The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Benin City

  • Defectors do not fit into APC vision, says lawmaker

    The lawmaker representing Akoko-Edo federal constituency in the House of Representative, Hon Peter Akpatason, has said that those defecting from the All Progressive Congress do not fit into the vision of the party.

    Hon Akpatason said the defectors would lose next year’s general election because they left good people in the APC to join bad people.

    Akpatason who spoke to reporters in Benin City said the defectors won elections in 2015 because of the good people they met in the APC.

    He argued that the PDP was not a beautiful bride for defectors but a dumping ground for those he termed waste product.

    Read Also: Support swells for APC in Abia

    According to him, “For you to effect development, you need the good, the bad and the ugly but in the process of development, you begin to see the good from the bad and the ugly.

    “At some point, it becomes clear to some people that they do not fit into the system and that is what is happening now. They jump ship to where they actually belong to. Some people jumped ship some years ago because they wanted to contest election and they thought it was the APC platform and also the Buhari tsunami including the dynamics of their local politics.

    “PDP is a dumping ground for waste product and not a beautiful bride. Somebody who decamped four years ago and is defecting now is a waste product. They don’t have value to add to the system. People of value and command respect do not defect but only political merchants who see political parties as a platform.”

  • Field candidate with electoral value, Kwankwaso tells PDP

    Presidential aspirant of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and former Governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has urged the party to field candidate with electoral value for the 2019 general elections.

    Senator Kwankwaso who described the 2019 general elections as a crucial one said what is important is winning the election.

    Speaking to party supporters in Benin City, Senator Kwankwaso stated they anybody could be given the ticket but winning the main election is more important.

    Senator Kwankwaso expressed optimism that the nation’s financial challenges was surmountable if wastages could be stopped.

    Kwankwaso told Edo PDP supporters that he was in the state for consultation before he would officially declare his intention.

    The former Kano state Governor said he would use his wealth of experience to change the country’s narrative.

    He disclosed that he never collected security votes for the eight years her served as governor.

    Kwankwaso said he achieved a lot as a Governor without borrowing any money from anywhere in the world.

    Read Also: PDP condemns demolition of Aiyefele’s studio

    According to him, “We must get the facts and figures right in choosing our candidate. I have only told you that I have contested elections 15 times and lost only twice, I have not told you the people I have supported to become presidents.

    “My developmental strides, especially in the Educational sector, in Kano between 1999 to 2003 and 2011 to 2015 are still there for everyone to see.

    “Not only did we build thousands of classrooms and hundreds of primary schools across the state, we also trained and retrained thousands of teachers and gave two sets of uniforms, every years, to students in the state.

    “While we provided scholarships, both locally and internationally, to thousands of students, we also made education at primary, secondary and Tertiary levels, free.

    “As we speak, Kano State has the highest number of post graduate and Phd’s in the country, these people dominate most tertiary institutions in the North West as lecturers.

    There was applause at the PDP secretariat following the presence of former Governor Lucky Igbinedion who was said to be visiting the secretariat for the very first time.

  • World Humanitarian Day: Obaseki urges action against attacks on aid workers

    …lauds sacrifice of humanitarian workers

     

    The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has called for global action to halt attacks on humanitarian workers delivering aids to victims of conflicts across the world.

    Obaseki who gave the charge in Benin City, in commemoration of the World Humanitarian Day, marked on August 19 each year, decried the growing disregard for international conventions and rules of engagements that protect women, children, civilians and aid workers by parties to conflicts.

    “The scale of attacks on humanitarian workers is disheartening. Leaders across the world and development actors must rise to the occasion to defend individuals and groups who volunteer their skills, expertise and other resources to support vulnerable groups in the theatres of war and conflicts,” the governor said.

    He averred that “new thoughts and attitudes are needed by all stakeholders towards commitments to globally agree upon rules on the use of force, its degree, on whom, in what circumstance, amongst other considerations, as encapsulated in the Rule of Engagement card.”

    Obaseki saluted aid workers’ contributions to the good of society and declared that “to protect those who are protecting others, is the least we can all do, as leaders.”

    The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, notes that “Around the world, conflict is forcing record numbers of people from their homes, with over 65 million people now displaced. Children are recruited by armed groups and used to fight. Women are abused and humiliated. As humanitarian workers deliver aid and medical workers provide for those in needs, they are all too often targeted or treated as threats.”

