Pastor Ize-Iyamu is arrogant, intolerant - Obaseki's media aide

Special adviser to the Edo governor on media and communication strategy, Crusoe Osagie, has said that the candidate of the All Progressives Progress (APC), Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has once again demonstrated that he does not have the right temperament to govern the state.

Osagie said this in a statement issued in Benin city, the state capital and sent to journalists on Friday night, September 4.

Part of the statement read: “The APC candidate displayed a high level of arrogance when he refused to debate with the Edo state deputy governor, Rt Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, who was asked to stand in for Governor Godwin Obaseki, during the BBC Pidgin English Debate programme broadcast on Friday night.”

Osagie explained that “Governor Obaseki started the debate with the other participants, but notified the moderator of the programme that he would not be available for the whole session of the programme, as he needed to urgently attend to an important issue of state.

“One would have expected that the APC candidate who is aspiring to occupy the exalted seat of governor of Edo state, would accept the honest excuse given by the governor and continue the debate with the deputy governor.

“But he exhibited his arrogance before a global audience and started throwing tantrums, behaviours unbefitting of someone campaigning to be the governor of a state.”

Meanwhile, Governor Godwin Obaseki has urged eligible voters in Edo state to come out en masse on Saturday, September 19 and vote for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to enable him consolidate on his achievements in the first term.

The governor also assured residents in Edo state that the electioneering process will be violence-free.

Addressing party faithful during his reelection campaign rally in Urhonigbe wards 7 and 8, Orhionmwon local government area, Obaseki charged the electorate to turn out without fear of intimidation or harassment to vote and stay back to defend their votes.