The Nation Newspaper

Category: South East

  • Obaseki: collect your PVCs, vote against APC

    Obaseki: collect your PVCs, vote against APC

    Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has urged eligible voters in the state to go to the designated centres across Edo to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), and come out en masse on September 21, 2024 to vote against the All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, the representative of Edo Central Senatorial District.

    Obaseki, who urged Edo voters to use their votes to protest against the APC government, blamed the opposition party in the state for economic hardship the country faces.

    Obaseki made the call when he attended the meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), at his Ward 4, Benin in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo.

    Read Also: Obaseki: Edo masterplan not a political document

    He expressed confidence that the PDP’s standard bearer, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, a Lagos-based lawyer, would come out victorious in the election, despite his being accused of not being a homeboy, and unable to speak his Esan language, not minding his claim of growing up in his Ewohimi village in Edo Central Senatorial District. Edo governor stated that his government’s self-acclaimed outstanding performance across all sectors of the state’s economy in the last eight years would earn the PDP victory in the governorship poll.

    “This election will not be difficult, because you have campaigned enough. It is not my election, because when I did my own election, things were not as bad and difficult as they are today.

    “When our people wanted to protest, we pleaded with them not to do so, because some bad people planned to use the opportunity of the protest to destroy the government’s infrastructure. This election shall be our protest. We shall use the election to tell them that APC as a party is forbidden in Edo State.”

  • My campaign will be issue-based, says Ighodalo

    My campaign will be issue-based, says Ighodalo

    The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 21 election in Edo State, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, has disclosed that he promised himself to always place emphasis on issue-based campaigns, while declaring that no circumstance will make him derail.

    Ighodalo disclosed this in Benin, while reacting to trending videos on social media, containing the remarks, at campaign rallies, of a former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Adams Oshiomhole, an ex-Governor of Edo state, who currently represents Edo North Senatorial District.

    Oshiomhole reiterated that Ighodalo, a Lagos-based lawyer, who hails from Ewohimi in Esan Southeast Local Government Area in Edo Central Senatorial District, could not speak his Esan language, despite his claiming to have grown up in his hometown, thereby needing an interpreter in Ewohimi, unlike the standard bearer of APC, Senator Monday Okpebholo, also an Esan indigene, who currently represents Edo Central Senatorial District, and speaks Esan language fluently.

    Read Also: Appeal Court affirms Ighodalo as PDP candidate

    The former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC (Oshiomhole), also claimed that Ighodalo had no house in Ewohimi. The governorship candidate of PDP in Edo, however, stated that Oshiomhole had visited his house in Ewohimi on many occasions.

    He said: “Someone will stand on a podium, regardless of his age, and lie through his teeth, and we think that people should believe.

    “Oshiomhole said, l do not have a house in Ewohimi, but he came to my house when my father died. He was there, and he spoke at my father’s funeral, eulogising my family. He came and stayed in my house. When his (Oshiomhole’s) wife died, he and some of his guests stayed in my house at Ewohimi.”

  • ‘PDP candidate, an excellent product’

    ‘PDP candidate, an excellent product’

    The Deputy Director-General, Media and Publicity, Asue/Ogie Campaign Management Council of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State for the September 21 election, Rev. Olu Martins, has described the PDP’s governorship candidate in Edo, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, as an excellent product that sells itself.

    He noted that Ighodalo, a lawyer, did not require surreptitious means to win the crucial poll. 

    Martins, yesterday in a press statement, stated that Edo people were intelligent and observant enough to distinguish between a thoroughbred and a “wannabe” candidate. 

    He said: “It seems the All Progressives Congress (APC) is already developing cold feet for the coming governorship election. I read a rather boring write up, which reeks of a worn-out methodology by the nomadic, serial defector, contractor spokesperson of the APC, where he claimed that plans were underway by Edo State government to rig election for our candidate, the very ebullient and cerebral Dr. Asue Ighodalo. 

