Godwin Obaseki.

A statement by the Chairman of the Media Campaign Council, Mr. John Mayaki said this strange development has caused apprehension in the town as residents express worry over planned violent intimidation ahead of the September 19 governorship election in Edo State.

According to Mayaki, "The Police officers were reportedly deployed on the orders of the Governor Godwin Obaseki and have set camp in the building of one Lukman Akemokue, a political aide and ally of the Deputy Governor, who relocated his mother from the building to make room for the officers.

"Residents of numerous surrounding communities in the area have lamented the Police officers' night movements characterized by indiscriminate shootings, shouts of obscenities, and other bizarre acts of intimidation which they claim were aimed at inducing fear ahead of the polls.

"It is important to note that Okpella has recorded large numbers of movements from the PDP to the APC in the past few weeks, as residents declare their intention to back the bid of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu over failure by the Obaseki-led administration to keep his promises to them after four years.

"Prominent amongst former members of the PDP who have openly declared support for the APC and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu is Prince Kassim Afegbua, a chieftain of the PDP and popular political figure in Okpella, who rejected Governor Godwin Obaseki for drawing revenue from Okpella through its abundant resources but refusing to re-invest in the area to ensure infrastructure development and good standard of living.

"The deployment of the Police officers has been interpreted as a desperate tactic by the Governor and his allies to scare away voters to prevent the anticipated embarrassing defeat expected on the 19th of September", Mayaki said.

Meanwhile, Mayaki said the APC will do a formal petition to the State Commissioner of Police, CP Johnson Kokumo, and the Inspector-General of Police, Adamu Muhammed, to probe the dispatch of the officers to Okpella and why they are occupying the private residence of the governor's aide.

Mayaki said it amounts to a violation of the objective stance expected of security agencies, including officers of the Nigeria Police Force, to embark on a secret mission to an area where the incumbent is not popular and be housed in a private residence of a political appointee to terrorize communities.

While expressing doubt that the State Commissioner of Police approved the disturbing operation which bodes ill for the peaceful conduct of the election in Okpella, Mayaki nonetheless vowed to uncover the truth with a petition demanding a full explanation and the immediate evacuation of the officers from Lukman Akemokue's residence.

Rejected by Auchi, Obaseki’s PDP fuels religious tension in Edo

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.

HAPPENING NOW:

The Edo state Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has ordered that the Beds and other equipments in Igieduma Health Centre be relocated to Uhi for the Commissioning of Uhi Health Centre.

This move is in keeping with Obaseki's known character of deceit and fraud. Investigations reveal that this evacuation of equipment from existing to new health centers has been the Obaseki tradition since 2016. Not a single new hospital equipment has been bought under his advantage.

The practice is for the equipment to be left in the new health centers until there is a new one to be commissioned and the equipment are again moved.

Tension is presently mounting in Igieduma as the committee of youths have vowed to resist the evacuation.

TAXATION

Taxation is very important as a major source of internally generated revenue especially in the face of dwindling oil earnings. However, we will review the present tax policy, which is harsh, punitive and discriminatory, and stop unnecessary duplication of taxes, as a simpler tax regime will encourage compliance. We will be transparent, fair and innovative in our tax policy.

#EdoMustMoveForward
#SimpleAgenda
#PastorOsagieIzeIyamu
#Edo2020

PDP Crisis: Trouble Looms As PDP Group kicks Against Obaseki’s Fresh Appointment of 1000 Special Assistants

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has approved the appointment of fresh political aides.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the Edo State Government is set to issue fresh appointment letters to over 1000 aides.

This latest move is seen as a political strategy to checkmate the rising popularity of the APC candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

The aides are expected to brace up the campaign of Governor Godwin Obaseki and help drive the PDP agenda.

The appointments were back-dated with the intention to cover 3 months of services by the political appointees.

The aides were placed on a monthly remuneration of 140 thousand naira and are expected to get 3 months salaries in arrears.

Already the fresh appointment is causing ripples among the PDP and Obaseki’s supporters.

Majority of the beneficiaries are alleged to be cronies, staff and friends of top party leaders.

A group within the PDP known as the PDP Youth Frontiers are already spoiling for war as they allege majority of the names on the list were not properly vetted and also contains a list of loyalist to the APC governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

They are spoiling for a showdown if Obaseki goes ahead to issue the appointment letters without putting them into the equation.

According to the group, some Obaseki and Philip Shaibu’s loyalist just filled the list with their girlfriends and domestic staff.

They say it is a clear situation of monkey dey work Baboon dey chop.

