Refund Billions Jonathan, Igbinedion Gave to You, Ize-Iyamu Tells Oshiomhole

Iyobosa Uwugiaren

The Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has asked the state Governor, Adams Oshiomhole to refund billions of naira he allegedly collected from former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, and Governor Lucky Igbinedion since he is now talking of refunding the N700 million Jonathan gave the state PDP during the 2015 presidential election.

He stated this during the presentation of a book entitled: ‘Breach Of Trust- an eyewitness account of political events in Edo State before and under Adams Oshiomhole’s watch’, written by Oshiomhole’s former Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Mr. Orobosa Omo-Ojo.

While defending the money the state PDP received from President Jonathan during the 2015 election, Ize-Iyamu said he had explained to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that he never benefited from the N700 million given to the state PDP, saying the record on how the fund was disbursed is already with the EFCC.

He described Oshiomhole’s action as hypocritical, adding that he was also a benefactor of such fund in the past.
According to the PDP governorship candidate, “Now that Oshiomhole is talking of refunding the money President Jonathan gave to the state PDP during the presidential election, he should also refund the billions of naira he collected from Jonathan in 2012 during the presidential election. Oshiomhole collected the money from Jonathan and worked against his then party, Action Congress of Nigeria in that election. He betrayed his party.

‘’He should also refund over a billion naira the former governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, gave to him during the 2007 governorship election in Edo State. It is a well-known fact that it was Chief Igbinedion who brought him into ACN and gave him money he used for the election.’’

Ize-Iyamu added that Oshiomhole and his “puppet governorship candidate” in the September 10 election, Godwin Obasekei, could no longer be trusted by the Edo people because they had betrayed everybody who helped them into offices in the past.

‘’Look around Oshiomhole, everybody who worked for him in the past have deserted him because he betrayed them. He has betrayed teachers, judiciary workers, commercial motorcyclists (Okada riders), market women, political associates and the Edo people in general. He can never be trusted again,” he added.

On his part, the author of the book, Mr. Orobosa Omo-Ojo, while welcoming invited guests to the book presentation which took place at University of Benin, said damaging relationship is a little price to pay when Oshiomhole is faced with a life-and-death political threat.

The immediate past state Commissioner of Transport added that: ‘’Sun Tzu’s approach to warfare, where deception is vital, plays a significant role in Oshiomhole’s administration-to him, all is fair and as a result, Dennis Osadebey Avenue has become a killing field for truth and a breeding ground for deception.’’

Omo-Ojo told a story on how in the wake of the APC presidential primary election, Oshiomhole surprisingly informed his commissioners and other aides of a slight change in his name.

‘’That was not the first time he would tinker with his name. During the 2007 campaigns, we had to worry about Aliyu or Aliu, until a communion service arranged by distinguished Senator Roland Owie was conducted by Rev. Father Theophilus Uwaifo to prove to the public that indeed, Oshiomhole was not an atheist.

“This time around, he would want us to emphasise Eric as his first name. Although, he gave no reason for the change in his name, it was obvious to most commissioners that it was a ploy to secure the position of a running mate to President Muhammadu Buhari.

‘’His action was in connection with the misconception about his faith by many people. The Oshiomhole’s vice-presidential candidate ambition was a complete disaster in terms of resources, emotion and ego bruising.
‘’One of his close kinsmen, who was a fellow member in the State Executive Council, told a story of how our dear governor lost close to half a billion naira to an intermediary network working for an APC leader from South-west.
“Few weeks after the presidential primary, I drew the attention of the governor to the non-compliance of his directive by his media team-on the effective use of Eric as his first name. Oshiomhole dismissed me in anger, saying, ‘Orobosa, you bother so much about details and for your information that is not necessary now’,” he said.
Omo-Ojo further stated that Oshiomhole’s decision to adopt Eric as his first name and his follow-up decision to drop same without consideration for his brand worth is a reflective of his spontaneous leadership style that has positioned his achievement as transitional gain.

He added: ‘’Eight years of bits and pieces of impulsive projects will ultimately fade away moment he leaves office. One of the most significant disadvantages of Oshiomhole’s impulsive management behaviour is that his stewardship has led to destabilisation in the state. His hallmark is a rapid change of expectations, and he offered us no real level of consistency in terms of expected measurable outputs.

‘’Oshiomhole campaigned to end god-fatherism, but it is obvious that his main goal is to become the new godfather of Edo State politics, hence the imposition of candidates in total disrespect for party internal democracy which has now been the order of the day.’’

He stated that credible Edo people who joined the APC because of Buhari and John Odigie Oyegun’s chairmanship of the party were denied space in the party by Oshiomhole.