Obaseki shuns debate for governorship candidates

Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the September 10 governorship election in Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, on Sunday night, shunned a debate organised for governorship candidates of political parties in the state ahead of the election.

The debate that was put together by a group called Eggheads and tagged: ‘Mandate’, was the second debate Obaseki has shunned following the one organised by the Benson Idahosa University (BIU) earlier this month.

However, in a reaction, the deputy director in charge of communication, media and publicity of the Godwin Obaseki Campaign Organisation, Greg Ogiogwa, said there was no need to take part in the debate, adding that they were not sure of its credibility, objectivity and impartiality, saying that the way and manner the invitation and publicity were put up, were not up to the standard.

“There is only one reputable debate organising group in Nigeria, the Nigeria Election Debate Group, which consists of the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria and reputable media houses.

Meanwhile, 12 candidates of various political parties, including that of the  Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), KOWA, the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the Action Alliance (AA) and the United Progressives Party (UPP) participated in the debate.

A candidate of the UPP, Adviser Nowamagbe, on the occasion, said he would recover stolen funds from past administrations in the state to provide stable electricity supply and adequate security.

Nowamagbe stunned the audience when he declared that he was prepared to swear at the Ogun shrine at the palace of the Oba of Benin to demonstrate his preparedness to adhere to his campaign promises, challenging other candidates to do the same.

When asked of his roles in the Lucky Igbinedion’s administration, the PDP governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, said it was a different thing being the Chief of Staff to the governor or Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and being the chief executive.

He said his campaign promises and how he planned to achieve them have been highlighted in a brochure, the Simple Agenda, which he said, contains his manifestos, adding that he has impacted positively in his Orhionmwon Local Government Area by empowering many and ensuring that road leading to his community was tarred.