A governorship aspirant in Edo State, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has dismissed a speculated rift between him and Adams Oshiomhole, the former governor of the state and former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ize-Iyamu spoke in an interview on Arise Television’s The Morning Show on Thursday.
The former Edo APC governorship candidate said he was on good terms with Oshiomhole, describing their relationship as cordial.
Ize-Iyamu said, “I will tell you categorically that we are on good terms. There is no quarrel between myself and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
“We have worked closely throughout the party formation to begin to quarrel unnecessarily. The fact that we disagree does not mean that there is a problem. He has a strong personality, and I also have that. So we are bound to disagree,” he added.
Recall that the ruling party fixed February 17 for the conduct of its primary ahead of the September 21 governorship election in Edo State.
Reports emerged that Ize-Iyamu was disqualified from the APC’s primary by a screening committee allegedly constituted by Oshiomhole, a claim he has since dismissed, maintaining that he is still very much in the contest.
Ize-Iyamu said the decision as to who becomes the APC flagbearer is not a decision for ‘one man’.
Noting that Oshiomhole is a highly respected party man, Ize-Iyamu said the former Edo governor cannot decide who becomes the APC governorship candidate.
“The issue of who becomes a candidate is not a decision for one man. Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is highly respected in our party, but even he will not tell you that ‘I will decide who will be,” he said.
