Edo Guber: Why Buhari Shuns Ize-Iyamu
Facts have emerged on why President Muhammadu Buhari refused to see Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the September 19, 2020 governorship election in Edo State, despite repeated pleas by the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, on behalf of Ize-Iyamu.
Buhari, as the leader of the ruling party, usually receives APC candidates in Aso Rock to reaffirm his support for them. He has, however, refused to see Ize-Iyamu.
A reliable source at the Aso Presidential Villa, Abuja, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, quoted the President as bluntly telling the SGF: “I cannot be seen with someone my administration is prosecuting in court for N700 million loot. I cannot support him. It was Oshiomhole’s mistake that led to his emergence. I don’t really know him and he can’t be trusted. We would allow Edo people decide.”
It is also customary that the President flags-off a gubernatorial campaign with all the APC governors in attendance. However, feelers suggest that neither President Buhari nor key APC governors may grace Ize-Iyamu’s campaign flag-off “as they cannot be seen openly identifying with a supposedly corrupt man, according to records and Oshiomhole.”