Guber Election: Ize-Iyamu Won’t Win Up To 3 LGAs – Imasogie

Super Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Edo South Senatorial District, Owere Dickson Imasogie, has spoken again about the forthcoming Governorship election in the state. This time around, he reflected on the bright chances of his party, PDP winning the election with wide margin and concluded that the main opposition party and it’s candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu will win less than three local government areas while prospecting that the PDP will win at least 15 local government areas. Sir Ralph Okhiria, reports.

The Edo State Governorship election is now very near; How prepared is PDP for the election?

Thank you. We are more than prepared. The goodwill of the former opposition party, APC and the contribution of Obaseki towards the development of the state, will assist us seriously. We are not afraid at all and we are not afraid of whatever they want to do to rig the elections as I am sure we will have the antidote to checkmate them.

Judging from the ongoing campaigns, would you say the victory will be landslide or marginal?

First, I read The RELIANCE last publication where you people gave eight local governments to the APC and ten to the PDP. I do not know what you people did to arrive that. As at today, I can conveniently say, though I can’t mention the names of the local government areas, that only one or two is where you have 49-51% in favour of APC. The other sixteen is a sure bet for PDP. Like my local government, Uhunmwode, if we score 80% for PDP take it as a failure. I’m a super leader and the senatorial chairman of PDP and that’s my local government. If we score 80% of the total votes I am telling you, take it as a failure. I am rating others to get 75% and above. I’m even sure the Ishan bloc would surpass the record I’m envisaging from Uhunmwode.

Sir, we are are hearing words that some PDP leaders are secretly supporting and funding the APC campaigns. How true is it?

Like I told you, I’m the leader of leaders in the South. I may not know but the report from the Central ruled out such matter from being truth. As for the North, are you telling me that Orbih, who has been campaigning endlessly for 4+4, Torgba would be double dealing? Or Pascal who is also the coordinator for the North. I may not know where you people got your information from and may not be able to say much about the former APC members that have come to join us. But we in PDP, I can swear that we are sincere, hundred percent to the cause of Obaseki. And I want to draw your attention to the last two elections. In 2015, Jonathan won Edo state. In 2019, even though President Buhari was a sitting President, Atiku defeated him in Edo state. So if I tell you that this is a PDP state, that should be enough. If in other elections that followed, because of the results from the North, that is not enough to make Edo to stop being a PDP state. Now, majority, at least three over five of the APC are now teaming up with the PDP. So why are you afraid to admit that it will be a landslide victory for the PDP? 4+4 , Torgba.

Are you also aware of the complaints of some PDP leaders, over insufficient funds from the party candidate  to prosecute the guber  campaigns properly?

First, I don’t owe the governor one kobo and I don’t owe the campaign organisation one kobo. You know the way I behave. I would not also be surprised if Obaseki didn’t bring money out. That has been the complaints of the APC members when they say he’s not carrying them along. How do you carry people along? That means you are not giving them money for themselves. We that have suffered for twelve years, we didn’t bank on government funds, we are still waxing stronger, so we can also bear with the philosophy of Obaseki that the government’s money is not meant for chocolate. So we’re not waiting for his chocolate. Leaders of the PDP are contributing to make sure 4+4, Torgba is a reality.

Sir, your final words to close this interview?

My dear brother, I’m a local politician and I know what the grassroots are yearning for. Enter the bus, enter the taxi, go to the farm road, you will hear 4+4, Torgba. Like I said, no matter how beautiful the daughter of an enemy is, you will never see her as beautiful. When we were not close to Obaseki’s government, we condemned what he was doing. But we’ve realised, if you wait for the government to do everything for you, then you are not serious. I’m leading the campaign in my local government. At every community I go I tell them what I’ve done for that community singlehandedly and if I’m lying the community would say so. I also tell them that those I built politically without, collecting a kobo from them. Although in politics no one readily sees the good in you. Obaseki has tried. He may not have covered everywhere and I believe Uhunmwode is one of the places he didn’t cover too well. But seeing what he’s doing in other places that I didn’t see before, I give him commendation.

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