In a strongly worded letter sent to the PDP leadership in the State, the group called for caution on the part of the party leaders telling them that the sharing of the appointments should not be done on strictly party basis but should be given to the people based on merit.

They vowed to expose further the double standard of the PDP leaders if they go ahead with the list presently approved by Obaseki.

With barely a month to the Edo September election is it proper or morally right for Obaseki to issue fresh appointments to over 1000 aides?

https://ireporteronline.com.ng/pdp-crisis-trouble-looms-as-pdp-group-kicks-against-obasekis-fresh-appointment-of-1000-special-assistants/

Massive protest in Benin as pensioners, staff of Edo College of Education demand months of unpaid salaries and pensions
…condemn Obaseki for dishonest ‘redeployment’ claims
…we’re dying, they cry out

Staff and Pensioners of the College of Education, Ekiadolor, staged another massive protest at the Ministry of Education, Iyaro, Benin City, on Monday to demand their 12-month unpaid salaries and pensions by the Obaseki-led Edo State Government, paralyzing economic activity and traffic flow in the area for several hours.

The demonstration was in continuation of the workers’ demand for the immediate payment of their owed salaries and pensions following the complete breakdown of talks between them and the state government after a discovery that the Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, made a hush 15 billion naira payment to the PDP from the state treasury to obtain the party’s ticket and further his personal political ambition, despite repeatedly claiming that the state is cash-strapped and could not afford salaries.


The workers, dressed in black attire and bearing placards, blocked the entire Iyaro axis and the busy Lagos road in Benin City, the state capital, to press home their demands at the Ministry of Education.

The Chairman of the Senior Staff Union, College of Education, Ekiadolor, Comrade Ken Omoruyi, said the protest to the Ministry of Education was to debunk the dishonest claims of the Obaseki-led Edo State Government that the staff of the college had been redeployed and the College no longer exists.

In his words, “the state government is owing us 12 months salaries and we are here to debunk the rumors making rounds that the staff of the College have been redeployed.”

"We are here to see the Commissioner for Education and ask him when we were redeployed and if we were given redeployment letters.”

"There are also rumors that the College of Education has ceased to exist, which is not true because the state government appointed a Provost, Registrar, and Bursar for the College.”

In the same vein, the Chairman of the College of Education Academy Staff Union and the President of the Coalition of Unions in the college, Comrade Fred Omonuwa, said the College had not been given adequate subvention in recent times, with the Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, reneging on his promises without justifiable reasons.

"We have been on this protest for a long time and decided to take it to the Ministry of Education.”

"The Commissioner said we are no longer Staff, but no sack letter to that effect, he also said we have been redeployed, but we were not given letters of redeployment.”

Mr. Efosa Uzebu who spoke on behalf of the pensioners of the College said they were being owed 12 months pensions and gratuity following Governor Obaseki’s refusal to comply with his installment payment plans.

“The present Governor of Edo, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, said he was going to pay the pensions in 15 installments, he paid 5 installments and stopped.”

"We are appealing that he pays us because many of us are dying and many are in the sickbed.”

Purported education reforms form the key plank of Governor Obaseki’s justification for re-election but his advertised ‘achievements’ in the sector have been rubbished by continuous protests from the staff of different institutions who lament poor investments and welfare, alongside furious parents in several rural communities whose children attend schools with inadequate staff and non-existent support infrastructure.

HAJIA BARR NANA GANI AUDU TAKES THE MESSAGE OF THE JOINT TICKET TO DIFFERENT MUSLIM GROUPS IN ETSAKO WEST.

14-16/08/2020

The Wife Of Mall Gani Audu, Barr Nana on 14th of August started visiting different Muslim groups in Etsako west to seek for Prayers for the Joint ticket and the success of the September 19 election in Edo State.
She took the message of The SIMPLE agenda to the Muslim groups and also pleaded them for their prayers and support.
She however promised to always remember the groups before and after the election and promised to tell all their problems to the government when her husband is elected.
She was accompanied by some Women Leaders like Hajia Charity Yakson, Mrs Kelimat Idris, among others.
As at today, 16th August, 9 Muslim groups have been visited and they all have promised to support the APC and it's candidate.
Some of the groups visited so far are:
1. Assalatul Izaharudeen, Igbe.
2. Idonije Street Assalatu, Idonije Street, Auchi.
3. Hizbullah Assalatu, Warrake Road.
4. Nurul Islam Assalatu, Sabo, SouthIbie.
5. Al-Mulirudeen Assalatu, Aviele.
6. Nafsat Group, Auchi
7. Nafsat Group, Iyakpi, SouthIbie.
8. Mallam Idato Assalatu, Jattu, Uzairue.
9. Assalatul Sabrun Nur.

