From Tony Osauzo and Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
Running mate to Godwin Obaseki, the Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Hon. Philip Shuaibu, has tasked the electorate to vote for the party to ensure continuity in infrastructural development across the state.
He made the call while fielding questions from journalists in his hometown, Uzarue, in Etsako West local government area of the state.
According to Shuaibu, voting for the PDP’s candidates is an attempt to take the state backward to its dark era before the present administration came to its rescue. ”The issue is for us to choose between continuing with the foundation of development that the Comrade Governor has laid or to return to Egypt, the era of PDP where development was not an issue, where share the money was the language that was being preached.
The federal lawmaker said from all indications and from the massive turnout of party faithful at the rally held in Edo North, the people are truly in support of the APC-led administration and are poised to extend same through their votes by voting Mr. Godwin Obaseki for governor and himself as his running mate. Shuaibu, while reacting to the comment made by the PDP candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu on alleged lip service paid to sports by the present administration, pointed out that Governor Adams Oshiomhole has done much in developing sporting activities in the state.
He said that if successive administrations had performed like the present one, there would not have been much problem.
“I am happy that Ize-Iyamu is now trying to go to issues but unfortunately, Afuze School that he is talking about was ran down by his administration. He supervised the running down of the institution and the Comrade governor has taken it to the level it is now and by the Grace of God, that institution would be affiliated to one of the universities. “In fact, in due course, that place will be a college of education. We are moving from one step to another, “he said.
Ize-Iyamu candidate to beat –PDP chieftain
By Ojieva Ehiosun
Ahead of the election, former House of Assembly aspirant and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Odiana Eriata, have told the Akinwunmi Ambode –led APC campaign team to be ready for a battle.
He said the PDP is prepared to match them “power for power, strength for strength and crowd for crowd” at the forthcoming election. The legal practitioner-turned politician warned that any attempt form the ruling APC government to manipulate the result of the election will not only spell doom for the peace loving people of Edo State but will also make a mess of the nation’s democracy. He advised the Oshiomhole-led government to have a rethink if they imagine that Ize- Iyamu of the PDP will be an easy nut for them to crack.
“The Lagos state governor that is the head of Obaseki campaign team did not see his election in Lagos as bread and butter; if not the manipulation that took place where so many voters were denied of their voting rights PDP would have won that election.
“The emergence of Godwin Obaseki as APC flag bearer in my own view is the biggest political mistake made by those who anointed him. Edo people want a governor they can reach out to when the need arises, not an elite who is only interested in making the rich to get richer at the detriment of the poor masses of this state. “Let me reiterate it again that PDP has a candidate that has all its takes to wrest power from the APC government if given a level plying ground, ” he said.
Explain N1bn spent on Baptist High School, Ewohimi, PDP tells Oshiomhole
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday tasked Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to tell Edo people what happened to the N1billion meant for the upgrading of Pilgrim Baptist High School, Ewohimi in Esan South East local government area of the state to a model Secondary School.
Former council chairman for Esan North East, Hon John Yakubu and PDP governorship running mate who made the call, alleged that it was common knowledge that the money rather than being spent for the project it was earmarked for, ended up in the pockets of a contractor.
Yakubu who spoke at a campaign rally in Ewohimi, said the trend was embarrassing for a governor who delights in accusing others of stealing public funds.
”What I am saying is that the school contract was awarded for one billion Naira but if you go to the school, you will find that the work done is not up to 20 percent of the total amount”. ”With a PDP government, we will investigate the contractor and retrieve the money from him so that it can be better utilized for the rebuilding of the Pilgrims Baptist High School, Ewohimi, which has been abandoned “, he said.
The former council boss assured party supporters and residents that a PDP government with Pastor Ize-Iyamu at the helm will fulfil all its campaign promises unlike the APC government led by Governor Oshiomhole.
Yakubu whose wife is a native of the town later spoke in the local Esan dialect, promising to be a better son in-law when compared with Governor Oshiomhole whose late wife, Clara hailed from Ewohimi.
In his speech, the PDP governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, said his government would provide all the schools in the state with science laboratories, boarding facilities as well as sports centres.
”Schools are not about red roofs alone ; what is important is that the schools should have teachers , science laboratories, boarding house and sporting facilities; in addition, students in higher institutions will get bursaries and scholarships”, he said.
Speakership seat to return to Central District
Indication has emerged that the Speakership seat of the Edo State House of Assembly which was taken from the Central Senatorial District, following the impeachment of Victor Edoror, may soon return to where it was before.
It would be recalled that Victor Edoror was impeached on May 3rd, 2016 over an alleged financial mismanagement and high handedness.
The decision to cede the position of Speaker back to the Esan people, it was learnt, was the fall-out of a meeting between Governor Adams Oshiomhole and party leaders from the Central, to assuage the feeling of marginalization by people of the area, who lost the deputy governorship slot to Edo North.
Besides, it was gathered that decision was taken to arrest the electoral backlash the marginalization of the Central district posed ahead of the September 10 governorship election.
In the new arrangement, a first time lawmaker, Hon. Justin Okonoboh and current Deputy Speaker from the Central, may emerge the new Speaker, while the Speaker, Rt. Elizabeth Ativie may step down and become the Deputy Speaker with other parting allowances expected to be offered to her.
Already, lawmakers are said to have met with Oshiomhole and party leaders on the development and a motion is expected to be moved on the floor of the House to bring the new changes about.