PDP Demands Fair-play from Buhari, APC in Edo

• Traditional rulers adopt Ize-Iyamu

By Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja and Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari and party, the All Progressives Congress (APC),  to ensure a level playing ground in the forthcoming September 10 governorship election in Edo State.

The party in a statement yesterday,  said the stage is now

set for the people of the state to decide among the parties’ candidate who is more prepared to deliver democracy dividends to the people of the state.

In the statement, the  PDP’s spokesman described the commencement of campaign of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate as a charade and  full of old empty promises that have become the trademark of the APC at the federal level and in all the states controlled by the party.

“Nigerians now know better and the people of Edo State have also tasted the difference between the government of the PDP and that of the APC and will decide on

Saturday, September 10, 2016 who will govern them.

“We have seen it  before and we are seeing it again with the usual empty promises of the APC. They will promise everything to deceive the people and will go 360 degrees denouncing all their promises once they grab power.”

“The PDP re-iterated the fact that they are on a rescue-mission in Edo State to redeem the people from the ‘go-and-die’ government of the APC that has no regard for the ordinary people except to impose heavy tax without tangible projects in the state.

Adeyeye urged the people of Edo State to protect their PVC and come out en-mass on Saturday, September 10 and vote for the Flag-bearer of the PDP Pastor OsagieIze-Iyamu in order to rescue the state from the firm grip of deceitful government, and to provide the desired democracy dividends for the people.

Meanwhile, traditional rulers in the Edo Central senatorial district at the weekend in Uromi adopted the governorship candidate of the PDP candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, and directed their subjects to vote for him in the forthcoming election.

The traditional rulers from the area, numbering 18 who gathered to receive the PDP governorship candidate at the palace of the Ojuromi of Uromi, Anslem Eidenojie, lamented the sustained marginalisation of Esanland and her people in a state they said belonged to all.

Three traditional rulers, namely:  Ojuromi of Uromi, Ehidiamen of Opoji and Izuware of Ujiogba, on behalf of others, lamented what they described as continued subjugation of Esanland and appealed to the PDP candidate to correct the imbalance once he gets to office.

Addressing Ize-Iyamu, the Ojuromi of Uromi, said, “We know you very well. You are a man, who has direct relationship with virtually all the Enigie (traditional ruler) of Esanland. 

“You are a son of the former Esogban of Benin Kingdom. You are a son of tradition. Your father served in the Palace without blemish. He did not betray the Palace. 

“We the Enigie in Esanland believe that if we give you our support, you will not betray us. We want to say that Esan nation is part and parcel of this state. We know how much we have been relegated in our own state and we are very unhappy about it. 

He expressed gratitude to Ize-Iyamu for accepting an Esan son as his running mate, saying “our saying thank you to you will not just be by words of mouth, we will use our PVCs to say thank you to you.”

On his part, the Onojie of Opoji, Ehidiamen, described Esanland as the Jews surrounded by Arabs, demanding an assurance from the PDP candidate that his actions should speaker louder than his voice.

He said: “The dumb says there are so many words in his belly, but he cannot say anything because of his condition. We are neither deaf nor dumb, by God’s grace, we will do the election.”

On his part, the Onojie of Ujiogba,  Izuware, noted there were only two teachers in the senior secondary school and two in the junior secondary school at Ujiogba Grammar School.