The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has challenged Osagie Ize-Iyamu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the upcoming Edo governorship election, to present any positive comment made about him by Adams Oshiomhole, the immediate past APC national chairman.
The PDP made the demand in a statement issued by Kola Ologbondiyan, its National Publicity Secretary, on Sunday in reaction to the APC’s governorship interview with a major newspaper.
Ize-Iyamu had in an interview published by the Punch on Sunday said the negative comments previously made about him by Oshiomhole were just to de-market him for the sake of politics.
He stated this following the emergence of stories and videos on social media of how Oshiomhole taunted Ize-Iyamu, who was then the PDP candidate, with uncomplimentary names as the in the build-up to the 2016 governorship election in the state.
But the PDP noted that the negative comments made by Oshiomhole are already in the public domain, insisting that the defensive approach being put up by the APC candidate shows that he is been weighed down by the weighty words and is accepting defeat.
The major opposition party also stated that the former APC chairman personally took responsibility for the comments he made and, therefore, asked Ize-Iyamu to showcase the fair comments made about him.
The statement read: “The PDP’s challenge is predicated on the defeatist statement credited to Ize-Iyamu who, being mortally devastated by myriads of negative public commentaries on him by Oshiomhole, is now claiming that the former governor also made some fair remarks about him.
“It is already in the public domain that Oshiomhole, in his official capacity as governor of Edo state, declared and even swore before God and man that Ize-Iyamu is an impostor, a fake pastor, rusticated student, a career dropout, acid bath assailant, liar, treasury looter; an incompetent and questionable character, who is only good for night meetings and not fit to be the governor of Edo state, among other damaging testimonials.
“Furthermore, Ize-Iyamu’s claims, that Oshiomhole did not speak from his heart when he went public on him, is completely defeatist as the former governor repeatedly stated that he bore full responsibility for the statements he made against the APC candidate.
“The PDP hereby challenges Ize Iyamu to make such positive comments by Oshiomhole public.”
The PDP added that Ize-Iyamu should not bother himself about seeking “political purgatory” as the Edo people will vote for Godwin Obaseki, its own candidate and incumbent state governor, on 19 September.
Discussion about this post