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Tag: Airhiavbere

  • Polls: Don’t blame me for APC loss in Edo, says Airhiavbere

    A former governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, General Charles Airhiavbere, has said that he should not be blamed for the party’s performance in the Presidential and National Assembly elections in Edo South senatorial district.

    General Airhiavbere who was reacting to his suspension from the ruling APC said he was not the only leader that lost his Ward during the elections.

    Airhiavbere said Governor Godwin Obaseki is part of the Ward.

    Describing his purported suspension as a nullity, Airhiavbere said the battle line for next year’s governorship election has been drawn.

    According to him, “There are procedures for doing that. Is it a coup plotting system? I’m a retired General, I am a leader and there should be some measure of respect. Am I the only person who lost his ward during the election? The governor is part of the ward, there are other leaders too and I am a member of the Presidential Campaign Council mandated with the security of votes during the election.

    “My only conclusion is that I have been identified ahead of the 2020 election. They shouldn’t heat up the polity, it is too early. If they already see me as a contestant, there is a procedure that they should go about it but that wouldn’t stop me from contesting.

    “The battle line has been drawn. I can’t be held responsible for the abysmal failure of the leadership. I wasn’t the DG of the campaign so why am I being singled out if not for the fact that I am already being identified. I contested against the governor in 2016 and I will contest again. President Buhari contested four times and he won. All these can’t stop me from contesting.”

  • Ikimi, Igbinedion, Anenih can’t win election in Edo, says Airhiavbere

    Ikimi, Igbinedion, Anenih can’t win election in Edo, says Airhiavbere

    Former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2012 election, Major-General Charles Airhiavbere, has said that the trio of Chief Tom Ikimi, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion and Chief Tony Anenih cannot win the September 10 election for Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

    Airhiavbere, who was reacting to the so-called red card issued to Governor Adams Oshiomhole and the All Progressive Congress (APC)  urged the PDP leaders to stop toying with the emotions of the people.

    He said it was unfair for Ikimi to say that former President Goodluck Jonathan was an anti-party leader for allegedly ensuring the success of Oshiomhole in 2012.

    Airhiavbere noted that the leadership structure the PDP leaders were used to has changed.

    The former PDP candidate said Edo PDP leaders were jokers to think of defeating Oshiomhole and the APC because “they have me to deal with”.

    He lambasted Ikimi for referring to the new General Hospital in Benin City, the Edo State capital, as a glorified clinic when he (Ikimi) was paid N350m as a consultant to design the hospital.

    Airhiavbere urged the PDP leaders to bow their heads in shame after being part of a government that ruled and ruined the state between 1999 and 2007.

    He said: “I was the candidate of the PDP in the 2012 governorship elections. For Pastor Ize-Iyamu and Tom Ikimi to say former President Jonathan is an anti-party leader is unfair. They were unfair to Jonathan as a president of this country and a leader of the PDP as at that time.”

    “We have reached a stage where PDP leaders should stop toying with the emotions of Edo people. Ize-Iyamu emergence as the PDP candidate is dead on arrival. How can the PDP win elections here when it can abandon its candidate in 2012.

    “In 2011 and 2012, Chief Tony Anenih told the public that he sold his house to lead the governorship campaign, but today, it is in the public glare that Jonathan sent money for that election. I was an orphan at the tribunal up to the Supreme Court. I know the role the leaders of the party played during my election.

    “They sold Oshiomhole to the Edo people four years ago because of their inordinate ambition. Today, they are not talking about Edo people, they are talking about how Oshiomhole betrayed them. It was because Oshiomhole did not agree with them to give Ize-Iyamu the ticket.”

     

  • PDP can’t defeat APC, says Airhiavbere

    PDP can’t defeat APC, says Airhiavbere

    Major-General Charles Airhiavbere contested against Governor Adams Oshiomhole in 2012. He was an aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the recent primary. In this interview with OSAGIE OTABOR, he speaks about the chance of the party at the election.

    what is the difference between meeting delegates in the PDP and meeting delegates in the APC?

    The difference is very clear. The primary that brought President Buhari to power in Lagos was democratic and transparent. That was my first attraction to the APC. That encouraged me that this was a new platform to work with. It was possible because three political parties came together; the ACN, the CPC and the ANPP. In the case of the PDP, there were only three delegates per ward. In the APC, you have all the 12 ward executive members, 24 executives at the local government and that gives you a level playing field. You can sell yourself to a minimum of a hundred people because the number of delegates in the local government is 126. If you cannot break through 100, you are not supposed to be in the field. That is the first calculation. The PDP only has two men and a woman as delegates and so, it is very difficult to break through. When some people crossed over from the APC, the first thing they offered them was to have one delegate out of the three, automatically that person is the winner. That is what happened when Ize-Iyamu crossed over, such structures are not democratic.

