Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu, the six-foot three inches accomplished homeboy of the cultural-rich Benin City, is a well-focused humane politician; a consummate diplomat; a legal mind well-versed in the intricate labyrinths of consensus-building with various groups; a public administrator with a Midas touch for excellence; a mentor, a preacher and teacher; a de-trabalised Nigerian who embraces talents and invests in them.
Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu, the humble servant of God is a man with a rising profile in Christianity; an honest public figure who fears God in politics and human relations; and most significantly, a wonderful family man, husband and father, and a pillar of hope for the younger generation of Nigerians in the South-South geopolitical region in particular.
Today, Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu is one of the biggest miracles of our time, as he has confounded his friends and foes with his monumental transformation from the comfortable recesses of traditional upbringing to a man of God, saving souls; from an adventurous youth at the brink of social reprisals to an exceedingly calm, organized smooth – operator now loved for his organizational sagacity; from a stubborn man versed in the ways of the world to a humble, highly disciplined public figure with a soaring profile of a good natured politician who can be trusted to keep his word.
Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu was born 21st June 1962 into the upper middle-class family of late Chief Robert Osayande Ize-Iyamu, the highly respected Benin Chief, the Esogban of Benin Kingdom and Mrs. Magdalene N. Ize-Iyamu (nee Obasohan). Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu had the unique privilege of growing up as a child in the first storey building (Egedege Nokhao) in Benin City, built in 1906 by his great grandfather. The building still stands as the family house of the Ize-Iyamus at No. 30 Erie Street, Benin City. The political versatility of the family could also be gleaned from the singular but strategic action of the father of Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu, who donated one of his houses, also at Erie Street, in Benin City, free of charge, to serve as the Secretariat for the groundswell movement for the creation of Edo State, from the old Bendel State. With the privileged family background, young Osagie had his primary, secondary and tertiary education, all in the ancient city of Benin – this qualities him as a thoroughbred homeboy, but showed traces of burning cosmopolitan zeal and leadership potentials.
By 1973, when he completed his primary education at Ebenezer Nursery & Primary School, Benin City, he had made a landmark obtaining the best result in the Common Entrance Examinations in the then Midwestern region. Expectedly, he became the toast of Principals of Secondary Schools, but his father chose Edo College, Benin City, which was then acclaimed a high-flying secondary school in the region. Young Osagie confirmed his stellar status in Edo College in 1979 where he obtained the best result in the Arts class in the West Africa School Certificate Examination (WASC). Buoyed by his high-profile academic performances, young Osagie’s mindset was to follow the footsteps of his elder brothers who deliberately traveled abroad for further studies.
With Osagie’s proximity to the flurry of communal politicking done by his father, he developed keen interest in it. Osagie chose to read Political Science, and was admitted into the University of Benin, Benin City in 1980 to read Political Science. But that was not to be. Inadvertenly obeying the dictates of fate, Osagie changed his course of study to Law the following academic session, and became one of the pioneering students in the Faculty.
At the University, youthful exuberance, pride and adventure overwhelmed young Osagie who combined effectively his intimidating stature, generosity to friends, courage to dare the strong and freewheeling lifestyle to become a Leader and Kingmaker both in the Student Union Congress as well as Pyrates Confraternity – the toast of strong-willed students in those days. He however renounced his membership of the Pyrates Confraternity publicly after giving his life to Jesus Christ. Expectedly with his high-profile student activities, Osagie, in his final year came under the hammer of the University authorities and was expelled from the University. Following appeals from well-meaning Nigerians, and taking into account his clean academic records, the University Senate decided to recall him to complete his Law Degree programme in the 1985/86 academic session. He returned calmly to school in 1985 and completed his studies. He proceeded to the Nigerian Law School and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1987.