In each of the Muslim groups visited, Prayers were offered on behalf of the Muslim ticket of Mall Gani Audu and His Wife Hajia Barr Nana Gani Audu and her campaign team.

Muhammad Ismail Justice
Reporting From
Edo North (Etsako West)

Edo 2020: Attack at Apana has diminished Obaseki’s chances ― APC Chieftain


A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Lucky James, has said that the purported attack on the convoy of Governor Godwin Obaseki last week in Apana, Etasko West local government area which the governor alleged was orchestrated by agents of the former national chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has diminished the chances of Obaseki getting votes from the area.

Reacting to the Incident, James who is also a chief from the community wondered how a community would organise such an attack that left four of their people injured including a baby and a woman frying garri.

He said the plan was hatched by the handlers of the governor who were not able to mobilise the anticipated number of persons for the rally.

He said: “Why should the people of Apana organise an attack against Obaseki? None of the candidates of any of the political parties are from the village.

“I want to say it is completely false, it is a lie of the century. They have no grouse with Governor Obaseki to say they want to go and waylay him and everybody knows that this is the time for campaign. Not only PDP or APC, but all the political parties can also go anywhere and seek votes.

“That incident has further worsened the chances of the governor in Apana village because that campaign would have given him the opportunity to tell the people what he has done and what he intends to do to win their votes, but that was lost because the governor only ended up campaigning to his entourage because the people didn’t come out again after seeing guns and hearing gunshots.

“Their children were injured, how do you tell that man that had an injury from a gunshot during your campaign to come and vote for you. If Obaseki would have gotten votes, this incident has further diminished those chances.

“Apana is one of the villages that make up Ward 10, it is not Oshiomhole’s village. Comrade Oshiomhole is from Iyamho so why will somebody reason that Apana people will now go and carry arms and wait for a big visitor who is coming to tell them what he has done or what he will do?

“So I look at it that it is just to blackmail my village and to tell falsehoods against the national chairman.

“They didn’t want the governor to see that they could not mobilise people for him, they were hiding their inefficiencies so the next thing was to cause that pandemonium so that the governor cannot see the actual situation on ground.”

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/08/edo-2020-attack-at-apana-has-diminished-obasekis-chances-%E2%80%95-apc-chieftain/amp/

Rites, tradition, history: Ize-Iyamu and Omo ‘N Oba’s Royal Blessings
-By John Mayaki


On the 8th of August, the All Progressives Congress flagged off its Governorship campaign in Edo State with a rally that started with a visit to the palace of the revered Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II for royal blessings.

As a man of tradition, culture, and history, the candidate of the APC, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, led a delegate of Governors, national leaders of the APC, and other eminent persons into the ancient palace, all donning the traditional white attire, satisfying all palace rules in a very detailed and organized manner which revealed the reverence Ize-Iyamu, as an individual, and the APC, as a political party, holds the throne.

Ize-Iyamu received the blessings of the palace, having come with all the necessary traditional ingredients for the sacred rite – distinguishing himself, once again, as a class act and a divinely favored man as opposed to his opponent, the embattled Governor Godwin Obaseki whose visit ended in futility. Obaseki had ‘forgotten’ the traditional Kola and gin, hence came and left with no blessings.

He fired his chief protocol officer for the horrific traditional blunder but not without raising a pertinent question that may yet be the final blow to Obaseki’s flailing re-election campaign: how can a true Benin man not know the cultural rites of his people?

How can Mr. Godwin Obaseki, in the company of other PDP governors, proceed to the palace of the Oba, empty-handed, empty-headed, failing to go with the necessary condiments of cultural rites—gin and kola?

For some quarters, this is not surprising. Articles and stories abound, emphasizing the rootlessness of Godwin Obaseki. Renowned persons have also drawn attention to the same situation, telling vociferously, of Obaseki’s blatant lack of traditional and cultural knowledge of Edo people. While this may be overlooked in some Nigerian regions where modernity has clinically overtaken the people’s intrinsic culture, it is not the same for Benin, for Edo State.

It is a bloodless debt albeit fatal and detrimental. The presentation of oneself to the Oba always has one expected end: blessings from the mouth and heart of the Oba to the visitor, blessings from that ancient throne of great powers, sat upon by generations over generations of great Obas. Yet, Obaseki, in an extension of his incompetence and cluelessness, failed to incur these highly sought blessings.

The cause of his failure is simple but the reason for that cause goes deeper and poses an important lesson for Edo voters gearing for September 19. This is a man who doesn’t know his people, who don’t know his culture, who doesn’t know himself. This is a man who can do nothing well, nothing right, and nothing benefiting to the people that he clearly doesn’t understand.