    Read Also: Osun PDP suspends Oyinlola’s ex-CoS over anti-party activities

    “Knowing APC for its well-developed penchant for lies and falsehood, it would not have been necessary to respond to Kassim Afegbua’s anachronistic style of campaign of calumny, but for those who may not know Afegbua, it is necessary to put the record straight. 

    “Dr. Ighodalo does not need any introduction to the Nigerian people, especially Nigerians who appreciate hard work and ingenuity, attributes that are strange to the APC.

     “Dr. Ighodalo is the international award-winning serial entrepreneur and investment banker, who has held sway as chairman of many multinationals and organisations. He was chairman of Sterling Bank, Dangote Flour, and Nigerian Breweries, just to mention a few.

  • Civil servants will enjoy my administration, says APC candidate

    Civil servants will enjoy my administration, says APC candidate

    As campaigns for governorship elections in Edo State heat up, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has said that when elected, his administration would not engage consultants to do the work of civil servants.

    The APC governorship hopeful also said that the monthly minimum wage of N70,000 for civil servants would not be reduced, as widely alleged by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Okpebholo, who spoke on Monday in Benin City while addressing members and supporters of the APC in Oredo Local Government Area, assured that his administration would declare a state of emergency on education, health, security and infrastructure, among others.

    He also assured that his government would bring all-round developments to the state.

    According to him, Edo will witness a new development.

    “Let me tell you, this is the time the civil servants in the state will enjoy. There will be no consultants coming from somewhere to do their jobs.

    “We will give them a chance to do their job. Their salaries would be guaranteed. Nobody is going to reduce it.

    “We are going to declare a state of emergency in our education, security, health, infrastructure and others once we emerge as we are elected into office in Edo State so that things will work again in Edo,” he said.

    Read Also: Ondo poll: APC members dump party

    The APC candidate posited that to bring the needed development to the people and alleviate their plights, his administration would be declaring a state of emergency in all sectors of the state.

    He also promised that his government would employ 5,000 teachers on assumption of office as well as give out interest-free loans to market women in the state to boost their businesses.

    Earlier, the former governor of Edo State and senator representing Edo North at the National Assembly, Adams Oshiomhole, appealed to the people to vote for the candidate of APC in the forthcoming election, claiming that the PDP is dead in the state politically.

  • INEC concludes wards PVCs’ distribution, moves to 18 councils

    INEC concludes wards PVCs’ distribution, moves to 18 councils

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has concluded the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) that arose from the recently-conducted Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) at the ward level, thereby turning to the 18 local government areas of Edo State.

    According to INEC, of the 184,438 new PVCs available, 125,928 cards were collected by voters, representing 68.3 per cent of the total, the highest percentage of PVCs collected in five days since the commission introduced the CVR ahead of off-cycle governorship elections in 2015.

    INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, yesterday disclosed that the commission carefully packaged all the PVCs by poling units, wards and LGAs.

     He also revealed that INEC produced the collection register, providing details of the voters, whose cards were ready for collection and uploaded the same to its website.

    Olumekun said: “As earlier announced by the commission, PVCs from the recent CVR in Edo state would be available for collection at two levels. First, across all the 192 wards from Thursday, 22nd to Monday, 26th August, 2024. Secondly, in our 18 LGA offices.

    “The commission is pleased to announce the conclusion of the collection at ward level. Learning from the lessons of the previous collection of PVCs, the commission has carefully packaged all the PVCs by polling units, wards and LGAs.

    Read Also: Nigeria has 10m voters more than all ECOWAS countries, says INEC Chairman

    “We contacted the owners of the PVCs, using the addresses provided at the time of registration. As a result, out of the 184,438 new PVCs available, 125,928 cards were collected by voters, representing 68.3 per cent of the total. This is the highest percentage of PVCs collected in five days since the commission introduced the CVR, ahead of off-cycle governorship elections in 2015.

     “A detailed breakdown of the collection by LGAs has been uploaded to our website and social media platforms for public information. The collection will resume in our 18 LGA offices in Edo state from 28th August, 2024 and end on 8th September, 2024.”

