Category: Edo 2020

Bisi Olaniyi, Southsouth Bureau Chief

 

Wife of the Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo, Prof. Idia Ize-Iyamu, has maintained her husband, Pastor Osage Ize-Iyamu, has sound plans to fix the healthcare woes of the state.

Prof. Idia, a Consultant Orthodontist at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), with decades of professional experience in the health sector, spoke on Monday in a national television programme.

She stated the incumbent administration of Godwin Obaseki had left Edo state’s health sector in complete disrepair and failed in its promise to build primary health centres in all 192 wards of the state.

Ize-Iyamu’s wife accused Obaseki of compounding the poor doctor-patient ratio and effectively overseeing an administration that failed to train health personnel for years with his closure of the state’s school of nursing and midwifery.

Idia, who has been campaigning for her husband’s across markets in Edo state, stated her interactions with the market women had revealed the cruelty of the Governor’s harsh fine and tax policies, which she said led to the imprisonment of women who were trying to earn an income against difficult odds.

Read Also: I’m vying to fix Edo, says Ize-Iyamu

She said: “Edo women are angry. They have lost their goods and space to incessant fire outbreaks in major markets in the state and Obaseki has failed to fulfill his compensation promises.

‘’Instead, the women are being rounded up and thrown in Oko prison for trading on walkways, despite the fact that the state government has done nothing to provide space for them.

“Markets in the state are decrepit, some without toilets. The health system is in shambles. Edo governor promised health centres in all 192 wards of the state, but after four years, he has been able to build only 20.

‘’Even the 20, they are under lock and key and inaccessible to the vulnerable, the poorest of the poor.”

Ize-Iyamu’s wife also assured her husband, if supported to emerge as governor, would implement all programmes and policies in his SIMPLE agenda manifesto to fix the state’s healthcare by investing in the equipping of public hospitals, training of doctors, and the quality healthcare delivery to the vulnerable in rural communities.

 

 

The election security threat analysis report of the police warning of violence in the Edo governorship election is an affirmation of our previous petitions and warnings on the criminal arms build-up by Governor Godwin Obaseki and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said.

It reacted to the report made public by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, which warned of the occurrence of violence and other illegalities during the election due to indicators, including arming and movement of thugs, use of inciting statements during campaigns, high likelihood of violence and possible cross attack by political opponents, misinformation/disinformation aimed at heating up the polity, among others.

READ ALSO: Edo 2020: Leaders assess Obaseki’s, Ize-Iyamu’s chances

In a statement by Mr. John Mayaki, the chairman of the Edo APC Media Campaign Council, the APC says the report backs its previous allegations of arms build-up against Governor  Obaseki and the ferrying of thugs from neighbouring PDP states, most notably Delta State.

Citing the attack on the Edo Assembly complex and the arrest of seven persons caught with firearms during the invasion, the APC said the incident exposed Governor Obaseki’s direct involvement in the arming and funding of thugs to carry out attacks across the state as he allegedly mounted pressure on the police to secure the release of the suspects, who have now been charged to court.

 

 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned attacks on its members and supporters ahead of the September 19 governorship election in Edo State.

It warned that the simplicity and meekness of its candidate, Governor Godwin Obaseki, must not be taken for granted.

The Deputy Director-General of Edo PDP Campaign Council, Mr. Gideon Ikhine, speaking at Obaseki’s re-election campaign at Ora, Ward 6, Ovia South West Local Government, said: “Everywhere we go, they will go and destroy our campaign materials and sometimes beat up our supporters.

READ ALSO: Edo 2020: Leaders assess Obaseki’s, Ize-Iyamu’s chances

“The laws and powers are in the hands of the governor. His simplicity should not be insulted. Is it because he is gentle? Our governor is gentle like Jesus Christ, but he will be re-elected like a lion.”

Ikhine, who urged eligible voters in the area to vote for PDP and protect their votes for continuity, said PDP is sure of victory at the polls because of the number of trusted and reliable personalities it parades.

He said: “Anybody planning to rig this election should have a re-think as Edo people are ready to defend their votes.”

