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Tag: Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu

  • Edo 2016: Shekarau woos Hausas for Ize-Iyamu

    Edo 2016: Shekarau woos Hausas for Ize-Iyamu

    Former Minister for Education and two-term governor of Kano state, Alhaji Ibrahim Shekarau, has urged the Muslim community and Hausas in Edo State to vote for the People’s Democratic Party candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, for quality governance.

    Shekarau who was in Benin to attend the General Assembly and Executive National Council Meeting of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) took out time to join the Edo PDP campaign team.

    Speaking in Hausa language to some Hausa community in Oredo local government, Shekarau said the PDP has better offers than the APC.

    He told the people that Pastor Ize-Iyamu is a man with integrity, determination, vision and commitment to excellence.

    Shekarau cautioned them not to be coerced by money to be shared the ruling APC.

    At a Campaign Fund-raising dinner for Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu at the Royal Chinese Restaurant in Benin City, the former Education Minister said Edo people were in for better days if Pastor Ize-Iyamu is elected as governor.

    “I want to assure the people of Edo state that they have a man of dedication, a man of commitment, a man of business, a man of determination and a man of vision in Pastor Ize-Iyamu.

    “By some coincidence, the same devilish act of the APC by people who were sleeping on their beds when we did the dirty job of forming the APC, both of us are no longer in APC and are in the right place, PDP,” he added.

    He said the APC ran into crisis after the Caretaker National chairman Mr Olabisi Akande went ahead with the idea of creating a National leader for the party as well as giving the leadership of the party in the states to the 5 erstwhile PDP governors who joined the PDP whereas there was no such provision in the Constitution.

    “We thank God that we are today not part of that mess called APC. We are by the day being vindicated and by the grace of God by the time Ize-Iyamu becomes the governor of Edo state, we will be further vindicated”.

  • Court strikes out Iduoriyekemwen’s application

    Court strikes out Iduoriyekemwen’s application

    An Abuja High Court on Friday struck out the application of Mr Mathew Iduoriyekemwen of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) urging the court to dismiss Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu suit.

    Ize-Iyamu won the governorship primaries of the Sen. Ahmed Makarfi-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), while Iduoriyekemwen won under Ali Modu Sheriff-led PDP.

    Ize-Iyamu sued INEC to explain whether the commission could substitute his name for another if he was not dead or tender a formal withdrawal to contest.

    At the resumed hearing Iduoriyekemwen’s counsel, Mr Ajibola Oluyede, told the court that he had filed an application for joinder and a preliminary objection urging it to dismiss the plaintiff’s suit.

    Oluyede, however, withdrew the preliminary application seeking to dismiss the suit and his application was not opposed.

    Ize-Iyamu’s counsel, Mr Ferdinand Orbih (SAN) urged the court to dismiss the application seeking that his client’s suit for being incompetent and a waste of time to the court.

    Orbih told the court that there was no reason why INEC shouldn’t have filed its processes.

    Earlier, INEC’s counsel, Hassan Umar, said that under the law the matter could not be heard in this court.

    Umar told the court that INEC was waiting for the response to the Aug. 10 application filed by Ize-Iyamu, seeking to join PDP in the suit.

    But, Mr Godswill Mrakpor, Counsel to PDP, told the court that in view of the urgency of the matter his application was ripe for hearing.

    Justice Olukayode Adeniyi, struck out Iduoriyekemwen’s preliminary objection, which asked the court to dismiss Ize-Iyamu’s suit.

    Adeniyi said that based on the agreement of all the counsel in the suit the matter was adjourned till Aug. 16.

    He ordered that all parties to still maintain status quo pending the determination of the motion for interlocutory injunctions.

    The judge ordered INEC to file it submission properly.

  • Ize-Iyamu cannot be governor, Monarch tells Obaseki

    Ize-Iyamu cannot be governor, Monarch tells Obaseki

    ……PDP bribed us with N6m
    Traditional ruler of Uromi in Esan North East Local Government, His Royal Highness, Anslem Okojie, Onojie of Uromi has declared that he does not trust Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu enough to be governor of Edo State because of the People’s Democratic Party track record of under development.

