Date Published: 05/05/10

Re: 2011, Group urges Oshiomhole to sack SSG

Dear Editor,

It was with great consternation that we read on a newspaper of Thursday, April 29 th, an article by so called “Edo North Peoples Democratic Party Youth Vanguard” under the leadership of a certain Anetokhai Umar.

It is very clear that these people are being sponsored a certain Senator do-nothing from a faction of the Edo State PDP representing Edo North Constituency. This write up is born out of their fears of the Secretary to the Edo State Government; Hon. Pally Iriase, should he decide to contest for any elective political position in the upcoming elections. And the irony of the whole issue is that they indeed should be scared! Honorable Iriase has rather intimidating credentials as a one-time Principal Internal Auditor, Assistant Zonal Bank Controller, Deputy Speaker Edo State House of Assembly, Owan East Local Government Chairman, Chairman; ALGON, Edo State Branch, National Vice-President, Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), and now Secretary to the Edo State Government! He has held top sensitive positions both in the Legislative and Executive arms of Government and as a result, he has the experience and his integrity is unquestionable and his fearlessness is legendary! With such a rich, diverse and unblemished record of accomplishments and doggedness, the so called PDP Youth Vanguard and their sponsors have every right to be scared! They should be really scared!! Honorable Pally Iriase is a man whose conscience can neither be silenced nor bought!!

While not holding forte for Hon. Iriase as we believe he can at anytime speak for himself, for the benefit of those who are not aware, it is necessary to explain certain facts.

       First of all, the whole story is just a figment of imagination of the warped minds of these people. Chief Mrs. Evelyn Igbafe is an adult and can speak for herself without any prodding from any person. She can decide to express support for anyone. That is her constitutional right. Or has it now become a crime for an Edo Indigene to freely express his/her political views?

       Secondly, the Edo State Secretary to State Government; Hon. Pally Iriase, has NOT signified his intention to contest for any political position in the forth coming elections. As a Nigerian and an Edo State Citizen, it is his legal right to contest for any electoral position of his choice. SHOULD he decide to contest, Hon. Pally Iriase can and will speak clearly for himself. He doesn’t need to hide behind anybody. If these so called people have the slightest idea of the type of person that Hon. Pally Iriase is, they would know that even among his so called “foes”, he isn’t known be a coward. Honorable Iriase’s courage is legendary. A man who even when the so called biggest political party in Africa was in power in Edo state and a certain godfather was alpha and omega, fearlessly fought for the entrenchment of true democratic values in the political system as well as ensuring that the people of Edo North get the dividends of democracy. Is that the same man who today as an SSG would need a smokescreen to hide behind?

       Thirdly, to even remotely hint that the SSG is using “government resources to prepare for the 2011 Edo North Senatorial ticket under the Action Congress (AC) in the state”, is just plain stupidity and clearly illustrates the shockingly low level of reasoning of these disgruntled people.

Did Hon. Iriase need Government Resources to become Chairman, Committee of Heads of Internal Audit Departments in Nigerian Universities? Did Hon. Iriase need government resources to the best Local Government Chairman in 2005 award presented by the Grassroots Leadership Centre, Abuja in March. As well as the best performing Local Government Chairman in the entire South-South region of the country for the year 2005. Best Performing Local Government Chairman in Edo State (2006) by the National Youths Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Edo State branch. Or maybe he needed government resources to be appointed as the Edo State SSG?

In order to enlighten these delusional people, Hon. Pally Iriase is a banker of impeccable integrity, an excellent administrator, astute politician and a prudent manager of human and material resources.

However, for the records, let it be put straight that Honorable Pally Iriase is NOT using the resources of the Edo State Government for any imaginary or perceived political career. Let the PDP Youths Vanguard ask any member of this present government and they will be informed that Honorable Pally Iriase is not a man known for financial wastefulness.

We, the Edo North Action Congress Youth Vanguard strongly condemn such frivolous and baseless accusations and would fight viciously to defend the integrity of Hon. Pally Iriase; a man whose passionate and dogged commitment to the development of Edo North is unquestionable. An integrity that even their so called godfather fought with all his might to tarnish yet failed. They should remember: “For who is he who saith a thing and it comes to pass when the Lord God has not decreed it”. 

Signed.

Oluma Zokhai- Media Spokesman, Edo North Action Congress Youth Vanguard.