The main opposition party in Nigeria, Peoples Democratic Party National Campaign Council, PDPNCC,for Edo Governorship Election says the declaration by the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, that he will follow the footprint of the sacked APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, has destroyed his own campaign in his pipe dream of becoming the governor of Edo state.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja, the Secretary, Publicity Sub- Committee,PDP National Campaign Council, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan said that such comment was a direct insult to the sensibilities of the people of Edo state, who suffered untold deprivation from the massive treasury looting, trampling of human rights, disrespect for traditional institution and suppression of dissenting voices that characterized Oshiomhole’s eight year rule as governor of Edo state.
“It is laughable that after much orchestration, Ize-Iyamu has abandoned his plagiarized SIMPLE Agenda, (which, in any case, he had no capacity to execute) to follow Oshiomhole’s detestable “go and die” policy and agenda of falsehood, treasury looting, injecting of confusion and disregard for values, welfare and sensibilities of the people,—-Edo people already understood Oshiomhole’s footprint as the antics of a self-confessed liar, who has admitted that he had no scruples spreading falsehood in the public to achieve selfish objectives, Ologbondiyan said.
Mr Ologbondiyan said Oshiomhole’s footprint as the governor of Edo state includes intimidation of widows, alleged suppression of personal freedom of citizens, entrenchment of corruption and unbridled treasury looting, for which the Edo people have been demanding his prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
“That is the footprint Ize-Iyamu said he would be following; the style of an individual who is always associated with engendering confusion, quarreling, disagreements and disunity,—–Nigerians can recall how Oshiomhole’s National Chairmanship of the APC destroyed the party as well as how his leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) led to bitter disagreements and divisions in the labour front, he said.
He said the PDP national campaign was however not amazed that Ize-iyamu, having become overburdened by reputation issues, surrendered the APC candidacy to another discredited individual, who was suspended by his kinsmen at his ward and disgracefully kicked out as the National Chairman of his party.
Mr Ologbondiyan said given the sad declaration to continue where Oshiomhole stopped, Ize-Iyamu had shown to the people of Edo state and Nigerians in general that he has no credible principles but only seeks to hijack governance for selfish purposes.
“With a character like Oshiomhole as the face of election campaign for Ize-Iyamu, who had also been exposed by the former APC leader as a treasury looter, acid bather and person of questionable character, it is clear that men of goodwill in Edo state have deserted the APC and its candidate, of course, the Edo people will never follow a footprint that is heading to nowhere, said the Secretary, Publicity Sub-Committee PDP National Campaign Council for Edo State.
Mr Ologbondiyan said the PDP campaign Council had noted the trend and propensity by Ize Iyamu and Oshiomhole campaign to entrench violence in Edo state and urged Oshiomhole to remember that Edo state is called the heartbeat of the nation and he should not create a crisis that would have a spiral effect to other parts of our country.
