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Tag: Chief Dan Orbih

  • Our stay in prison has elevated us to African statesmen, Orbih

    State Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, Chief Dan Orbih, has said that the one night he and other spent in Benin Prison has elevated their status to African statesmen.

    Chief Orbih, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, a former Deputy Governor, Mr. Lucky Imasuen, a former member of the House of Representatives, Tony Azegbemi and Efe Anthony spent last Thursday night in prison custody after they could not meet the bail conditions set by Justice P.I Adjokwu.

    They were arraigned on eight count charges of laundering the sum of N700m in 2015.

    Read Also:Ize-Iyamu, Orbih, other Edo PDP leaders to spend weekend in prison

    The money was believed to be part the $115m Allison Diezani pilfered from the treasury to fund the 2015 general elections.

    They were released from custody at about 10:30pm on Friday night.

    Addressing party supporters who paid him solidarity at his residence, Chief Orbih said people who were sentenced to long years imprisonment later came out to rule the country.

    Chief Orbih vowed to continue to advance the course of the common man.

    According to him, “For the first time in the history of our state, documents that were not signed during the day were signed at9:30pm. The documents of Pastor Ize-Iyamu were declared missing.

    “They did not sign his papers because they wanted him to stay for the weekend. You can plan evil but evil will be defeated.

    “When you see any government using organs of government to oppress and intimidate opposition, you will know the end of that government is near.”

  • Ex-deputy Governor, Ize-Iyamu spends first night in prison

    A former Deputy Governor of Edo state, Mr, Lucky Imasuen and a former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu spent their first night in prison custody after they allegedly failed to meet the bail conditions granted them by a Federal High Court.

    Others arraigned alongside Imasuen that also spent Thursday night in prison were State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, a former member of the House of Representatives, Tony Azegbemi and Efe Anthony.

    They were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on eight count charges of laundering the sum of N700 million.

    The money was believed to be part of the $115m Allison Diezani pilfered from the treasury to fund the 2015 general elections.

    They were granted bail of N10 million each, with sureties in like sum who must be in grade level 16 and above and must be house owners, with Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) that should be deposited with the court’s deputy registrar.

    Justice P.I Adjokwu remanded in custody pending when they meet their applications for bail despite plea by counsel to Ize-Iyamu, Mr Charles Edosomwan, that they be kept in the custody of the EFCC.

    However, a statement by the State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Chris Nehikhare, explained that only one of the five could not meet his bail conditions.

    Nehikhare said the other four decided to spend the night in prison in solidarity.

    “They are all in high spirit and expected to perfect their bail condition today”.

  • Alleged diversion of IDPs rice: Police invites Orbih for questioning 

    Alleged diversion of IDPs rice: Police invites Orbih for questioning 

    Edo State Commissioner of Police, Babatunde Kokumo, has invited Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, Chief Dan Orbih, for questioning over allegations that the state government diverted rice meant Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

    Chief Orbih had alleged that 4721 bags of rice meant for IDPs at Ohogua village in Ovai North East local government area were diverted.

    The invitation of Chief Orbih was based on a petition by Governor Godwin Obaseki on the need for the police to make Chief Orbih present facts of the allegations.

    Governor Obaseki had in the petition said Chief Orbih in a a radio interview ‘falsely and maliciously stated that the Edo State Government was involved in a criminal conspiracy to divert 4,721 bags of rice released by the Federal Government for distribution to IDPs in the state’.

    In the petition signed by Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Osarodion Ogie, the Edo Government stated that Chief Orbih further claimed that 300 bags of rice were diverted to a certain Senator in Ondo State.

    According to the petition, “It is instructive to note that in making these allegations to the general public, Chief Orbih claimed that he had facts and records to back up these criminal allegations.

    “The purpose of this complaints is to formally bring these weighty and unsubstantiated allegations to your attention and to request a thorough investigation with a view to establishing the veracity or otherwise of same.

    “It is the contention of the Edo State Government that Chief Dan Orbih should be called upon to provide evidence of the serious crimes he has alleged to have been committed by the Edo State Government and to furnish your Command with facts, details and proof of the allegations he has made in the public domain.”

    State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Chris Nehikhare who confirmed the development said Chief Orbih will appear before the police.

    Nehikhare said the Edo PDP also wrote a petitioned for criminal incitement of the public against the leadership and members of PDP by the Edo State Government.

