*Tinubu, el-Rufai, Amaechi, other guests left shortly after visit to Oba of Benin – Govt
*Victory assured for Ize-Iyamu – Ganduje
“Knowing the collateral damage such a gesture would have caused the anti-corruption war and its promoters, home and abroad, the President decided to stay away. The vice president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and several APC governors that were expected at the event, were also absent,” Osagie said.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday shunned the official flag-off campaign by Osagie Ize-Iyamu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the September 19 election in Edo State.
Special Adviser to Edo State Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, expressed thanks to President Buhari for not attending the event that took place in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
According to Osagie: “Once again, President Muhammadu Buhari reaffirmed his commitment to his administration’s fight against corruption by staying away from the public unveiling of the corruption-scarred gubernatorial candidate of the APC.
“Knowing the collateral damage such a gesture would have caused the anti-corruption war and its promoters, home and abroad, the President decided to stay away. The vice president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and several APC governors that were expected at the event, were also absent.
“APC leaders such as Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-olu, Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, were also not at the Sports Complex of the University of Benin, venue of the campaign flag-off.
“They departed Benin City immediately after a short visit to the palace of the Benin Monarch, Omo N’ Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II,” Osagie said.
The Flag-off
The All Progressives Congress on Saturday flagged off its campaign ahead of the governorship election in Edo State on September 19.
The event took place at the University of Benin’s Sports Complex, Benin-city.
Dignitaries who were in town ahead of the event include the Yobe State Governor and Chairman of the APC Caretaker Committee, Mr. Mai Mala-Buni, Governors of Kano, Imo, Kaduna, Osun, and former Chairman of the party, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, as well as some Ministers.
Before the campaign flag-off, the APC Governorship Candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, and his guests paid a courtesy visit to the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II for his royal blessings.
The DEFENDER reports that on Friday, President Muhammadu Buhari had endorsed Ize-Iyamu who is set to face the incumbent governor and PDP governorship candidate, Mr. Godwin Obaseki at the polls.
At the flag-off, Kano State Governor and Chairman of APC National Campaign Council, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, said the party is confident of victory and will perform better than the current administration in the state.
