Edo Guber Watch: It’s time to assess politicians with manifestoes -Ize-Iyamu

Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, declared yesterday that politicians could no longer stand on a podium and recite their plans and manifestoes without a proper documentation of how they would be assessed.
He said that was the reason behind his widely circulated campaign brochure called the SIMPLE agenda, adding that the printed material would be used as a guide by the people of the state to assess his government.
He stated this at the palace of the Otaru of Auchi, Alhaji Aliu Momoh Ikelebe III, when his campaign train berthed in Etsako West local government area.
Ize-Iyamu observed that a major town such as Auchi and some others deserve development with modern schools, hospitals, markets and infrastructure, acknowledging that the vigilante groups set up by the Otaru in Auchi and its environs have been effective in tackling the security challenges in the area.
He however pointed out that such efforts should be supported by government providing them with vehicles, communication equipment and payment of allowances.
“I need something Edo people will look at and assess my activities. I need a blueprint to achieve what I want to achieve. We need to create new cities people will be proud of, cities that will become models with schools, markets and hospitals.
“Government is not doing that now. What we are seeing now is that shanties are growing up instead of cities. The hospital in Auchi has nothing to be proud of despite the position of Auchi in Edo. We need to create hospitals and incentives that will make medical personnel stay in their places.”
In his remark, the Otaru of Auchi said the nation was experiencing hard times because of sins that have been committed by Nigerians.
Expressing his conviction that the world would soon come to an end, the traditional ruler admonished all to be good to fellow human beings since reward awaits every deed of man.
“The hour is near when the heaven and earth will be no more. Depending on what we do in this life, we will get reward here and hereafter. We should do justice to all, either Christian or Muslim”, he said.
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Tell Edo people source of your wealth, Obaseki challenges Ize-Iyamu
Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo state, Mr Godwin Obaseki, yesterday challenged the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, to tell the people of the state the source of his wealth.
He threw the challenge at a town hall meeting with artisans and youths numbering over 3000‎ in Benin.
“I will tell Edo people mine and let him tell us because sometimes, we look at those who said they want to be governor, ask them where they have worked before. Somebody who has never created any job, only made money from politics, ask him which company he has ever worked before and I will tell you where I have worked.
“The truth is that you cannot have anything to offer the people when you have not had the experience of managing people and resources as it is done in the private sector. Let us not elect thieves into government because these are people who believe that politics is about them and their families and not about the general public, ” he said.
‎Obaseki told the crowd of people that attended the meeting at Imaguero College that he was almost discouraged from joining politics due to what he described as the attitude of some bad leaders.
“I said no because the foundation governor Oshiomhole has laid cannot be allowed to be destroyed. Despite all the evil people did to stop Comrade, God said no and look at what we have achieved today.
“I have been here during the laying of this foundation and Oshiomhole has proved that politics is not all about stealing. Our location in Edo is very key and we only need a good leader to galvanize the resources we have and create wealth for the people. I see Edo State as a nation and not a state because when you look at the money Edo people abroad send back home through Western Union, it is more than the annual budget of some states.
“We will continue to build infrastructure, invest in agriculture and power. And we must make agriculture look like a business by providing modern equipment for our people. Our women must be empowered to carter for their children and our youths. Above all, we will make Edo internet capital of the nation, ” he promised.
The APC candidate was flanked by his deputy, Philip Shuaibu and other leaders at the event.

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Monarch tasks Obaseki, Ize-Iyamu to run issue-based campaign
By Ojieva Ehiosun
Less than two months to the governorship election in Edo State, the traditional ruler of Ekpon in Igueben local government area, His Royal Highness, Zaiki George  Edobor, has charged aspirants in the state to run issue based campaigns instead of raining insults on one another.
He maintained emphatically that the good people of Edo State are more interested in hearing what the candidate has in stock for them and not indulging in digging out the mistakes of the party or the individual.
“I am happy that Edo is about to witness yet another election in the political history of the state. It shows that Edo people are keyed into the democratic norms of our society, which implies that people must play to the rules of the game. I want to use this time to urge our candidates in all the political parties to base their campaign issues on matters that will benefit the people, matters that will usher in good things for the poor masses, campaigns that will give the people hope for tomorrow; the political scenario of our present day country has changed, our people can no longer be deceived by politicians who their promises do not hold water.
“The idea of seasoned politicians organizing campaigns to tarnish each others’ image does not go well with us as royal fathers; we are interested in the progress of our state, so we want people with ideas to manage the affairs of the state, politicians that can surpass the records of the out- going governor and then take Edo State to its pinnacle of glory. Edo State as we all know is a peaceful state, we do not want anything that will bring crisis on or after the elections, and political parties in the state should caution their supporters against causing trouble, because the average Edo man wants an election that is totally free, fair and transparent.”

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PDP victory not negotiable -Ugbesia
Former member of the National Assembly, Senator Odion Ugbesia, has expressed confidence that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will carry the day at the forthcoming election in the state.
He stated this during the party’s primaries in Benin, stressing that the people of Edo have realized that PDP is a party that carries everybody along no matter the tribe or religion, and that all hands must be on deck to see that the PDP regains power.
“ There is no doubt that we are in for a big battle against a sitting government of APC, but I know that our people are tired of this government, and they are ready to vote back PDP into power. We have a very strong and vibrant candidate, a candidate who know Edo very well, a candidate who knows the needs of the people, a candidate who has been there for the people, a candidate who the people want as their governor. We are not interested in what they say about him, all we want is the victory of our party. Pastor Osagie Ize -Iyamu has been tested and trusted, he knows the workings of governance.
“Again in our party, we have only one aspirant for the governorship post, that is Pastor Osagie Ize –Iyamu. I do not know of any other aspirant. So on that fateful day, Edo people will troop out in their millions to vote him as the next governor.”- THE SUN