    He stated that Edo Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Mr. Paul Ohonbamu and the Media Aide to Governor Obaseki, Mr. Crusoe Osagie have consistently issued press releases referring the members and leadership of PDP as bandits, rogues, liars and fraudsters who stole the resources of the people.

    “Edo PDP wants the police to investigate these matters and ensure that those behind these criminal incitements are brought to book.”

    Read Also: Rice, shoes for IDPs: Edo releases distribution roster

  • Group to SSS, EFCC: Invite Orbih to prove IDP rice allegation

    Group to SSS, EFCC: Invite Orbih to prove IDP rice allegation

    Members of Concerned Citizens of Edo State (CCES), a non-governmental organisation, have called on the Nigeria Police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the State Security Service (SSS) to invite Dan Orbih, chairman, Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for proof of his allegation that the Edo State government diverted bags of rice meant for Internally Displaced (Persons IDPs).

    President of the association, Mr Ogbewi Aghedo, said that “There are several dimensions to this allegation. The credibility of the Edo State government has been called to question by the allegation. The Edo State PDP chairman has also by that comment, accused the state government of criminal diversion of the relief materials approved for internally displaced persons and yet another diversion is the indictment of a Senator from Ondo State, whose name was not given by Orbih.

    “You will agree with me that these are weighty allegations and cannot be equated with mere politicking. These alleged crimes fall within the purview of the police, the EFCC and the SSS and the recorded audio interview of Dan Orbih on Independent Radio is sufficient material for preliminary investigation by these security agencies.”

    Aghedo said its members are aware that the state government has petitioned the state commissioner of police. “This a step in the right direction. The allegation is an attack on the integrity of the state government and it is only proper for the state to rise up to the occasion and demand proof.”

    The allegation, according to Aghedo, “is equivalent to whistle blowing and as you are aware, when you have your facts and proof, the federal government will reward you for blowing the whistle, but if you blow a false whistle, we all know the implication.”

    He added that as a stakeholder in the nation’s democracy project, its activities includes identifying actions and inactions that pose threat to the lives of the ordinary Edo people and Nigerians alike, defend them against obnoxious policies and laws and defend pro-people policies and programmes, amongst others.

    Edo PDP chairman alleged on a live radio programme on Thursday in Benin City, that over 300 bags of rice approved for internally displaced persons were diverted by the Edo State government to the house of an Ondo State Senator.

    Orbih was quoted as saying on the Independent Radio pidgin English programme, Man Around Town: “This thing no be matter Edwey them take debate. Them carry this rice go give one Senator for Ondo, that one na Internally displaced person? We get record for how them take share this rice among themselves.

    “Them carry this rice on a Sunday go one house before By-pass. On a Sunday, because make people no see wetin them dey do. We have all these records. We know the movements. We know what they were doing. I was just watching them to see whether these people get heart.”

  • Deposed Uromi monarch urges subjects to ignore PDP

    Deposed Uromi monarch urges subjects to ignore PDP

    Deposed monarch of Uromi in Esan North East local government area, HRH Anselm Aidenojie , has urged his subjects to ignore the call by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for them not to vote for the party that deposed their king.

    The deposed monarch who urged his subjects to vote for any political party of their choice distanced himself from the PDP’s comment.

    State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, had told the people of Uromi that it was wrong for them to continue to support the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) that deposed their king.

    Chief Orbih cautioned Governor Godwin Obaseki to stop playing politics with the traditional institution of Uromi.

    But the deposed monarch in a press statement he personally signed and issued to journalists in Benin City said he is not a member of any political party.

    He expressed optimism that Governor Godwin Obaseki will revisit the incident that led to his deposal.

    According to him, “l wish to use this medium to state that I was neither privy nor a party to the said statements. I hereby dissociate myself from the said statements and to state in unequivocal terms, that I am neither a member of the said political party nor partisan.

    “I urge the electorate at Uromi to disregard the said statements and vote for the party of their choice.

    “I am confident that the State Governor given his progressive nature, in his time will revisit the unfortunate incident that led to my deposal. I promise my unalloyed support and loyalty to Edo State Government.”

  • Obaseki’s 2018 budget is full of deceit, duplication – PDP

    Obaseki’s 2018 budget is full of deceit, duplication – PDP

    Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that the state 2018 budget as signed into law by Governor Godwin Obaseki is full of deceit and duplication.

    It said the Edo 2018 budget was meant to inflict pains on the people.

