Ize-Iyamu: Why I Want to Be Governor of Edo

By Davidson Iriekpen

The Edo State governorship aspirant on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has said he is in the race because he possesses the knowledge, experience and the capacity to move the state away from its present poverty level.

Ize-Iyamu said this at an interactive session he had with journalists in Lagos, declaring that Edo State has no business being at a level of development it is currently.

He maintained that what the state needs was a government that could identify the people’s priority, which he promised, he was ready to provide.

The governorship aspirant said he was in position to provide this if voted in the coming election because of his experience as a former Chief of Staff and later Secretary to the State Government (SSG), pointing out that he was not coming in to learn the ropes, before knowing what to do to serve the people of Edo State.

“I have the knowledge, the experience and exposure to govern the state,” Ize-Iyamu said, even as he asserted that the real person the Edo people wants as next governor of the state, is a person that has the wherewithal and who they could trust.

Ize-Iyamu, who recalled how he brought the current government headed by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole into power, he was because he was very much concerned that the government had failed the people of Edo, as it had failed to deliver in key sectors, including agriculture, housing, health, education, tourism, among others.

The governorship aspirant, who also recalled that Edo State in recent past, used to be first in cassava and plantain productions as well as other produce, lamented that the Oshiomhole government had no agricultural plan, even as he also lamented that the projects the government did in certain sectors were inflated as it had refused to disclose their costs.

He said the people of the state were tired of Oshiomhole and anything he stands for, accusing him of massive corruption in the awards of contracts.

“The people of Edo State are totally disenchanted with Oshiomhole for his draconic and authoritarian style of governance.

“Go to the state and hear what the people are saying about their governor they once loved, you would be shocked and ashamed. Now, nobody wants to see or touch anything he stands for because he has failed the people,” he said.

When asked his service to the state under Lucky Igbinedion will not affect his chances, Ize-Iyamu said, sector by sector, the Igbinedion administration was better that Oshiomhole’s government.

“What did Oshiomhole do? He renovated already existing roads? Ask, did build new ones? Did he open new area or areas?

“Sector by sector, Igbinedion did far better than Oshiomhole. Oshiomhole’s achievements are media hype. First, he got resources more than Igbinedion.

“Secondly, Igbinedion did not leave any debt but Oshiomhole despite the trillions he has received, has put the state in serious debt that in many years to come, generations will be paying debts.

“This is a man nobody knows how much his projects are. From permanent secretary to commissioner, there are strong instructions not to disclose contract sum. Is that how to run a government?”

Related Articles