The Nation Newspaper

Category: Edo 2020

  • Ize-Iyamu to reverse neglect of traders

    Ize-Iyamu to reverse neglect of traders

    Wife of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Prof. Idia Ize-Iyamu, has sympathised with women at Oliha Market in Oredo Local Government, whose stalls were gutted by fire recently.

    She said the incoming government would correct the neglect they had suffered in the past three years.

    The women, who expressed their approval of the SIMPLE agenda of the APC standard-bearer, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, danced and rejoiced as Prof. Ize-Iyamu and her campaign train promised to help their businesses, which had been gutted by fire, to restart.

    They hailed Prof. Ize-Iyamu for being humble to visit the market.

    Emmanuel Asuen, an APC leader in the area, lauded Prof. Ize-Iyamu for her humility and efforts towards the success of the coming election.

    He said victory is sure for APC.

    Prof. Ize-Iyamu said: “We are representing leadership by example. This is why I came here to hear and feel what you are feeling.”

    She urged them to call out their families and friends on September 19 to vote for Pastor Ize-Iyamu. ife of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Prof. Idia Ize-Iyamu, has sympathised with women at Oliha Market in Oredo Local Government, whose stalls were gutted by fire recently.

    Read Also: ‘Ize-Iyamu will make difference in Edo’

     

    She said the incoming government would correct the neglect they had suffered in the past three years.

    The women, who expressed their approval of the SIMPLE agenda of the APC standard-bearer, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, danced and rejoiced as Prof. Ize-Iyamu and her campaign train promised to help their businesses, which had been gutted by fire, to restart.

    They hailed Prof. Ize-Iyamu for being humble to visit the market.

    Emmanuel Asuen, an APC leader in the area, lauded Prof. Ize-Iyamu for her humility and efforts towards the success of the coming election.

    He said victory is sure for APC.

    Prof. Ize-Iyamu said: “We are representing leadership by example. This is why I came here to hear and feel what you are feeling.”

    She urged them to call out their families and friends on September 19 to vote for Pastor Ize-Iyamu.

  • Be neutral in Edo, PDP charges INEC, security agencies

    Be neutral in Edo, PDP charges INEC, security agencies

    Bisi Olaniyi, Southsouth Bureau Chief

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to be neutral before, during and after the September 19 governorship election.

    Its chairman, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, told opposition members on Sunday during a press conference that PDP members’ patience was not elastic.

    He said: “We call on Edo State Commissioner of Police, Johnson Kokumo, to rise up to the occasion. His efforts thus far leave much to be desired.

    “We call on all the other security agencies to step up their efforts before the elections, especially on the day of the election, September 19, 2020. They should justify the salaries they earn from taxpayers’ money.

    “We demand, in the strongest terms possible, that INEC and the security agencies must carry out their statutory responsibilities, based on the oath of office they swore to, which is to be neutral.

    “Anyone who deviates from the sacred oath, which he or she willingly swore to, knows that we will ensure that the most extreme hand of the law is meted out to them.

    “Persons who deprive other human beings their fundamental human rights are just as bad as enslaving or killing them and as such do not deserve anything less from the law.

    ‘’We call on the parents and guardians of all the ad hoc staff that will be engaged in this election, to call their children and wards to order.

    Read Also: Edo: Obaseki, Oshiomhole renew verbal war

    “Edo people deserve a free, fair, credible and peaceful election, and nobody, whether in the security agencies or in INEC, will be allowed to subvert the will of the people.

    ‘’We will follow the process and if you are caught doing the wrong thing, be assured that as a party that believes in and promotes the right for people to freely express their choice, we will be waiting and ensuring that the law effects the fullest possible punishment.”

     

     

  • Stop threatening violence, APC warns Shaibu’s wife

    Stop threatening violence, APC warns Shaibu’s wife

     Bisi Olaniyi, Southsouth Bureau Chief

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo has asked wife of Edo Deputy Governor, Mary-Ann Shaibu, to stop threatening violence ahead of the September 19 governorship election.

    APC, through its Media Campaign Council, in a statement by its Chairman, Prince John Mayaki, described Shaibu’s wife’s threat of violence against anyone associating with APC’s supporters, in a viral video as unfortunate.