In 1994, Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu got married to Dr. Idia Ize-Iyamu, a dentist and born again Christian. His choice of wife surprised many who had thought that considering his lifestyle he would have preferred a boisterous lady without deep religious conviction. She became a moral catalyst in his life. In 1995, Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu met God in action in his life. That year, on his way to Lagos fate changed the course of his life forever when he was involved in a road crash. Unconscious for nine hours, Osagie Ize-Iyamu suffered dislocated hips and fractured toes with trauma. At the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi – Lagos, where good Samaritans to which rushed him, God Himself, being the Ultimate Physician, visited him and healed him. Osagie Ize-Iyamu was surprised his dislocated hips returned to their original positions miraculously. Overwhelmed by the divine favour, and with the positive prodding of his wife to give his life to the service of God, his creator, Osagie joined the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), where he grew in knowledge and wisdom about God and Church administration. As family members, friends and foes watched in amazement at his transformed life, Osagie within a short timer was made a minister in the church.
In 1998, he was made Pastor of the Upper Room Parish of the Church. Located at Adesuwa Road, G.R.A., Benin City. He plunged himself into the assignment and with the encouragement and prayerful support of his wife, as well as the commitment of the other ministers, he was able to raise the hitherto small parish (branch) to the biggest RCCG church in Edo State. He was appointed the Area Pastor of the GRA 1 area Church overseeing three parishes with headquarters at the Upper Room Parish, and became an inspiration to thousands of youths in Edo State, with the assignment of overseeing the entire Youths of the RCCG in Edo State.
Osagie Ize-Iyamu’s passion for the work of God was confirmed publicly by the General Overseer of the RCCG, the highly respected Pastor Enoch Adeboye, who was personally in Benin City to dedicate he magnificent church building, which was accomplished in a record time with the commitment of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
Today, Osagie Ize-Iyamu is the Assistant Pastor, overseeing Province 2, in charge of Christian Social Responsibility of the RCCG in Edo State. That Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu has changed tremendously and positively impacting thousands is not in contention. Those who knew him in his younger days are today pleasantly surprise at the great and positive transformation that has taken place in him. He is today, undoubtedly, a man of God.
Osagie Ize-Iyamu sowed a seed of his political activism long ago during his university days as a vibrant member of the Student Union Congress, and being highly instrumental to the election of several Presidents and Executive members of the Student Union. That experience was given impetus, in realistic term, when Osagie Ize-Iyamu became one of the operational planks that saw to the election of the then Mr. Lucky Nosakhare Igbinedion as the Chairman of Oredo local Government Council, Benin City, in 1988 under the Zero-Party system. Osagie Ize-Iyamu later served as the Special Assistant to the Chairman and garnered hands-on experience in political diplomacy and nerve-wracking negotiations to weld together diverse interest groups in a complex political terrain as Oredo, the heart and suburbs as Assistant National Convention (a national political association), and elected delegate to the Port-Harcourt national convention of the moribund National Republican Convention (NRC) in 1993.
Osagie Ize-Iyamu’s sojourn in private legal practice and business rested in 1999 with his emergence as the Chief of Staff, Government House, Edo State, under the administration of Dr. Lucky Nosakhare Igbinedion, Executive Governor of Edo State – an evidence of the virtues of loyalty and trust. As the Chief of Staff, for four years (199 – 2003), Osagie Ize-Iyamu elevated the office to the enviable status of a melting pot of consultation, strategy and confidence – building. Armed with several years of political experience on the one hand, and a copy of the Holy Bible on the other hand, Osagie Ize-Iyamu became the man to trust and do business with in the State Government. He became the rallying point of energies and ideas, one of the few sincere officers that could always tell the Governor the truth rather than render deceitful service. He was the open and detribalized public officer who had patience to listen to all and mental capacity to intellectually articulate the issues from all angles for the Governor, with traits of humanity and loyalty that endeared him to so many in, and outside the state. No wonder that even in the heat of the usual government-labour interface, a skeptical group like Pensioners and Labour Leaders could believe him and even salute him for his courage and sincerity in realistically ameliorating their plight. Indeed, he was instrumental to the peaceful labour-government relations, then in Edo State.