    The PDP said the budget was padded and funds allowed to projects already completed and commissioned by former Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

    What it said made the budget unserious was the allocation of N15bn to the office of the Governor.

    State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, who spoke at a press briefing in Benin City yesterday it was worrisome that Obaseki allocated 10 percent of the entire budget sum to his office at a time Edo people are experiencing hard times and finding it difficult to make ends meet.

    Chief Orbih accused Obaseki of wasting state fund on frivolous things by allocating N4bn as security vote, N1.5bn for governor’s office, N2.5bn for central administration, N2.105bn for governor’s entertainment and N1m monthly for an essential drug for the Governor.

    Orbih alleged that the budget was padded to the tune of over N500 under the guise of providing equipment for the new accident and emergency ward and construction of new and emergency ward complex at the Benin Central hospital 

    He said the provision of N134m to build a water fountain in the budget was misplaced as portable water was not available in the state.

    The PDP chairman said it was wrong to provide N100m for start-up packs for young entrepreneurs and small loans and another N100m for consultancy service.

    According to him, “The APC government is unserious. If Obaseki is sick, he should let us know about his health status. How come we will use N1m monthly to buy essential drugs for the Governor. We are forced to ask what exactly is wrong with the Governor?

    “The man Oshiomhole foisted on us is not a technocrat. Look at the budget breakdown. They gave us a man that has no knowledge of governance. There is no functional public water in Benin City. Water Board is not functioning now.

    “You need to go into the details of the 2018 budget to know what we are talking about. The government has remained adamant to pensioners but voted money to provide water fountain.

    “Some of the money is duplicated in other sub-heads. In the Ministry of Health, you will see Obaseki’s wonder.”

    Reacting to the allegations, Governor Obaseki said the PDP could not appreciate plans and initiatives contained in the 2018 budget because it was still stuck in primitive politics and a system that glorifies avarice.

    Governor Obaseki who spoke through his Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, noted that the 2018 budget was meant to fix the damage caused by decades of misrule by the PDP.

    Obaseki stated that the budget was targeted at improving the well being of Edo people and aimed towards enhancing enterprise, building infrastructure, promoting agriculture, enhancing job creation and social economic well being of Edo.

    He added, “Specifically, some roads that will be constructed this year were budgeted for by the PDP in the past and money was released that ended up in their private safes. These roads were not constructed. We have the same issues in the education sector where money was released to build schools, only to be stolen.

    “But under Governor Obaseki, we are seeing roads being fixed everywhere and this will continue in the years to come. The PDP is bitter because there is no more money to share for birthday parties and ego trips. This budget will address the needs of ordinary Edo people.”

    “Hard as they tried, they cannot say that Governor Obaseki allocated any sum to himself, his family or his political party, as is the stock in trade of the PDP. The budget is clear in its purpose.

    “Specifically, given the need to fast-track development, the 2018 budget is focused on key areas that can easily spur growth. Over 60 percent of the budget went to infrastructure; around 20 percent to growth enablers, such as job creation and agriculture. Law and order got 10 percent because the PDP bastardised the state when it held the helm of affairs and almost succeeded in turning the state to a place without order.

    “But we understand why the PDP would come out to make these spurious allegations. In their heydays, they built roads on paper; the budgets were for the fun of it. Roads were budgeted for but no one could see where they were built. These, for them, were their hallmarks of governance.

    “The culture of stealing and greed, of appropriating to themselves the Commonwealth of the state still runs fresh in their veins. So, it is not a surprise that they are stuck in primitive politics and expect that others would wallow in such lows with them. This is just to let them know that the 2018 budget is for the people and for the growth of the state.”

  • PDP vows to win Edo council polls

    PDP vows to win Edo council polls

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State has vowed to win the forthcoming local government elections in the state.

    However, no date has been fixed for the election by the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) headed by Prof. Stanley Orobator.

    The state Chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, said the party would be victorious in all the 18 local government areas of the state.

    He spoke at the party secretariat when the state party executives hoisted flags representing the 18 LGAs in Edo State.

     

  • Mass defection looms in Edo PDP

    Mass defection looms in Edo PDP

    Some members of the People’s Democratic Party in Edo State have opted to leave the PDP over selection of delegates that voted at the just concluded elective congress of the party where Uche Secondus emerged as the National Chairman of the party.

