The All Progressives Congress, APC, and its governorship candidate in Edo State, Mr Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has been told to drop their evil impeachment agenda against the incumbent governor, Godwin Obaseki, saying that such counterproductive political permutation is not only barbaric and repugnant to universal democratic principles and values, it will finally nail the APC coffin in the state and by extension Nigeria.
Coalition for Rule of Law and Justice of the Peoples Democratic Party, in the state, said the group have it on good account that APC, Ahmed Tinubu, Adams Oshiomhole and Osagie Ize-Iyamu have written a dangerous script for the illegally sworn in members of the State House of Assembly, to sit at an undisclosed location next week to unlawfully impeach governor Godwin Obaseki, as corroborated by Tinubu wherein he stated that the governor committed an impeachable offence.
It further stated that the APC national government is alleged to have commenced plans to use security agencies to keep Obaseki away from government house immediately the impeachment is announced; so that the kangaroo Acting Governor will recklessly prosecute the election and subsequently compromise the process unduly in favour of its ratified candidate and regular guest of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
The Coalition warned that the nation is already unable to handle insecurity challenges in Northern Nigeria and across the country, occasioned by gorilla warfare and ruthless killing of innocent Nigerians by Boko Haram, adding that any government that is worth its salt would want to aggravate insecurity in any part of the country, and in Edo State where the ancient Benin Kingdom is reputed for peace and harmony.
Chief Scribe of the Coalition, Barrister Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe who is conversant with political dynamics in Edo State, said Edo people are vibrant politically and that the youths are strong, bold and courageous such that the outcome of any attempt to use federal might and federal security agencies to oppress their performing governor, Godwin Obaseki, may give birth to the ugly monster called “unending bloodbath” which Edo people do not deserve from APC national government at this time when the nation is bedevilled by multifaceted security problems.
The group called on President Mohammadu Buhari, Inspector General of Police and the Director-General of Directorate of State Security Services, DSS, to ensure that political partied and political actors do not implement any form of oppressive power game in Edo State, adding that the best thing to do is to allow a peaceful, free and transparent governorship election wherein eligible voters are allowed to exercise their franchise without intimidation and harassment.
“It glaring from the provocative statements by some APC leaders that they are out to bastardise and rubbish democratic values and reintroduce full-scale political thuggery and gutter politics of the 19th century. It is senseless to place political interest far and above national security, peace and unity of Nigeria.
“It will not do the nation and Edo people any good if the APC national government goes ahead to turn Edo State into a theatre of war by igniting mayhem and bloodshed through during electioneering processes in Edo State.
“APC and its ratified governorship candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu and their uninformed supporters must of a necessity desist from playing gutter politics with the name of the highly respected Benin Monarch. The Royal father made it abundantly clear that the Crown and the Royal palace remained apolitical and very neutral, therefore the politics of Kolanut or no Kolanut does translate to any form of endorsement of a candidate by the Oba of Benin.
“Politics of Royal Kolanuts is neither here nor there because the Oba did not at any material time engaged in politics of Kolanut with any candidate in Edo State.
“If APC and its ratified governorship candidate is bereaved of campaign ideas, it is only fair for their governorship campaign team to round up activities and wait for election day which is September 19.
“Osagie Ize-Iyamu’s Kolanut did not discharge the criminal charges of N700 million theft and money laundering still ongoing at the Federal High Court. He is an accused person and ratified candidate of APC. That is the situation and Kolanut cannot in any way change his status from that of a looter and accused person to an innocent man. It is the traditional duty of our royal fathers to pray for their subjects whenever the visit. It does not signify endorsement in political sense.
“We call for peace in the electioneering process and urge political gladiators to place the unity of Nigeria and security of lives and property in Edo State, far and above the quest for unmerited and undue favour by those whose integrity has been fractured as a result of their ugly past and unscrupulous lifestyle, as can be seen from the unproductive efforts of the sacked national chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole and financial crime charges pressed against Ize-Iyamu by the same APC national government via the EFCC.
“Adams Oshiomhole is struggling with himself as a result of his questionable character in the light of avoidable legal battles and despotic leadership that led to his political irrelevance, and Ize-Iyamu who is struggling to free himself from the N700 million theft as claimed by EFCC and his new political godfather, Oshiomhole.
“We insist that Edo State must not be set ablaze, the state is not the inheritance of the two frustrated political gladiators, Oshiomhole and Ize-Iyamu.
“Edo state is greater than Oshiomhole, Ize-Iyamu and Bola Tinubu. We need peace in Edo State and Nigeria,” the Coalition added.