By Ikhili Ebhalu, Benin City


Rather than its usual diatribe against the APC, the PDP actually said 
something nice to the ruling party Friday.


"Your  excellent description of the character traits of Obaseki did hit
the bull's eye",  the PDP gushes in its reaction to the birthday goodwill 
message  from the APC's  governorship  candidate in the Edo state 
governorship election, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, to the State governor, 
Godwin Obaseki on his 63rd birthday


"The qualities of a governor which you (Ize-iyamu) listed best described 
Gov Obaseki and that is why the people of Edo state have settled for him
following his record of personal character and performance in office", 
the PDP declared.


The party, noting Ize-Iyamu’s goodwill message to Governor
Obaseki on his 63rd birthday, states: "Our party also notes that 
Ize-Iyamu’s message came at the time Gov Obaseki was also receiving 
massive outpouring of solidarity from the people of Edo state, 
including APC leaders, who called to  express their support for the
PDP candidate.


" PDP appreciates Ize-Iyamu's s message, as Gov Obaseki, has in the last 
four years, concentrated on unifying the state, doused political tension
and remained completely focused on developing the state, which is 
the reason the people of Edo have collectively  settled for his re-election",
the PDP said.


Posing a rhetorical poser, it asked, which other candidate in 
this election has received such approval, recommendation 
and acclamation by the leaders and people of Edo State except
Obaseki?


The party maintained that  given Obaseki's track record of performance,
 they  iiuare ready for a credible, issue-based and performance driven campaign.


"The demand of “high standard of behavior”, which Ize-Iyamu demands is
therefore left for him and his APC to showcase", the opposition party argued 
and urged  Ize-Iyamu to look inwards and counsel his party, the APC, 
against its usual resort to violence, mud-slinging, electoral manipulations 
which had even started in their nomination process, and urged the APC 
to be ready to accept defeat as the people had already settled for 
Gov Obaseki