Osagie Ize-Iyamu, governorship candidate of the All
Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo, says Adams Oshiomhole deliberately lied to
the people of Edo to pave way for the emergence of Godwin Obaseki in 2016.
Speaking at a governorship debate organised by Channels
Television on Sunday, Ize-Iyamu said Oshiomhole, a former governor of the
state, gave the impression that his election campaign was funded by Obaseki as
part of efforts to market the incumbent governor to the people.
Oshiomhole governed Edo state from 2008 to 2016.
The ex-governor had actively campaigned for Obaseki’s in
2016, when the governor contested on the platform of the APC and Ize-Iyamu was
candidate of the the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
While speaking on his relationship with Oshiomhole during
the debate, Obaseki said: “Having left labour (Oshiomhole was president of the
Nigeria Labour Congress), he had no money and he didn’t even live in Edo state.
Putting together some friends, he was able to prosecute his ambition and we
supported him. I put together his plans for his administration and for eight
years I worked pro bono to make him succeed.
“So, having worked closely with him, it was clear I could
continue with the plan I had given him and that was why he was encouraged to
support my coming in as governor.”
But Ize-Iyamu dismissed the claim, saying Obaseki had no
resources that could have had any significant impact on Oshiomhole’s victory at
the poll.
According to the APC candidate, the former governor’s claim
that Obaseki sponsored his election campaign was a “desperate attempt to market
him” during the 2016 governorship poll.
“I’m shocked that Governor Obaseki, who has never voted in
Edo state until his own election in 2016, would tell the world he more or less
brought Oshiomhole,” he said.
“When I heard that he claimed that he raised the money, I
laughed, and the first time I saw Oshiomhole after a long time, I asked him.
The reality is that the money Governor Obaseki brought for Oshiomhole election,
his own contribution was N100,000.
“We know how we raised money for Comrade Adams Oshiomhole’s
election. So, I’m surprised that in public like this, we can continue with a
lie that was meant to dress you up for political acceptability.
“Oshiomhole needed desperately to market you and he gave the
impression that you funded his election and you know it’s not true because
you’re not in a position to do so because your Afriinvest would have been at
the lowest ebb; you were not doing well as a stockbroker, so you didn’t even
have the resources.”
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