    Top chieftains of the PDP such as former Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustee, Chief Tony Anenih and former Minister for Works, Mike Onolememen hail from Uromi.

    The Uromi Monarch said the PDP has made many unfulfilled promises in Esan Land and therefore could not claim to be in-charge of the land.

    He spoke Thursday when candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Mr. Godwin Obaseki and his running mate, Hon Philip Shaibu, visited his palace to seek royal blessings and support.

    HRH Okojie said politics ‘is not about sentiment but development’ and that he is in charge of the political affairs of Uromi people.

    Okojie stated that he does not own any political leader any explanation about affairs of his kingdom.

    The Monarch said he was impressed by the performance of the Governor Oshiomhole adding that he was in the entourage of the Comrade Governor to inaugurate three roads projects in Uromi and a town hall which were part of the promises made by the Oshiomhole administration.

    He stated that reports by the PDP that Uromi belongs to them was untrue and frown at what he termed desperation of Pastor Ize-Iyamu who he said cannot be the next Governor of Edo State based on their track record of under-development.

    Narrating how the PDP leaders brought N6million for the traditional rulers in Edo Central, the monarch said “I do not trust Pastor Ize Iyamu enough to become a Governor. My People want Godwin Obaseki. I have been on this thrown for twenty five years and I am ready to say the truth always. Ize-Iyamu spoke to me and said he wanted to meet with traditional rulers in Esanland. When he came to my Palace; we were 29 in number and he gave us N3 million.

    “We have what we call a caucus in Esanland and I am the chairman of the caucus. Out of the N3 million, we declared N2.5million and N500,000 was for members of the caucus.  That is past. Again PDP said they will come to flag off in Uromi, I said, yes no problem. Before that time Onojie of Ewu called me to say PDP is bringing N3 million for us that it will not be enough. Also, the Onojie of Opoji called me to say the N3 million will not be enough and I ask what should we do?

    “He said, we should tell pastor to make it N10 million or we would tell the Comrade Governor to give us N10 million. Now I called Ize-Iyamu to say I heard you are bringing N3 million for traditional rulers in Esan land, that is small, you have to do something better than that because when you were coming before the primaries you brought N3 million now you are a candidate, you can’t bring N3 million, you have to do something better.

    “So when they came Chief Anenih brought N3 million, Ize-Iyamu brought N3 million making it N6 million that was what was brought to me in this palace. They have been begging me not to play the tape to you but I said I will let you know about this because you are my friend and a good man who has done so much for Uromi people.

    “Nobody controls me even Chief Tony Anenih doesn’t control me, I tell him what to do because I am the owner of Uromi kingdom.

    Meanwhile, Obaseki assured the Monarch and people of Uromi that he will build upon the good work already started by Oshiomhole.

    He described Uromi as the power house of the economic life of Esan Land and promised to develop the land and deal with human capital development.

    “As a government, we shall be accountable to the people and continue with the developmental strides of the incumbent governor of Edo State. We are familiar with the Challenges and we will deal with them.”

  • Why Ize-Iyamu is not in my administration – Oshiomhole

    Why Ize-Iyamu is not in my administration – Oshiomhole

    Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, on Thursday gave reasons why the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the state, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, is not in his administration.

    Oshiomhole said he didn’t trust Pastor Ize-Iyamu because of the roles he played in the administration of Chief Lucky Igbinedion.

    The governor said he gave appointments to people he trusted.

    “I didn’t want to spend time watching Ize-Iyamu’s files,” he stated.

    Oshiomhole, who spoke at the All Progressive Congress (APC) campaign rally in Oredo local government area of the state, said he opted to “keep Ize-Iyamu busy by holding night meetings and saying all the lies.”

    The governor said the PDP governorship candidate begged him to be made the Director-General of his campaign organisation in 2012 after he refused to drop Dr. Pius Odubu as his running mate.

    “I never gave Pastor Ize-Iyamu government job. I gave jobs to those I trusted. Pastor Ize-Iyamu would have done to me what he did to Lucky Igbinedion.

    “It was because we kept him away from government that we were able to succeed and deliver on electoral promises. I didn’t allow him access to public fund. Edo cannot go back to what it was before.

