The turbaning yesterday of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, in Auchi has finally exposed the plans of the APC and its candidate to establish a RUGA settlement in Edo State, Edo State branch of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said on Thursday.
In a statement signed by its Chairman Sub-Committee on Media & Publicity, Edo 2020 Campaign Council, Mr. Osa Nehikhare,PDP said: Last year, we raised the alarm of plans by then APC government in Edo State to cede lands especially in the rural areas in the state for the establishment of the RUGA settlement, but Governor Godwin Obaseki denied it and promised Edo people that he will not cede their rights and lands to anybody. The months that followed revealed the sincerity of the Governor.
However, the fear of the Edo people concerning RUGA was brought back in Auchi on Wednesday at the turbaning of Pastor Ize-Iyamu in company of his godfather, Adams Oshiomhole.
Edo people were inundated with pictures of the Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu dressed like Miyetti Allah cattle breeders, whose pre-occupation is the welfare of fulani herdsmen including securing lands for the pastoralists. We are aware that the pictures of the APC candidate dressed in that special attire was for confirmation of the deal initiated by Adams Oshiomhole in his desperation to win the governorship election at all cost.
We know that the APC candidate now has grand patron privileges for herdsmen and that they look up to him for land as they attempt to extend their conquered territories to Edo. With Ize-Iyamu as governor and the APC as the party, the task of the expansionists is close to completion and our farmers and their families are in danger!
The APC candidate has demonstrated what will be his major concerns if he ever got to office…the interests of fulani herdsmen and that of his godfathers. The title conferred on him in Auchi may mean one thing in Afemai language but the attire certainly had a covert message.
We call on Edo people to reject planned ceding of their lands to marauders, who kill, maim and destroy.
We commend Governor Godwin Obaseki for resisting such offer in the past to defend fulani herdsmen and not Edo people. The resilence of the governor is highly commendable. We know that the governor will never cede an ounce of Edo land to anyone or group.
