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By Tony Osauzo and Ighomuaye Lucky
Paddy Iyamu, immediate-past Edo State Commissioner for Education and House of Representatives candidate for Oredo Federal Constituency on the platfor of the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC), has welcomed the State Police Bill, saying it will finally hold governors accountable for the huge security votes they collect monthly. He also predicted an easy re-election victory for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.
Why did you decide to run for the House of Representatives?
It is simple- service to my people. As commissioner, I worked with the governor to bring the NEDFund scheme to Edo State, ensuring no child was sent home over school fees. We also attracted NDDC intervention to Usen Polytechnic in Edo South, which had been neglected for 23 years, and secured several federal education programmes that benefited our people. As a lawmaker, I want to build on that, not just for Oredo, but for Edo State as a whole.
The APC primary was contentious. How would you assess the process?
In every contest there is a winner and there are those who feel aggrieved. That is not peculiar to Oredo; it happened across Edo South, Edo North, Edo Central and even Delta State, where a former Deputy Senate President left his party in anger. Once an office has value, people will struggle for it. What matters is that we move on afterwards, and Governor Monday Okpebholo has shown he wants to keep the house together by carrying everyone along.
What is your take on the State Police Bill?
It is a long overdue and welcome development. You cannot hand a governor tens of billions of naira in security votes every month, then have him say he is not in charge of the police when something goes wrong. If you are the chief security officer of your state, you must be accountable for both the money and the outcome. This law will make every governor sit up. If you cannot protect your people, they will hold you to account at the next election.
What will your legislative priorities be?
Education remains central to me. Edo State won recognition for its progress in that sector during my time as commissioner, and I believe that investing in children early reduces the social problems we battle later. Beyond lawmaking, I intend to keep attracting constituency projects and development to Oredo and beyond.
How do you rate the chances of Tinubu, Atiku and Obi in 2027?
Tinubu will win comfortably. Governance is like treating a seriously ill child; you cannot expect an instant recovery, but the steps he has taken are paying off. Fuel queues are gone, strikes have reduced, governors are no longer begging for bailouts, and the NEDFund scheme is keeping children in school. The coastal road and the rebuilt Benin-Sapele road speak for themselves. Those criticising him offer only slogans, not plans, while previous leaders who now criticise him privatised national assets for personal gain when they had the chance to serve.
What about the cost of living and complaints over the coastal road’s cost?
Development has a multiplier effect. A trader who can move her goods on a good road, whose child’s school fees are covered by government bursaries, and whose family members are employed through subsidy funded job schemes is already feeling the benefit, even if it is gradual. In Edo State alone, over 10,000 people have been employed using subsidy savings, easing the burden on many households.
Tell us about your foundation.
The Paddy Foundation runs free surgeries, scholarships, a Christmas outreach for widows and prison visitation programmes. We have supported communities long before politics, and we will continue afterwards. Giving back is simply what I believe I was blessed to do.