    “I laughed when he said he made me governor. G and check the record, on election day, Ize-Iyamu did not as he was hiding from the EFCC. I have made my name and I worked hard for the Nigerian workers. We are not tied to anybody’s apron,” he added.

     

  • Ize-Iyamu names Senator Urhoghide campaign DG

    Ize-Iyamu names Senator Urhoghide campaign DG

    Governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has named Senator Matthew Urhoghide representing Edo South as the Director General of his campaign organization.

    Pastor Ize-Iyamu who made the announcement Wednesday at the state secretariat of the party named Chief Dan Orbih, chairman of the campaign organization while Chief Tom Ikimi was named chairman of the sub-committee on Strategy.

    A former Chief of Staff to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Mike Ogiadomhe, was made Chairman of the contact committee, while chairman emeritus of DAAR Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, is to head the publicity committee of the campaign organisation.

    Pastor Ize-Iyamu named himself chairman of the canvassers committee, while Senator Yisa Braimah was made chairman of the logistics committee.

    Chairmen of other sub-committees were Lady Philomena Ihenyen (women), Chief Frank Erewele (Groups), Dr Tony Azegbemi (electoral), Jude Imagwe (youths) and Efe Igbinovia (social media).

    Chief Orbih while inaugurating committee said the PDP was set to win the ‪September 10 governorship election.

  • Igbinedion spends ‘looted’ funds on Oshiomhole’s election -Ize-Iyamu

    Igbinedion spends ‘looted’ funds on Oshiomhole’s election -Ize-Iyamu

    Governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has asked Governor Adams Oshiomhole to refund the money Chief Lucky Igbinedion expended on his elections in 2007.

    The refund, Pastor Ize-Iyamu said, became necessary because Governor Oshiomhole has consistently accused his predecessor of looting the state treasury.

    Pastor Ize-Iyamu for the first admitted that the man behind the mask that financed Governor Oshiomhole in 2007 was Chief Igbinedion.

    He spoke last weekend at the unveiling of a book titled “Betrayal of Trust” written by an ex-aide to Governor Oshiomhole, Orobosa Omo-Ojo.

    The PDP governorship candidate said Lucky Igbinedion was one of the biggest contributors to the money that was spent to making Oshiomhole governor.

    Pastor Ize-Iyamu stated that Governor Oshiomhole as President of the NLC never protested against Lucky’s policies ‘because he deliberately needed Igbinedion friendship.’

    Ize-Iyamu also urged Oshiomhole to refund the money collected from President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 to ensure the defunct ACN lost the presidential election.

    According to him, “Lucky Igbinedion recommended him to some of us that people are saying he had not done well, let him appoint a man who is popular, who appears to have popularity among the people. Let it be on record that he helped him to become governor. That was how he introduced Oshiomhole. We did it for two reasons.”

    “First was that because Edo is one and an Afenmai man has never become the governor. We felt it was time for an Afenmai man to become the governor. I also bought the story of Lucky Igbinedion that this man just left office as President of the NLC. This man will be interested in the masses, he will be interested in our pensioners, he will be interested in students. This man will excel. On that note, we supported him. He declared he had no money, we have to put all the resources together to support him.”

    “When he is busying talking about Lucky Igbinedion, let Edo people know that it was Lucky Igbinedion that brought him. In 2007, I want him to tell Edo people where he got the money he spent to become governor. In case, he has forgotten, I will like to remind him that most of the money comes from Lucky Igbinedion. Since he is saying Lucky Igbinedion stole Edo State money, can he please refund the money he collected from Lucky.

    “In 2012, Oshiomhole was in ACN. I know that a governor in ACN collected money from Jonathan in 2012 to betray his party such that ACN lost in Edo.

    “I did not betray my party. A governor collected money from Jonathan to betray his party and ensure his party lost in Edo. As he is talking about people refunding money, please remind him to refund the money he collected from President Jonathan. He should please refund that money.

    “Let me confess that when I was his DG, he brought a lot of money for us to use for campaign, I don’t know where he got that money from. I have been told he got that money from the state government coffers. Can he please refund the money.”

    Author of the book, who was a former Commissioner for Transport, Orobosa Omo-Ojo, said the book gave an insight into the person and administrative style of Governor Oshiomhole.

