We’ll win Edo election —APC dep gov candidate •As CRPP adopts Ize-Iyamu

Running mate to the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Edo State, Honourable Philip Shuaibu, has declared that the APC would win Wednesday’s election because the party in the state had set a record of how money meant for governance should be used.

This was just as the Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) adopted the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, saying he had the capacity “to deliver the state from the present maladministration.”

Shuaibu, who spoke with journalists, said in Jattu, Etsako West Local Government Area, that the APC candidate, Godwin Obaseki, would build on the achievements of Govcernor Adams Oshiomhole.

He said: “Oshiomole has changed the face of Edo State. Godwin Obaseki and I would sustain the legacy and improve on it by making sure that Edo State becomes the hub of development and agricultural growth.”

Shuaibu, who is the lawmaker representing Etsako Federal Constituency and  former majority leader of the state House of Assembly, disclosed that the PDP-controled Edo Assembly frustrated every  developmental move of Oshiomhole in the first year of his administration.

However, a statement signed by the state chairman of the CRPP, Samson Isibor, stated that the members had resolved to support Ize-Iyamu because of his pedigree as administrator, lawyer, farmer and a God-fearing person.

The statement read in parts, “It is uncharitable to say that Edo is working. The question Edo people are asking is which Edo is working?

“The fact is that when Oshiomhole came in, he met some establishments and parastatals working, but at the dying minute of his administration, none of them is working.

“Oshiomhole did not establise  one single establishment to generate employment. He could not resuscitate Okpella Cement Factory and so many others.

“The outgoing government relegated agriculture to the background and communal farms located in various districts in the state such as Usugbenu, Ilushi, Sabongida, Igarra, Warake and others that generated employment to over 50,000 graduates were closed down, while housing is a no-go-area for the Oshiomhole administration.

“We are tired of all this. Only the touts at the motor parks are the beneficiaries of this administration. They are smiling to the bank with their levies and over taxation. Oshiomhole and the APC must be voted out; it is a task that must be done.”

The CRPP, therefore, appealed to all its members in Edo State and voters to cast their votes for Pastor Ize-Iyamu and the PDP.

Similarly, a pro-PDP caucus, the PDP Reform Group,  has urged the use of electronic gadgets to monitor the election in the polling units.

The group, in a statement by its convener, Mr Ariyo-Dare Atoye said there would be “real-time monitoring of the election,” adding that the group too was working round the clock with some partners to equally deploy long-range sophisticated cameras in strategic locations in attempts to compromise the election.

The group said: “We have mapped out strategies with highly intelligent persons to deploy some long-rage sophisticated cameras in strategic locations under our Operation Eagle-Eye Edo (O3E) to monitor and record per second happenings.

“We are equally appealing to the electorate and all concerned Edo people to be vigilant, alert and use their camera phones and all other electronic gadgets at their disposal with in-built camera devices to record, snap and monitor developments in all voting centres and adjoining areas in their locality.

“Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty; we are going to ensure citizen-monitoring and citizen-policing of the election to reflect the true wishes of the electorate. Ensuring a credible, free and fair election is a service to God and humanity.”

The group also counseled security agencies to discharge their duties responsibly  and with the fear God,  adding that the agencies should be wary of “some desperate politicians who are likely going to make some wicked attempts to reach out for deals and compromise.

“This election is very dear and important to the Edo electorate; the people will do everything humanly possible as responsible citizens to protect their mandates.”

It further said: “Therefore, we urge our security agencies to be professionally-minded and protect the rights of the people to freely choose their leaders.”