When Governor Lucky Igbinedion began a second term in office in 2003, his search for a reliable Secretary to the State Government (SSG), a high – profile position of immense trust and confidence as the critical nexus and strategic catalyst in the governance of the state, ended very quickly. He settled for Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu as a dependable coordinator of men and resources. Osagie Ize-Iyamu proved to be reliable, trustworthy and a positive generational ambassador committed to the well being of Edos, as a young politician that does not discriminate, highly de-tribalised, open to positive ideas, motivator of positive agenda for the government, a respecter of elders and social values, a nexus of hope for Christians in Government, and a crusader of fairness and social justice.
Unknown to so many Edo State, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, fired by the twin factors of his renewed heart in fear of God and strong desire for sincere public service to mankind, especially in Edo State, was an unhappy young man in Edo State Government. His closeness to the top leadership of the political party and dexterity in the intricate labyrinth of power and governance exposed him to an unpleasant truth: autocracy in party politics and state governance personified by a national leader of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). This anathema and contradiction to democratic principles and practices had direct negative implications on the good governance and social mobilization of the people of Edo State. Osagie Ize-Iyamu, could not stand the injustice in the socio-political terrain, and like the Biblical John the Baptist, launched a risky lone-ranging campaign to rescue the activities of mainstream PDP politics from a dictator. Thus, was born in 2005. The Grace Group, a socio-political pressure outfit with the apt slogan: “No Man is God.” As the forerunner and instigator, Osagie Ize-Iyamu had divinely started a political revolution that later ridiculed and consumed the political war chest of the PDP in Edo State. The Grace Group philosophy caught the PDP automatic leadership by surprise, and the declaratory slogan spread like wild-fire, fetching disciples in droves across the 18 local government areas of Edo State.
As a popular pressure group, the Grace Group courageously became the fulcrum for the formation and emergence of new political party – Action Congress of Nigeria – in Edo State as viable political alternative to the out-of-sync PDP. The political battle to unseat the PDP in government in Edo State was the first landmark test for the new political machinery. Osagie Ize-Iyamu’s vision, hard-work, and rebellion against the autocracy and inertia in the political landscape in Edo State, were vindicated with the victory of the ACN Governorship candidate, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole at the elections in 2007.
What better proof that the political defiance and courage of Osagie, and like minds, using the instrumentality of the progressive Grace Group, in confronting the entrenched autocracy and pomposity of the PDP was fortuitous, that the political freedom that has midwifed the unprecedented infrastructural development, urban renewal and social services delivery by the Edo State Government led by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. Expectedly, the political status and relevance of Osagie Ize-Iyamu has soared in geometric proportions in the state. Apart from leveraging the structure and vision of the Oshiomhole’s administration, Osagie Ize-Iyamu was appointed the Chairman of Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s one year anniversary in office.
As the political whizkid with immense followership, and courageous in political maneuvering, coupled with the positive social services delivery capabilities of the Oshiomhole led administration in Edo State, Osagie Ize-Iyamu in conjuction with the ACN leaders, carefully spear-headed the progressive dismantling of the PDP structures and followership with an epoch-making cross-carpeting carnival showcased by former leaders and members of the PDP at the Ogbemudia Stadium in 2008.
By dint of hard work, resoluteness and leadership by example, Osagie Ize-Iyamu could qualify to be described as political aracle, who has garnered huge political capital in integrity, dexterity and leadership. The most obvious evidence of the political strategy of Osagie Ize-Iyamu in the political landscape of Edo State and beyond is his unanimous election, in 2011, as the National Vice-Chairman (South-South) of the Action Congress of Nigeria.
A new challenge of the re-election of Governor Adams Oshiomhole has become imperative in 2012. This task must be done, in view of the positive score-card of the incumbent Governor of Edo State, and in the face of the spirited efforts of the opposition parties. The Governor and party leadership resolved that Osagie Ize-Iyamu be appointed the Director-General of the Adams Oshiomhole Re-Election Campaign Organization. This was further proof of his immense political relevance and leadership qualities in galvanizing support for the Oshiomhole administration at the July, 2012 gubernatorial election.
