PROFOUND tension is currently building in Edo State as Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu has allegedly thrown the hint of quitting the Governorship race.
This latest decision from Ize-Iyamu is coming just two days after the concluded peace parley at the palace of the Oba of Benin.
According to a report by The Bullet of the Harmless Rabbit Media Team,
Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu is said to have been throwing tantrum and have been reclusive since the meeting and he is currently reexamining his chances in the upcoming poll. This was after it became clear that the palace of the Oba of Benin had not given him anticipated open endorsement as he desperately expected and hoping that the meeting will throw up some missteps from the governor’s team in reaction to the meeting.
Information reaching the BHR showed that Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu campaign had expected the governor or his deputy to negatively react to His Majesty’s peace mending admonitions to the two leading candidates, but were very surprised at the calmness of the governor Obaseki and the utter display of humility and respect by Phillip Shaibu. According to an insider of the Ize-Iyamu camp, they anticipated the governor of Edo state to behave like his Kano state counterpart Ganduje whom they knew has no respect for the traditional institution in Kano and hoped that a misstep from Obaseki was all that is needed to create a damaging narrative of disrespect for His Imperial Majesty, the Oba of Benin. His Royal Majesty who indeed spoke as a father called on both the APC and PDP’s candidate to see the election as a family affair and eschew violence at all costs. During the meeting, the Oba told all present that he had once attempted to bring peace between Governor Obaseki and the recalcitrant Adams Oshiomole without success as the two individuals would not avail themselves to such opportunity which was why the crisis lingered on. He urged them to sheath their swords in the interest of peace and tranquility in Edo state.
Reacting, Governor Godwin Obaseki informed his Royal Majesty that he is committed to peace building efforts or anything that will make peace possible as the state chief security officer. He reminded the gathering that his public and private records are indicative of who he is and has never intended in any shape or form encouraged or subscribed to violent acts throughout his life of service and career. The governor’s statement is in contrast to that of Osagie Ize-Iyamu who is a self-confessed cultist and a man known for violence. It will be recalled that Adams Oshiomole had publicly informed all Edo people how Osagie Ize-Iyamu deformed an Edo citizen by bathing him with acid and a reason why the individual cannot raise a family till this day. Similarly, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu association with the dregs of the society known as the Tigers and the Lions have also come under focus and the activities of its leaders obviously cast shadows of doubts about his candidacy and seriousness in tackling the ills of Nigeria society particularly the notoriety of Agberos who Tony Kabaka Adun and his host of others represent.
The aftermath of the meeting which did not produce negative results as expected has caused some rift between Audu Ganiyu and Osagie Ize-Iyamu as the later has hinted at his possible withdrawal from the Governorship race so as to avoid electoral disgrace. While Osagie Ize-Iyamu is willing to abide by the promise made at the Oba palace, information reaching BHR indicates that Ganiyu is not in favour of abiding by any peace terms and he boasted to have already doled out millions of Naira for the Kogi mercenaries he procured for the election and he can’t turn back from that project.
As at last night, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu was said to have called for an emergency meeting which held in the early hours of today were a mild face-off occurred between the governorship candidate and his deputy and timely intervention by media aides and those at the meeting saved both from having fisticuffs.
It was at this meeting that Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu announced his decisions and that he will study the situation in the next few days to reassess his participation. As at press time, the campaign is still said to be in shock over these cascading development and are frantically reaching out to Oshiomole and Tinubu to step in quickly
More details will follow later.
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