Former Secretary to the Edo State Government Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu has won the governorship primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State.
He polled 584 votes to defeat his opponents; Matthew Iduoriyekemwen and Chief Solomon Edebiri.
Matthew garnered 91 votes while Edebiri polled 38 votes.
A total of 740 delegates participated in the exercise held at the Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, the state capital.
Security was beefed around the stadium to prevent hoodlums from gaining access to the venue.
Ize-Iyamu, said that he accepted his nomination with deep appreciation and great humility, adding that the September 10 election is the party’s chance to keep the aspiration and hope of the people alive.
He said: ‘’To the national and state leaders of our great party, the PDP; and to all my fellow citizens of this great state; with deep appreciation and great humility, I accept your nomination for the Edo State governorship election’’, he stated in a press statement issued by the Media Unit of his campaign organisation.
‘’You have just approved the determination of our party to keep the aspiration and hope of the good people of Edo State alive and carry out the real change the people deserve.’’
Ize-Iyamu also expressed his thanks to what he described as ‘’the extraordinary accounts’’ of his co-aspirants, who had visited the entire 18 local government areas in the past few months — soliciting for votes.
He added: ‘’I am grateful to have finished this first bumpy but successful journey with some of the finest politicians of our time in Edo State.
“A few days ago, I presented to you a manifesto of hope — the SIMPLE AGENDA, which offers measurable commitments that would be implemented with passion, single-mindedness, incisive competence and experience.
“I told you the change that Edo people desire is not one based on sloganeering or deceit; that our people yearn for change that is real, life-enhancing, verifiable, purposeful, and sustainable.
“That is why I stand here this evening — to tell you that we cannot continue in lamentation and suffering. Now is the time to change the unfortunate change. And the future they have always told us to wait for is not in another time; it is not in another election; it is now and this is what I represent.’’
‘’The APC members will tell you their candidate is the only person that can sustain the legacy of the out-going governor, having been the Head of Edo State Economic Team. But, we must be prepared to ask then critical questions. We should ask them to mention one industry he has attracted to our state in the last eight year.”
‘’Because we believe that any government that intends to bring real development and prosperity to its citizens must focus on comprehensive and sustainable development that encompasses several aspects including improvement of infrastructure, health, education, human resource development, job creation, industrialisation, agriculture, security and improvement of municipal services in the state.’’
Pastor Ize-Iyamu said the eight years of the APC administration in Edo State had denied the best practice approach to sustainable development, saying rather, ‘’the state government has been obsessed with a single item, road maintenance while completely neglecting all other important areas of the development crying for attention.
‘’This evening, we say to the good Edo people, to PDP and APC across this great state: Enough is enough! The September 10 election — is our chance to keep our people hope alive.’’
He added: ‘’In next few weeks, in Edo South, Edo North and Edo Central, the same party — APC that brought you two terms of Adams Oshiomhole’s corrupt and deceitful government will ask you for a third-term because according to them, they love the state or they want to improve on what Adams Oshiomhole has done in the last eight years. But on September 10, we must stand up and say: Eight is enough.
‘’The true of the matter is that our state under the APC has not fared well in nearly eight years. The records are there for us to examine: despite the receipt of colossal revenues that surpasses those of successive administrations, the state has the highest level of external debt of $168 million among the South-south states.
‘’Early this year — at a time the state was not known to owe salaries, the government collected about N3 billion bailout-funds from the Federal Government and squandered it. And we have just been told again that the same governor, some days ago, applied for another N13 billion bailout funds from the federal government, which will attract about 8 per cent interest rate to the state.’’
Ize-Iyamu pledged not to betray the expectation of the people if PDP is elected, adding that the party would work diligently with fear of Almighty God and be guided by its ‘’manifesto of hope’’ and ensure its full implementation.
‘’Once again, we urge you all to trust us and vote for our party, PDP in the coming Edo State governorship election. May the good Lord bless you all, bless our dear state.’’