This man who went to the Oba’s palace empty-handed, and then stranded at the point of rites performance, before walking away devoid of ancestral blessings, amidst angry and protesting youth, is he worth consideration for the apex political position in the state?

The answer to this question is clear; the answer to the question is worse when the antecedents of this man as a governor are brought into consideration. Beyond revealing how poorly Obaseki understands Edo people and culture, yesterday’s horrific display is a bad omen that shows glaringly that Obaseki is headed for doom.

Worse still, the embattled Governor Godwin Obaseki, and his motley of PDP Governors appeared before the great King, Oba of Benin—Oba Ewuare II with a green Kangol cap, donning a flamboyant green and white gown, cutting an image of a court jester and a decoy usurper. He is both, nonetheless. A clown for appearing before the Oba, head wrapped in flashy cap; and a usurper for the obvious ulterior motive behind the laughable outreach.

Obaseki, historically, has treated the traditional things with scant regard as his thoughtless tyranny raged on. Not until it became clear to him and to all of his unwise advisors, that he and his ambition is nothing without the blessings of the Oba, did he began to seek ways to inherit a favor he had deemed unimportant hence approaching with utter disgust.

However, in his superficial repentance, Obaseki instead of mending fences or building bridges rather widened the gap, his horrific ignorance betrayed and spread before the public. Which true son of the soil comes to the most revered monarch, in history and present living, with empty hands and a capped head? Only the confused Godwin Obaseki, a man who has spent his whole life in Lagos, and now knows nothing about the ways of his people.

The sad display at the Oba’s palace is not without antecedent, rather it is the climax of assorted misgivings rooted in catastrophic misgovernance and maladministration. And everything that Obaseki has done wrong derived from his unfortunate ignorance of the culture, traditions, and the norms of the people of Edo. Yet arriving this climax, Obaseki’s unworthiness is summed in two simple but powerfully eloquent misdemeanors:

Coming to a palace for blessings without gin or kola; wearing a cap to kneel before the high monarch—simple but deeply revealing.

More than revealing the decline in the governmental system chaired by Obaseki, more than exposing the bottomless pit of unintelligence of the Governor himself, it equally exposes the nature and quality of people that surround the Governor. If no one in his convoy is culturally rooted enough to draw his attention to these necessary condiments of traditional reverence, then it makes true of an accusation and an ageless political maxim.

First, the accusation that Obaseki imports personnel and assistance from Lagos and Delta automatically becomes true. Secondly, the ever pertinent idea of Niccolo Machiavelli, that a leader is only good as the advisors and ministers he appoints, becomes, once again, true.

Governor Godwin Obaseki reflects the people he has surrounded himself with—witless, unintelligent, lacking in vision and foresight, and not cultured Edolites. Banded together, they fall very short and too far from the great tree that Benin and Edo is, and the true reward for this radical departure is that they do not, anymore, preside over the affair and people of Edo State. They are not of us and they are not for us—we should therefore take them very far away from us.

https://pastorosagieizeiyamu.com/rites-tradition-history-ize-iyamu-and-omo-n-obas-royal-blessings-by-john-mayaki/

Breaking: Buhari, Ize-Iyamu, Buni, Ganduje meet in Aso Rock

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari is currently meeting with the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate in the Edo State September 19 election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu at the Presidential Villa Abuja.

The Edo State APC governorship candidate was led to the Presidential Villa by the Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the ruling party and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Malla Buni, accompanied by Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje.

Although it was rumoured that the national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu will be part of the delegation, as at the time of filing this report, the former Lagos State Governor was yet to be sighted at the seat of power.

Vanguard

New EDHA Speaker Visits CP, Director of DSS

BENIN – After the official inauguration of the 7th EDHA, members of the assembly ably led by the newly-elected Speaker, Rt. Hon. Victor Sabor Tiger Edoror earlier today paid a courtesy visit to Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Johnson Kokumo.

During the visit, the CP assured the newly inaugurated Members of his support as the 7th Assembly is now fully in session.

Also, the new EDHA leadership equally visited the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Benin City.

As it stands, all security agencies formally attached to the former speaker are to be withdrawn immediately.

https://edoko-wilson.com/2020/08/06/new-edha-speaker-visits-cp-director-of-dss/

Edo 2020: This Is The Time We Need Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

By Mallam Omo-Iredia Osakue

When I thought about putting this piece together, the words of President Barack Obama came to my mind , where he said "In the face of impossible odds, people who love their country can change it"

Taking Edo state as a case study: It is true that on daily a basis the people are confronted with various degrees of problems, if not political squabbles, it will be on anger caused by hunger, heightened insecurity, poor educational programme, failed infrastructural plans, hazardous health initiatives, lack of payment of salaries, dysfunctional incentives and pension arrangements, administrative recklessness and disregard to the rule of law.

