By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has finally surrendered to governor Godwin Obaseki, following the Supreme Court decision which rejected the alleged certificate discrepancy against Obaseki and upheld his election as governor of Edo State under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Consequently, Osagie Ize-Iyamu who contested as governor in Edo state gubernatorial election in September 19, 2020 under the ruling All Progressives Party (APC) has congratulated Governor Godwin Obaseki on his victory at the Supreme Court last Friday.
He admitted that the Apex Court judgement has ended his ambition to reverse the governorship of the state.
In a letter of congratulations to governor Obaseki, Pastor Ize-Iyamu also appealed to the governor to initiate an out-of-court settlement for the 14 elected state house of assembly members who are yet to be inaugurated 23 months after they were elected.
He appealed to the governor to consider paying the entitlements of elected local government council chairmen, vice-chairmen, elected councilors, and supervisory councilors who were removed from office before the election.
“Last Friday’s judgement of the Supreme Court, puts an end to the series of litigations we had over last year’s governorship elections, Ize-Iyamu said. “For the records, Your Excellency, your supporters had instituted thirteen (13) different pre-election cases against my deputy and I; all seeking to disqualify us from participating in the election. On our part, our party, the APC had only one case against Your Excellency and your party.
“We also deliberately did not go to the Elections Tribunal, not because we did not have issues but because we felt it was better to allow you to face the job at hand, more so as our party at the National level had congratulated you.
“We are happy that all these cases have come to an end. Now that it is all over, please accept my congratulations.
“Having said that, I want to appeal to you to kindly consider the pertinent issues of the 14 constituencies, including the two in your local government – Oredo and the two in your deputy’s local government – Etsako West, that are presently without representation at the Edo State Assembly. Though the matter is in court, you are in a vantage position to consider an out-of-court settlement of the issue, in the overall interest of our state.
“Your Excellency, for us in the APC, as the opposition party in the state, we have a duty to ensure that your government always does the right thing.”, Pastor Ize-Iyamu concluded.