    There was a time some aspirants raised an alarm that the list of APC delegates was being manipulated. Do you also have the same fear?

    Those who raised such an alarm are not students of history. They don’t believe in their capacity to lead. Whoever you accused of trying to falsify the delegate list, is being accused of fraud. From my understanding, the APC we joined is not a fraudulent party. One of their cardinal principles in their manifesto is zero tolerance to corruption and falsifying a delegate list is fraudulent; it is corruption of the highest level and I do not believe that anybody in the APC will accept that. Crying wolf should be eliminated from the political process. We saw the primary of the APC in other states. Edo State will not be an exception. I believe that if you work, create new strategies and do something different, you become neutral in the political process. Nobody can change the delegate list.

    That was your second attempt as an aspirant….

    The meaning of my family name is you will not make a second mistake. All the mistake I made in my first outing, I have taken into cognizance in my second outing. Spiritually, the APC has a principle of equal comers. In the PDP, I came in seven months after I retired and I claimed the ticket. There were many obstacles. I had to go and get waiver. A Major-General that served meritoriously should take political class at any level because of the high level of politics, maneuvering, discipline, the high level of loyalty put in to serve the country and I think that particular part of the constitution in any political party should be removed. The APC has given us that platform and I have played my part. I was the team leader that monitored the election in Bayelsa. I went there two times. I was in the team from the APC headquarters that went for the burial of the late Audu in Kogi State and I campaigned in the Vice President team in Kogi during the elections. I have brought my experience from PDP to APC. The pillars that have been strengthened in the APC today, I can say I was a party to it because I challenged the governor in 2012 and as a result, most of the things I brought out in my campaigns were used to strengthen the government in the second term. It is clear to the people of the state and it has endeared me to them. That is why I described myself as the candidate to beat because I have been tested. I have nothing against anybody. I can say Oshiomhole has done well. He has opened the political space. He has given the people the democratic dividends. This is the time to consolidate. I am sure the human capital development that Edo State has is needed to be done by a man who has seen it all, by a man who has contested, a man who joined politics five days after he retired from the Army. I was yearning to serve my people and that is exactly what made to come out for a second attempt. I am sure I will win.

    You were regarded as a man with deep pocket. Do you still have the deep pocket?

    That was the facade to create a larger than life image for the man to challenge Oshiomhole and it sold. The new strategy has to conform with the new platform. The new platform has eight cardinal principle. There are new qualities needed for anybody who want to contest on the platform of the APC. Some people on the other side are now facing EFCC problems. They have to account for the money they were given. During my time in the PDP,  I never touched a kobo. The deep pocket they were taking about was the PDP strategy and that was exactly the situation. The APC has its principle and we have to abide by it. That is why I have taken upon myself that Edo State must remain on the platform of the APC to ensure a winning strategy for the state.

    You contested against the governor and you are now with him. What can you say about that?

    The only person that can tell you about your smelling mouth is your friend. The fact that I challenge the governor does not mean we are not friends. My mother told me that when she returned to the country and saw what Oshiomhole was doing, she decided to vote for Oshiomhole again unknown to her that her son would be the candidate against Oshiomhole. It is only a friend that can challenge a friend. In most of the courses I have attended, the people who critic my thesis most are my friends. I criticized the governor because I felt he was not doing enough at that time. Today, he has done well by my assessment. I joined the APC because we have always been in opposition and we have not gotten anything. I felt we could sway our people to the Federal government policies and see what we stand to gain. Edo is the only state in the South South that is under the APC.

     

  • PDP can’t defeat APC, says Airhiavbere

    PDP can’t defeat APC, says Airhiavbere

    Major-General Charles Airhiavbere contested against Governor Adams Oshiomhole in 2012. He was an aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In this interview with OSAGIE OTABOR, he speaks about the chance of the party at the election.

    What is the difference between meeting delegates in the PDP and meeting delegates in the APC?

    The difference is very clear. The primary that brought President Buhari to power in Lagos was democratic and transparent. That was my first attraction to the APC. That encouraged me that this was a new platform to work with. It was possible because three political parties came together; the ACN, the CPC and the ANPP. In the case of the PDP, there were only three delegates per ward. In the APC, you have all the 12 ward executive members, 24 executives at the local government and that gives you a level playing field. You can sell yourself to a minimum of a hundred people because the number of delegates in the local government is 126. If you cannot break through 100, you are not supposed to be in the field. That is the first calculation. The PDP only has two men and a woman as delegates and so, it is very difficult to break through. When some people crossed over from the APC, the first thing they offered them was to have one delegate out of the three, automatically that person is the winner. That is what happened when Ize-Iyamu crossed over, such structures are not democratic.