    Read Also: We will not share Edo people’s money – Obaseki

    The 2018 celebration is being driven with a #NotATarget campaign; to bring attention to the millions of civilians affected by armed conflict every day and demand world leaders to do everything in their power to protect civilians in conflict.

    According to the UN, “People in cities and towns struggle to find food, water, and safe shelter, while fighting drives millions from their homes. Children are recruited and used to fight, and their schools are destroyed. Women are abused and humiliated. As humanitarian workers deliver aid, and medical workers treat the wounded and sick, they are directly targeted, treated as threats, and prevented from bringing relief and care to those in desperate need.”

    World Humanitarian Day (WHD) is held every year on 19 August to pay tribute to aid workers who risk their lives in humanitarian service, and to rally support for people affected by crises around the world, the global body said.

  • Obaseki attributes Edo’s progress to people-centric governance

    The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has ordered the immediate payment of workers’ August salaries ahead of the Eid-el Kabir celebrations next week, noting that the progress being recorded in the state is the result of a people-centric governance model adopted by his administration.

    According to Obaseki, the focus of his team is the well being of Edo people and residents and not a few individuals.

    The payment of August salary on the 17th day of the month, the governor explained, is the result of the prudent and sound management of the state’s resources, which has prioritized a robust reserve, grown over time, despite the massive investment in infrastructure and other critical sectors of the state.

    Recall that in June, the state governor released funds to the local government councils to settle workers’ salaries following the stand-off between the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) and the state governments, which resulted in the delay in salary payments in other states of the country.

    Obaseki gave the order during the Second Anniversary Thanksgiving of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Christian Prayer/Contact Committee, held at Government House in Benin City, on Friday, August 17, 2018.

    The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Osarodion Ogie Esq., said: “We cannot be sharing the money for the development of the state and still be able to meet up with our electoral promises to the people. Our focus is on the people, to develop the state and make life better for everyone.”

    He maintained that his administration has done well by fulfilling some of the promises he made during the electioneering campaign, such as the restoration of law and order, strengthening of critical institutions of government, creation of jobs and provision of infrastructure.

    He added that pensioners no longer protest over delayed payment of their entitlements as they are now paid, as and when due, while the civil servants receive their credit alerts, on the 26th of every month.

    He reiterated his administration’s commitment to quality education with the   Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (Edo-BEST) programme, which is revolutionising teaching and learning in Edo schools.

    “We spend $40 on every Edo child in the Edo-BEST programme and our children in the primary schools can now read. Every primary school in the state will be part of the Edo-BEST programme before the end of this administration,” he assured, adding that the dream of his administration is to turn the state into the economic hub of the country.

    Read Also: Human trafficking: Obaseki lauds EU, Benin Monarch

    The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the governor on religious matters and chairman APC Prayer/Contact Committee, Edo State, Pastor Eghosa Omoruyi, said that governor Obaseki is a blessing from God, to Edo people and residents, as he has touched the lives of many people in the state.

    “This is just the second year and as a state we have experienced good governance with landmark achievements in critical sectors of the state, and it can only get better,” Omoruyi said.

    The General Overseer of Covenant Ministry International, Imo State, Bishop Chukwu Anayo, who also participated in the Thanksgiving Service, said the governor has made the state peaceful for people of various religious convictions to worship God.

    “Prayer is very helpful, and you can see the impact as the governor has achieved huge developmental strides and the people are benefiting from his leadership style” Bishop Anayo added.

  • We foiled Igarra bank robbery, kill three robbers- Edo CP

    Commissioner of Police in Edo State, Babatunde Kokumo, on Friday evening gave details of how its personnel foiled Thursday’s bank robbery in Igarra, headquarters of Akoko-Edo local government area.

    Kokumo said the attack led to the death of two civilians, one police inspector and three of the armed robbers.

    Speaking to journalists in Benin City, Kokumo stated that it was the resistance and courageous fight put up by his men that stopped the robbers.

    He gave the name of one of the victims as Ojo Ukana who was arrested over a domestic issue between him and the wife while the other was  held for invalid vehicle particulars.

    The police CP said debunked reports that two banks were attacked adding that one of the robbers was nabbed.

