I can’t wait to meet Ize-Iyamu in court – Oshiomhole; Ize-Iyamu to lead mass protest Friday, against declared INEC result

AGENE GODWIN,Benin

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo says his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, cannot wait to meet the opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in court if they have any contrary claims about the result of the governorship election held in the state on September 28.

The Governor said the APC is ready to show that the PDP and its candidate, Mr Osagie Ize-Iyamu, were the actual election riggers, saying Ize-Iyamu could not have won more than 50,000 votes.

Addressing APC youths during a road show, from 5-Junction Area of the state capital to Dawson road, after a ‘Thank You’ visit to the Crown Prince of Benin Kingdom, His Royal Highness Eheneden Erediauwa, Edaiken N’Uselu on Tuesday, Governor Oshiomhole said, “we are happy with the outcome of the election. We have gone to present the candidate to the Crown Prince, the Edaiken N’Uselu, and he (Obaseki) has been very well received.

“Thank you for coming out to celebrate. I am sure we encourage our opponents to go to court. We will be able to lead evidence to show how much they profited from electoral fraud because the Ize-Iyamu that I know is not worth 50,000 votes.”

According to Oshiomhole, “So, it’s like an armed robber rushing to the police station with bullet wounds and claiming that he has been shot, whereas he is the one who opened fire on very innocent people. We will expose them where it matters in our courtrooms. Remain firm and resolute.

“For me, I am happy. The political funeral of the godfathers is final. There is nothing they can do to upturn the will of God. So, this is our finest hour and I can’t wait to meet them in court.”

He said, “My message to them is, whether it’s Igbinedion, whether it’s Anenih, whether it’s Ikimi, it’s not me, it’s God who knows their sin against our people that decided to recall their political lives. He has only used us to cement it and to celebrate their political funeral.”

The Governor added, “I want to be remembered not only for the roads. We want to be remembered for liberalising the politics and getting rid of godfathers so that you the youths can take charge of your destiny. Thank you for being part of this struggle, and to God be the glory.”

Meanwhile, the PDP candidate in the just concluded Edo governorship elections Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu will, this Friday, lead street protests against the results declared by the INEC, which announced the APC as the winner of the September 26 2016 polls.
Already, party loyalists and supporters including Civil Society organisations, students, workers, traders and artisans, coordinated by the Centre for Patriotic Leadership Initiative (CPLI), a leadership and rights advocacy NGO, have been protesting the results in Benin City.
The Friday, October 7, 2016 protests, which CPLI Coordinator , Mr Saint Moses Eronmosele said is one of 100 such protests planned, is tagged the “Mother of the Series of Protests” and will, besides Ize-Iyamu, have as Speakers, the state PDP chairman, Chief Dan Orbih and many others.
He said, the protests are against impunity, perpetration of illegality and massive electoral fraud by INEC, APC, security operatives and Governor Adams Oshiomhole who, “colluded to steal and subvert the people’s mandate freely given to the PDP candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
“We have the permission of the law to protest against perceived wrongs because where there is a wrong there has to be a remedy. We shall take to the streets for 100 days until the stolen mandate is restored”.
Urging all to dress in black because, “We are mourning the death of democracy, justice and fairness in Edo state,” he said. “On that day, all Edo people, even APC members, are invited to throng the streets in a massive protest across Edo state as we are saying enough is enough to impunity and illegality”.
On insinuations that the Nigerian Police Force recently announced a ban on streets protests in the state, he said, “Defy the Police Order, defy APC thugs, defy everyone who wants to silence your voice or darken your conscience. Stand for what is right and be counted. Take a place on the right side of history.
“These protests are not about Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu. No. The protests are about you and I, our future, our hope. If they succeeded against POI it means that tomorrow when you and I also stand for election based on our track record or popularity, that someone somewhere would also deprive us of victory.”