From Tony Osauzo, Benin
A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize- Iyamu has debunked claims by those he described as politicians desperate to earn their pay that he received bags of rice from ex-president Goodluck Jonathan.
Ize-Iyamu said he neither received nor converted same for sharing to his supporters last Christmas.
The PDP chieftain, who stated this yesterday in Benin expressed surprise that although the rice story has been dismissed by the party’s leadership in the state, as untrue and baseless, those bent on doing him in were still insisting that the allegation must be investigated.
“I was by the grace of God the coordinator of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan’s Presidential Campaign in Edo State, an assignment I discharged faithfully and successfully despite the final outcome. I am aware that the rice allegation is sponsored by political dwarfs who cannot comprehend my political height and consistently look for platforms to climb and throw stones. For the records, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan or PDP never brought rice to distribute for the presidential election in Edo State; so, it is impossible to contemplate non-existent rice being diverted.
“It was Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), a support group for the then President that sent some bags of rice branded in their name and these rice which were in 5kg bags were given to the party leadership to distribute and were never given to me as state coordinator.
“The rice I shared during the Christmas season were in 50kg, 25kg, 10kg and 2kg bags respectively. The 2kg bags which had the inscription of PDP and operation feed Nigeria was produced by a friend and his phone number is boldly written on the sachet. He gave me these sachets free of charge to be able to give as many people as possible during Christmas.
“I stuck my stickers on the sachets after bagging them to enable the recipients know where the rice came from and I thank God for all those who supported me to achieve this gesture of love in a state that has been plundered by those who promised to abolish poverty. I challenge those who persist in lies and character assassination to call the phone number on the back of the 2kg sachets and confirm the producer of these sachets.”