Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu is an astute politician and strategist from Edo State whose influence and following cuts across the three senatorial districts and the eighteen local government area councils of Edo State.
Born on the 21st day of June 1962 to Late Chief Robert Osayande Ize-Iyamu, former Esogban of Benin Kingdom and Mrs. Magdalene N. Ize-Iyamu (nee Obasohan), he attended St Joseph Primary School 1967 - 1970 and Ebenezer Nursery and Primary School, 1970 - 1973 both in Benin City, graduating with one of the best results in the Midwest _(later Bendel, now Edo and Delta States)_ that year and excelled in his West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) in 1979. He studied Law at the University of Benin between 1981 and 1986 and graduated with honours. In 1987, he was called to the Nigerian Bar and he is currently Member of the Nigeria Bar Association. He holds an honorary doctorate in Public Administration awarded by the Benson Idahosa University.
While at University of Benin, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu was a vibrant member of the Student Union Congress and was highly instrumental to the election of several presidents and Executive members of the Student Union Government.
In 1995, he converted to Christianity following a miraculous healing after a ghastly road accident that almost left him paralyzed. He joined the Redeemed Christian Church of God *(RCCG)* and was later made Pastor of a small branch of the RCCG called Upper Room Parish located at Adesuwa Road, G.R.A., Benin City, in 1998. He transformed the hitherto small parish into what became the biggest RCCG church in the whole of Edo State at the time. He achieved the same building feats in all the branches of the church that he was posted to, including his present parish, Soul Winners Assembly, where he is *Pastor in-charge (PICP EDO PROVINCE 16)*, which was hitherto a small building when he arrived and within two years it was transformed into a mega edifice and landmark church of several floors building in GRA, Benin City. Anything he touches, he changes for the better.
He supported then Mr Lucky Nosakhare Igbinedion to emerge the Chairman of Oredo Local Government Council from 1987 - 1989, Benin City, under the zero party system and later in 1999 he supported Lucky Igbinedion again to become Governor of Edo State. He was appointed Chief of Staff, Government House, Edo State, under the administration of Dr. Lucky Nosakhare Igbinedion, Executive Governor of Edo State - from 1999-2003 and Secretary to the State Government (SSG) from 2003 - 2007. In 2007, through a political revolution which he championed using the Grace Group which he led, he helped to end the PDP regime in Edo State and supported Comrade Adams Oshiomhole into the gubernatorial race in 2007 which ultimately gave birth to the Adams Oshiomhole government in Edo State in 2008.
He set up the I.O. Farms Training Institute - a model farm settlement at Ugbor-Amagba communities, Benin City, Edo State - for agricultural training, skill acquisitions and youth empowerment as veritable mechanism to reduce youth restiveness, organized crime and unemployment.
He was the National Vice Chairman, South-South Zone of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria *(ACN).* which became All Progressives Congress *APC*.
He was instrumental to the overwhelming victory, both at the polls and in the tribunal, of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole in 2007 and 2008. He also, as Director General (DG) in the the 2012, 2nd term, Election of Adams Oshiomhole, distinguished himself as a party man and astute politician.
He was the Gubernatorial Candidate of the PDP in 2016 and the 2020 Gubernatorial candidate of the APC, which speaks volume of his general acceptability. In both elections he gave a good account of himself and lost under questionable circumstances. Edo people, irrespective of political partisanship, ethnicity or religion believe he is the best man for governor of Edo state because of his tested and trusted ability to carry people along, acceptability across all the eighteen local government areas and across all the three senatorial districts of the state, and especially his SIMPLE AGENDA (a published plan of how he intends to transform every nook and cranny of Edo State). Edo voters, and open minded politicians, agree that Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu should be encouraged again.
He is happily married to Pastor (Prof) Idia Ize-Iyamu, a Consultant Orthodontist
with the University of Benin Teaching Hospital *(UBTH)*, Professor of Dentistry in the University of Benin and Pastor at RCCG, and they are blessed with four children.
