Ize-Iyamu didn’t make me gov, says Oshiomhole

Forum 7 years ago

Ize-Iyamu didn’t make me gov, says Oshiomhole

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has dismissed the claim by the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, that he was instrumental to his election in 2007.

Oshiomhole spoke during a campaign rally for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the September 10 governorship election, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, held at Garrick Memorial College in Oredo Local Government Area of the state.

He said contrary to Ize-Iyamu’s claim, the PDP candidate did not exercise his right to vote because he was allegedly in hiding from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, adding that his (Oshiomhole) credentials spoke for him.

The governor said, “Check the records; on April 14, during my election, Ize-Iyamu was in hiding from the EFCC. How can somebody who didn’t vote claim that he made me?

“We have worked for our country. We made our name; we are not tied to anybody. We simply worked and fought poverty and fought for the people.”

Oshiomhole also noted that his administration would continue to promote the welfare of workers and would pay pension arrears before the end of his tenure in November.

He, therefore, urged the voters to “liquidate” the political structure of the PDP with their Permanent Voter Cards in September.

Earlier, Obaseki promised to build on the legacy of his predecessor in several sectors of the state’s economy, using his wealth of experience in financial management and governance.

“I have a divine responsibility to develop Edo State and I will live up to that responsibility by the grace of God. We will not allow them return and loot our state again,” he added.

Meanwhile, a former aspirant of the PDP for the September poll, Chief Solomon Edebiri, has confirmed his withdrawal of membership from the party.

Speaking with journalists in Benin, Edebiri, who was the candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party in the 2012 governorship poll, attributed his decision to what he described as the “dishonesty of the party’s leadership.”

The former aspirant, who lost out to Ize-Iyamu in the primary election of the PDP said, “What happened on June 20 was awful and a complete negation of what democratic tenet is all about.”