The Onojie of Uromi, HRH Anslem Okojie, has debunked a report in some national dailies in which he was quoted to have cast aspersion on the character of the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
Apparently skewing the report of the visit of its governorship candidate, Mr Godwin Obaseki, in his (Obaseki’s) favour, the APC publicity machinery had fed a section of the media with some falsehood about what transpired in the palace of the traditional ruler on August 3, 2016.
The traditional ruler, who reacted swiftly on Friday to the report, said it was not true that he said Pastor Ize-Iyamu could not be trusted to be governor due to the PDP’s track record of underdevelopment in Esan land.
In a statement issued on his behalf by the National Secretary of Uromi Traditional Council, Chief Oza Francis, he dared the APC leadership and the party’s campaign organisation to produce a video recording of their visit to his palace showing where he made such statement.
According to the statement, “Let it be noted that the Onojie of Uromi never said the following during the visit of Governor Adams Oshiomhole and his entourage to the Palace:
“That he does not trust Pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu to be the Governor of Edo State, but rather, (that) Ize Iyamu was welcome to his palace 30 times a day if he wants because they are personal friends.
“That Chief Tony Anenih cannot control him, (but rather that) Chief Tony Anenih is an illustrious son of Esan land and Uromi in particular, and we are so proud of him.
“That the PDP had made many unfulfilled promises in Esan land.”
The statement clarified that the traditional ruler did not even make any reference to PDP during his speech.
Giving further highlights of what transpired in the palace during the visit, It quoted the traditional ruler to have berated the governor and his entourage for breaching protocol by first going to the venue of their campaign before coming to the palace, a thing he would not do whenever he visits the Government House.
On the reported sharing of N6 million among the Enijies, the statement further clarified that the traditional ruler’s explanation was as a result of the falsehood being spread by the Onojie of Opoji that he was not part of the endorsement of Pastor Ize-Iyamu by the Enijies in Esan land.
It further stated that he told the APC visitors that 29 Enijies, including the Onojie of Opoji, unanimously endorsed the candidacy of Ize-Iyamu, adding that they still stand by their decision
According to the statement, “the Onojie thanked Oshiomhole for approving the two road projects done in Uromi and the Town Hall built for the Efandion Community by PDP members representing constituencies 1 and 2 in the House of Assembly.”
The traditional ruler, according to the statement, has challenged the APC and the newspapers that published the falsehood to urgently produce the video evidence of the August 3, 2016 visit in order to set the record straight concerning what transpired in his palace.