Yet, the man in the helm of affairs, whose responsibility is to venture into areas that need intervention with the aim of improving the well-being of citizens is completely reluctant - and the pitiable condition is left to persist. Irrespective of the empirical evidence of continued failure and despair, the citizens are constantly inundated with statements that offend the people's collective consciousness with impunity.

No wonder, many are tired and yearning for a true and enduring change that reflects genuine democracy, where the interest of the people is paramount. This clamour came alive, when it became evident that the intention of Mr. Godwin Obaseki is not to dispense governance, but rather to inseminate odium and engage in wasteful adventures - as recently experienced when he defected to the PDP after his defective academic credentials came to the open.

The traumatic shortcomings of the governor and his lacklustre attitude towards endearing programmes confirms his ineptitude and vacillation. Edo state needs a principled leader who is faithful to his duty and whose passion for genuine governance is unrivalled and second-to-none . That is where Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu comes in.

Following Mr. Barack Obama's line of reasoning, this responsibility falls on a willing mind who sincerely wants to create an enabling environment for growth and development , and at the same time kick start enduring plans for the future.

As we all know, Edo state does not have a shortage of these calibre of people and fortunately, one amongst them is in the race to take over the mantle of leadership. His quest for a new and refined society devoid of disunity, disharmony and dishonesty over social agreements and promises is abundantly visible in his daily statements and preparation.

To this end, the go-getter we've been referring to as you can all guess is Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu. His penchant for a new dawn is ingrained and no distraction from twisted minds can take away the love he has cultivated over the years for the state.

*Obaseki and Shaibu successfully confirmed our predictions, as they moved round Akoko-Edo.

Just as many of us predicated how he was going to embark on campaigns of calumny, blackmails, and barefaced lies telling which would further expose his true nature to the general public, during his campaigns tour.

He actually didn't just make our predictions accurate, he went a little further exposing some other hidden attributes, we never knew was part of the numerous negative behaviour that exist in him.

While, he was at Ososo, himself, and his Deputy Chief Betrayal, publicly showed to the entire world their ability to lie without properly thinking through it first.

You know there is a lie one tell that helps to take care of an immediate, and urgent need. Such a lie helps the teller to escape for that moment, pending when the truth will be established. Just as we know it can never stand the test of time no matter how beautiful the lie is.

In this case of Obaseki, and his Deputy, their lies further brought shame and disgrace to them, right at the point of telling it. For instance, they told the people of Ososo, how their loveable Son, Hon. Emmanuel Agbaje, took 40million from Comr. Oshiomhole, so as to remain in APC. An allegation, they couldn't provide evidence.

And, the good people of Ososo, immediately, countered him, and told him what we expected to hear from you in an occasion like this, is to tell us why you refused to construct the Ososo-Okpella road you promised us. They went further to let him know, campaign ground is meant to tell the people what you have done, that which you are doing, and what is left to be done. As such, you should be considered for another term.

It is not to come and tell us who collected whose money, and who didn't collect money. After all, is not as if, you are telling us the money collected was meant to construct the road you promised to construct. How exactly does it affect the road directly, or indirectly. At this point, there was an echoed from the crowd, "Oga, this one no enter, tell us another one".

He moved from there to the Okpameri Axis, and continue the lies telling campaigns. This time around, it was Rt. Hon. Yekini Idaiye, that collected 40million. The same question was asked again, is that why u have refused to do Imoga, Somorika, Ikiran-Ile and Okpe road?. Was the 40million meant for the construction of these roads, oga governor?.

It didn't end there, his next destination was Ugboshi-Afe, where he went to commission a SEEFOR road, which has been commissioned by his erstwhile Chief of Staff over one year now. The said road, is already giving way because, it was poorly constructed. As this recommissioning was going on, some residents of the community who came to witness what was going on asked again mockingly, "Na wa ooo, na how many times den dey commission one road"?.

And, the people simply concluded by saying " This man don't have anything to show for three and half years. Neither, does he have reasonable thing to tell us. So, it is true that our Oga Oshiomhole, was his backbone in 2016. We now can confirm, he deserves to go back to Lagos, we won't waste our vote for him this time around. We are giving our votes to "SIMPLE AGENDA", they said.

This is the present situation in Akoko-Edo.

