By Osaigbovo Eweka.
I have read with concern the various fabricated stories and misleading narratives circulating across social media by sponsored online propagandists claiming that Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu was instrumental to the emergence of Senator Monday Okpebholo as Senator representing Edo Central and subsequently as Governor of Edo State.
As someone who was actively involved in, and a direct witness to, the political events that culminated in both victories, I consider it necessary to set the record straight and correct the deliberate distortion of facts being promoted to deceive the public.
Let me state clearly and unequivocally: Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu did not support Senator Monday Okpebholo during his senatorial ambition.
At the time Senator Okpebholo visited Ize-Iyamu to seek his support ahead of the Edo Central Senatorial election, Ize-Iyamu told him plainly that he was not from Edo Central Senatorial District and therefore could not assist him politically.
Senator Okpebholo accepted the response in good faith, returned to Esanland, and continued his grassroots campaign without any form of political or financial support from Ize-Iyamu.
Against all expectations, Senator Monday Okpebholo went on to win the election, defeating an incumbent PDP senator and proving that his victory was earned through popular support, determination, and grassroots acceptance, not through the backing of Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
A similar situation unfolded during the governorship race.
Again, Senator Okpebholo approached Ize-Iyamu and appealed to him to support the growing agitation for power rotation to Edo Central by stepping down for him for the sake of equity and fairness.
However, Ize-Iyamu refused and insisted on pursuing his governorship ambition, consistent with his long-standing political disposition.
It is important to state for the record that Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu only withdrew from the governorship contest after the Presidency directed that the governorship ticket be zoned to Edo Central and ceded to the senator from the district, namely Senator Monday Okpebholo.
It has also become necessary to address another misleading claim repeatedly pushed by Ize-Iyamu’s contracted media mob regarding the incident during the party primary election that led to some party officials relocating temporarily to his residence.
The truth is simple: the relocation had nothing to do with political endorsement or strategic support for Senator Okpebholo. At the time, party leaders merely needed a spacious compound to conclude the ongoing process, and Ize-Iyamu’s residence happened to be considered suitable for that purpose.
Any other available residence belonging to party leaders could just as easily have served the same function.
Furthermore, it is a matter of public record that during Osagie Ize-Iyamu’s previous governorship contests, Senator Monday Okpebholo was among his strongest supporters, both financially and politically— second only to the late Captain Hosa Okunbo of blessed memory.
Ironically, the same level of support cannot be attributed to Ize-Iyamu in any of Senator Monday Okpebholo’s political contests, whether in terms of financial contributions, political mobilization, or electoral support.
The attempt by social media contractors working for Osagie Ize-Iyamu to rewrite history and create a false impression of political benevolence where none existed is both unfortunate and dishonest.
Political achievements should not be built on propaganda, revisionism, and manufactured narratives, but on truth, facts, and the will of the people.
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