    The grouse of the members is the manner delegates from the state were allegedly selected without their inputs.

    A leader of the PDP in Akoko-Edo local government and former Federal Commissioner in the Public Complaints Commission, Chief Oladele Bankole-Balogun took the lead on Monday when he announced his resignation from the PDP.

    In a letter addressed to State Chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih, Chief Bankole-Balogun said he realised that his status in the party was made lip service.

    He stated that as he watched the convention, he saw the level of lack of recognition for the efforts, contribution and personal sacrifices he made for the party.

    Chief Balogun said he still made huge financial contributions to the 2016 governorship elections in the state despite the party’s absence in his struggles at the law court to reclaim his mandate.

    His words, “I consider it outrageous to have to find out that a National delegate to a convention is taken from my area without my input. This singular act brings into question my relevance within the party.

    “I have therefore come to the decision to resign my membership of the PDP with immediate effect.”

    But Chief Orbih who rejected the resignation of Chief Balogun said the PDP looked forward to a robust relationship with him.

    Orbih’s reply reads, “I received a text message from you on the 9th of Dec.2017 informing me of your resignation from the party as a result of your non-participation in the process that led to the election of a national delegate from your Local government Area. I am informed that at the time of the delegates’ election you were not home because of some urgent personal issues that required your attention.

    “The Party appreciates your contribution to our efforts in building a strong membership in AkokoEdo LGA and here by reject your resignation notification.”

     

  • PDP donates 200 traffic shelters to Edo traffic agency

    PDP donates 200 traffic shelters to Edo traffic agency

    The People’s Democratic Party in Edo State on Tuesday donated 200 mobile shelters to the revamped Edo State Traffic Management Agency (EDSTMA).

    It said the donation was because it noticed the suffering officials of the agency go through in controlling traffic in the rain and under the sun.

    State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, said it was sad that Governor Godwin Obaseki failed to provide traffic shelters for the agency.

    Chief Orbih said the party was informed that many of EDSTMA suffered from malaria and other ailments due to exposure to heat and cold in the rain.

    Orbih stated that the traffic shelters would ameliorate their sufferings and ensured that EDSTMA officials are healthy to carry out their duties.

    His words, “We have observed with great concern pains EDSTMA staff are going through. They are always in the sun and in the rain controlling traffic.

    “As part of our contributions, we are donating 200 traffic shelter houses to EDSTMA so that they will no longer suffer under the rain. We are very concern about what they are going through.”

    Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki on Communication and Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said it was unfortunate that the PDP that caused all the mess being cleared by the APC government is now providing shelter for officials of the EDSTMA.

    He said,  “We want to say that we have received the shelter without thanks to them because we know that the funds used in procuring those items are a fraction of our common patrimony which they plundered with reckless abandon. A dignifying act would be to bring back the looted billions so that the APC can fast-track the development of the state.”

  • PDP condemns Edo competency test for promotion

    PDP condemns Edo competency test for promotion

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the introduction of competency written test by the Edo State government for its workers before they would be promoted.

    It said Governor Godwin Obaseki was sustaining an unpopular policy of his immediate predecessor.

    The PDP rather advised the state government to cultivate the habit of organising in-house training for workers and to “stop dehumanising them in the name of competency test.”

    State chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, in a statement issued in Benin urged Governor Obaseki to take learn from former Prof. Ambrose Alli administration on content development for civil servants.

    He said, “Edo PDP condemns in strong terms the clandestine and wicked reintroduction of competency test by Governor Godwin Obaseki.

    “The test itself is an illegal one as a restraining order given by the Industrial Court in 2014 against the conduct of such tests has not been vacated.

    “With this, it has shown clearly that the only thing that has changed in the Edo government house is the personality because the present government is a continuation of former Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s anti-people policies.

    “We challenge the state government to come out with the real motive behind the competency test as it is a common knowledge that there is more than meets the eye in the exercise.

    “Remember that Oshiomhole set up committee and wasted millions of taxpayers’ money to organise the failed test in 2014. It is shameful that just like Oshiomhole, Governor Obaseki has shown great knack for frivolities.”

    Governor Obaseki, had on Wednesday defended the conduct of the test, saying t the test was not compulsory for all teachers and that it was unfortunate that many teachers failed to understand details of the test.

    He said, “It is not competency test. It is part of strengthening the civil service. The test is part of promotion exercise. They are already competent and that is why they are working and in the service.”