*The Futility of the Two Cases filed against the APC and its Candidates at Benin Division and Okada Division of the Edo State High Court by Proxies of Governor Godwin Obaseki and the PDP.*

- By Dan Osa-Ogbegie Esq.


The Social Media has been awash with infantile drivel being distributed by agents of the outgoing governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki on the two cases filed by Proxies of the outgoing Governor and the PDP ,one of which was filed at the Benin Registry of the Edo State High Court and another at the Okada Registry of the same High Court.

Both cases are challenging the the qualifications of the candidates of the All Progressives Congress in the September, 19th Edo State Governorship Elections -Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu (POI) and Mallam Gani Audu (MGA).

To start with, both cases are Statute Barred.By Section 285 (9) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria ,1999 (As Amended ).

For the avoidance of doubt ,Section 285(9) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended ,) is clear and unambiguous on the above indicated submission as it provides thus:

“Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Constitution, every Pre-Election Matter shall be filed not later than 14 days from the date of the occurrence of the event, decision or action complained of in the suit”.

To activate this constitutional clause, a pre-election suit must be filed within 14 days from the occurrence of event or cause of action. Once the 14 days lapses, the court has no jurisdiction to entertain it. Therefore, a cause of action is statute-barred if legal proceedings cannot be commenced in respect of same, because the period laid down by the limitation law had elapsed.

The two cases filed by the Proxies of Obaseki and the PDP were filed on the 17th of July ,2020 .

The Publication by INEC of the names and Certificates of Candidates for the Edo State 2020 Governorship Elections occurred on the 2nd of July ,2020.

By the Supreme Court Authority of Gusua v .APC (2019) LPELR -56897 (SC),,the day an event takes place is inclusive in the computation of time in determining when the Cause of Action accrued in a Pre-Election Matter .

If we calculated 14 Days from the 2nd of July,2020 ,with the 2nd of July inclusive as provided by Law ,the Cause of Action as to the suing of Candidates for Elections in the 2020 Edo State Governorship Elections will expire and become non-justiciable on the 15th of July ,2020 .

The two Suits filed in Okada and Benin by the Proxies of Obaseki and the PDP ,were filed on the 17th of July,2020 ,two clear days after the Cause of Action has abated, become Otiose(serving no practical purpose or result) and non-justiciable .

They are therefore Statute Barred and they should be dismissed with substantial costs by the Courts as they Courts lack the requisite jurisdiction to adjudicate over those Matters, dismissal of same is the way to go .

This aspect of the Law is so clear and certain .The Obaseki and PDP Proxies missed their flight ,when they failed to file within time .

There are a Plethora of cases on this preposition of Law , many of which are Supreme Court Authorities on this score.

The Following Authorities many of which are Supreme Court Authorities are on all fours and support the preposition of Law canvassed in this expose ,one way or the other :

Toyin v. PDP (2019) 9 NWLR (Pt. 1676); Gusau v. APC (2019) LPELR-46897 (SC); Baruwa v. APC (2019) LPELR-47723 (CA); King v. Chandra Dharma (1905) 2 KB 335 @338; Amadi v. INEC (2013) 4 NWLR (Pt. 1345); Ojokolobo v. Alamu (1987) 3 NWLR (Pt. 61); Adah v. NYSC (2004) 13 NWLR (Pt. 891); Adebayo v. PDP (2013) 17 NWLR (Pt. 1382) 1; Odedo v. PDP (2013) LPELR 24738 (SC).

Those cases filed against the APC and its Candidates in the 2020 ,Edo State Governorship Elections in Benin and Okada are therefore Dead on Arrival.

We will however be paying close attention to activities in Court and Monitor same so that Justice will not just be done ,but will be seen to be done .

Edo 2020: Akwa Ibom Indigenes in Ovia South West LGA Endorse Ize-Iyamu

Akwa Ibom indigenes resident in Ovia South West Local Government area, under the aegis of Akwa Ibom General Forum, have thrown their weight behind Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu for the Sept.19 governorship election in Edo.

The group said that the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) remained their preferred candidate due to their belief in the capacity of Member representing Ovia federal constituency, Hon. Dennis Idahosa and that Ize-Iyamu possessed the capacity to reposition Edo.

President of the Group, Mr James Ndifreke, said that over 3,000 Akwa Ibom indigenes resident in Ovia South West LGA would be mobilised to ensure that Ize-Iyamu emerged the governor in the forthcoming election.

