Some loyalists of a former leader of the All Progressive
Congress in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu have backed out of his decamping
to the Peoples Democratic Party (saying theu remain strong and staunch members
of the All Progressives Congress.
Spokesman of 27 leaders of the loyalists, Precious Igbinevbu
said the defectors are merely fighting for their own interests and not the
interest of their followers and the people of the state.
He said anyone who criticizes the government of Comrade
Adams Oshiomhole has performed beyond expectations and anyone who criticizes such
an achieving government is merely deceiving himself.
“The same leader who said they are aggrieved today and
defected to the PDP, we have the belief that they are fighting for their
parochial interest to the detriment of their followers. They cannot deny it
because they have enjoyed this government because we are their followers.
“We are the soldiers in the field that were used to deliver
Edo South. We are mature enough because we see the works you have done so far
for the common people. The few people who have left APC, who call themselves
the political guru, this people sit down in their houses and they don’t think
of the common people”, he said.
He explained, “We have decided to move ourselves out of the
faction. We told them we are not decamping with them. We have disassociated
ourselves from the Ize Iyamu faction. We are tired of leaders of intimidation
and oppression. Now that they have left APC for PDP, I think we will have
peace.
“The people of Edo State want to enjoy more dividends of
democracy. The same people who left the APC had become threat to the State
Government because of what they want to get from the government. They are
greedy” he added.
Also, youths of the All Progressives Congress across the
state on a solidarity visit to the Governor say they are firmly behind him.
Spokesman of the Youths, Aghedo Oscar, said they were in Government House to
pass a vote of confidence on the leadership of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
Comrade Aghedo said, “We are here to tell you we are solidly
behind you. We are celebrating the exit of 419 politicians from the APC.They
have been constituting nuisance in the wheel of progress and it is good
radiance to bad rubbish”.
Other youths who addressed the Governor in Yoruba, Ishan,
Hausa and Ibo said their faith in the APC remains unshaken, even if a few
people leave the house they helped to build.
Responding, Governor Oshiomhole said, “I want to thank you
for standing firm on principles, on what you believe in. It is in moments like
this that we separate the boys from the men.
“When I stepped forward to contest for this office, I made
only one promise that I will do my best to lay a solid foundation for
sustainable growth and development of Edo State and to improve on the welfare
of the people.
“In Benin City, I made the point that whereas the rest of
the country prays for rain, we have enough of it here but that people get
scared when it threatens to rain and it was as if there was nothing that can be
done about it. Not a few people lost their children because of flooding problem
and today they can’t believe that that flood has disappeared because of the Benin
City Water Storm Master Plan.
“We haven’t solved all the problems but we have shown that
this state is not hopeless and that development is possible.
“I am happy that all those that have thrown mud at me, a lot
of which is not correct, those who are aggrieved the most are those who do not
have genuine issues. In Orhionmwon, we are doing the longest road in Edo State.
Let me assure you that we are committed to empowering our people and the best
way is to give them jobs.
“It is better to teach people how to fish than to give them
fish. Democracy is not about Election Day. We have already commenced
the process of recruiting people into the Neighbourhood Watch and all the Local
Governments will be affected”, he said.
Oshiomhole stressed that the neighbourhood watch was
dissolved because many of the leaders brought their children and family
members, adding that many of those who are not residents in Edo State were been
paid under Neighbourhood watch.
Oshiomhole said “When you are driving changes, some people
must resist. It is the law of nature and I don’t begrudge them. Let me assure
you that we will work and we will continue to work. We refuse to be distracted
from the goals which we have set for ourselves; that is to take Edo to the next
level. On that one, there is no compromise, there is no going back.
The Governor insists, “The purpose of politics is not just
to capture power. It’s to put government to work and to work in a way to
deliver happiness to the vast majority of the people.
Oshiomhole declared “Everything that a government does or
fails to do, there is a winner and there is a loser. For everything that
somebody is complaining, somebody is smiling. The average Edo man in the street
cannot say that the government has not performed. They cannot say so. They
themselves are on record having admitted that we have surpassed their records
and to that I am happy and I remain grateful to God.
“I am more confident about the future of our state and with
time politics will be purely defined and people will be separated on the basics
of issues. Politics of ‘chop and chop’ in Edo State has ended and cannot return
and I ask you to take ownership of this process”.
“My promise to the people of Edo State is that we are going
to redefine the politics of Edo and emphases that the people must lead. When
people say that they made me, they are making a mistake. I was created by God
and given to Edo state. Our slogan has changed. Not only do we say, ‘no more
Godfathers, but we also say no more middle men’
No comments:
Post a Comment