Edo North leaders reject Ize-Iyamu, endorse Obaseki as they call Oshiomhole ‘a dead trap

In an apparent move to actualize the second term ambition of Governor Godwin Obaseki, Edo North political leaders on Sunday met in Auchi, describing Governor Obaseki as a man of integrity and principle.

They also described the former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, as a dead trap.

‘’Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is not a member of any political party. He is a dead trap to Pastor Ize Iyamu. He said a lot about Ize-Iyamu. These are accepted messages and we are going to work with those messages. Those messages are damaging. They will determine the governorship election. The people are going to vote in line with those messages’’.

At a meeting to shore up support and encouragement for Obaseki and Phillip Shaibu, the leaders resolved to work against Oshiomhole and the party’s governorship candidate, Pastor Ize-Iyamu.

The leaders met under the aegis of Obaseki-Shaibu Movement (OSM)

Former lawmaker and chairman of the Obaseki-Shaibu Movement, Hon Damian Lawani said the leaders urged the people in Edo South and Edo North to think about the future of the state and resist any arrangement that will deter Obaseki’s second term.

‘’Edo State is known for performance. Edo State is known for using personality to determine the vote. Pastor Ize-Iyamu and his co-travellers are not strangers to us. They are people we know very well. We have been together. We contested before and we defeated them on the basis of the quality of the person. The quality of this person is known to Edo people. In terms of performance, keeping money in safe hands, managing the meager resources and developing Edo State, Obaseki has done well’’ they said.

The leaders described Obaseki as a good leader and competent administrator.

‘’The governor has done well in all the sectors. This is what Edo State people are yearning for and that is going to be the yardstick in measuring how they will cast their vote’’

The leaders condemned Obaseki’s critics for not acknowledging his honesty, competence and humble life style.

‘’The September election is a done deal. ‘’We are not jittery. We are ready for the governorship election. Edo people are vast politically. They are very knowledgeable in the ingredients that make up a better candidate for election. In terms of performance, Godwin Obaseki and Phillip Shaibu have done well. They are not flippant with public funds. What are the people looking for? They are looking for someone who is not flippant with public funds, someone who is humble. What the people are looking for is a government that will deliver on his promises and better the life of every Edo person’’

They praised Obaseki for having the type of empathy and direction Edo State needs.

‘’We have read about Ize-Iyamu. We have seen him. Those ingredients that made Obaseki to win the 2016 election are also very clear. We have added more to them in terms of performance. The APC candidate has been tested. We tried him in the past in terms of governance and other areas of interest. This is somebody who is going through trial. The facts are there. Ize-Iyamu is not a threat to us’’

The leaders praised Obaseki for discharging his duties as governor of Edo State.

‘’The issue of political party in Edo State does not arise. The people are concerned about the individual and what he is putting on the table. Obaseki is developing the state’s infrastructure, the judiciary, the public service. He is also developing the sporting facilities and empowering the youths. The administration within three years did more roads than the Adams Oshiomhole’s administration

They also commended Obaseki for the revolution in the agricultural sector.

‘’The people are happy. The government engaged about one hundred and fifty thousand young people in agriculture. The governor has done extremely well and the people are yearning for him to continue irrespective of political party.

They urged the people to continue to support Obaseki.

‘’We thank the good people of Edo State for the four years. Obaseki did not disappoint them. They are the ones yearning to bring back to Osadebe for the second term. They should continue to support him’’