"We believe in the capacity of Hon Dennis Idahosa, he has been of immense support to our people. Whoever he supports, We will support"

"Secondly we believe in the manifesto presented by Pastor Osagie-Iyamu which he captured `SIMPLE Agenda’, because it represents the true aspiration of everyone living in Edo"

On his part, the Director General, Youths and Students and Mobilization Of Pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu Campaign Organisation and Member representing Ovia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Dennis Idahosa, asked them to take the SIMPLE agenda campaign to every nooks and crannies without fear or intimidation from anybody.

He further said that a lot needed to be done in terms of governance in Edo, hence the need for the APC candidate to emerge victorious.

He said that electing Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu would further attract Federal Government projects to the state.

PDP members petition ICPC, accuse Obaseki of diverting state funds using AfriInvest
…says Governor planning to use stolen funds as starting capital for regional bank

Some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under the aegis of Concerned Edo PDP Stakeholders, have petitioned the ICPC over alleged diversion of state funds by Governor Godwin Obaseki through the award of fraudulent contracts to his personal firm, AfriInvest Limited.

A copy of the petition signed by Andrew Egboigbe, a PDP member in Ward 3, Orhionmwon LGA of Edo, and submitted at the ICPC on Monday, was made available to the press in Benin City.

The petition, titled ” Petition against the unfairly advantageous awarding of Edo State Contracts to Afrinvest Limited by Mr. Godwin Obaseki”, alleged that Mr. Godwin Obaseki abused his office as Governor to unfairly award inflated contracts to his company, AfriInvest Limited, in flagrant disregard for the constitutional provision that guides the award of contract.

The petition alleged that Obaseki, been the founder of Afrinvest, used his position as Governor, to unfairly award contracts to his company in flagrant disregard for the constitutional provision that guides award of contract.

It read: “We, as concerned Edo indigenes, who have no other place to call our home except Edo state, file this honest petition against Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the governor of the state. and his firm, Afrinvest Ltd.”

“This followed revelations from reliable sources of unfair advantage the governor bestowed upon the firm using accumulated state funds meant for developmental works and projects.”

The petitioners claimed that although Mr. Godwin Obaseki stepped down as the Chairman of AfriInvest’s Board of Directors in 2016 on the assumption of office, he installed one Mr. Ike Chioke who served as his stooge at the firm and helped him siphon state’s resources.

“One of such abuse of his official position was when Obaseki, single-handedly, without the approval of his cabinet and legislative arm of government, awarded a N1.8 billion naira consultation contract on water storm project to Afrinvest Ltd., without the justification of the inflated sum and the nature of the contract. This, when established, will find the governor in contravention of Section 19 of the ICPC Act 2000.”

“That Afrinvest Ltd has, on different occasions, served as front and pipe for Mr. Godwin Obaseki’s diversion of state’s funds through bogus contracts and budgetary allocations.”

The petitioners further alleged that the security votes of Edo state which increased to an annual sum of 7.5 billion naira by Obaseki, since 2016, had been deposited in Afrinvest Ltd’s bank account.

According to the petitioners, the stashed funds and other illegally obtained profits are what Governor Godwin Obaseki used as starting capital to resuscitate PRIMUS bank which the Governor, acting through his proxies, is now seeking approval for, to operate as a regional bank.

“That Primus bank was funded through stolen funds and granting approval for its operations could lead to a financial closure as it remains vulnerable to an abrupt close when investigations if its fraudulent findings come to light.”

They urged the ICPC to act within the mandate of its powers “having established these facts and provided the surrounding context of the corrupt relationship between Obaseki, Afrinvest, and Primus Bank.”

“The ICPC in line with its core mandate to examine the practices, systems, and procedures of public bodies and where, in the opinion of the commission, such practices, systems born procedures aid or facilitate fraud or corruption, to direct and supervise a review of them.”

OBASEKI AND PDP's WICKED PLOT TO PROCURE A COURT ORDER TO STOP APC AND IT'S CANDIDATE PASTOR OSAGIE IZE-IYAMU FROM PARTICIPATING IN THE  SEPTEMBER 19, 2020, GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION IN EDO STATE :

A CALL FOR JUDICIAL CAUTION.

- By Samson R. Osagie, Esq


Ahead of the September 19, governorship election in Edo State, the PDP and its emergency candidate Godwin Obaseki have ran out of ideas, as their campaigns loses traction with thousands of their members abandoning their sinking ship.

Perturbed by the reality of imminent and unavoidable defeat, they have gone on their kneels groveling before one of the South South Governors and a PDP godfather who describe the National leadership of their party as tax collectors to assist them procure a frivolous court order that will prevent the APC and its formidable candidate Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu from participating in the September 19 gubernatorial election in Edo State.