    It said: “Mary-Ann Shaibu spat fire, threatening to flog any woman she sees associating with a group, which is suspected to be an affiliate of the APC in Edo State.

    “The threat violates the rights of Edo people, which grant them freedom to associate with anyone within the ambit of the law and the recent peace deal convoked by the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II.

    Read Also: NANS to Shuaibu: Reconcile with Oshiomhole

    “Mrs. Shaibu was seen in the viral video gesticulating wildly and requesting that the photographs of all women attending the meeting she was addressing be captured, vowing afterwards that anyone of them found identifying with another group would be flogged with cane.

    “The sense of urgency and desperation in the tone of Mrs. Shaibu, who has been making frantic but futile moves to boost the chances of the temporary ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Edo North Senatorial District, through meetings with women, are as a result of the chill wind reaching her.

    “Although, the women openly supported her to enjoy the pleasures they could derive, she realised they secretly intend to vote for APC’s governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.”

    Edo APC also urged its members and teeming supporters to massively vote for Ize-Iyamu on September 19 for good governance from November 12.

     

  • Edo: ‘I go die’ praises Oshiomhole at APC campaign

    Edo: ‘I go die’ praises Oshiomhole at APC campaign

    Agency Reporter

    Nigeria comedian, Francis Agoda, also known as  ‘I go die’ has commended the former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, for his developmental strides in Edo while he was governor of the state.

    Agoda gave the commendation at an APC ward-to-ward Edo Governorship campaign at Imiegba, Etsako East Local Government Area of the State on Sunday.

    He said Oshiomhole placed high priority on infrastructural development hence the expansion of the Benin Airport road to dual carriage way and construction of major roads across the state.

    He described Oshiomhole as the best governor Edo has ever had saying, “you have done what no other governor of Edo has done and I commend you for that.”

    The comedian also appreciated Oshiomhole for contributing to his success in the entertainment industry.

    Read Also: Oshiomhole escapes death in convoy crash

    Speaking at the campaign rally, Oshiomhole said good governance was about alleviating the plight of the masses.

    He said he decided to throw his weight behind Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, candidate of APC in the Edo Governorship election because of his track record of good leadership and credibility.

    He alleged that the Gov. Godwin Obaseki-led administration was more of a propaganda government which had not met the yearnings of Edo people.

    Meanwhile, Sen. Francis Ailimekina, member representing Edo North Senatorial district at the National Assembly urged his constituents not to sell their votes but vote for APC.(NAN)

  • Edo 2020: I will defeat Oshiomhole in his ward, Shaibu boasts

    Edo 2020: I will defeat Oshiomhole in his ward, Shaibu boasts

    Agency Reporter

     

    Edo Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu has vowed to defeat former National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Comrade Adams Oshiomhole even in his ward come September 19.

    Shaibu said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin on Sunday.

    He said this won’t be because he was “one superstar” but because he was connected with the people.

    He noted he does not do money politics or uses money for election or bribe people for election, but does “organic” politics, which is building relationship with people.

    He also said that he believed in being the messenger of the people, carrying the dividend of democracy to the people.

    He vowed not only would he and the PDP defeat the former National Chairman in his ward, he would also win the entire six local government areas in Edo North Senatorial District.

    He said that he will win the district with a very wide margin.

    According to him: “Edo North Senatorial District will be the easiest to win, because the political structure of the place is in our hands.”

    He also disclosed he introduced the former National Chairman of the APC to politics and organised his first ever political meeting that brought him in.

    “I introduced Comrade Oshiomhole to politics. I organised his first ever political meeting that brought him in.

    “I was in politics before he, I won my election in 2003, without going to court.

    “But he came through the court, and I was already a member of the Edo House of Assembly 18 months before he became a governor.”

    Read Also: Shaibu has been so loyal, helpful – Obaseki

    Shaibu, who is the deputy governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Edo governorship election, also said that his loyalty to the PDP candidate, Gov. Godwin Obaseki, remained unshaken.

    He noted this was because as the deputy governor, his interest was the development of the state.

    He added the governor was already developing the state in many ways and he would follow and stand with him to the last.

    He stressed he would continue to fight on the side of any government that would make poverty a history in the state.

