News
Edo 2024: Ize-Iyamu’s third time march for governor
By Ehichioya Ezomon
He cuts a familiar figure, and preaches a familiar message! Two-time governorship candidate of rival Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2016 and 2020, respectively, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, claims he’s a detribalised, pan-Edo politician, who sees Edo State as one family, and seeks simultaneous even development of all sections, as a panacea for the divisive issues of marginalisation and recourse to ethnicity.
Aspiring again to be governor in the September 21, 2024, election on the platform of main opposition APC in the state, Mr Ize-Iyamu, 61, says the agitation for zoning of the governorship stems from uneven development of the senatorial districts of Edo South, Edo North and Edo Central by successive governments, especially since democracy returned in Nigeria in 1999.
“Stemming from this, I am aware of the importance of electing a competent state chief executive who would stay focused in the discharge of his duties; who would see to the development of every nook and cranny of the three senatorial districts simultaneously,” Ize-Iyamu said on December 27, as reported by Concord News Online of his declaration for governor at the APC secretariat in Benin City, capital city of Edo State.
A minister of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Ize-Ize-Iyamu, waxing biblical, notes that in line with his upbringing and pastoral calling, each time he sees an Edo indigene, “I do not see a Benin, an Esan, an Etsako, an Owan, an Akoko-Edo, an Ika, an Ijaw or a Hausa, an Igbo or a Yoruba. What I see is an Edo person, whether an indigene or a resident.”
“It is impossible for me to discriminate on any basis because my motivation in politics is the admonition by Jesus Christ that, ‘Let your light so shine among men so they shall see your good works and glorify your father in heaven.’ So I endeavour my light to shine in the midst of darkness, and that light is not for some, but for all.”
Opposing “ethnicisation of Edo politics,” Ize-Iyamu declares – to the cheers of his teeming supporters at the carnival-like ceremony at the APC office on Airport Road in Benin City – that: “Edo needs a governor that has a roadmap for development and progress of the state, someone who understands the workings of government and not a total stranger.
“We want a governor that will see Edo as his own, develop the state, and not a governor with tribal sentiments. We want a governor that will relate with the party and have regular session with the party.”
To solidify his claim to being a true Edolite that believes in the oneness of Edo people, Ize-Iyamu, lawyer and farmer, recalls his days as a student leader in the University of Benin (UNIBEN), and the youth leader of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), actively supporting the late Prof. Ambrose Alli from Esanland of Edo Central, to become governor of old Bendel State (Delta and Edo States) from 1979 to 1983.
“Similarly, it is common knowledge my role in the election of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole from Etsako, Edo North, in the 2007 and 2012 Governorship elections,” Ize-Iyamu said, with a call for the APC to give the ticket, and opportunity for governor to the best among the aspirants. (Ize-Iyamu’s Campaign Director-General for Oshiomhole’s re-election in 2012.)
The former Chief of Staff (1999-2003) and Secretary to the State Government (2003-2007) under Governor Lucky Igbinedion (1999-2007), and former National Vice Chairman (South-South) of Action Congess of Nigeria (ACN) – who touts his experience in politics and the workings of government as qualifying him as “the best amongst the APC aspirants” – commends the party for not zoning the governorship to any senatorial district, “as that is the best way for our great party to field its best for the election.”
“If I’m given the mandate, I promise to faithfully implement my rebrand ‘SIMPLE AGENDA,'” that aims for an even developmental road-map for entire Edo State,” he said.
The SIMPLE AGENDA, first launched for the 2016 election, and revised for the 2020 poll, focuses on six core areas of governance: Security and social welfare; Infrastructure development and urban renewal; Manpower development and training; Public/private partnerships; Leadership by example; and Employment creation and empowerment.
The APC didn’t zone the governorship to any senatorial district, thus sealing the hopes of Esan people of Edo Central, who’ve agitated for the position over marginalisation in the governance of the state since 1999. The state secretary of the APC, Mr Lawrence Okah, stated this on December 3 when the party received an aspirant, Prince Kassim Afegbua, a former Commissioner for Information, and spokesman to former Military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.
Fielding questions on expectations of the APC from its numerous aspirants, Mr Okah told journalists that, “What we are looking for is capacity and the ability to deliver, and that is why we said there is no zoning; that is the message.”
That “message” is more likely to favour Ize-Iyamu, who – apart from being an old warhorse with bankable votes from two previous governorship contests – is from Edo South with the population and voting strength than Edo North and Edo Central combined.