As a matter of fact  two Senior Lawyers in Benin one in Edo State public service and the other in private practice have been given matching orders to  liaise with another prominent Senior lawyer in Lagos to urgently seek for  injunctive orders against the APC candidate by all means possible. This step is been backed  by the payment of several millions of dollars and billions of naira by Governor Obaseki to the Lawyers and the PDP godfather in the south south.

As part of measures to achieve this unholy and devilish mission Obaseki having obtain assurance from the PDP's godfather in Port Harcourt has been junketing from one judicial division to  the other seeking for pliable judges to assist him with an  order based on frivolous and unmeritorious application against the  APC and its candidate. This is why he is not campaigning or funding the PDP campaign, a situation which is alleged to have created a rift between him and his Deputy.

No wonder their media hirelings have been posting what looks like messages intended to prepare the mind of the public as to what they intend to achieve. In one of the Post a certain Jack Obiyan, Special Assistant to Governor Obaseki tweeted that the suspended former  State Chairman Anselm  Ojezua as saying '' APC has no candidate''. The PDP godfather during their ill-fated flag off campaign in one of the changing rooms at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium re-echoed same.

Unfortunately, for the embattled party that sold  its governorship and Deputy governorship tickets to Obaseki and his Deputy  for several billions of Edo taxpayers money, many heads of courts across the country have issued stern warnings to judicial officers to refrain from entertaining frivolous politically motivated litigations aimed at derailing the democratic process which has characterized the Obaseki misadventure in Edo State governance since 2016.

Let it be known that Anselm Ojezua and Godwin Obaseki are living in fool's paradise for assuming that they could put spanner in the works of the Edo APC from regaining its control of government in Edo State come November 12, 2020.
The APC gubernatorial primaries which Anselm Ojezua claims did not produce a candidate was ratified by the National Executive Committee which held in the Presidential Villa and which he virtually attended, albeit erroneously.

How he now claim that after the  ratification of the primaries which produced Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the party still has no candidate is a matter Mr President and the National Caretaker Committee of the APC must invoke serious disciplinary measures against by expelling Anselm Ojezua from the party.

It is no longer news that Anselm Ojezua and a few party chairmen at the LGA levels in Edo State are refusing to decamp with Obaseki to PDP with the intention of sabotaging the APC in the next election.

They will fail!!!

It is therefore important to state that Nigerian courts must be wary of the suits which are been filed with the aim of derailing the democratic processes in Edo State so as not to create a constitutional crisis as the tenure of the incumbent governor expires midnight of November 11 and Edo people are not prepared to renew the mandate.

Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, candidate of the APC has undoubtedly fulfilled all legal requirements including incontrovertible academic qualifications and compliance with every statutory provisions spelt out in the Nigerian Constitution, the APC constitution and the electoral Act under which INEC has issued its guidelines.

Consequently, any order seeking to stop the APC candidate from participating in the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in Edo State can only be a product of judicial compromise and we are confident that the Nigerian judiciary will not lend itself to such an ignoble mission.

Let us warn the PDP godfather in the south south oil rich state that the APC is fully aware of his boasts to use the judiciary to achieve this unholy mission as he did to APC in Rivers State in 2019.  By God grace and under God no weapon fashioned by him and his God son  Godwin Obaseki shall succeed and Obaseki shall lose shamelessly to Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

Needless to emphasize that the people of Edo State have accepted the SIMPLE AGENDA of the APC and its candidate and they are very prepared to run with it to guarantee security, quality infrastructure, Manpower development, public private partnership, leadership by example and employment cum empowerment. This SMART program is Specific, Measurable, Achievable , Realistic and Time bound so much so that Edo people can hold the APC government of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu accountable to it. On the contrary, the Obaseki government has no discernable agenda except bogus and incomprehensible litany of failed promises. Edo People cannot continue with his deceitful and hypocritical administration.

The task to reclaim Edo from the PDP tenant on September 19 is already a forgone conclusion and the Courts must exercise utmost circumspection not to yield to  any unpatriotic, undemocratic, frivolous and vexatious applications relating to Edo elections particularly applications for injunctive reliefs against the APC and its candidate.

Finally, the Chief Justice of Nigeria should prevail on all superior courts of record to excercise utmost discretion and restraints in matters relating to Edo State governorship election before, during and after the  election without prejudice to their powers to entertain post elections petitions.
Edo State is APC, and it's people have decided to elect Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and Mallam Gani Audu as the next Governor and Deputy Governor.
No more, No less.

.....
Hon. Samson Osagie is a former Minority Whip of the House of Representatives and the Coordinator, APC Campaign Council in charge of Edo South Senatorial District.