Edo APC ACCUSES OBASEKI OF CONTEMPT TRADITIONAL RULERS

By Joy Okosieme

Lies can’t save a sinking Governor Godwin Obaseki, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Media Campaign Council has said.

Reacting to what it described as Governor’s lies after denying the bulk of Edo people parliamentary representation, the party in a statement signed by John Mayaki, Chairman of the Media Directorate of the Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu Campaign Organization, said those affected by “Obaseki’s coup against democracy” were revered monarchs like the Oba of Benin, the Otaru of Auchi and the Ojirua of Irua, thus demonstrating his contempt for Edo traditional rulers.

Mayaki said among Governor Obaseki’s victims are Hon. Victor Edoror (elected to represent the constituency Ojirua of Irua andwand was recently elected Speaker by the Edo Lawmakers who missed out on the inauguration of the House of Assembly by Governor Obaseki), Chris Okaeben and Hon. Uyi Ekosuehi (from the Oba of Benin’s constituency), and the lawmaker representing the Otaru of Auchi, where the APC deputy governorship candidate, Hon. Gani Audu hails from.

Mayaki said that faced with the monstrosity of his action, Governor

  Obaseki resorted to “blatant” lies while campaigning at Adolor Ward 4, Ekiadolor, in the Ovia North East local government area on Wednesday August 26.

The Ize-Iyamu  campaign organization recalled that one of the seven lawmakers involved in the “nocturnal and hushed” inauguration was pictured “wearing pair of shorts, at a ceremony usually marked by pomp and pageantry, in which the people joyfully participated”.

The APC said when faced by “his victims” on the campaign trail, Governor Obaseki lied that the majority (17 out of 24) initially shut out were “deceived” by Oshiomhole.

“Obaseki sent thugs to the hotel of the legislators-elect in Benin and drove them out of the place to fulfil his nefarious plot.  Yet now, he blames Oshiomhole for it,” the party.

But while the APC campaign expressed little surprise at Governor Obaseki’s “dishonourable and cowardly lies”, the party said it was a new low, even by Obaseki’s “free-lying standard”.

“By this scandalous deed, Obaseki has descended from policy lies (as a governor of fake MOUs) to brazen personal lies (for denying Edo people legitimate representation in parliament). Of course, no one believed him.

 ” But the legislators’ lie was not the only lie Obaseki told in Ekiadolor.

 He also lied on his failed promise on the town’s College of Education, which upgrading into a university of education he failed to do, nearing four years in office,” the party said.

The APC added that another object of Governor Obaseki’s “wicked lies” was Oshiomhole for building another Edo university in Iyamho, as he promised and delivered.

The campaign statement said Obaseki’s defense for his own failure to deliver a university was to bad-mouth Oshiomhole, his predecessor and benefactor, who delivered on his own mandate.

It said the “lies galore of Ediakolor” was another ample proof that

Governor Obaseki must start packing his bag, as September 19 looms.

“A governor that wilfully shut out the people’s representatives, and can’t deliver on a crucial university for Ekhiadolor, has no business in the Edo State Government House – and Judgment Day comes on September 19.”

The statement called on the  Edo people to persevere but speak in a clear and unanimous voice on election day to vote out the Governor and then join Pastor Ize-Iyamu to begin the “long rebuilding process, based on the APC SIMPLE Agenda.”