In the general concept, what a Manifesto is to Political Parties which are registered under the Electoral Act, is exactly what the Memorandum of Association is to a limited liability Companies registered under the Companies and Allied Matters Act. In their respective contexts, these documents clearly sets out the scope and nature of their socio-political and administrative policy projections for the organization’s engagements with the Nigerian public. It was this concept of Social Contract Instrument that necessitated the Simple Agenda Initiative of Pst OSAGIE IZE-IYAMU for Edo State.
After a critical perusal and digestion of the Simple Agenda document side by side with the Manifesto of All Progressive Congress (APC), and the Party realising that the methodical sectoral approach of the reviewed and updated Simple Agenda document is in tandem with the APC Manifesto, and truly addresses the needs of Edo State in all material peculiarities. Consequent upon that, the APC in Edo State has officially adopted the Simple Agenda Manifesto to be its own Policy Direction and program for the Edo State Government when Pst OSAGIE IZE-IYAMU becomes Governor by 12th of November 2020. The adoption became necessary also, pursuant to the requirement in  *section 131(c) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria* that “a Candidate in an election must be a member of a Political Party, and be sponsored by that Party”.
With the foregoing official action by the APC, the skepticism being expressed in certain quarters that there would be a conflict between the APC Manifesto and the Simple Agenda document of Pst OSAGIE IZE-IYAMU has been firmly and permanently put away. The All Progressive Congress is one big, strong and focussed political family in Edo State. The Party is united for a landslide victory in the forthcoming September 19th Governorship election, and it is fully equipped to govern Edo State into prosperity. This is the more reason the APC Campaign is well coordinated, decently conducted, and issues-based.
As for the purported claim been laid to the authorship or ownership of the Simple Agenda document by very respected Dr. Don Pedro-Obaseki, it remains both a non-issue to the reality of truth about the Document, and a pathetic contradiction to the person Dr Pedro-Obaseki himself. This is so because he has since over four (4) years ago eulogized the creative vision of the document, and has publicly acknowledged the author, Pst OSAGIE IZE-IYAMU on Independent Television in Benin City. Dr. Don Pedro-Obaseki’s relationship or connection with the Simple Agenda document is merely the fact that he was a frontline supporter of POI’s 2016 Governorship race. The only program document authored by Dr. Don Pedro-Obaseki at that time was called the  *E.D.O. Agenda* which he publicly unveiled at PROTEA HOTEL in December 2015 to flag-off his own Governorship aspiration then. I was in that event, and Dr Pedro-Obaseki himself will recall in what capacity I attended that occasion. Other notable Edo sons and daughters graced the occasion too, and can also attest to the this fact.
When Pst OSAGIE IZE-IYAMU subsequently unveiled his own Simple Agenda Manifesto at the Emporium Event Center in Benin City, Dr. Don Pedro-Obaseki was in attendance as a frontline POI supporter. So, I see his sudden laying of claims to the authorship of the Simple Agenda Manifesto as one of those dramatic intrigues that characterises election seasons like we are in right now. Such should not be taken seriously. But if Dr Don Pedro-Obaseki is serious about his claims, he should approach the High Court to prove his authorship of the Simple Agenda document, and enforce his Intellectual Property Rights.
Indeed, the Simple Agenda of Pst OSAGIE IZE-IYAMU is truly a Manifesto of Hope. The APC has found the vision to be very clear, comprehensible and practicable in all the sectors, and has adopted same in its wisdom. Now the people of Edo State have hope for a greater prosperity, in the months ahead.
The time for Edo to move forward is NOW!!
            PATRICK I. BIOSE is a Niger Delta base Legal Practitioner & a Property Consultant.