    He said the book revealed those that supported Oshiomhole to power and why Oshiomhole lost focus in governance.

  • Oshiomhole to Ize-Iyamu: you’ll go to jail first before probing me

    Oshiomhole to Ize-Iyamu: you’ll go to jail first before probing me

    Edo Governor Adams Oshiomhole yesterday described threat by governorship candidate of the Peoples Demcoratic Party (PDP) Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu that he will probe his administration as laughable.

    Oshiomhole said: “Ize-Iyamu will first of all vomit the N1.2billion he shared with Dan Orbih, which is money meant for Defence that he collected from Fidelity Bank. After that he will go to jail before he can probe me.”

    Speaking when the All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Godwin Obaseki visited Fugar for a rally, Oshiomhole said: “Ize-Iyamu, Orbih and their fathers have confessed that they collected N700miilion and N500million to share during the election.

    “They go to Port Harcourt every day to visit EFCC. Dan Orbih was taken from Port Harcourt to Benin with a Black Maria where his house was searched.

    “Today they are living in fear. But they must return the money. Look at the company between Ize-Iyamu and Orbih, now they are singing like witches in the night how they shared that money.

    “But they must be prosecuted like Metuh and others because that was how they stole in Edo for ten years.”

    The governor added: “That money they shared was meant for Defence, for roads. For ten years they ruined the state but in seven and half years we have worked.

    “So I laugh when he says he will probe. How can he even come in when he cannot win his ward?

    “Edo people cannot vote for thieves at all so I wonder how he is going to probe me and that is why I said it is funny.”

    Speaking at the PDP campaign rally in Uromi, Esan North East local government, Ize-Iyamu said he would probe Oshiomhole immediately he is sworn-in as governor.

    Pastor Ize-Iyamu said every kobo accrued to the state between 2008 and 2016 must be accounted for.

    He urged APC candidate, Godwin Obaseki, to start speaking for himself.

    Ize-Iyamu urged Oshiomhole to probe the eight years he spent in office between 1999 and 2007 as Chief of Staff and Secretary to the State government.

    His words: “I call on Adams Oshiomhole to probe my time in government and look at everything that I did.

    “Let him do it because by the grace of God, when I am governor, I will probe him.

    “I will probe him; every kobo that has come to Edo State, must be accounted for. That is his fear; that is why he can no longer sleep.

    “Adams Oshiomhole believes that the more he attacks, the more he can hide the truth.”

  • Ize-Iyamu laments state of Afuze Sports Centre

    Ize-Iyamu laments state of Afuze Sports Centre

    The PDP governorship candidate in the September 10, 2016 election in Edo state, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu has said it was shameful for the College of Physical Education, Afuze‎ also known as Afuze Sports Centre to be left to rot under the All Progressive Congress administration.

    Pastor Ize-Iyamu said the Afuze Sports Centre helped put Edo on the Sporting map of the world.

    He said he would reactivate and reposition the college if elected as governor at the September 10 governorship election.

    Speaking at a campaign rally at Otuo, Afuze and Ihievbe in Owan East local government area as part of his campaign tour of Edo North,  Pastor Ize-Iyamu said as part of his Simple Agenda, a PDP government will restore the lost glory of the Afuze sports centre.

    Pastor Ize-Iyamu promised to give out bursaries and scholarships to indigent students as well as create jobs for the teeming population of Owan youths and other Edo youths.

    He said, “Enough is enough. Oshiomhole has treated Owan people as if they don’t exist. The support you gave him has he given you anything in return? This time around if they offer you money to vote for APC take it and vote against them.”

    Ize-Iyamu asked Oshiomhole to account for the N1.5trillion it has so far received from statutory allocations alone.

    Some members of the APC in Owan East led by Chief Omon Ebegua defected to the PDP.

    State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, said Oshiomhole displayed his clannish nature by nominating somebody from Uzairue to be running mate to the APC candidate, Godwin Obaseki.

    Orbih said APC killed all the industries like the Bendel Breweries and the Uromi Cassava plant.

