It was a mammoth crowd of All Progressives Congress supporters at the Sports Complex of the University of Benin venue for the formal flag off of the Gubernatorial Campaign of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the APC candidate in the September 19 governorship election in Edo State.
The event drew supporters from the eighteen local government areas of the state, who took turn to match around the sport complex in solidarity with APC. Youths, Market women, Artisans and other stakeholders in the political process were out to identify with Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and his running mate Gani Audu.
Speaker after speaker at the rally said the candidate of APC Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu has all it takes to win the election, pointing out that Pastor Ize-Iyamu has the leadership qualities to take Edo State to the next level of infrastructural and human development.
Speaking the National caretaker committee chairman of APC Mai Mala Buni said APC is set to take back Edo State, adding that the people voted for APC four years ago, expressing optimism that the people will vote for APC again in order not to be in opposition. He admonished the people not to be violent throughout the campaign, because victory is sure for APC.
On his part Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State who is the Chairman of the APC campaign council said the crowd of supporters in the venue speaks volume of the acceptability of Pastor Ize-Iyamu and the APC. He used the occasion to congratulate the 17 member elect of the state House of Assembly for their successful inauguration and for the emergence of Hon. Edoror as speaker. He wished them fruitful deliberations in the Assembly.
A former Governor of Edo State and immediate past national chairman of APC, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole commended the APC Governors at the rally for supporting Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and for identifying with the good people of Edo State to show that APC has a candidate that can return Edo State to its lost glory. According to Oshiomhole Pastor Ize-Iyamu if voted into power will rekindle, re-energise, digitalise, consolidate, advance and prosper Edo People. Describing Governor Obaseki as MOU governor, Oshiomhole said Edo people do not want government by consultancy.
He noted that Governor Obaseki closed down the College of Education Ekiadolor that his administration upgraded to a university, Obaseki also closed down the college of Agriculture Iguorhiakhi and the school of nursing, saying that Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu when given the mandate will reopen the schools and called on the electorates to vote massively for the APC in the September 19 governorship election.
Receiving the party’s flag the APC gubernatorial candidate Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu thanked the people of Edo state, all the APC governors, leaders of the party, members and supporters of APC for the show of solidarity and support. He urged them to translate it into vote come September 19. Pastor Ize-Iyamu said they cannot be intimidated, saying that with the crowd of supporters he is seeing, victory is sure for APC.
The APC Gubernatorial candidate assured the people that he will provide purposeful and meaningful leadership and his administration will empower the people.
Present at the flag off rally include, Governors Mai Mala Buni of Yobe, Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano, Atiku Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Gboyege Oyetola of Osun and Dapo Abiodun of Ogun state. Others are Abubakar Dadaru of Jigawa, Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna, Hope Uzoginma of Imo, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo, Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger, and the Deputy Governor of Kogi State, David Onoja. The deputy senate President Ovie Omo-Agege, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and numerous APC leaders attended the flag off rally.
Earlier, the APC governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu led members of the APC to pay a courtesy visit on the Benin Monarch, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare the second, the Oba of Benin, where prayers were offered for the peace and success of the campaign.
