From Tony Osauzo
Benin Crown Prince and Edaiken N’ Uselu, Eheneden Erediauwa, has urged the newly posted Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 5, Mr. Adeyinka Kolawole Shodipo to provide a level playing field for all political parties in the forthcoming election in the state.
He made the call while playing host to the AIG Zone 5 in his palace at Uselu, Benin City, yesterday.
The Crown Prince said he was pleased that the AIG made the remarks in his welcome address that he was going to provide a level playing ground for all candidates in the state in the election.
He said from the rumour making the rounds that there is going to be mayhem during the election, he should endeavour to put machinery on ground to forestall such occurrence.
He said, from the angle of the palace, they are praying earnestly to God and their ancestors to let peace and tranquility reign before, during and after the election in the state.
Earlier, the AIG Zone 5, Mr. Adeyinka Shodipo said he was in his palace to solicit his blessings and cooperation to succeed in the state.
He assured the Crown Prince that he would provide a level playing ground for all candidates before, during and after the election.
In a similar vein, the AIG who also had an interactive session with the traditional rulers, representatives of the various vigilance groups in the state, thanked them for providing useful information to the law enforcement agencies that have helped in the reduction of crime in the state.
He said the importance of community policing cannot be overemphasised, adding that while doing it, they should know that they have no right to make an arrest or detain any offender but to report such to the police for proper action.
He assured the vigilance groups of maximum cooperation to succeed in their community as they assist the police.
Ize-Iyamu has integrity, vision -Shekarau
People’s Democratic Party (PDP’s) candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has been described as a man with integrity, determination, vision and commitment to excellence.
Former Minister for Education and two-term governor of Kano State, Alhaji Ibrahim Shekarau, stated this while addressing supporters of the party at a Campaign Fund-raising dinner for Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu at the Royal Chinese Restaurant in Benin City.
Flanked by former minister for works, Mr Mike Onolememen, Shekarau said that he has no doubt that Edo as a state and a people were in for better days if on September 10, 2016, they elect Ize-Iyamu as governor.
Cautioning that elections in Nigeria have moved beyond sharing money to buy peoples’ conscience, he said:”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”, Shekarau said.
He recalled how he led a 21-member team of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) along with a 21-member team from the Action Congress of Nigeria, (ACN) led by Chief Tom Ikimi with Ize-Iyamu on board with Garba Dadi leading the 21-member team from the CPC to form the APC.
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 five 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”, he said.
Let good work continue, Oyegun tells Edo communities
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has appealed to the people of Jagbe in Agbede community, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, to allow the good work of Governor Adams Oshiomhole to continue by voting for the APC candidate, Mr. Godwin Obaseki.
He described Obaseki as the pillar of the Governor Oshiomhole administration.
Chief Oyegun was speaking at the palace of the Odionwere and Clan Head of Jagbe, HRH Ferdinand Etakhine, when Governor Oshiomhole led the APC campaign train comprising the state Chairman, Barrister. Anselm Ojezua, and other party leaders in a visit to the royal father to present the party’s standard bearer, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and his running mate, Hon. Philip Shaibu, for his prayers and blessings.
According to the APC National Chairman, the decision to be in Jagbe community was to give people all over the state a sense of belonging that APC is a party for everybody and not a cabal who see some communities as superior over others.
He assured the people of the area that Godwin Obaseki would complete the Jagbe-Agbede road, which was abandoned by the PDP-led Federal Government, when he assumes office as the next governor of the state due to the economic value of the road in accessing various farms.
He also assured that the Magistrate Court in the area will be opened in the not-too-distant future to give the people quick access to justice.
Chief Oyegun, a former governor of Edo State, also joined the APC campaign train to the palace of HRH, Oba Danesi II – the Aidonogie of South Ibie, where he expressed gratitude to the monarch for his endorsement and support for the candidacy of Godwin Obaseki.
He maintained that the APC in Edo State has shown that governance can be sweet and more meaningful than the PDP era of leaking roof in schools and lack of portable water in communities.
While assuring them that a vote for Obaseki will be a vote for development, Oyegun said: “Edo State suffered so much mismanagement under the PDP. What we need is a responsible government that will sustain the on-going development projects of the current administration and actualise the industrialization, youth employment and women empowerment agenda that will lead to a prosperous and sustainable future for all Edo people.”