Edo Guber: APC, PDP differ on Buhari’s meeting with Ize-Iyamu

The Edo State PDP campaign council has condemned in strong term, President Muhamadu Buhari’s meeting with the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Edi State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, describing it as ill-advised

The council in a statement endorsed by Chris Nehikhare, described the meeting as a dent on Buhari’s image as it compromises the integrity of his fight against corruption.

The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to the meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Edo State gubernatorial election, Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

“This meeting is ill-advised and a dent on the image of President Buhari, whose administration is known for the spirited fight against the hydra-headed monster called corruption, which has encumbered the development of our dear country for decades.

“Unknown to President Buhari and his advisers, the APC gubernatorial candidate is desperately in need of an endorsement from someone like the President, to shore up his battered image in Edo State and the larger court of public opinion that have followed Ize-Iyamu’s trial very closely.”

The statement recalled that Ize-Iyamu is currently being tried for money laundering to the tune of N700 million, before Honourable Justice J. M. Umar, of the Federal High Court in Benin City, Edo State, with suit No. FHC/BE21C/ 2016.

“It is our considered view that associating with a man with this corruption baggage (alleged), compromises the integrity of the President’s fight against corruption and sends mixed signals to Nigerians, home and abroad as well as other nationals who have invested enormous faith in the President’s fight against corruption.

“The Nigeria we envisage under Buhari’s watch is one in which people like Ize-Iyamu, will be told in clear terms, to go and clear their names, before being seen with, or around the occupier of the exalted office of the President. WHAT’S YOUR TAKE ON THE EDO STATE GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION AND INEC?