By John Mayaki<\/p>\n
A fact that is true with political actors across the world is that they
\ndivide opinions. For people who pursue their own convictions on a public
\nlectern, who submit themselves to a barrage of opinions and scrutiny,
\nthey draw passionate reactions from the masses, some positive, others
\nnegative.<\/p>\n
By settling on an agenda, pursuing it boldly and convincing others to
\njoin their course, those who see room for improvement within the agenda
\nwill offer praises, others who perceive damage – either for justifiable
\nreasons or not – will say otherwise and virulently trying to put the man
\nand his agenda down. It is the way of politics.<\/p>\n
But that is not to say that every criticism is driven by malice, lest we
\nprovide a comfortable cover for the incompetent politicians whose poor
\nplans or maladministration have done real harm and deservedly get
\nwidespread criticism, rejection, and dismissal. Or deny noble people
\ntheir due praise and commendation by chalking it all up to bias or
\nemotional quip.<\/p>\n
For a man like Pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu whose history, old and recent,
\nhas been subjected to another round of scrutiny with his declaration of
\ninterest in the governorship position of Edo State under the umbrella of
\nthe All Progressives Congress, a party he helped form, it is important,
\nand for the benefit of the Edo people, that his true character is
\nascertained and his records are analyzed without the coloration of
\nhatred and envy from those who are understandably terrified by his stout
\nstature and the threat he poses to their fruitless dalliance with power.<\/p>\n
In the court of these ones, there is no victory. And their jaundiced
\njudgement, passed without any evaluation of the facts, is what they are
\ntrying to ram down the people’s throats through devious propaganda
\ntactics and mischievous media campaigns.<\/p>\n
To know who Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu is and what his antecedents are, we
\nmust call on distinguished characters like Dr. Ehiogie West Idahosa and
\nDr. Ofunre Eboreime who have the merit of witnessing the beginning of
\nPastor Ize-Iyamu’s involvement at the beginning, and a lived life of
\nintegrity and substance that give weight to their words.<\/p>\n
“Pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu is an uncommon political actor. Indeed, he is a
\nsuper, but selfless manager of men,” Dr. Ehiogie West Idahosa said.<\/p>\n
“Since 1979, that he became known to some of us, he delights in putting
\nsocial and political organizations together for the good of society.
\nFrom our Edo College days till date, I can’t think of a better political
\norganizer of his generation. Many have reaped the fruits of his
\npolitical skills.”<\/p>\n
“Surprisingly, this is his second attempt to contest an election in his
\npolitical career. The first was in 2016 when he ran against Obaseki for
\nthe post of Governor of Edo State. Many believe that he won that
\nelection, but lost it to very serious election manipulation visible to
\nthe blind.”<\/p>\n
“This second attempt by Ize-Iyamu to run for the same post is more in
\nresponse to a big call from the political class to offer an opportunity
\nto an accomplished home grown politician to show the organizational
\nwizardry in him in respect of policy conception, actualization, review,
\nsensible redistribution of wealth, management of men and materials,
\npreservation of culture and the renaissance of Edo political
\nhelmsmanship in preparation for a solid return to national relevance.”<\/p>\n
On his part, Dr. Ofunre Eboreime who is quick to offer the clarification
\nof not being a politician or a man subscribed to the bifurcate politics
\nmany take part in where views are streamlined and informed by who is “on
\nour side” and who is not, he describes Pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu as a man
\nthat “enjoys a great, unassailable pedigree.”<\/p>\n
“He is kind, humane, humble, and willing to assist anybody no matter his
\nor her background or political leanings. A grass root mobilizer and
\nstrategist. I do not have any hidden agenda but think it’s my duty to
\nexpress my views too.”<\/p>\n
Dr. Ofunre speaks of duty because he knows what is at stake. Edo people
\nare at an important crossroads of history, about to make a decision that
\nwould impact the fate of the state in many years to come.<\/p>\n
And so, in the incumbent, they have a man without achievement,
\ncampaigning by soiling the image of others, misrepresenting events, and
\ntelling bold-faced lies – to let him get away with it is to sit back and
\ndo nothing.<\/p>\n
Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu has refused to allow this and everyone –
\npolitician or not, who seek the progress of the state must join him. It
\nis not in Ize-Iyamu’s character to succumb to an incompetent bully. That
\nis not who he is. It is in his character to push back against great odds
\nin defense of what is right and will profit the people – that is who he
\nis.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By John Mayaki A fact that is true with political actors across the world is that they divide opinions. For people who pursue their own convictions on a public lectern,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":73337,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-73336","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles-opinions"],"yoast_head":"\n