The APC direct primary election for the governorship scheduled for February 17 – as adopted at an extended Edo State stakeholders meeting with the National Working Committee (NWC) at the national secretariat in Abuja on January 15 – has 29 contenders as of that day, majority from Edo Central, vying for the party ticket, as disclosed at the parley by Senator Oshiomhole – leader of the party in Edo North and Edo State – who vows APC’s return to power in Edo State in 2024.
For their political undoing, the APC aspirants in Edo Central are unable to close rank to pick “the best” among them – with many defying a screening that pruned the number to two aspirants of Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor (dubbed a former Governor for 17 months (2007-2008) before he’s sacked by the courts), and Mr Thomas Okosun (former Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly).
Politics isn’t a teaparty or a picnic for every Tayo, Dike, and Hassan – many who can’t win their polling booths in 2024, notwithstanding they’d won council or legislative elections. The Edo governorship is a battle royale of cold calculations of who’s the numbers, and from where those numbers will come for victory on September 21.
So, getting the party ticket has come down to the brass tacks of capability, capacity, competence, experience, and ability to turn in the numbers on Election Day. These criteria are devoid of emotions and sentiments about marginalisation, or payback for longevity in and loyalty to the party! And that’s where Ize-Iyamu and Edo South come into reckoning, as being in good stead to deliver Edo State from the seemingly fractured ruling PDP under Governor Godwin Obaseki, whose eight-year tenure ends in November 2024!
The questions for the 30 odd APC aspirants are: Have you the reach, the ground game, and the warchest to turn the tables against an Obaseki-backed PDP aspirant, Dr Asue Ighodalo, a Lagos-based billionaire lawyer-boardroom guru, or campaign-scarred, streetwise Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu, also a billionaire, who’s defied Obaseki’s aversion to his ambition?
Do you’ve the political armament to match the LP duo of Prof. Sunny Eboh Eromosele, billionaire oil and gas magnate, local pathfinder for solutions to technological-innovation problems in oil and gas and aviation sectors, and founder of Mudiame University, Irrua (MUI), and Mr Olumide Akpata, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and a most successful commercial lawyer, who’s donated scores of campaign vehicles to LP offices across Edo State?
For now, the odds look to favour Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu in the APC at the direct primary poll on February 17. He’s the only aspirant – across all political parties – to’ve confronted Obaseki in 2016 and 2020, even as Obaseki had the power of incumbency behind him on each occasion, and yet sweated to win. Except the calculations reveal otherwise, it’d be a gamble for the APC to overlook Ize-Iyamu for its governorship ticket!
Mr Ezomon, Journalist and Media Consultant, writes from Lagos, Nigeria
By Veronica Dariya, Bwari (Abuja)
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has kicked off the year with a proactive approach to staff wellness, organizing a 5km health walk in Bwari, Abuja, to gear up for the demanding 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) season.
The health walk, held on Saturday, saw JAMB staff traverse a scenic route through the Nigerian Law School road, Kuduru road, and Bwari Area Council Secretariat, before returning to the board’s headquarters.
SpeKing on the initiative, JAMB’s Director of Human Resources, Mr. Gani Abdulrahman, emphasized the importance of physical and mental preparedness for the UTME exercise.
“Managing the UTME is like fighting a war. We need our team to be alert, energized, and healthy throughout the process. This walk is a first step to achieving that,” Abdulrahman said.
The director revealed plans to institutionalize periodic fitness activities and reactivate the board’s sports club to promote long-term wellness among staff.
For many participants, the event was more than a fitness session. Mrs. Halima Aliyu, one of the staff members, said the health walk offered a chance to socialize and unwind while promoting a culture of exercise.
“This walk is a perfect way for us to bond as colleagues while keeping fit. Many of us get so busy with work that we forget to take care of ourselves. This initiative reminds us of the importance of health,” Aliyu said.
She expressed hope that such activities would become a regular feature of JAMB’s calendar, contributing to both personal health and workplace productivity.
This health-focused initiative is part of a broader effort by JAMB to ensure its staff are equipped to handle the pressures of the annual UTME, which demands precision, focus, and stamina.
The board has promised to unveil details of the 2025 UTME process soon, raising expectations for what could be one of its most innovative and efficient examinations yet.
As JAMB gears up for a busy year, the health walk reflects a commitment to fostering a culture where productivity is powered by wellness. It’s a fresh reminder that a healthy team is a productive team—and JAMB seems poised to lead the charge.
British Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch, has again drawn sharp criticism following comments made during an event organized by the think tank Onward.
In her remarks, Badenoch expressed concerns about Britain potentially facing the challenges she attributes to Nigeria, describing her home country as plagued by “terrible governments.”
The Conservative Party leader, who was born in the UK but mostly raised in Nigeria, had repeatedly described growing up in fear and insecurity in a country plagued by corruption.
Nigerian Vice-President Kashim Shettima accused her of denigrating the country.
Speaking to the audience on Thursday, Badenoch recounted her upbringing in Nigeria and how her family struggled financially despite working hard. She noted that her experience shaped her determination to prevent similar circumstances in the UK.
“And why does this matter so much to me? It’s because I know what it is like to have something and then to lose it,” Badenoch said. “I grew up in a poor country and watched my relatively wealthy family become poorer and poorer, despite working harder and harder as their money disappeared with inflation. I came back to the UK aged 16 with my father’s last £100 in the hope of a better life.”
Badenoch’s comments drew attention for their critical tone, particularly her remark about the Nigerian government:
“I have lived with the consequences of terrible governments that destroy lives, and I never, ever want it to happen here.”
Badenoch further criticized Nigerian institutions, including the police, comparing her experiences in Nigeria to those in the UK.
She accused the Nigerian police of corruption, sharing a personal anecdote:
“The police in Nigeria will rob us,” she said, to laughter from the audience. “When people say I have this bad experience with the police because I’m black, I say well, I remember the police stole my brother’s shoe and his watch.”
These statements have been met with backlash from Nigerians, with many accusing her of reinforcing negative stereotypes and distancing herself from her roots.
Critics argue that Badenoch’s comments overlook the complexities of Nigeria’s challenges, while others see them as a betrayal of her heritage.
Some have taken to social media to express disappointment, accusing her of using her background to score political points.
While some observers have defended Badenoch’s remarks as honest reflections of her experiences, others have urged her to focus on contributing solutions rather than critiquing from afar.
This is not the first time Badenoch’s comments about Nigeria have stirred controversy. Recently, she distanced herself from the country’s northern region, stating she has “nothing to do with the Islamic northern region.”
As the leader of the UK’s Conservative Party, Badenoch’s remarks highlight the tension between personal narratives and political diplomacy, sparking debates about identity, governance, and the responsibility of leaders with multicultural roots.
The Federal Government has delivered a sharp rebuttal to Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II’s recent remarks about President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, expressing disappointment over his refusal to endorse the government’s actions.
Sanusi, a former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, had voiced his hesitation to speak in support of the reforms, stating, “I have decided not to speak about the economy or the reforms, nor to explain anything regarding them. If I explained, it would only help this government, and I don’t want to help this government.” His comments were made at a public event in Lagos, where he also indicated that he would withhold his explanations despite the significant economic impact of the reforms.
In response, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, acknowledged that Sanusi’s decision to withhold support for the government’s economic agenda was his personal choice, but expressed frustration at his stance.
“It is rather curious for someone from an institution that champions transparency and integrity to openly admit to withholding the truth due to personal interests,” Idris remarked.
The Minister stressed that while everyone has the right to their opinion, the reforms under President Tinubu were designed to confront deep-rooted economic challenges, requiring bold and transformative actions. These reforms, including the unification of exchange rates and the removal of the fuel subsidy, are vital steps to secure Nigeria’s economic future.
Idris addressed Sanusi’s acknowledgment that the current economic pains were a necessary result of years of mismanagement, stating that these reforms are already showing positive results. “The unification of exchange rates has instilled investor confidence, leading to increased foreign reserves and better protection from external shocks,” he noted.
The government also highlighted the positive outlook for Nigeria’s economy, pointing to World Bank projections showing an upward trend in GDP and improvements in key sectors like infrastructure, education, and healthcare.
While expressing disappointment over Sanusi’s sudden criticism, Idris emphasized that Nigeria’s path to recovery requires unity and collective effort. “It is disheartening that reforms which were previously endorsed by experts like Emir Sanusi are now being subtly undermined,” he said.
Idris urged leaders like the Emir to set aside personal and partisan interests and work towards the greater good of the country. “This is a pivotal time for Nigeria, and what is needed is collaboration, not division,” he concluded.
The Federal Government reiterated that it remains committed to advancing economic reforms and fostering inclusivity, with a focus on long-term growth. The administration remains open to dialogue with all well-meaning stakeholders while steadfastly putting the country’s interests first.
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