Edo South stands today at a defining crossroads. After years of fragmented voices and competing interests, a singular, strategic pathway has emerged, one that embodies the collective aspirations of our people. That pathway is the Unity Ticket personified in the senatorial ambition of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
This is not merely another candidacy. It is a convergence. It is timely, strategic, and already doing the work it promises: unifying all key stakeholders across Edo South.
Why It Is Called the Unity Ticket:
The name was not coined by consultants. It was earned on the ground. Over the past months, traditional rulers, community leaders, youth blocs, market women associations, professional bodies, and political stakeholders across the seven local government areas of Edo South have rallied behind Pastor Ize-Iyamu’s vision. What began as consultation has become consensus.
The Unity Ticket reflects three realities:
- Broad-based Acceptance: From Benin Kingdom stakeholders to riverine communities in Ovia and Ikpoba-Okha, the call for POI has transcended party lines and sectional interests. Leaders who rarely sit at the same table are now building one together.
- Strategic Timing: Edo South needs a voice in the Senate with the stature, network, and moral authority to negotiate development, attract federal presence, and defend our cultural and economic interests. Pastor Ize-Iyamu brings decades of public service, grassroots credibility, and national reach. This moment cannot wait.
- Purpose-Driven Politics: This ambition is not about personal elevation. It is about consolidating Edo South’s bargaining power at the center. A divided front weakens us. A united front makes us undeniable.
The Desire of Edo South Leaders:
We, the leaders of Edo South, have spoken with one voice. Our desire is clear:
- Effective Representation: Someone who understands the legislative process and can sponsor bills that directly impact Gelegele Seaport development, Benin-Abraka Road completion, youth employment, and erosion control.
- Access Without Barriers: A Senator whose doors are open to the palace and the streets alike. Pastor Ize-Iyamu’s pastoral background and political experience have forged a leader who listens first and acts with empathy.
Stability for 2027 and Beyond:
The Unity Ticket ends the cycle of post-election litigation and intra-zonal rivalry. By coalescing early, Edo South conserves energy for governance, not conflict.
These are not wishes. They are demands, and Pastor Ize-Iyamu has committed to them as covenants.
A Track Record That Unifies:
Leaders unite behind people they trust. Pastor Ize-Iyamu’s record as former Chief of Staff and Secretary to the State Government, and his consistent advocacy for Edo interests, make him a known quantity.
He has stood with civil servants during reforms, with pensioners during difficult transitions, and with youths through mentorship and capacity-building initiatives.
He does not need to introduce himself to Edo South. Edo South is introducing him to the Senate.
The Path Forward:
The Unity Ticket is already in motion. Stakeholder town halls from Egor to Oredo, strategic endorsements from professional guilds, and alignment among grassroots mobilizers prove that this is not aspiration, it is execution.
We call on all sons and daughters of Edo South, at home and in the diaspora, to close ranks. The train of progress leaves no one behind when we move as one.
Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu’s senatorial ambition is strategic because it prioritizes the collective over the individual. It is timely because Edo South cannot afford another four years of diffused influence.
And it is a Unity Ticket because it has already achieved what others only promise: bringing all key stakeholders under one vision for a greater Edo South.
The time is now. The choice is clear. The ticket is unity.
Signed:
Prof Ovienseri Aibueku— Ovia North East
Chief Matthew Ehigie — Orhionmwon
Mr Frank Evbuomwan — Ovia South West
Mr Gentleman Amegor —Egor
Chief Kennester Oteghekpen —Oredo
CP Rtd Nosa Ojo — Ikpoba Okha
Hon. Napoleon Agbama —Uhunmwode
Mrs Mabel Adams — Oredo
The Leadership of Friends for POI
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