POLITICS: Pst Ize-Iyamu Wants Edo State Governor To Anoint Him As The Governor-In-Waiting

                                        Edo Governor, Adams Oshiomhole

The refusal of Edo Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, to anoint Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu as his successor come 2016 may have led to his recent defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) along with his supporters.

The exit of the Ize-Iyamu group commonly referred to as the Grace Group, it was revealed, marked the climax of months of intrigues and manoeuvres. For effect, six of his loyalists who were serving either as Special Assistants or Executive Directors in the Oshiomhole administration also tendered their resignation.

While announcing their resignation from APC at a recent press conference in Benin City, they cited ‘lack of internal democracy’ within the party and poor handling of the party’s recent congress at the ward and council levels. Their action followed the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum they gave the state governor to void the results of the party congresses.

“The governor is being held hostage by people who have no idea about how a party is run and how a party is managed”, said Ize-Iyamu.

But, according to a top chieftain of the ruling party who currently occupies the post of an Executive Director in the state government, “That is not the full story.”

Few days earlier, it was gathered, Ize-Iyamu, who was the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) under the Lucky Igbinedion administration, had tabled a list of demands before the Governor as condition for ‘truce’.

According to a top APC chieftain who attended the secret meeting, the demands included the dissolution of the current state Exco and allocating at least eight ‘juicy’ cabinet portfolios to the Grace Group.

“Apart from that, Pastor (Ize-Iyamu) also wanted the Comrade Governor to ensure he takes over the party structures in Edo South which accounts for close to sixty per cent of Edo voters. He more or less wanted Oshiomhole to anoint him as the governor-in-waiting.

“It is all about wanting to position himself strategically before the next governorship election, not whether the new party is nurtured in the tradition of proper democratic contest and principles.”

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