    There was a time some aspirants raised an alarm that the list of APC delegates was being manipulated. Do you also have the same fear?

    Those who raised such an alarm are not students of history. They don’t believe in their capacity to lead. Whoever you accused of trying to falsify the delegate list, is being accused of fraud. From my understanding, the APC we joined is not a fraudulent party. One of their cardinal principles in their manifesto is zero tolerance to corruption and falsifying a delegate list is fraudulent; it is corruption of the highest level and I do not believe that anybody in the APC will accept that. Crying wolf should be eliminated from the political process. We saw the primary of the APC in other states. Edo State will not be an exception. I believe that if you work, create new strategies and do something different, you become neutral in the political process. Nobody can change the delegate list.

    This is your second attempt as an aspirant .Are you sure you will make it?

    The meaning of my family name is you will not make a second mistake. All the mistake I made in my first outing, I have taken into cognizance in my second outing. Spiritually, the APC has a principle of equal comers. In the PDP, I came in seven months after I retired and I claimed the ticket. There were many obstacles. I had to go and get waiver. A Major-General that served meritoriously should take political class at any level because of the high level of politics, maneuvering, discipline, the high level of loyalty put in to serve the country and I think that particular part of the constitution in any political party should be removed. The APC has given us that platform and I have played my part. I was the team leader that monitored the election in Bayelsa. I went there two times. I was in the team from the APC headquarters that went for the burial of the late Audu in Kogi State and I campaigned in the Vice President team in Kogi during the elections. I have brought my experience from PDP to APC. The pillars that have been strengthened in the APC today, I can say I was a party to it because I challenged the governor in 2012 and as a result, most of the things I brought out in my campaigns were used to strengthen the government in the second term. It is clear to the people of the state and it has endeared me to them. That is why I described myself as the candidate to beat because I have been tested. I have nothing against anybody. I can say Oshiomhole has done well. He has opened the political space. He has given the people the democratic dividends. This is the time to consolidate. I am sure the human capital development that Edo State has is needed to be done by a man who has seen it all, by a man who has contested, a man who joined politics five days after he retired from the Army. I was yearning to serve my people and that is exactly what made to come out for a second attempt. I am sure I will win.

    You were regarded as a man with deep pocket. Do you still have the deep pocket?

    That was the facade to create a larger than life image for the man to challenge Oshiomhole and it sold. The new strategy has to conform with the new platform. The new platform has eight cardinal principle. There are new qualities needed for anybody who want to contest on the platform of the APC. Some people on the other side are now facing EFCC problems. They have to account for the money they were given. During my time in the PDP,  I never touched a kobo. The deep pocket they were taking about was the PDP strategy and that was exactly the situation. The APC has its principle and we have to abide by it. That is why I have taken upon myself that Edo State must remain on the platform of the APC to ensure a winning strategy for the state.

    You contested against the governor and you are now with him. What can you say about that?

    The only person that can tell you about your smelling mouth is your friend. The fact that I challenge the governor does not mean we are not friends. My mother told me that when she returned to the country and saw what Oshiomhole was doing, she decided to vote for Oshiomhole again unknown to her that her son would be the candidate against Oshiomhole. It is only a friend that can challenge a friend. In most of the courses I have attended, the people who critic my thesis most are my friends. I criticized the governor because I felt he was not doing enough at that time. Today, he has done well by my assessment. I joined the APC because we have always been in opposition and we have not gotten anything. I felt we could sway our people to the Federal government policies and see what we stand to gain. Edo is the only state in the South South that is under the APC.

     

  • Airhiavbere joins Edo governorship race

    •‘I have Pry Six certificate to contest poll’

    A former General and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Edo State, Charles Airhiavbere, yesterday pledged to drive the party’s progressive ideology and programmes for the improvement in the living standard of the residents.

    The retired soldier unveiled what he called his viable economic model, which encompasses effective security system, youth and women empowerment, blocking of leakages in all sectors of the economy, rehabilitation of ailing industries and factories long abandoned by previous governments.

    Others, he said, include employment generation and other programmes that would impact the lives of the residents.

    He said an APC administration under him would launch Edo State to the outside world.

