Edo: Ize-Iyamu accepts defeat, send message that Obaseki should return to APC

The All Progressives Congress candidate in last Saturday’s governorship poll in Edo State, Pastor Ize-Iyamu said he would work governor Godwin Obaseki, saying, he should return to APC.

Ize-Iyamu who defected from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to clinch the ticket of the All Progressives Congress during the governorship primary said, he would talk to those who were agrieved and left the APC, including governor Obaseki to return in the interest of Edo people.

He described the cross carpeting and political intrigues before the governorship election as mere family disagreements that should not be taken too far,.adding he made a similar mistake before which he has realised.

In a television broadcast on Wednesday night, Ize-Iyamu said, “We are going to talk to everybody. We are going to bring everybody back. I want to salute my brother, the governor. I will like to appeal to him to return to the party. In every family, we have a disagreement.

“Let it not be said that it was this disagreement that pushed him out. I made that mistake before and I have come to realise that it was a grievous error and I will not want him as a senior brother to make the same mistake.

“I will like to appeal to him to set aside his anger and come back. In APC, he is recognised as a leader and it would be difficult for him to be recognised as a leader in the new party he is going to.

“Certainly, we are ready to work with him and all well-meaning Edo people. We believe it is time to bring peace back to Edo State.”

Obaseki polled 307,955 votes to defeat Ize-Iyamu, who secured 223,619 votes in Saturday’s governorship election in the state.

The governor was disqualified from contesting the APC primary election after he fell out with Adams Oshiomhole over the running of Edo State.

But Obaseki defected to PDP where he ran for the election and won.

On Wednesday, the governor-elect paid a ‘thank you’ visit to his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike in Portharcourt.

While in Portharcourt, Wike urged him to consolidate on successes he has recorded so far. He charged him to remain focus and work for Edo people who he said, stood by him in time of his travail.

According to him, Godwin Obaseki was a man of courage who stood firmly in the face of stiff opposition and intimidation by his former political party.