By Emmanuel Atseyinku (9News Nigeria)
9News Nigeria reporter has revealed how the campaign group for the Gubernatorial Candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) party, Pastor Ize Iyamu has paid youths of Edo state to stage a protest against governor Obaseki in effort to stop him from allegedly taking ₦20Billion Loan.
As a result of investigation and interview with some of the Youths paid for the protest, 9News Nigeria gathered that one Comrade Osazuwa Fredrick was paid by his principal, Edo state APC Campaign group for Pastor Ize Iyamu to mobilize Youths to protest in Benin City against Governor Goodwin Obaseki, who is also the gubernatorial flag bearer of People Democratic party (PDP)
WhatsApp Group Chat Screenshots of the conversations between Mr. Fredrick and other youths mobilized for the protest were confidentially released to 9News Nigeria which we were able to verify from some of the participants.
In another telephone interview with Mr. Fredrick, he confirmed that the protest which was held on Tuesday 14th July 2020 was convened by concerned Youths of Edo state who felt that Obaseki should be stopped, and that he happened to be the one to mobilize the youths.
When 9News Nigeria reporter asked him about receiving money for the job and also paying money to the conveners and other participants as was revealed by evidences available, Mr. Fredrick denied and said that the protest was voluntarily done without any monetary interest attacked.
After relating the evidence to him, Mr. Fredrick accepted that the conveners and participants received some remunerations, but said it was just a kind of refreshment given to them.
Efforts to diffuse the evidence that Pastor Ize Iyamu and his campaign group were directly involved was denied after 9News Nigeria Edo state correspondent insisted to speak with Pastor Ize Iyamu.
9News Nigeria.