    He noted that he was not just loyal to the governor but to a vision that the governor, himself and even the former governor had shared.

    He noted that Oshiomhole started the vision, which was the vision for development, moving the state forward as well as turning it from a civil service state to an industrial state and a business hub of the nation.

    He disclosed that although the immediate past governor of the state was pushed forward to be the leader of that vision, regrettably, he was the only one who had pulled out of that shared vision. (NAN)

     

     

  • APC, PDP clash over alleged plots to rig Edo Gov poll

    APC, PDP clash over alleged plots to rig Edo Gov poll

    Bisi Olaniyi, Southsouth Bureau Chief

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo have clashed over alleged plots to rig the September 19 Governorship poll.

    Edo PDP Publicity Secretary, Chris Nehikhare, at a news conference in Benin, alleged the immediate National Chairman of APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has colluded with a National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Dr Mustapha Leeky, to rig the crucial poll.

    He said: “Dr. Leeky, working with Oshiomhole and Ize-Iyamu, is disrupting the process for engagement of the various ad hoc staff to be used by INEC for the September 19 election.

    “The time-honoured tradition, which mandates all political parties involved in the electioneering process to submit names of persons to be used as ad hoc staff, is being abused by Dr. Leeky and his collaborators in the APC.

    “Dr. Leeky has skewed the process to ensure it favours one party, whereby the final list released for training of the ad hoc staff has a ratio of 10:1 between the APC and all other political parties.

    “It is unfortunate the APC has lost the hope of getting elected through the ballot and the members are working with Dr. Leeky and others in INEC to subvert the will of Edo people.”

    PDP in Edo also stated that while it had confidence in the INEC as an institution, it was calling on the electoral umpire to rein in Leeky to have an election that would uphold the will of the people.

    It urged the leadership of INEC to review the process of selecting ad hoc staff, demanding Leeky should excuse himself from the process.

    But Edo APC Publicity Secretary Chris Azebamwan described the allegations as phantom and imaginary.

    He said: “We can tell you authoritatively that the APC has not and cannot delve into the affairs of a statutory body (INEC) recognised by the electoral law to conduct elections in this country.

    Read Also: Dadu’ut emerges APC candidate for Plateau South

    “This is another ploy by PDP and its governorship candidate Governor Godwin Obaseki to distract Edo residents and other Nigerians from the matter at hand.

    “Obaseki is the outgoing governor of Edo State. He should be preparing his handover notes, instead of misleading the people, because he is aware of his obvious imminent defeat. So, there is no truth in the frivolous allegations.”

    When contacted, Leeky told The Nation on phone the allegations were false.

    He said the issues raised must be in the dream of whosoever imagined them.

    Oshiomhole, reacting through his media aide, Victor Oshioke, described the allegations as irresponsible, frivolous and baseless.

    He said: “Comrade Oshiomhole is busy selling the SIMPLE agenda manifesto of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu to Edo people and he has no time to spend reacting to irresponsible, frivolous and baseless daily allegations coming from the PDP.

    “It is now obvious to objective observers that PDP has nothing to tell Edo people about Obaseki’s wasted four years as governor.

    “That is why Edo PDP members decided to relocate their campaigns to the party’s secretariat where the Publicity Secretary reels out daily press statements on imagined scenarios.

    “PDP is known for rigging. So, members of the party (PDP) know all the ways they rigged previous elections.

    “The only way Comrade Oshiomhole knows to win the crucial election is through campaigns, based on what the candidate will do, if he is elected. This is exactly what APC leaders are doing right now, across Edo State.

    “As we speak, Pastor Ize-Iyamu; his running mate, Mallam Gani Audu; Comrade Oshiomhole and all APC stakeholders in Edo State are in Edo Central Senatorial District campaigning. Does that look like people planning to rig the poll?”

    Oshiomhole also stated the election would be decided by Edo residents with their votes, not by worthless press statements and news conferences where baseless allegations are levelled against eminent politicians.

     

  • PDP vows to restore Benin’s master plan

    PDP vows to restore Benin’s master plan

    Agency Reporter

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State has promised to restore the Benin City master plan, to ensure environmental sustainability.

