The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Edo guber poll

  • I will defeat Okowa in Delta – Oshiomhole

    Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, on Thursday said he will defeat Governor Ifeanyi Okowa if both of them contest election in Delta State.

    Oshiomhole chided the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors in the South- south for promising to win Edo for the party.

    He said the PDP governors should be allowed to wallow in their dreams.

    Oshiomhole said workers in the state who received their salaries regularly will chase the PDP governors away.

    He said, “I will defeat Okowa in Delta State. My pedigree speaks for me. My power is not money but my oratory and pedigree.”

    “Those who cannot pay salaries want to come and take Edo. We pay salaries before the end of the month. The workers are already kicking against them. We will not allow them take Edo back to Egypt.”

     

  • PDP welcomes Odubu to Edo governorship race

    The Peoples Democratic Party in Edo State has welcomed the Deputy Governor of the state, Dr. Pius Odubu, to the race to succeed Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

    It commended Dr. Odubu for what it termed “courage and temerity exhibited by officially declaring his intentions to vie for the office of Governor under the All Progressive Congress (APC) platform.”

    A statement signed by the state Publicity Secretary of the party, Chris Nehikhare, said the declaration by Odubu has opened up the political landscape in the state.

    The statement said Odubu deserved commendation for his refusal to be blackmailed and cowed out of the race.

    The deputy governor had in his declaration promised to grant tax holiday to new investors in the state if elected as governor.

    He promised to waive certificate of occupancy fees as additional incentives to new investors.

     

  • Why I won’t be neutral on my successor – Oshiomhole

    Why I won’t be neutral on my successor – Oshiomhole

    Governor Adams Oshiomhole has pointedly told leaders of the All Progressive Congress in Edo State that he would not be neutral on who succeeds him.

    Oshiomhole, however, stated that there would be free and fair primaries for party members to decide who succeeds him.

    The governor noted that many aspirants are vying to run under the APC based on the strength of his administration’s performance.

    He spoke at an enlarged meeting of the leadership of the APC from the three senatorial districts of the state.

    The governor said he would never be afraid to take a position and to explain his position on the basis of his conviction.

    Oshiomhole said he owed the party the explanation on the qualities needed from his successor.

    He stated the state needs a governor that has the capacity to see beyond going to Abuja for allocation because there is not much available in Abuja now.

    He said, “Should I as a governor have no such right to have a voice and a say on the choice of my successor? I cannot be neutral in matters affecting my environment.”

    “Even people who are not from Edo state will always tell me to guide them so that Edo will not go back to the past. I will never be afraid to take a position and to explain my position on the basis of my conviction.  In a democracy whether matured or growing, endorsement is legitimate. What I owe Edo people is very clear to me.

    “I have heard several things about my person, some said he has anointed one of the candidates, some now call me god father. There is no question that the governorship candidate of this party will be produced through primaries. In the last elections, House of Assembly, National Assembly and presidential elections, we held primaries.

    “So when people make those statements I just laugh. So this governor has no powers to impose any body on our party and certainly anybody on our state. I am proud to say that we have more than 60 political parties, why is it that everybody wants to run on APC platform? Why not Labour Party or PDP? It is on the strength of the performance of the government that I am privileged to head.”

  • 2016: PDP unveils education blueprint for Edo

    2016: PDP unveils education blueprint for Edo

    The Peoples Democratic Party in Edo State has unveiled its blueprint for the educational sector for Edo State if elected to power in 2016.

    It said its aspirants must key into the plans to boost education in the state.

    The PDP promised to build a new model schools in all the 18 local government areas in the state.

    State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chris Nehikhare, who unveiled the educational blueprint said the party would provide unfettered access to a compulsory Universal Basic Education for all children in the state.

    Nehikhare noted that schools refurbished by the Oshiomhole administration lacked functional libraries and laboratories.

    He said the technical colleges at Afuze, Benin-City and Uromi would be resuscitated, refocused and re-equipped in line with modern technological advancement and relevance.

    His words,  “We will establish and maintain quality and standards schools through relevant and competent based curriculum and effective quality control and monitoring at both public and private levels.”

    “We will strengthen Edo State’s future technological and scientific foundation by re-jigging technical, vocational and entrepreneurial formats and objectives, making optimal use of Information and Communication Technology to meet the State’s manpower needs in commerce and industry and other core areas”.

  • Edo poll: Oshiomhole wants panel to reject witnesses’ statements

    Edo poll: Oshiomhole wants panel to reject witnesses’ statements

    Governor Adams Oshiomhole on Monday asked the Edo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal to strike out witnesses’ statements in the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate in the July 14 poll, l Charles Airhiavbere.

    This was contained in an application filed by counsel to Oshiomhole, Adeniyi Akintola.

    Akintola in the application said the witnesses’ statements have become an academic exercise in view of ruling the tribunal gave on September 27.

    He argued that the statements have no bearing on the issues before the court as they related to dispute over academic qualifications.

    Akintola also opposed a motion on notice file by Counsel to Airhiavbere, Paul Itua seeking extension of time to allow for more witnesses.

    He said the application will serve no purposes, stressing that the ruling of the tribunal has taken care of the application.