  • EDO 2016: Why Oshiomhole must meet aggrieved  aspirants -APC Chieftain

    EDO 2016: Why Oshiomhole must meet aggrieved  aspirants -APC Chieftain

    A Concern Chieftain of the All Progress Congress, APC in Edo Central senatorial district in Edo State, Comrade Mathew Emiohe, yesterday advised Governor Adams Oshiomhole to lead a proper peace reconciliation committee to meet all the aspirants that lost in the party’s primary pen-ultimate week.

    The chieftain of the party gave this advice in Benin yesterday on the heels of the PDP governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu declaration which attracted thousands of PDP faithful across the three senatorial districts.

    Emiohe a staunch backer of the Edo State Governor, Pius Odubu, said the call became necessary following the discontentment among APC members in the state especially after the party’s primary adding that “regardless of the fact that APC controls political structures in the state and at the centre must approach the September 10thgovernorship election as a united and indivisible family if it must come out victorious.

    He regretted that a situation where some proxy of the governor are sent to meet with some of these aspirants who are still very aggrieved does not augur out well in healing  wound occasioned by the outcome of the APC primary which he noted was greeted by petitions.

    According to him “Agreed the primary may have been contested and won but the major battle ahead is winning the September 10th Governorship election which is very key to the APC in the state and that is why the governor as the father of the party in the state should meet all the aspirants one on one and nobody should be neglected because this is politics”

    “Some of the aspirants, no doubt have huge supporters who are waiting patiently for direction from their political leaders as the governorship election approaches. The governor must come down to the level of all and reconcile everybody. It shouldn’t be the case of winner takes it all.

    “We must realize that the opposition PDP are not relenting in their battle to take over the state at all cost and therefore if Edo must continue to remain an APC state, then everybody must be carried along. He added.

  • Why Oshiomhole won in 2012 – Ikimi

    Why Oshiomhole won in 2012 – Ikimi

    Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi, has said that Governor Adams Oshiomhole won his 2012 re-election because former President Goodluck Jonathan provided a level playing field.

    Chief Ikimi disclosed that the party was set to drop Governor Oshiomhole after his first term but Oshiomhole begged him to be given a second term ticket.

    Ikimi stated that Oshiomhole won the election with a landslide victory not because of Governor Oshiomhole’s merit but because himself and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu took Oshiomhole to former President Jonathan to demand for a level playing field.

    The former minister spoke in Benin City at the flagging-off of Pastor Ize-Iyamu governorship campaigns.

    There were joyous moments inside the hall when news of the court ruling in Port Harcourt filtered in.

    Caretaker Committee Chairman of the PDP, Senator Ahmed Makarfi’s who was represented by Senator Odion Ugbesia, presented the party’s flag and new keys of the Edo Government House to Pastor Ize-Iyamu.

    Chief Ikimi boasted elections were won in the state with personalities like Chief Gabriel Igbinedion and Chief Tony Anenih.

    He urged President Mohammadu Buhari to provide a level playing field during the elections as a payback to him for leading the formation of the All Progressive Congress.

    According to him, “Pastor Ize-Iyamu brought Oshiomhole to me. I never knew him before. I was told he was a former Labour leader. I was persuaded to accept him and we took him round the 192 wards.”

    “In his first four years, he betrayed us. We wanted to drop him but he knelt down to beg me. It was myself and Pastor Ize-Iyamu that took Oshiomhole to former President Jonathan to beg him to provide a level playing field.”

    “Jonathan supported us. Oshiomhole won not because he was brilliant but he has paid us in band coin.”

    Senator Matthew Urhoghide said Oshiomhole paid all of them who supported him to power with ingratitude.

    Former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, said the High court verdict that affirmed the removal of Sheriff was a good sign that victory was in sight.

    Pastor Ize-Iyamu insisted that the PDP would win the September 10 governorship election.

    He promised to restore the lost glory of the state.

    Ize-Iyamu stated that the party was sincere and passionate about the development of the state.

    Governor of Akwa-Ibom State, Emmanuel Udom, urged the crowd to vote in the PDP.

    Udom said it was time for the people of Edo to return Edo to the PDP family and assured that Pastor Ize-Iyamu would govern with transparency.

    Senator Ben Obi said Pastor Ize-Iyamu has always ensured victory on whichever side he belonged since 1999.