By Gbenga Abulude
All Progressives Candidate (APC) candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, on Friday, had an axe to grind again with his counterpart in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and incumbent governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki during a debate organised by BBC News Pidgin, for candidates in the September 19 Election.
Obaseki, who started the virtual debate with other participants caused a stir when he left to attend another meeting, after taking permission from the moderator.
The governor addressed the moderator and his co-panelists, Ize-Iyamu and Mr Jones Osagiobare of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) to allow his deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu, to continue the debate in his stead.
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However, this got the APC candidate, Ize-Iyamu furious who objected to the idea, insisting that he would not debate with Shaibu.
The debate took place late Friday around 9pm and was streamed live on BBC social media platforms.
Obaseki, who had relieved himself from the debate, however, came back about an hour later towards the end of the debate which was held virtually.
He spoke in pidgin English. He said, “First, I wan’ thank una say una invite me come this programme, make we debate among ourselves, make we fit talk wetin we wan do for the people of Edo State.
“But make I first start by apologising. You see, as I dey now, I no dey Benin. I had to travel on emergency this evening come somewhere. And the meeting dey very important. But abi tell una, so my deputy dey on ground. E no get anything wey I dey do wey im no know.
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“So, I say out of respect, make I first do this opening round, I will rush go the meeting, and hopefully my deputy go continue.”
But reacting, Ize-Iyamu said, “Abeg make I talk small for wetin Governor Obaseki talk. This debate na for governorship candidates, no be wetin den dey delegate. If he no go fit stay, he no go fit stay.
“But say he wan’ comot make im deputy go come dey follow us debate, I no get hand for that one. If he no dey ready, make im no say, he no wan’ debate with us.
“But if he wants to debate, he has to stay but me no go sit down with im deputy. If na deputy own, I go call my deputy make im come talk with im deputy. No be me and im deputy dey debate, na governorship debate.”
The PDP and APC along with their candidates ahead of the all important governorship election, had been in a battle of wits, accusations and counter-accusations and even involved their political thugs in the contest.
The Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare II, on Wednesday had sued for peace between the two candidates and their parties, adding that the peace in Edo State was more important than the violence that had followed the campaigns of both parties.
In the meeting that had the presence of major stakeholders in Edo Politics, the monarch asked that they sheath their swords.
Obaseki and Ize-Iyamu later demonstrated Oba’s appeal by embracing each other.
