EDO DECIDES: Let’s take Edo State to it’s place of Utopia – IZE-IYAMU

As campaigns for who will be Governor of Edo State, Nigeria, kick off, serious allegations have been levelled against one of the Candidates, Pastor Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu Esq. Following his decision to contest for such a public position, a gold fish will have no hiding place.

We cannot be led by narrative, impression, and sensationalism. We must know who we are voting for to be Governor. I thought it expedient to beam a search light on this man based on several accusations made against him.
Here are the accusations and my findings.

Accusation 1
Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu no longer uses the accolade ‘Barrister’ because he never attended the Nigeria Law School. He is a fake lawyer and a liar.

The Findings.
I have discovered that Pastor Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu attended the Nigeria Law School and was called to the Nigeria Bar in 1987.
In 1990, he established a law firm with other learned friends and had offices in Benin City and Lagos.
My investigations also revealed that the 2018 Directory of Lawyers in Edo State has him as number 654. He was actually called to the Nigerian Bar and his Certificate is in the public domain already. I have nevertheless attached both documents here.
If such a bold and public accusation was made which turns out now to be false, how many other bold and public accusation that were made are also now false.

Accusation 2.
Pastor Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu is a fake Pastor.

The Findings.
I found out that Pastor Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu Esq. is an ordained Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). Anyone who understands the type of Church the RCCG is knows the type of men who are ordained as Pastors in that Church.
I found out that Pastor Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu has been a Pastor in that Church for 22 years. He has risen through the ranks to become Assistant Pastor in Charge of Province (APICP), and Christian Social Responsibility (CSR) of The Redeemed Christian Church of God Edo Province 2 in Benin City.
Pastor Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu is therefore not a sole entrepreneur pastor of the type we see running riot, performing Jesus miracles and raising the dead.
Psalm105:15
Again, how many other bold and public accusations will turn out to be false?

Accusation 3
Pastor Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu is a thief

The Findings.
I found out that Pastor Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu Esq has never even been tried for a traffic violation talk less of being convicted for stealing N700 million.
I have looked through the Court Processes filed by the EFCC and they do not identify any property he stole, there is no complainant who says his property was stolen. I also found out that he has not been tried nor convicted for stealing. So my question is, how is he a thief? Just because somebody boldy and publicly said so?
For those who have not read the Court papers, permit me to highlight relevant areas of the EFCC case. First, there are other defendants, the past and present State Chairmen of the current Party in Power and another person. But the only name we hear is the Pastor’s and the story you hear today has been maliciously twisted to look like it is he who received and diverted money for his personal use.
The Court papers also reveal that all the defendants signed for the sum of N700m being Party election money that was delivered by Access bank to the house of a top Party man and same was properly shared to representatives of all Local Governments, who in turn signed for their receipt, for an election that was actually held. So the truth is this case is for the Party in power to answer and not even Pastor Ize-Iyamu.
I did not see anywhere in the court papers where Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu is accused of taking the money for himself.
I also discovered that what the EFCC is charging them for is that the money should have been paid into the accounts of the Local Government representatives instead of the Party sharing the election funds in cash for the reason that the threshold for cash transactions had been exceeded in contravention of Money Laundering law.
But the story on the streets is that Pastor Ize-Iyamu stole money. This is evidently not true. Clearly people don’t really understand what happened or they pretend not to. My knowledge of how election money is shared at this level in Nigeria is that it is always in cash. There are many reasons for this.
The Court Papers also reveal that these LGA/Ward Leaders actually signed for the money they were given and these receipts have been presented to EFCC. My question is, why is this issue, which occured in 2015 now relevant today in 2020 when Pastor Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu Esq is running for Governor.
Whatever the answer is, my finding is that calling Pastor Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu Esq a thief is malicious and another bold and public statement that has turned out to be false.

Accusation 4
He is a cultist and attacked a fellow student with acid.

The Findings.
I have made various enquiries and I am yet to see one fly and that Pastor Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu Esq has hurt in his life, talk less of a human being.
Further more, my enquiries reveal that when he first ran for Governor in 2016 he addressed this issue publicly on television. He did not hide.
I have watched the video and contrary to popular opinion he was the one who took steps to rescue the victim of the attack. The victim also exonerated him and no one has countered this. The University conducted investigations into the matter and having found him not liable, admitted him back to the Univeraity to finish his law degree. He is also not in the Black Book of the University having been exonerated .
Anybody wishing to see the video interview can Google it, but for the purpose of this investigation let us understand that fraternities in our Universities at the time Pastor Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu Esq was a student were largely populated by the most intellectual, cerebral and vocal of students. The Pyrates Confraternity, to which Pastor Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu Esq was a member, was founded by no other person than the Nobel Laureate, highly distinguished, Wole Soyinka. Will anybody in their right mind not agree he is an upright member of our society today.
Fraternities (or sorority) started in Universities in America and their aims and objectives were to engage in philanthropic activities, host parties, provide “finishing” training for new members such as instruction on etiquette, dress and manners, and create networking opportunities for their newly graduated members. Today what we now experience with cultism in Nigeria was alien to Fraternities during the time Wole Soyinka formed the Pyrates Fraternity.
Yet again, another bold and public statement has turned out to be false.

Accusation 5
Pastor Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu Esq never Governed Edo State well when he was Chief of Staff and Secretary to State Government over 13 years ago.

