Osagie Ize-Iyamu, a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo, has taken a swipe at Godwin Obaseki, governor of the state, over his defection.
The governor who contested on the platform of the APC, defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), after be was disqualified from the governorship primary over alleged defective certificate.
The PDP had granted Obaseki waiver to seek its ticket for the election and may ultimately contest on the party’s platform in the September 19th election.
Speaking in an interview with The Sun, Ize-Iyamu said Obaseki attempted to impose himself as the candidate of APC before he was disqualified.
“He (Obaseki) has now left the party, following his rightful disqualification. Many party members heaved a sigh of relief when he left and currently, we are closing ranks and unifying the party for the election,” he said.
“Should my party elect me at the primaries on June 22, all the issues you speak of will be resolved in no time because really, they are all political. As aforementioned, we are already reaching out to everyone involved now that the bad apple has voluntarily taken itself out of the bag.”
According to Ize-Iyamu, Edo people are not happy with the governor and are ready to send him out of office.
“Whether in the APC or any other platform, as long as the contest will be determined by Edo people, I am confident of victory against him. If you drive around the state today and feel the pulse of the people, you will understand why I am that confident,” he said.
“The verdict is out on Obaseki’s term as governor and in summary, the people are tired of his problematic leadership, which has focused only on personal battles and needless confrontations.
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“These contentions are not unusual during election campaigns and processes. Nevertheless, there is a feeling of peculiarity with that of Edo State at this time due largely to desperation of the incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki, who was determined to impose himself on the party in ways that were undemocratic before his exit.
“You saw how he attempted all kinds of tactics, including restricting membership of the party only to those who shared his view, making his personal wishes the law, and devoting resources into brewing confusion and chaos across all levels of the party’s leadership just to have his way.
“However, as you know, he has now left the party, following his rightful disqualification. Many party members heaved a sigh of relief when he left and currently, we are closing ranks and unifying the party for the election. Should my party elect me at the primaries on June 22, all the issues you speak of will be resolved in no time because really, they are all political.”
