>
Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, has accused the deputy speaker of the House of Assembly, Yekini Idiaye, of collecting N40 million from the governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole, to support the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Osagie Ize-Iyamu, in the September 19 governorship election.
Addressing supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lampese, Akoko-Edo local government area, on Tuesday, Shaibu alleged that Idiaye, who represents Akoko-Edo Constituency I, and the member representing Akoko-Edo Constituency II, Emmanuel Agbaje, were paid N40 million each to influence their support for Ize-Iyamu.
The deputy speaker, Idiaye, and Agbaje had on Sunday pledged their support for Ize-Iyamu.
But Shaibu called on the people of Akoko-Edo to ask their representatives at the House of Assembly for their share of the N40 million given to them by Oshiomhole.
He said: “The Speaker of the Edo House of Assembly and all the principal officers are supporting the governor while those that left demanded money which he declined because of the love and interest of Edo people.
“Hon Agbaje and Hon. Yekini collected N40 million each to throw their support for Ize-Iyamu. Oshiomhole also gave N5 million each to councilors to switch loyalty and support the APC candidate.”
Reacting to Shaibu’s claims, the deputy speaker said: “I do not think that one will collect money to remain in his party. You only collect money to defect to other parties.”
In a related development, Shaibu in a statement on Tuesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Benjamin Atu, said Obaseki would continue to develop the state and ensure that opportunities were available to the people.
“With a dedicated focus on development and synergy with relevant development partners, we restored the pride and dignity of Edo State. Edo State was a gloomy state when we took over the administration but today the story is different,” he said.
Shaibu noted that rather than fighting the government for not allocating the wealth of the state among some people, Oshiomhole and APC’s governorship candidate, Ize-Iyamu, should acknowledge the ingenuity and resilience of the Governor Obaseki-led administration towards eradicating poverty in the state.