Yekini Idaiye, Recently impeached Former Deputy speaker of Edo state has denied claims that he received 40 million naira from APC Gubernatorial Candidate Pastor Ize-Iyamu.
Idiaye’s impeachment followed after an election was conducted in a plenary session by the members of the assembly.
Reacting to the Impeachment and the Allegations, Idaye in a lengthy statement on Wednesday stated that the assertion of receiving funds from Ize-iyamu is Malicious.
He further stated that his decision to remain at APC was not aided by bribes or any spiteful intentions, But was in respect of his constituency decision.
He however said that his allegiance to Governor Obaseki and his deputy remained the same prior to his impeachment.
his statement reads:
“My attention has been drawn to the malicious allegation made against me by Rt. Hon. (Comrade) Philip Shaibu, the Deputy Governor of Edo State during the PDP Governorship campaign in Akoko-Edo that I collected the sum of #40 million from the former National Chairman of APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomohole to pitch tent with my own party, the APC and its Governorship candidate Pastor Osagie Ize- Iyamu,” he said.
“Ordinarily, I would have treated this allegation with levity and dismiss it with a wave of the hand, but I am constrained to react to the unfounded allegation to put the record straight.
“I wish to State that I decided to remain in my political party, the APC in the interest of my constituency and constituents after due consultations with my people.
“I also want to put on record that none of the allegations levelled against me is true. I have been receiving calls and messages from my constituents and friends who know me very well and understand that I can’t indulge in self-centered politics.
“My active participation in politics is to meet the needs of my people and I will not lose that focus no matter the distractions.
“The interest of my people is paramount in all my undertakings and I will not derail from that purpose. It is also good to state that when the governor defected to PDP, I consulted with my constituents on the next step to take and they advised me to remain in APC. I don’t have anything against the governor or the deputy governor. They are my leaders and my insistence to remain in APC is informed by the collective decision of my people. If our roads are good, Ojirami dam is working effectively and supplying water to communities in my constituency and there are adequate teachers in our schools, the story would have been different.
“I have been an active member of AC right from when the party was formed, before the name of the party was changed to ACN and subsequently APC upon merger with ANPP and CPC. I was not given a dime by anybody neither did I demand a dime from anybody to join the party from inception. So, I can’t be collecting money from anybody to remain in that same party. I can’t also be requesting for financial inducement to decamp to another party. To me, aligning with a party or leaving a party should be a matter of self conviction devoid of financial inducement.
“Let me also restate that I don’t have anything against the governor and the deputy governor over their defection to PDP. We were together in APC. We worked together and there is no regrets about it. They also know that my loyalty to them and the party was sacrosanct when we were together in APC.
“I want the members of the public to be guided that I did not ask for financial inducement from anybody and did not get financial inducement from anybody to remain in APC.
I will continue respect and be loyal to my governor and deputy governor despite pursuing different political goals.”
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