    Besides, Airhiavbere said an APC-led government under his watch would build trailer parks and new markets as well as other productive ventures that would shore up the state’s revenue base.

    Addressing reporters yesterday at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) secretary in Benin, the state capital, to formally declare his intention to contest the September 10 governorship election, Airhiavbere assured the Edo electorate that he would give priority to the Gelegele Sea Port, if elected governor.

    He noted that as an accountant and economist, he was at home with policy issues and determined to turn around the state’s fortunes.

    The former soldier said as an ally of Governor Adams Oshiomhole and having contested against the governor as the PDP candidate in 2012, he remained the candidate to beat in the forthcoming election.

    Urging the delegates not to compromise their votes for a better future, Airhiavbere pledged not to desecrate the Government House, if voted the governor.

    The APC governorship hopeful stressed the need to recruit more teachers with the training the trainer policy to compliment the red roof revolution of the Oshiomhole in order to create a critical value for youths for guaranteed standard education from the kindergarten to the university levels across the three senatorial districts of the state.

    On health, Airhiavbere assured that “any man or woman whose age is between 75 years and above” would be the property of the state government under his administration.

    The retired soldier said his administration would boost women’s skills, adding that the government under his watch would organised empowerment schemes.

    If elected governor, Airhiavbere said, his administration would establish a Conflict/Unity and Social Harmony Committee to resolve various crises among individuals, groups, communities and bodies for harmonious relationships.

    He said: “We need to be prepared for the future.”

    Also, Airhiavbere has said he has his Primary Six School Leaving certificate to contest the September 10 governorship election.

    He said he joined the race to lead Edo State to the Promised Land.

    Airhiavbere addressed reporters in Benin, the state capital, after picking his nomination form in Abuja.

    The former PDP governorship candidate said the state must align with the government in power at the centre.

    The retired soldier said the PDP would not win the Edo State governorship election because the party had gone into oblivion.

    He said his administration, if elected, would introduce toll gates on roads, attract investments and provide affordable health care for the residents.

  • Airhiavbere, others defect to APC in Edo

    Airhiavbere, others defect to APC in Edo

    National Coordinator of President Goodluck Jonathan Support Group Gen. Charles Airhiavbere and his supporters have dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Gen. Airhiavbere was the PDP governorship candidate for Edo State in 2012.

    He announced his defection at a news conference.

    Gen. Airhiavbere said he decided to join the team of change so that the state could enjoy benefits from the Federal Government.

    The former PDP governorship candidate said any politician who meant well for the state would join the APC.

    He denied collecting money from the PDP to finance his 2012 campaigns as well as getting any gratifications for his group’s support for Jonathan.

    Gen. Airhiavbere said:  “I know for sure that with APC at the national and state levels, there will be rapid development and all campaign promises will be delivered to our state.

    “My passion for Jonathan was my personal effort and group’s donation. I did not get any gratification but for the fact that Edo State should remain at the centre.

    “I will always be loyal to the centre. We delivered for PDP on March 28. We will deliver to APC on April 11. My desire is to have a peaceful Edo State. Oshiomhole should enjoy majority at the Edo State House of Assembly.”

    Thousands of PDP members led by the Coordinator of Grassroots Youths Initiative, Osarobo Idahosa and former senatorial aspirant, Richard Lamai, defected to the APC at a rally held in Benin City.

  • Airhiavbere can’t challenge Oshiomhole’s qualification – Supreme Court

    Airhiavbere can’t challenge Oshiomhole’s qualification – Supreme Court

    The Supreme Court on Friday barred the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Charles Airhiavbere from challenging the educational qualification of Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole.

    Delivering judgment in an appeal by Oshimohole, the apex court set aside part of the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Benin, which ordered fresh hearing of Airhiavbere’s petition.

    The appellate court had allowed Airhiavbere to include in his notice of appeal-ground to challenge Oshiomhole’s educational qualification.

    This was against the ruling of the tribunal which ruled that the ground was not contained in Airhiavbere’s petition. Dissatisfied, Oshiomhole through his legal team of Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Ricky Tarfa (SAN), Niyi Akintola (SAN), Femi Falana (SAN), Mike Ozekhome (SAN) and Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN) approached the Supreme Court.

    Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour, who delivered the judgment, said the trial tribunal was right in stopping Airhiavbere.

    The Justice said, “The issue of non-qualification is not clearly before the court. It amount to injustice for court to look for other ground for the petitioner.

    “The tribunal has no jurisdiction to hear and determine the non-qualification since it is not contained in the ground of appeal.”

