From Tony Osa‎Uzo, Benin

A Peoples‎ Democratic Party (PDP) aspirant for the September 10 election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and former Deputy Governor of the state, Mr. Lucky Imasuen, who were invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in connection with former President Goodluck Jonathan’s N700 million campaign fund for Edo, yesterday narrated what they told the anti-graft commission in Port-Harcourt.
Addressing journalists in Benin, Pastor Ize-Iyamu said since the invitation, he had been inundated with telephone calls that he was in EFCC’s custody over allegation of the use of presidential fund during the last election.
“As you can see, I am in Benin and in my house. It is true that I was invited by EFCC through a letter. The invitation was not to me only, as others were invited across the country.
“I am sure many of you are aware that I was the‎ State Coordinator for Jonathan in Edo. EFCC invited me to throw light on the funds that came. I went to Port- Harcourt. I met Imasuen there. They mentioned Chief Tony Aziegbemi and another man who could help them.
“The bottom line is that they wanted to know what happened to the N700 million sent to Edo through Fidelity Bank. They said their records showed three of us signed for the money and wanted to know what we did with the money.
“We told them how the bank made us to sign a piece of paper to enable the bank release the money. It was the bank officials that sent the money through their Bullion Van to our leader’s house from where the money was shared to the 18 local governments for the election logistics.
“The State chairman of the party had worked out the logistics but it was clear that the money could not cover the election. Our leader brought out the difference.
“The chairmen of the local governments signed for the money and what they signed for was more than the N700 million. I, as the Coordinator gave the EFCC a copy of what the chairmen signed for.
“They asked me if as a Coordinator I took some money. I said no, I could not take money meant for election, more so when I had ambition‎.
“I must confess that the EFCC officials were very professional, very courteous. I saw many people from other parts of the country and I believe it was national and I cannot accuse anybody for my invitation”.
When asked to name the leader he referred to, Pastor Ize-Iyamu said he could not do so in order not to jeopardise investigation, even as he said the EFCC knew the leader. In his comment, former Deputy Governor of the state, Mr. Lucky Imasuen who was also invited, corroborated Pastor Ize-Iyamu’s account and emphasised that no kobo of the N700 million was given to him, as he was only called upon by the party’s state chairman, Chief Dan Orbih to sign as a witness. “I don’t know the leader where the money was taken. EFCC will find that out”, Imasuen said.

Esele cautions delegates over plot to sell votes

One of the All Progressives  Congress (APC) aspirants, Comrade Peter Esele, has called on delegates to the party’s primary to  resist the temptation of selling their votes to who he termed a ‘’ Deep Pocket’ aspirant so as to  guarantee the future of the party and the state‎.
The former President, Trade Union Congress[TUC] who made this assertion when he met with delegates from Unhumwode/ Orhionmwon local government areas of the state said only the delegates alone can determine who becomes Edo State Governor.
“For me, I don’t need to be governor to survive but I need to be governor to make life better for Edo people. The destiny of Edo State is in your hands. I don’t think I have the deepest pocket but I have the deepest imagination, a desire to make life better. My content value is the highest of all the aspirants’’.
He said his administration will focus on Agriculture, Culture and Education, adding that what the state needs is somebody that will improve on Governor Oshiomhole’s laudable legacies‎.
Esele who noted that Nigeria currently account for 1.7 per cent of oil palm consumption in the world from 43 per cent and a total average of 30 per cent internal consumption but had to rely on over 70 per cent importation, promised to create jobs and make the product a source of alternative economy mainstay in the three senatorial districts of the state. ‎
He also promised to empower women through a micro finance minimum interest loan on yearly basis when elected as governor.
Besides making indigenous Edo languages compulsory in school curriculum, he said his government will equally introduce skill acquisition that will run alongside with
formal education and re-introduce teachers training programme.‎

