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Campaigns get into serious motion
By John Eche
Serious pressure is being brought to bear on Edo State Governor, Comrade dams Oshiomhole to do all he can to help his anointed successor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and the APC win in the forthcoming Edo Governorship polls.
Already the Peoples Democratic Party has signalled its intention to probe his eight year administration. as recently confirmed by its candidate, Pastor Ize-Iyamu, the party says it will definitely institute a probe into how state funds have been expended in the oshiomhole era.
And like his counterpart, Rotimi Amaechi in Rivers State, it is almost to be expected that the probe will end in a conviction of the Governor, a point that will surely gladden the heart of the PDP chairan, Mr. Dan Orbih, who has variously reeeled out allegations of corruption against the Oshiomhole administration.
Another Oshiomhole traducer who would be waiting to gloat over his probe indictment is the PDP flagbearer in the forthcoming polls who has clearly never forgiven the former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress for his role in his quitting the AC anfd the government being presided over by Oshiomhole.
Another sore point for Oshiomhole should the PDP win is the effect it would have on his relevance at the national level. As things stand today, hints are that the ‘Comrade Governor’ has already been shortlisted for a plum position in the Buhari administration at the close of his tenure. Indeed, some sources have mentioned that he is a strong contender to succeed the incumbent Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Engineer Babachir Lawal. Equally, there are also suggestions that he is also being considered by close administration lotalists to pair Buhari in the 2019 polls should the Bola Tinubu group pull out its very critical southern support for the retired General.
Back to Edo State and underscoring his resolve to open all of Oshiomhole’s books, the PDP candidate has presently urged Oshiomhole to investigate the eight years he (Ize-Iyamu) spent in office as Chief of Staff and Secretary to the State Government.
Ize-Iyamu stated this during his campaign in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of the state on Friday evening.
He said, “I call on Adams Oshiomhole to probe my time in government and look at everything that I did. Let him do it because by the grace of God, when I am governor, I will probe him; every kobo that has come to Edo State must be accounted for. That is his fear; that is why he can no longer sleep.”
Governor Oshiomhole had, during the governorship poll campaign of the All Progressives Congress’ candidate, Godwin Obaseki, in Edo South on Friday, criticised Ize-Iyamu and a former PDP Board of Trustees Chairman, Tony Anenih, for their alleged role in under-developing the state.
The governor had also alleged that the PDP governorship candidate was desperate to become governor in order to avoid prosecution.
But Ize-Iyamu said, “Adams Oshiomhole believes that the more he attacks (us), the more he can hide the truth. Only recently in a Catholic Church, he met Chief Anenih and apologised to him on the altar; days after, he was abusing Chief Anenih.”
The former SSG added, “He says Pastor Ize-Iyamu is bad; Ize-Iyamu is useless. When he appointed Ize-Iyamu Director-General of his campaign, he did not know about these then. When he made him national vice chairman of his party, he did not know then. Now that Ize-Iyamu has left him, Ize-Iyamu is suddenly bad.”
Meanwhile, Oshiomhole is not taking chances and has described as laughable Ize-Iyamu’s threat to probe him, during the campaign rally of the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Godwin Obaseki, in Fugar.
The governor stated that the former Ize-Iyamu would “go to jail” for alleged misappropriation of government’s fund before he (Oshiomhole) could be probed.
Oshiomhole said, “Ize-Iyamu will first of all vomit the N1.2 billion he shared with Dan Orbih which is money meant for defence that he collected from a bank. After that, he will go to jail before he can probe me. Ize-Iyamu, Orbih and their fathers have confessed that they collected money to share during the (2015) elections.
“They go to Port Harcourt every day to visit EFCC. Dan Orbih was taken from Port Harcourt to Benin with a Black Maria where his house was searched. Today, they are living in fear. But they must return the money. They must be prosecuted like Olisa Metuh and others because that was how they stole in Edo for 10 years.”
The governor also vowed to publish records of the alleged looting by the PDP and its candidate.
Oshiomhole stated, “That money they shared was meant for defence and roads. For 10 years they ruined the state but in seven and half years we have worked. Who was the chief of staff to PDP government that under-developed Edo state? It was Ize-Iyamu. Who was the SSG Secretary to the State Government and Personal Assistant to Lucky Igbinedion? It was Ize-Iyamu. This guy was the cook in the kitchen. While the people were waiting at the dining, both the pot and the soup disappeared.”
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