Return to APC, Ize-Iyamu urges Obaseki

The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Edo governorship election, Mr Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has appealed to Gov. Godwin Obaseki to return to the party.

Ize-Iyamu made the appeal on Monday in Benin while addressing newsmen shortly after his emergence as the candidate of the party.

• Ize-Iyamu wins Edo APC governorship primary election
• APC holds governorship primary election in Edo (PHOTO)

In the party’s primaries conducted across the 18 local government areas of the state, Ize-Iyamu, defeated two other aspirants to clinch the APC ticket.

He scored 27,838 votes to beat the state’s former deputy governor, Dr Pius Odubu, and Mr Osaro Obaze, who scored 3,776 and 2,324 votes respectively to emerge second and third in the primaries.

Ize-Iyamu said, he deemed it necessary to appeal to the governor to retrace his step to avoid a similar mistake he (Ize-Iyamu) made when he left APC for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2014.

While commending the two other aspirants in the primaries, he said he would unite the party.

“This is the time to unite all the members of the APC. Sometimes ago, somebody asked me a question; when the problem of APC will end and I told them that every problem has expiry date.

“And in my humble opinion the day we complete our primaries, that day the problem will end.

“So, I believe that by this process which we have just completed, the party is now on the path of full recovery.

“We are going to talk to everybody; we are going to bring everybody back.

” And let me also say that I want to salute my brother, the governor of the state, Mr Godwin Obaseki.

” I will like to appeal to him to return to the party.

“In every family we have disagreements, let it not be said that this disagreement pushed him out.

” I made that mistake before and I have come to realise that it was a grievous error and I don’t want him as a senior brother to make the same mistake,” he said.

He also said that it was time to restore peace in the state as the atmosphere had been tense in the past few months.

Ize-Iyamu lauded the delegates for conducting a peaceful primary election in spite of the stringent rules put in place by the state government.

His full speech below:

Thank You for Electing Me

First and foremost, I give thanks to God Almighty for the successful conduct of the primaries and the safety of all our members, including officials of all agencies, who took part across the state.

I thank the leader of our party, the All Progressives Congress, President Muhammadu Buhari for his fatherly disposition and democratic stance that set the stage for a free and transparent contestation devoid of institutional bias, favoritism, or imposition of any kind.

I am also grateful to the national leadership of the APC for the courage displayed and the commitment to democratic ideals that have distinguished our party and made it appealing to millions of Nigerians across the country. The bold insistence on adherence to the constitution of the party, even amid immense pressure, was a great show of leadership that served as a reminder to all that the APC is a party founded on sacred values central to its growth and survival.

My grateful thanks also go to the Edo State Traditional Council led by Our great King, Omo’ N’ Oba N’ Edo Uku Akpolokpo, The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II for the fatherly counsel and important interventions. I wish to reiterate my deep respect and undying loyalty to the institution.

To the election committee chaired by His Excellency, the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma for organizing a primary election that allowed the members of our party in the state to elect a candidate in a responsible, safe, fair, and transparent process, I convey my deepest gratitude.

From the start, with the adoption of the direct mode of primary, our party showed its recognition of the peculiarity of the times we are in and its commitment to complying with all regulations and guidelines in place to ensure that our people are protected from danger, specifically the coronavirus disease.

Today, because of the hard work of the committee, the cooperation of INEC, observers, and all security agencies, that desire got full expression as members of our party, whose conduct was admirable and responsible, participated in a primary that will form a point of reference to all on how to practice democracy without compromising safety procedures in the fight against a viral disease.

I am grateful to everyone for their support, most especially my fellow aspirants who shunned the politics of bitter opposition and displayed the level of maturity and sportsmanship never before seen in the history of this country.

Against an incumbent government that tested the resolve and unity of our party using morally bankrupt tactics without any regard for the rule of law, we were able to prevail because Dr. Pius Odubu, Hon. Osaro Obazee, Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, General Charles Airhavbere (rtd), Hon. Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayinma, Hon. Saturday Uwuilekwe and Professor Ebegue Amadasun showed great leadership and fought a good fight premised on the shared understanding that we are all on the same side, confronting and seeking to undo the many failures of an administration that betrayed our people and the values of our party.

I am very grateful to them and I look forward to working with them as we return to the streets and homes of our people, to restore and strengthen their hope and faith in the party, the All Progressives Congress, and return Edo state back on the path of development and growth.

Today’s victory is not for me alone. It is a victory for democracy, for the rule of law, and for our party, the All Progressives Congress. To everyone who played a part in making it possible; to my family, my campaign team, support groups at home and in the diaspora, members of our party, and all Edo people, I say thank you.

Receiving your endorsement and nomination to represent our party in the Governorship election is one of the greatest honors of my life. I find myself joyous but as well aware of the faith reposed in me by you all. Most importantly, I feel the weight of that trust and the great need not to disappoint all of you who deemed me worthy of the honor to fly the banner of our great party and be your representative at the polls.

The agenda remains SIMPLE in the literal sense of those alphabets as I renew my pledge to devote myself to moving this state forward by bringing new ways and innovative methods in: Security and Social Welfare, Infrastructural Development and Urban Renewal, Manpower Development and Training, Public-Private Partnership, Leadership by Example, and Employment Creation and Social Empowerment Scheme.

This time, we must get it right. And the work to make this a reality must continue with revitalized passion and zeal. Our victory today is only the beginning. We must now all come together, renew our loyalty to the party, and march with sturdy strides on this new path that beckons.

Fellow party members, thank you once again for your confidence in me and support. I assure you, and the people of our state, that you will not be disappointed.

May God bless you all.