It’s our turn,Esan demand

‎The people of Edo central senatorial district under the aegis of  Esan Leaders  of Thought, (ELT), yesterday condemned the neglect of the Esan race by the present government of Adams Oshiomhole. The group said for equity and justice to prevail in the politics of Edo State, politicians across the political divide should pick the next governor from Esan land or Edo Central in this year’s election. Addressing journalists in Benin City, the group said whereas Edo South and Edo North have had their fair share of eight years each on the saddle as governor, Edo Central has not been so privileged. Leader of the group, Chief Francis Inegbeneki  ‎said Esan has been marginalised for too long and it is about time the injustice is rectified.
He listed key positions in the state government since 2008 when Governor Oshiomhole took office, saying that of the 38,  it is only the  position of the speaker of the State which was  occupied by an Esan man has been removed.
“Edo south has since 2008 held on to the deputy governor, Chief judge, Head of Service,  accountant-general, auditor-general, Speaker, Attorney-general, solicitor-general ‎as well as chairmen, Judicial
service Commission, law Review Commission, Oil and gas Commission among others.
According to him, “Edo North has held on to the Governorship, the SSG, ‎chairmen, Universal Basic Education, Local government service commission, Executive Director, ICT, Directors of Edo State Liaison Office in Abuja and Lagos, State Security Adviser and Principal Security Officer among others”.
The Esan Leaders of Thought said, yet, “Esan has credible, reliable and dependable candidates that have what it takes to take Edo State to the next level. All Esan people must unite and bring this injustice to an
end”.
Lamenting the failure of the present administration to address the under development of the zone, the leaders said, “we recognize that for the
development that we seek to come quickly, the easiest way is to ensure that we all come together to say with one voice that the time has come for power in Edo State to shift to Esan land, by allowing the zone to produce the next governor of Edo State, which
indeed is our right, having seen Edo south produce a governor in this dispensation that served his two terms of four years and now the North is about rounding off its second term of four years.”
The group said it was only imperative that the third leg of the tripod,‎ which is Edo Central be naturally allowed to produce the next‎ governor, expressing hope that Esan personalities will continue to strive to work together to ensure that the Esan Agenda gets the needed support to produce the governor in the 2016 election.
“Our mission is to set in motion an agenda for the future of Esan nation to be economically prosperous, politically vibrant, culturally dynamic and be at peace with itself and its neighbour.

Election is about contest of ideas, issues, not war –Obaseki

Following the recent violent incidents that attended his campaign at Sobe in Owan West LGA ward 11 recently, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has said election is about contest of ideas, issues and not war.
He made the statement in Benin at his campaign office when he played host to Mr. Innocent Idibia also known as Tuface, a music icon and legend in his own right who was recently conferred with an honorary Master of Art in music degree by the prestigious Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State.
He said he was at the campaign office with members of his foundation to advance the message of non-violent election. It is a message his foundation has been preaching over the last two years across the country. According to him, the theme of the project by the foundation is “Vote not Fight, Election no be War.”
He pleaded with the political class in Edo State to eschew violence and embrace peace for the betterment of all.
While thanking the music legend for his innovative thought, Mr. Godwin Obaseki said his coming (Tuface) to the campaign office was for him a validation of what his campaign team has been preaching. He said the conduct of the campaign which is known as Team-GO has been on the part of issues and idealistic messaging of its plans for Edo people.
“Your coming today is a validation of what we have been preaching. I am particularly excited about this initiative of yours. As you may have read in the news, I was almost a victim of electoral violence few days ago. Because we went campaigning and the people we went to see had some quarrel among themselves and before we knew what was happening, there was a gunshot and we had no choice than to abandon the visit and went away.  Also, two weeks ago, the deputy governor had a similar incident somewhere in Auchi and with all these put together, you could not have come in more auspicious time than now.
“So, we want to thank you very much and for me personally, this is my first time entering into politics, it is my first election. So, violence is very strange to us.
For me, election is not war, it is a contest, a contest of ideas and a contest of issues. It can only be an argument between two or more opinion blocs of one saying I want  to do for my people this, and the other say I can do better.
“So, it is about trying to convince our people to accept a superior idea. That is what an election is supposed to be about and not about war and fighting”. “ The whole idea why we are in politics is to expand the space, to show younger generation, that different type of people, who are from the corporate World can come and play politics that politics is not about ruffians, corruption but, an honorable thing to do which is about service”.

INEC releases Edo, Ondo gov election timetable

By Taiwo Amodu, Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission, on Thursday, in Abuja, released the time table and schedule of activities for the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states.
The elections are scheduled for Saturday, September 10, and Saturday, November 26, 2016, respectively.
According to the commission, June 12, 2016 has been fixed for the commencement of campaigns by political parties in the Edo governorship election, while 2nd – 4th of July, 2016 has been set aside for the conduct of party primaries, including resolution of disputes arising from the primaries.
It also scheduled  August 11th, 2016 for publication of official Register of Voters for the election, while submission of names of party agents for the election to the Electoral Officers of the Local Government areas has been fixed for August 27, 2016.
The commission also said that September 8, 2016 is the last day the commission fixed for campaigns for the Edo governorship election.
Similarly, INEC has scheduled August 28, 2016 for commencement of campaigns by political parties in the Ondo governorship election.
The commission has equally scheduled 22nd – 26th August, 2016 for collection of forms by political parties at INEC headquarters, Abuja while conduct of party primaries, including resolution of disputes arising from the primaries has been fixed to hold between 18th – 19th September, 2016.
Publication of official Register of Voters for the election will be done on  October 27, 2016, while submission of names of party agents for the election to the Electoral Officer of the Local Government areas is slated for  November 19, 2016.
The last day for campaigns for the Ondo governorship election, according to the commission, is Thursday,  November, 24, 2016.