    The national commissioner of INEC also urged the remaining voters to pick their PVCs in person from the commission’s LGAs’ offices, while insisting that it maintained its policy that no card would be collected by proxy, adding that detailed information on the locations of INEC’s LGA offices was already available on the commission’s website.

  • Okpebholo promises functional Marine Police for riverine communities

    Okpebholo promises functional Marine Police for riverine communities

    The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the upcoming Edo State governorship election, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has pledged to fully equip and make functional the Marine Police units in all riverine areas of the state if elected.

    Senator Okpebholo made this promise during the APC’s campaign in the Ologbo Dukedom of Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area on Wednesday.

    He assured the people of these localities that his administration would provide the necessary amenities to improve their quality of life.

    “I heard that your land has been taken from you; I will return it to you immediately after I am sworn in as the governor of Edo State. I will also ensure that the roads in your community are paved to make them easily accessible.”

    He further promised, “I will make sure to pave the roads immediately after I assume office. I know that Ologbo is a fishing community, so I will ensure that we provide soft loans and fishing equipment to help you carry out your business.”

    On agriculture, Okpebholo stated that his administration would support mechanized farming and provide soft loans to both men and women to assist in their farming activities.

    “We will employ 500 teachers within the first 100 days in office to teach in our schools and provide pipe-borne water so that the people can have access to clean water,” he added.

    The Minister for Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Abubakar Momoh, also addressed the crowd, dismissing rumors from the opposition party about a crisis within the APC in Abuja.

    “There is nothing like that; they just want to distract you,” he stated.

    During the campaign, the team visited the Palace of the Enogie of Ologbo, His Royal Highness, Prince Owenvbiugie Jason Akenzua, where Senator Okpebholo sought royal blessings.

    In Uteh, within Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area, Okpebholo assured the community that the major road passing through the area would be a priority for his administration, ensuring the people of Uteh can access their community with ease.

    At Aduwawa livestock and Kara Market, Senator Okpebholo, speaking in Hausa, promised to build a modern, conducive market and abolish double taxation. “I will rebuild the market, pave the road, and ensure that you trade in a very conducive environment,” he said.

    Read Also: Okpebholo woos auto spare parts dealers

    “I am coming to work for the people of Edo State, not to steal their money. Vote for the APC on September 21, and freedom will come your way,” he urged.

    Former Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, also spoke, vouching for Okpebholo’s capabilities. He assured the people that the APC candidate would deliver positive results for Edo State.

    “I stand here today to assure you all that Okpebholo will deliver Edo people from the PDP. I appeal to you all to come out en masse and vote APC on September 21,” he pleaded.

  • Uzodimma calls for unity, sportsmanship in Imo APC

    Uzodimma calls for unity, sportsmanship in Imo APC

    Imo state governor, Hope Uzodimma, has urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirants for the forthcoming local government election in the state to embrace unity and sportsmanship in the face of competition.

    Governor Uzodimma, who addressed the 305 councillorship and 27 chairmanship aspirants at the party secretariat, Owerri, emphasised the importance of collective victory, inclusivity, consensus-building, and democracy, acknowledging the diversity of local government areas and the need for graciousness in both victory and defeat.

    In a remarkable display of leadership, Governor Uzodimma advised the party to refund the money spent by losing aspirants to buy nomination forms, ensuring a fair and supportive political environment.

    He said: “This move prioritizes collective victory and accommodates both winners and losers, promoting a positive and collaborative political culture.”

    Read Also: FG says CNG vehicles ‘ll reduce cost of transportation

    By focusing on consensus-building and inclusivity, the party can become more harmonious and unified. The approach acknowledges the diversity of local government areas and the need for adaptable strategies.

    Governor Uzodimma’s leadership style prioritizes the collective interest over individual aspirations, fostering a sense of shared purpose among aspirants.

    He called for unity, consensus, and sportsmanship adding that addressing local peculiarities will be a guiding force in shaping a more inclusive and collaborative political culture in the state.

  • Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda transforming Nigeria, says Igbo leader

    Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda transforming Nigeria, says Igbo leader

    The Eze Ndigbo of Lagos State, Christian Nwachukwu (JP), has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is transforming Nigeria to ensure that the economy works again for the benefit of all Nigerians.

    Eze Nwachukwu made this statement recently during a visit by a delegation from the National Orientation Agency (NOA) Lagos State to the Lagos State Igbo Community Centre in Okota.

    The visit, according to him, was part of NOA’s commitment to raising awareness at the grassroots level about the efforts and progress of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to reposition Nigeria and restore economic stability.

    Nwachukwu said: “The NOA is a critical organ of the government that carries out its core mandates of mobilising favourable public opinion and support for the government’s policies, activities and programmes and educating Nigerians on their rights, privileges, responsibilities, and obligations as citizens as well as propagate the need to avoid all vices in public life, which includes corruption, dishonesty, and electoral and census malpractices.”

    Read Also: GBV: First Lady calls for stiffer laws, punishment to curb prevalence

    He thanked the delegation for its visit to ensure that Nigerians are sensitised to Mr President’s efforts to make Nigeria great again.

    Nwachukwu further said: “I have never doubted the ability of President Tinubu in transforming Nigeria through his Renewed Hope Agenda,” adding that “honest Nigerians will attest to the fact that President Tinubu has and is evolving critical economic policies and programmes that were aimed at making Nigeria great again.”

    The leader of the delegation, Mrs Chukwuorji Helen, an Assistant Director and Chief Orientation Mobilisation Officer (COMO) of Oshodi/Isolo Local Government Area said: “The Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu has made tremendous progress in a bid to make Nigeria a livable place for all Nigerians, adding that he has taken critical decisions that may not be pleasant at the moment but will take the country to an enviable height.

    “I plead with you as a leader of Ndigbo in Lagos State to pass this message to Ndigbo in Lagos State so that they will be aware of the efforts of the Tinubu-led Federal Government to make life better for Nigerians.”

    Another member of the delegation, Olisa Ichafilat Adeyinka who is the Chief Mobilisation Officer for Isolo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) pleaded with Nigerians to appreciate the efforts of President Tinubu in getting the economy out of the woods.

    Other members of the delegation are Mrs Ukeh Ogochukwu the Chief Orientation Mobilisation Officer for the Ejigbo Local Council Development Area and Mrs Hannatu Akande who is the Assistant Chief Orientation Mobilisation Officer for Ejigbo LCDA.

    Contributing, the President-General of the Igbo Speaking Community Lagos State, High Chief Sunday Eze appreciated the current efforts of NOA in making the general public aware of the achievements of Mr President through his Renewed Hope Agenda.

    Also, the former two-time Executive Vice-Chairman of Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Area of Lagos State, Hon. Obinna Nwabueze urged the Agency to put more efforts into letting Nigerians appreciate the huge efforts of President Tinubu toward making Nigeria great again.

  • Makinde to build four ultra-mordern motorparks in Ondo

    Makinde to build four ultra-mordern motorparks in Ondo

    A lawmaker representing Ondo East/West federal constituency at the House of Representatives Hon. Abiola Makinde has laid the foundation of four ultra-mordern motor parks in Ondo as part of his effort to boost transportation system in the State.

    The millennium motor parks part of the constituency projects of the lawmaker are sited in Ife garage, Ondo town, Bolorunduro, the administrative headquarters of Ondo East as well as Oka and Akure motor parks in Ondo town.

    Speaking at the foundation laying ceremony of the projects, the lawmaker said construction of the ultra-modern motorparks was part of his move towards enhancements of aesthetic and environmental development of Ondo Kingdom as well as to authenticate status of his constituency.

    He hinted that the projects aside ensuring smooth transportation system after completion and became functional will also create job opportunities and conducive business environment for the people of his constituency.

    The lawmaker explained the project was also part of the continuation of his laudable and far-reaching achievements since he assumed office as the representatives of his people which he mentioned to include provision of instructional materials for students, award of scholarships to students of various higher institutions, employment opportunities for youths, sponsoring graduates to further their studies abroad.