    The apex court, however, said Airhiavbere could still challenge the validity of the election in 51 units in five Local Governments.

    Justices Mahumd Mohammed, John Fabiyi, Mary Peter-Odili, Clara Bata Ogunbiyi, Bayang Akaahs and Stanley Allagoa agreed with the judgment.

    Adopting his written address, Olanipekun had told the apex court that the Airhiavbere lost the opportunity to challenge Oshiomhole’s qualification because it is not contained in his ground of petition.

    Since he did not specifically plead the issue, Olanipekun said the apex court should not allow Airhiavbere to ambush his client by raising the issue in his argument.

  • Edo: Why Airhiavbere can’t challenge my qualification – Oshiomhole

    Edo: Why Airhiavbere can’t challenge my qualification – Oshiomhole

    Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, on Monday explained why the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, Charles Airhiavbere cannot challenge his educational qualification.

    Oshiomhole said Airhiavbere lost the opportunity to do because it is not contained as a ground in his (Airhiavbere) petition against his victory.

    Since he did not specifically raise the issue, the governor said the apex court should not allow the petitioner to ambush him by raising the issue in his argument.

    Oshiomhole spoke through his legal team led by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) at the hearing of his appeal against the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Benin, Edo, which ordered fresh hearing of Airhiavbere’s petition.

    On the governor’s legal team are Ricky Tarfa (SAN), Niyi Akintola (SAN), Femi Falana (SAN), Mike Ozekhome (SAN) and Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN).

    Adopting his written address, Olanipekun said there was no basis for the judgment of the Court of Appeal.

    According to him, the petitioner grounded his petition on corrupt practice and none compliance with the Electoral Act 2010, but not on Oshiomhole’s non qualification.

    Besides, he berated the petitioner/respondent for asking the tribunal to declare him as the winner of the election after claiming that the election was invalid.

    He wondered why Airhiavbere wants to benefit from an exercise he claimed was fraudulent.

    Olanipekun pointed out that the Respondent is challenging results in only five of the 18 local governments.

    Responding, counsel to Airhiavbere, Chief Efe Akpofure (SAN) asked the court to dismiss the appeal and affirm the judgment of the lower court.

     

     

  • Appeal court throws out Airhiavbere’s appeals

    Appeal court throws out Airhiavbere’s appeals

    Two appeals filed by Major-General Charles Airhiavbere against two rulings of the lower tribunal were on Thursday thrown out for lack of merit by the Court of Appeal.

    Airhiavbere, who was the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the July 14 governorship election in Edo State, is challenging the outcome of the election based on alleged malpractices.

    He is also challenging the academic qualification of Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

    The lower tribunal headed by Justice Suleiman Ambrusa had ruled that Airhiavbere could not call additional 17 additional witnesses not listed among the 31 witnesses in the main petition.

    Justice Ambrusa also struck out some paragraphs in Airhiavbere’s reply to Governor Oshiomhole’s submission to the petition.

    Delivering judgment on whether Airhiavbere could all additional witnesses, the three-man panel headed by Justice George Shoremi held that failure by the petitioner to list the witnesses alongside the main petition “added poverty to the petition.”

    The court said the complaint of lack of fair hearing by the petitioner was faulty and lacking in merit.

    It therefore upheld the ruling of the lower tribunal.

    Giving a second judgment, the court held that issues raised by Airhiavbere in his reply were new and fresh issues not contained in the main petition.

    The court ruled that bringing in such issues would take the respondents by surprise and would not give them time to respond.

     

  • Court reserves ruling on Airhiavbere’s appeal

    The Court of Appeal, sitting in Benin, the Edo State capital, yesterday reserved ruling on the appeal filed by Maj.-Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (rtd.), the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the July 14 election.

    Airhiavbere is seeking permission to call more witnesses to testify at the Election Petition Tribunal.

    He went to the Appeal Court when the lower tribunal refused his application to call more witnesses in addition to the 31 listed in his petition.

    Yesterday, Airhiavbere’s counsel Kingsley Obamogie told the court that the tribunal’s ruling against the application was influenced by an earlier ruling of the dissolved panel of the tribunal on September 27, which ruled that the part of the petition centred on Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s academic qualification was a pre-election matter.

    He said the September 27 ruling had been upturned by the Appeal Court and urged the Justice George Shoremi-led panel to uphold the appeal.

    Oshiomhole’s counsel Wole Olanipekun (SAN) said the application was sequel to the withdrawal of the PDP as a co-petitioner.

    He urged the panel to uphold the lower tribunal’s ruling .

    Justice Shoremi led adjourned ruling till a later date.