 

By Emmanuel Oladesu

Group, Benin Renaissance, on Sunday rejected the candidature of Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki.

The group urged the people of Benin to also reject the call by the Ogiamien family, led by Prof. Tony Ogiamien, asking them to endorse the governor at the poll.

The President of Benin Renaissance, Chief Ekhator Osawaru and Secretary, Chief Aiyemrkhue Osunde, said the governor had mirrored the infractions of his  grandfather, Agho Obaseki.

READ ALSO: EDO 2020: INEC raises concerns about transparency, integrity of process

The group alleged that the governor had betrayed the confidence of Benin people like his father did after enjoying the generosity and kindness of Oba Ovonramwen, only to connive with foreign invaders to lead British troops through the back door into the Benin Kingdom

According to the association, the events that followed, including how the resilience of the Benin prevented Agho Obaseki and other traitors from stealing the throne of the Oba, which they have long coveted, are also well documented in history.

By Bisi OLANIYI, Southsouth Bureau Chief

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is determined to ensure that integrity and transparency are not compromised in any way during next month’s governorship election in Edo State.

The commission, therefore, wants its staff to exhibit maximum professionalism and neutrality in the process of the election.

Speaking in Benin at a meeting with INEC  national commissioners and staff from across the 18 local government areas of Edo State, INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said to meet these expectations, polling units must open early on the election day with officials and materials waiting for voters.

Voting, according to him, will commence between 8 and 8.30am and close between 2 and 2.30pm.

He said: “We were here four years ago and the lesson we learnt is that we must be able to speed the process and declare the results on time because the longer it takes, the more it becomes problematic to manage. So, we must get logistics right.

“Neutrality and professionalism (by INEC’s staff) are very important. We are not supporting any political party or the candidate and we are not against any political party or the candidate either. Our concerns are the integrity and transparency of the process.

“The choice of who becomes the governor of Edo State is entirely in the hands of Edo residents and we are going to protect the process.”

The election will be COVID-10 protocol compliant, Yakubu said.

In effect, wearing of face masks and use of hand sanitizers at the polling centres are compulsory for voters and electoral officials.

He said: “At the collation centres, we have made provision for infrared thermometers and we are working to extend the thermometers to polling units.

“So, we have made request to the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 to avail us with about 3,000 infrared thermometers for polling units and voting points.

“On our own (INEC), we have made provision for infrared thermometers for the 192 ward collation centres. When PTF is able to avail us, we will extend them to the collation centres in the 18 local government areas and the state collation centres.

“You (INEC staff) are required to manage the polling units in a manner that we have not been doing before, as the cubicles will be demarcated in a manner that will give two-metre distance between voters, since it is going to be simultaneous accreditation and voting.”

Yakubu also revealed that the electoral commission introduced innovations, in order to deepen transparency in results’ management process, beginning with the Nasarawa State by-election in the central constituency in the House of Assembly.

He said: “In addition to the card-reader authentication, we are going to deploy the ZIP, with Z file, which is a tablet with a camera. At the end of the process, after voting has been concluded and sorted out, the ballots are counted, the picture of form EC8A will be taken and transmitted to a dedicated portal. So that Nigerians can view the polling units’ results live and direct, by those close to the polling units.

READ ALSO: Ondo Deputy plans to embarrass me with fake documents – Akeredolu

“We did the same in Nasarawa State Central by-election and before the declaration of results, Nigerians were able to view the few clean results of the polling units.

“It was a great enhancement of the previous elections and this is a major election, after the Nasarawa State by-election. So, Edo State will set the pace for the conduct of major by-elections and we look forward to a successful, not transmission, but availability of form EC8A for public view on the election day.”

Also speaking,the Edo State  Resident Electoral  Commissioner (REC), Dr. Johnson Alalibo, described the  meeting as apt, timely and important.

He said the commission had “come a long way in our preparations for the election,” although he claimed that   budget reduction remained a challenge.

He pledged a credible, free, fair and peaceful election on September 19 in view of the efforts of the top officials and other staff of the commission and assurances of security agencies.