The Findings.
It is trite that it is not the role or job specification of the Chief of Staff or Secretary to State Government to Govern a State. The accusation itself is not only absurd but shows a total lack of understanding of Government and Governance. It just as absurd as expecting the current Chief of Staff or the current Secretary to State Government to function as though he is the elected Governor?
My inquiries however reveal that despite not having the responsibility for the Governance of Edo State, as Chief of Staff and Secretary to State Government Pastor Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu Esq was instrumental to many empowerment schemes in Edo State, for Youth and women. It is on record that the last time any Government in Edo State employed permanent staff was during the Administration under which he served as Chief of Staff and Secretary to State Government.
I am reliably informed and I verily so believe that the goodwill he still enjoys today across the length and breath of Edo State, 13 years after leaving Government Service, is testimony to a job well done. Sometimes when you hear about Pastor Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu Esq you think he just left Government last year. He built good and lasting relationships he is harvesting today. What is wrong with that?
Yet again, another bold and public statement has turned out to be false.

Accusation 6
Pastor Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu Esq has no background, what he has today is due to politics and what he stole from Government.

The Findings
Investigations reveal that Pastor Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu Esq is the son of Late Chief Robert Osayande Ize-Iyamu, the Esogban of Great Benin Kingdom and Mrs. Magdalene N. Ize-Iyamu (nee Obasohan). At a time when only men had money in Benin his mother was a very successful business woman.
Pastor Ize-Iyamu it would appear was born into a blessed family and it is on record he attended the best schools in Edo State. This does not sound like a man who had no background or was not exposed to good fortune from birth.
I am reliably informed that Pastor Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu Esq has several business interests. I visited one of them to ascertain personally what it was about. So permit me to introduce him as an industrialist. As the sole founder of I.O Ventures which has as one of its subsidiaries, I.O Farms, he is a leader in Agriculture and Aggro-allied education. A field he developed not only for profit but also as a tool to create male and female aggro-allied entrepreneurs like himself. His huge business is a fully integrated farm with an agricultural school incorporated into the business plan from which hundreds of Edo State indigenes have benefited from this unique business concept that has given them the opportunity to become business owners and employers of labour. A man like this should be applauded and not vilified.
Yet again, another bold and public statement has turned out to be false.

Accusation 7
He is ambitious. Why must he aspire to be Governor?

The Findings.
Since when is it a crime to have an ambition? I am sure we all nurse our individual ambitions. For sure his ambition has not prevented anybody else from aspiring. The sky is big enough for many birds to fly.
This man is the only man I know in Nigeria seeking office and who in furtherance of that desire has produced a working blue print of what he wants to do when he assumes Office. I was surprised and excited to read his manifesto called the SIMPLE AGENDA, which is a dynamic document with local flavour, constantly and continuously updated and adjusted to keep pace with developments and innovations around the world. #SimpleAgenda
A document with which progress and success can be measures and assessed.
Res Ipsa Locquitor.

Accusation 8
If all the lies people say about him are not true why doesn’t he sue for defamation to clear his name.

The Findings
To deal with this accusation i consulted law books and reports. It is trite law that he who asserts a position must prove that position. A man is presumed innocent etc etc.
I find therefore that he has no need to respond to any accusation. If the accusers are serious, it is them who should take the case to court and test the truth of their accusing fingers.
I have also found that Pastor Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu Esq, is a man too focused for distraction and usually gives issues like this to God to handle.

Accusation 9
A Pastor should not be involved in politics or Government.

The Findings
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
Interestingly the Vice President of Nigeria happens to be a Pastor.
All laws derive power from God.
If good men should not be involved in politics who then should? Criminals?

Accusation 10
He is being sponsored by a godfather.

The Findings.
My enquiries revealed the following:
1. That every Candidate in the forth coming election has the support of top Officers in their respective Parties.
2. They also have the support of top business men and women.
3. One person cannot make anybody Governor.
4. These support groups will do all they can to ensure their Candidates win.
5. Both Parties recently released their Campaign team list.
6. The list of the Campaign team of Pastor Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu Esq consists of 49 names and the list of his main opponent’s campaign team has about 100 names.
6. If these people are considered ‘godfathers’ then the question pending is, who, based on the list of supporters, is then the King of godfathers?
7. Whoever wins the election, Benin will win. So let us consider the men based on merit and not on who endorsed them.

Conclusion
I respectfully submit, my investigations reveal that the accusations made against Pastor Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu Esq. are baseless, without evidence or verifiable foundation, vexatious, frivolous, an abuse of our sensibilities and should be dismissed.

They are, as he has said, made to “demarket” him in the political battlefield.

He is a Benin man and it is he who is running for Governor, not another person. We must remember this.

Let us address issues instead of engaging in mud slinging and campaigns of calumny. An election bases on insults, abuse, lies and blackmail cannot help the people choose the right Leader.

Pastor Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu Esq is passionate about Edo State and pleads for a level playing field to contest in a free and fair election.

I owe Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu nothing and there is nothing he has promised me. But when a man’s character is unjustly shredded in the court of public opinion people will rise up . Edo State deserves a free and fair election process not an internet based campaign of calumny.
Our refuge is in the Lord, whom shall we fear.

I only ask you who is reading this to seek the truth and for those voting on the 19th September 2020 to be properly guided so that your vote is cast meaningfully .

You have the power. It is yours. Use it reasonably.

The Future Is Now.