    Read Also: Gunmen kill police escort, butcher in Edo

    He said the robbers attacked Keystone bank but they met stiff opposition from policemen who were on guard duty both at the Unity Bank and Keystone bank.

    According to him, “In the gun duel that ensued between the criminals and the policemen, three of the criminals were gunned down. The operational weapons of the gang recovered.”

    “What this gang of criminals did was to divide themselves into two halves; one half had gone to the police station ostensibly to prevent the police from responding to possible distress calls from the banks the attack would have been rest on the back.”

    “The first half that actually went to the police station was there, it was the second half that went to the Keystone bank where they attacked the bank and entered into the banking hall forcefully.”

    Residents of Igarra town however insisted that the claim of six victims was untrue as many victims were rushed to the hospital before the Commissioner arrived the scene.

     

  • Minority party cannot preside over NASS, says Rep

    Begs Edo APC members not to defect

    The lawmaker representing Ikpoba-Okha/Egor federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon Ehiozuwa Agbonnayima, has insisted that lawmakers from a minority party like the People’s Democratic Party would not be allowed to preside over the National Assembly.

    Hon Agbonnayima said the decisions whether to remove the present National Assembly leadership are not on the pages of newspaper, social media or at the beer parlour.

    Agbonnayima who spoke to newsmen in Benin City cautioned against using the current spate of defection or change of National Assembly leadership to heat up the polity.

    He noted the present scenario in the country is that ‘the APC is in government but the PDP is ruling.

    Agbonnayima urged the Senators to do the needful since the APC have majority lawmakers.

    The National Assembly been able to handle issue of leadership. The decision to remove the National Assembly leadership is not done on the pages of newspaper, social media or beer parlour. We should no heat up the system.

    When you look at it that APC is majority, there is no way a minority party can be the Senate President not even in America where we copied our style of democracy from.

    Read Also: Uneasy calm at NASS over defection saga

    “The National Assembly members will know what to do. When we get there we will cross it.”

    Agbonnayima who begged some leaders of Edo APC not to defect said the time of harvest was already near.

    He stated that the Edo APC has been infiltrated by some members of PDP who are causing trouble that they want to defect.

    His words, “There are also some genuine APC members who are aggrieved. It is a matter of time.

    “We have to let our members know that they have to be patience. The Governor is working and a lot of opportunities will come. They should not leave now that harvest time is here. They have worked and sweated for the party and the food has matured.

    “There are many job opportunities available, a lot of contracts to be awarded. The Governor has said they should wait. Oshiomhole as the National Chairman will create opportunity for Edo people.

    “There are a lot of opportunities especially the space filled by PDP members. APC is in government but PDP is the one ruling. That is why they are derailing the will of progress of Mr. President. They are still

    doing PDP agenda. That agenda is to pocket the money to the detriment of all Nigerians. I am appealing to them to be patient.”

     

  • Health Care: Obaseki tasks stakeholders on robust synergy

    The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki has tasked stakeholders in the nation’s health sector on robust collaboration to ensure efficient service deliver across the health care’s value chain.

    Obaseki gave the charge in Benin City, at the Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Edo State Chapter, with the theme: “Effective Healthcare Delivery in Edo State.”

    The governor maintained that the challenges in the sector were surmountable if concerted effort was made by all players in the sector to work as a team.

    “The idea of leaving the responsibilities of the health care system to only doctors, will not take us to where we need to be. The health system affects the entire spectrum of the society and everybody should be involved in tackling the challenges, from the primary health care system, which is the bedrock of our health sector,” the governor said.

    He said that “in line with the federal government’s policy of one primary health care centre to a ward, we have already set up machinery to renovate, upgrade and reconstruct the first 20 health care centres across the 18 local government areas of the state.”

    He explained that “the pilot phase of the reconstruction work will start in August, with 20 primary health centres and training programme for the personnel that will run the system.”

    Read Also: Obaseki places N10m on police killers

    Obaseki assured that the lesson learnt from the pilot phase will guide the roll out of the other primary health centres later in the year.

    He harped on the need for a robust relationship between health workers and the state government, and said that “we need each other to care for the health of Edo people and residents.”

    Earlier, chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, Edo State Chapter, Dr. Emmanuel Osaigbovo, commended the governor for his developmental strides in the state, and appealed for the timely completion of the ongoing projects.