    Read Also: We will challenge you on Ondo motor park project, Ekimogun Roundtable tells Rep member Makinde

    Other achievements mentioned by the lawmaker were business empowerments, free healthcare services to the elderly people, provision of free food and clothes to the needy, provision of palliatives to constituents, facilitation of interest-free loans to market women and artisans.

    The list also include construction of street roads, culverts and bridges to needed streets, communities and settlements across the federal constituency, provision of solar street lights and recently, the construction of  six blocks of classrooms at St. Andrews’ Grammar School Ondo to mention but a few.

    Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Old Field Nigeria Limited and contractor handling the project, Chief Oluseyi Omotoso, promised to deliver standard projects at stipulated time in conformity with the bill of quantity given to him by the agency in charge of supervising the projects.

    The MD, who commended the lawmaker and described him as a God given talent to the people of the constituency urged people to continue supporting him and ensure maintenance of all the projects executed by him.

    Also, the representative of Nigeria Building and Road Research Institute (NIBRRI) Mr Chukwuma, represented by Tosin Akinmade, commended Makinde over his initiatives and his collective efforts in ensuring the smooth kick off of the project.

    He also affirmed the generous support of the Honourable Makinde who he disclosed has donated one thousand and five square metres of interlock and other materials for the speedy take off of the project.

    The Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Ife motor park Ondo town, Com. Abija who spoke on behalf of other driver unions, commended the lawmaker over the project, he equally described him as an experienced politician who promises and works towards fulfilling the promises.

    Chief Johnson Akinlosotu, Hon. Dr. Jibayo Adeyeye,  Esq,  Mr Bada Maruf, Ondo West Local Government Education Secretary and Chief  Mrs Nike Olawoye (Mama Aserere) all testified to the good works of  the legislator in the last couple of years he assumed the position of the representatives of the Ondo East/West Federal Constituency.

    They submitted that they all believed that the construction of the ultra-modern motor parks will not only add to the  aesthetics and economic activities of  Ondo city, but an addition to the profile achievements of  Honourable Makinde in no small measures when completed for the overall development of Ondo kingdom.

  • Be magnanimous in victory, Ex-LP candidate Eradiri tells Diri

    Be magnanimous in victory, Ex-LP candidate Eradiri tells Diri

    A former Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Bayelsa State, Udengs Eradiri, has congratulated the state Governor, Douye Diri, on his victory at the Supreme Court.

    Eradiri in a statement he sent from London, United Kingdom, asked Diri to be magnanimous in victory and avoid the temptation of sidelining his perceived enemies in distributing dividends of democracy in the state.

    The former president of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, said with the pronouncement of the Supreme Court on the outcome of Bayelsa’s election, all litigations had ended and called on all stakeholders to work with the governor to move the state forward.

    Eradiri, who contested Diri’s victory up to the Appeal Court but decided against taking his matter to the Supreme Court assured the people of the state that he would only engage the governor and his government on constructive criticism.

    Read Also: 10 reasons why you should get enough sleep

    He tasked the governor to approach the issues of development of the state with all seriousness and to formulate policies and programmes that would address the problems of the state.

    He said: “All involved in the last election have fought a fine fight. All the litigations are now rested with the final judgement of the Supreme Court affirming the election of Governor Douye Diri. My team and I congratulate the governor of our state on his victory.

    “It is now time for all the stakeholders in the state to come together and work with the governor to move the state forward. There should be no room for politics of bitterness as we also ask the governor to be magnanimous in victory.

    “We call on Governor Douye Diri to unite the state and avoid the temptation of sidelining perceived enemies in the governance of the state. The governor must approach the issues of governance with the seriousness it requires.

    “Bayelsa remains grossly underdeveloped despite our huge resources and we are asking the governor to judiciously utilize the enormous Commonwealth to address the elementary developmental challenges of Bayelsa.

    “We will continue to engage the governor on his policies and programmes, actions and inactions and constructively criticise issues of development, growth, and progress of Bayelsa State. This is the only state we have and all of us must contribute our quotas to develop it.”