13th February, 2012
Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the Vice-Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the Southsouth region, has refuted insinuations making the rounds that he and his loyalists are on their way out of the party.
The Edo State-born ACN stalwart stated that it would be foolhardy for him to destroy a house he had labored to build over the years.
In recent times, the issue of who becomes Edo State Governor, Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole’s running mate in the July 14, 2012 election has been a very contentious issue with the rumour mill awash with stories of the in-fighting between the incumbent Deputy Governor, Pius Odubu and astor Ize-Iyamu.
The grapevine has since been filled with supposed details of the big fight between the duo and also their supporters.
It was in the light of this that some opposition party members were said to have started the rumour that Pastor Ize-Iyamu and his core supporters were on their way out of the party to align with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) so as to hurt Comrade Oshiomhole whom they allegedly felt has not been supporting them.
But debunking the rumour, Pastor Ize-Iyamu said that he would be the last person to destroy a house he joined in building, adding that a few years ago when the then ruling PDP became too cocky he and a few others decided to give the party a fight by aligning with another party that would be a better alternative.
He averred that he has never regretted his action in that regard.
Pastor Ize-Iyamu believes the rumour about his intention to defect from the ACN is no doubt being peddled by those who do not wish the state well considering the level of development Governor Oshiomhole has brought to the state within his first tenure in office.
He denied the insinuation that he is eyeing the ACN Deputy Governorship position in the forthcoming election, adding that having risen to the enviable position of the Vice-Chairman of the party in the Southsouth region he would not condescend to vie for a state position.
He stressed that as the sole candidate of the party, Governor Oshiomhole has the right to pick anybody of his choice as his running mate and once he does this, as loyal party members he (Ize-Iyamu) and others are bound to support the choice and vote overwhelmingly for the party during the polls.
By Isaac Olamikan/Benin