The driving philosophy of Osagie Ize-Iyamu, is rooted in honest public service and integrity in good governance. Contrary to the impressions in judging the past administrations in Edo State that Osagie Ize-Iyamu was part of, the truth is that the former SSG was, and has remained, a progressive element in public service who has repeatedly raised public alarms over corruptive tendencies, and infrastructural decays in the state. He has always advised responsibility officers on the essence of providing basic amenities to the general public and tackling unemployment in Edo State. Besides, he is one of the leading visioners for the emergence of Christians in politics – to enthrone integrity in partisan politics and governance in Edo State.
As far back as 2002, when he was the Chief of Staff, Government House, Edo State, Osagie Ize-Iyamu left no one in doubt of where his core values lie in the drive for good governance and better society. He was very passionate about how to infuse integrity into politics and governance. At the June 2002, “Breakfast with Jesus” event for Christians in Government organized by the Christian Network Corporation, a body Late Mr. Omo Ikirodah was coordinating, Osagie Ize-Iyamu did not mince words, in his lead paper presented, about the stifling effect of corruption as the bane of our development and lamented its ignorable role as a major contributor to bad governance. He did not end there. Osagie Ize-Iyamu also bemoaned the lack of basic infrastructures, the unfair absence of basic amenities such as good roads, portable drinking water, effective healthcare delivery, affordable education for all and youth unemployment as bad commentaries on governance in the country. He bluntly counseled political leaders and elected public officers that they must never forget that the authority was transient, and power belongs to God Almighty. He advised public officers to always remember the words of God in Proverbs 22:1 which says that: “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold”.
Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu practice what he always preached while in Edo State Government as both Chief of Staff and Secretary to the State Government, a period spanning eight years. The most visible evidence was the extensive investigations carried out by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the financial activities of the administration, and he was never indicted for any wrongdoing.
If Osagie Ize-Iyamu’s passion for serious and honest public service and social service delivery the SSG was in the past limited by lack of executive powers and deployment of paltry public resources appropriately, he has led by example with the setting up the magnificent I. O. Farms Training Institute – a model farm settlement at Ugbor-Amagba communities, outskirts of Benin City, Edo State capital. The Training Institute, which has witnessed two graduation ceremonies, churning out hundreds of young generation of trained agriculturalists, has the triple objective of agricultural training, skills acquisition’s and youth empowerment as veritable mechanism of assisting governments at all levels, to reduce youth restiveness, organized crime and employment. The bold private initiative in addressing food security has been commended –Iyamu, is rooted in honest public service and integrity in good governance. Contrary to the impressions in judging the past administrations in Edo State that Osagie Ize-Iyamu was part of, the truth is that the former SSG was, and has remained, a progressive element in public service who has repeatedly raised public alarms over corruptive tendencies, and infrastructural decays in the state. He has always advised responsibility officers on the essence of providing basic amenities to the general public and tackling unemployment in Edo State. Besides, he is one of the leading visioners for the emergence of Christians in politics – to enthrone integrity in partisan politics and governance in Edo State.
As far back as 2002, when he was the Chief of Staff, Government House, Edo State, Osagie Ize-Iyamu left no one in doubt of where his core values lie in the drive for good governance and better society. He was very passionate about how to infuse integrity into politics and governance. At the June 2002, “Breakfast with Jesus” event for Christians in Government organized by the Christian Network Corporation a body Late Mr. Omo Ikirodah was coordinating, Osagie Ize-Iyamu did not mince words, in his lead proper presented, about the stiffing effect of corruption as the bane of our development and lamented its ignorable role as a major contributor to bad governance. He did not end there. Osagie Ize-Iyamu also bemoaned the lack of basic infrastructures, the unfair absence of basic amenities such as good roads, portable drinking water, effective healthcare delivery, affordable education for all and youth unemployment as bad commentaries on governance in the country. He bluntly counseled and supported by public agencies and private organizations.
Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu has proven to be humane, forthright, loyal, reliable and effective, earning several commendations that have greeted his spectacular services to the people of Edo State. Even though Osagie Ize-Iyamu has remained resolute in his conviction that as an ordained Pastor in God’s vineyard, he would not accept chieftaincy titles, the Certificate of Honour from traditional rulers have spread across the three senatorial areas of the state, which is a simple indicator of the level of acceptability of Osagie-Iyamu in the state. The honours list include the Certificates of Honour by the Omo N’ Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa, the Oba of Benin; His Royal Highness, The Ogierrua of Irrua, the Okaijesan of Esan land; His Royal Highness, The Imah IV of Somorika, Akoko-Edo; and the Iuleha Council of Chiefs in Owan West Local Government Area. The commendations also include Award of Distinction by the Edo State Public Service Negotiating Council (JNC Trade Union Side); Award of Excellence by the Nigeria Union as Patron of Nigeria Union of Journalist (Edo State Council); Midwest Person of the Year 2005 Award; Justice Development and Peace Commission Certificate of Meritorious Service As An Excellent Administrator; Certificate of Recognition by the University of Benin Alumni Association; Distinguished Alumni Award by the University of Benin; Award of Excellence by the Students Union Government of the University of Benin; Excellent Administrator Award by Graduating Students, Christ Ambassadors the same community. At Ugbor – Amagba committee where the highly-successful I. O. Forms and Training Institute is located, he kindly attracted good read and electricity to them, and has capped all these with scholarships to youths in several parts of the state in his pursuit of empowerment and food security for the state.
The affinity that Osagie enjoys with youths in the state has been cemented with his keen interest in sporting activities. Every fortnight, youths, in droves, head of his residence in Ugbor, in the state capital, to participate in, and enjoy the spectacle of good football games. The relaxed atmosphere promotes social interaction, counseling, conviviality and healthy living. Osagie Ize-Iyamu has further demonstrated his keen interest in sports with sponsorship of several tournaments where trophies and cash prizes are won.
Despite the high-profile public and political life status, Osagie Ize-Iyamu has remained a wonderful husband, caring father and loving catalyst of the closely-knit family he has built with his beautiful and gentle wife, Dr. (Mrs) Idia Ize-Iyamu, a dental surgeon, and incumbent Head of Department of Preventive Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Benin. The union, which has been a model in Christian marriage, is blessed with four wonderful children: Osasu Ize-Iyamu; Osayi Ize-Iyamu; Aisosa Ize-Iyamu; and Osahon Ize-Iyamu.
At 60 years of age, Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu, no doubt is a vivid testimony of one with an intriguing life invisibly controlled by God. He has been liberated from the Kingdom of darkness to the freedom of light, and in appreciation, has greatly repositioned his life to the service of God and humanity with humility, honesty, excellent spirit and courage in public office. He has brought hope to the younger generation that capable hands still abound. He has changed drastically and decisively the political landscape of Edo State, and positively altered the path of destiny of the state from socio-political doldrums to the direction of eldorado in infrastructural renewal, youth empowerment, employment generation, educational advancement, health care delivery and social justice.
Osagie Ize-Iyamu’s bold footworks in partisan politics and public office in Edo State has been phenomenal in scope, depth and intensity, with the resultant effect of redesigning the political landscape. He is the calm and deep-thinking political architect whose courageous designs have re-engineered the hope of Edo people for good governance and freedom from democratic tyranny. No wonder that, today, Osaige Ize-Iyamu is widely respected, acknowledged, and referred to as the “Leader” by both the elderly and the young for his uncommon courage, wisdom, integrity and commitment.
No doubt, at 60, the future beckons on Osagie Ize-Iyamu for greater services, as a pencil in the hands of God.