    Governor Godwin Obaseki, the party’s standard-bearer in the September 19 governorship poll, made the promise on Thursday during a visit to the Enogie of Ukhiri-Eresoyen and the Enigies in council at Ikpoba-Okha Local Government.

    He said there was pressure in Benin City as a result of rapid urbanisation.

    Obaseki said this had brought about the growth of activities of Community Development Associations (CDAs), which resulted in the CDAs abusing land allocation system.

    He said the pressure would continue on a faster rate, adding that it was in view of this that the government decided to restore the Benin City master plan.

    Read Also: APC, PDP disagree over governorship debate

    The PDP candidate said this would forestall the adverse effect the pressure would have on the city in particular and the society at large.

    He said the restoration of the master plan would also help in erosion control in the locality as well as check environmental degradation.

    Obaseki noted that the population increase was frightening, as it had increased rapidly from half a million in the last 25 years to about two million people.

    “So our plan is for social development, job creation as well as peace and security.

    “By the grace of God, by the time we are leaving office in 2024, we would have left a plan of 30 years for successive administrations to define our future.

    “Our plan is to solicit your support and prayers as we campaign in your domain,” he said.

    The monarch had acknowledged and hailed the governor on his efforts to develop the state.

    He prayed for the candidate and urged him to go peacefully, as God would grant his heart desires.

  • ‘Timing, propriety of REC appointment negate INEC’s core values’ 

    ‘Timing, propriety of REC appointment negate INEC’s core values’ 

    Agency Reporter

    A rights and integrity advocacy group, the Network for Best Practice and Integrity in Leadership (NEBPRIL), has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take steps that will douse apprehension among the electorate over issues of “transparency, impartiality and integrity” of the electoral umpire.

    It made the call in a letter on Thursday to INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu.

    In the letter, NEBPRIL raised concern on the controversy over the recent redeployment of a Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Johnson Alalibo, to Edo State, “who has had obvious political exposure, which is evident in his recent participation as an aspirant in the governorship election in Bayelsa State, on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a major contender in the coming Edo election.”

    Read Also: INEC to Edo, Ondo voters: expect credible polls

    It urged INEC to “take steps to review this obvious insensitive, controversial decision to reflect its core values of impartiality, credibility and integrity, in order not only to do the right thing, but also to be seen to have done the right thing in the interest of peace and democracy.”

    The letter signed by its Chairman, Afam Ogene, titled: ‘Urgent need to reverse the insensitive and seeming partial and constitutional breach in the appointment of the new Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC)’, and given to the media, questioned the timing, legality and propriety of appointing a REC that was so politically exposed, especially coming at a time that the “major parties in the state are already enmeshed in bitter rivalry, thus raising questions on the objectivity, sensibility and intent of such a controversial decision.”

  • Obaseki to electorate: vote for PDP

    Obaseki to electorate: vote for PDP

    Agency Reporter

    Governor Godwin Obaseki has urged the electorate to vote for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on September 19, to enable him consolidate his achievements in the first term.

    He assured the citizens that the electioneering process would be violence-free.

    Read Also: Obaseki to electorate: go out and vote

    Addressing party faithful on Thursday during his re-election campaign at Urhonigbe wards 7 and 8, Orhionmwon Local Government, Obaseki enjoined the electorate to turn out without fear of intimidation or harassment to vote and stay back to defend their votes.

    “Come out and vote, don’t be afraid as there will be no violence; nobody will fight on that day, come out and vote.  I am assuring you as the chief security officer of the state that there will be no violence in Edo during this election. We all made a promise at the palace of His Royal Majesty, Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II that there would be no violence during this election,” he said.

  • Group hails Oba of Benin for promoting peace

    Group hails Oba of Benin for promoting peace

    From Bisi Olaniyi, Benin  

    A group, the Edo Equity Forum, has hailed the Oba of Benin, Ewuare ll, for quickly intervening to ensure violence-free election on September 19.

    Read Also: Oba of Benin to politicians: rein in your thugs

    It described as commendable, the first-class monarch’s Wednesday’s instruction that Edo top politicians must ensure that they and their supporters conduct themselves in an atmosphere of peace.

    The group, through its leader, Benjamin Omoigui, at a news conference on Thursday in Benin, said the peace parley initiated by the Oba of Benin would douse the already-heightened tension in the state.