    He called on all doctors in the state to rededicated themselves to duty and focus on efficient service delivery.

  • Edo reaffirms commitment to people-centered development

    Secretary to the Edo State Government (SSG), Osarodion Ogie Esq., has reaffirmed the commitment of the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration to drive development that will deliver more value to Edo people by strengthening the institutions and structures in the state.

    Ogie disclosed this when a delegation of the Edo State Chapter of the Bible Society of Nigeria, paid a courtesy visit to the Government House in Benin City, the state capital.

    He said that Edo people are already counting the gains of a peaceful and enabling environment, as a result of the ongoing institutional reforms and policies being implemented by the present administration, adding that the administration will not rest on its oars.

    Ogie said Governor Obaseki acknowledges the role of the clergy and religious bodies in praying for the state and proffering solutions to development challenges.

    Read Also: Edo Poly Usen strikes deal with Huawei on Tech Hub

    He praised the Bible Society of Nigeria for the role it has played over the years, noting that for bringing God’s word to the people, the Bible Society of Nigeria deserves to be encouraged.

    Leader of the Edo State Chapter of the Bible Society of Nigeria, Reverend Olu Aderibigbe, commended the Obaseki led-administration for the developmental strides recorded in the state.

    Aderibigbe urged the state government not to be distracted in its resolve to drive development, adding that, with the abolition of Community Development Associations (CDAs) and other illegal activities, law and order have been restored, which are indispensable for sustainable development.

  • Obaseki tasks religious leaders to groom credible leaders

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has tasked religious leaders in the country to play active role in grooming God-fearing leaders who will provide credible leadership for the future.

    Obaseki made the request on Friday in Benin City, at the Men’s Ministries Convention 2018 organised by the Assemblies of God Nigeria, Edo District, themed: “Men, His Agent of His Glory.”

    He described the convention as a good ground for leaders of the church to pray for Nigeria to overcome her challenges, adding, “The major problem this country is facing is that of leadership, as most of our past leaders failed us as a country.

    Read Also: Obaseki places N10m on police killers

    “The country is where it is now because of bad leadership. At a time in our history, Nigeria was the largest producer of palm oil. God has specially blessed Nigeria in terms of climate and other natural resources across all parts of the country.”

    He maintained that spiritual leaders have an important role to play in praying for the country and contributing to political and economic development, among others.

    In his remark, the Church District Superintendent, Rev. Paul Ekeasi, assured that Nigeria would experience good leadership in the country.

    Ekeasi offered prayers for Nigeria’s economy to experience a boom that would reduce the level of unemployment in the country.

    He urged spiritual leaders to ensure they offer prayers for the peaceful coexistence of Nigerians, irrespective of tribe or other considerations.

  • Edo APC youths deny being in Ekiti for election

    Youths of the All Progressive Congress in Edo State have denied allegations that they were mobilized to Ekiti State to help rig the governorship election won by Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

    Members of the Peoples Democratic Party had alleged that five buses were used to convey those they termed APC thugs to Ekiti State during the election.

    State Youth Leader of the party, Mr. Valentine Asuen, who spoke to newsmen in Bénin City said nobody mobilized APC youths to Ekiti.

    Asuen said the Edo APC were in solidarity with Ekiti APC through prayers and not to be physically present.

    He said it was Ekiti people that delivered victory for Dr. Fayemi.

    According to him, “Our youths are prepared for the 2019 general elections. No APC youths in Edo went to observe the election in Ekiti. What happened is that people in Ekiti delivered Fayemi. We in Edo are prepared for election in Edo and we are winning other South South states.

    Read also: Obasanjo counsels Secondus, PDP on how to defeat Buhari, APC in 2019

    Security forces are not members of the APC. The opposition also had security personnel protecting them. We did not watch any security personnel snatching ballot papers. The security men were there to do their job and maintain law.

    “Ekiti was significant for us as it has shown that 2019 is bright for the APC. It has shown that we are going to win the election. A lot of people that were looking at Ekiti to determine their fate or political future has seen that the APC is still very strong.

    “The rAPC is not a party. Other greedy and political charlatans hijacked genuine demands of the rAPC to bring down our party. They can now see clearly that we are strong. Ekiti has shown them that they cannot defect again. Some of them that were thinking of defection will not show the intention again.”