By Eben Enasco Kingsley, Benin City
Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State says a factional gubernatorial candidate of the PDP, Mr. Osagie Ize-Iyamu is desperate to become Governor because he wants to get immunity from prosecution for his role in the Dasuki arms deal scandal.
Speaking at the APC campaign flag-off for Edo North at Auchi, recently, Oshiomhole said the EFCC should do its job and make the PDP candidate face the music for collecting N700m of the Dasuki Arms fund.
The Governor who said he has records of how the past PDP government looted the state resources, said the PDP has no project to point to in Edo North in 10 years.
He said: “According to Pastor’s statement to EFCC, he took the N700m Dasuki fund to their Leader’s house and they shared it in line with the principle of PDP which is ‘share the money’. Now EFCC asked how to narrate who and who did you share to, he said ‘ oh we gave various local governments’, they are singing how they shared Government’s money for Defence exactly same way as local witches used to sing at midnight when there was no light in villages.
“do you know why he wants to be a Governor, Mr Ize-Iyamu wants to be a Governor to get immunity to protect him from prosecution. Today, we ask EFCC why is Ize-Iyamu having confessed to money collected for Defence from Fidelity Bank, having confessed to taking it for purposes other than defence and directing how he shared it, he must face the music that Dasuki and others are facing. Even their leader wrote in his handwriting that he collected N300 million from NSA.
“Do you want to hand over Edo treasury to a thief. I’m a proud Kukuruku man, not the son of a cook, but we don’t take money for Police, money meant for soldiers, money meant for Defence to secure Christians in Churches, Pastors are collecting it and sharing it to their party members.
“For me, I am humbled by what God has shown that he is capable of doing, when I see them now appealing to power for level-playing field I wonder. I thought they would decree that there is no vacancy. Things have changed and things will continue to change.
On how the PDP looted the state treasury, Oshiomhole said there are records of how many projects purportedly completed in the books but not actually done.
“I’m the Governor today and I have all the records, I advise them to be quiet.”
He listed the achievements of his government on roads, schools, hospital, Auchi gully erosion reclamation and electricity projects his government has done in different parts of Edo North.
The APC candidate, Mr Godwin Obaseki promised to attract more investors to the state and create jobs for the youths, saying his government will continue to develop the state from where the present administration will stop on November 12.
