The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Edo people

  • Obaseki, World Bank firm up partnership on agriculture

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said that the deepening of partnership with the World Bank in agricultural development would usher the state into a new era of prosperity, which will directly impact on the lives of Edo people.

    The governor, who said this during a lunch with a team from the World Bank at the Government House in Benin City, noted that the state government has implemented crucial reforms to engender transparency, probity, and accountability in public finance and policy implementation.

    The visiting World Bank team consists of its Agricultural Economist, Adetunji Oredipe and Lead Financial Management Specialist, Governance Global Practice, Parminder Brar.

    Read Also:http://staging.thenationonlineng.net/world-bank-asks-nigeria-to-raise-non-oil-tax-collection/

    The meeting is coming on the heels of extensive engagements with top hierarchy of the World Bank, which has sent expanded teams to the state in the last couple of months, to assess the progress of development efforts and landmark projects such as the Edo-Azura Power Project, which the Bretton Woods institution is a major partner.

    According to the governor, the state government has ensured the implementation of reforms that have made the state attractive to investors and development partners, who have committed to invest in capacity building, technical education, innovation and technology development as well as in attaining the sustainable development goals in the state.

    He added that the focus on technical education has attracted investment from the World Bank, in the rehabilitation project, which will see the school offer top-of-the-range education in technical areas, and award globally-respected certificates to the students.

    The state government has been pursuing a multipronged agricultural development plan, which led to a recent visit to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).

    At the meeting with IITA Director General (DG), Nteranya Sanginga, Governor Obaseki reiterated his administration’s vision was to establish a cassava production zone of at least 50,000 hectares where cassava will be produced and processed with the active participation of smallholder farmers and the private sector.

    He demanded an actionable plan from IITA, that will guide the state in becoming a hub of agricultural development in the region.

    The World Bank team assured the governor of continued support on his developmental projects, noting that the World Bank will support the state’s reforms for the benefit of the people.

     

  • Eid-El-Fitr: Obaseki lauds Edo residents on peaceful celebration

    Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has commended residents, especially the Muslim faithful, on the peaceful celebration of Eid-El-Fitr across the state.

    Obaseki, who noted that his administration will continue to foster religious harmony among members of different religious groups, hailed the peaceful celebration of Eid-El-Fitr, which shows Edo people as peace loving.

    He said the peaceful conduct of different groups in the state while the celebrations lasted, showed a shared commitment to the progress of the state, noting that the state government will not relent in deepening the revamp of the security architecture to make the state safer for everyone to carry out their legitimate activities without fear of security threats.

    Read Also:Human Trafficking: ‘Obaseki has set template for managing menace’

    Obaseki added, “Edo State has space for everyone, regardless of the religious convictions, to do business and contribute to economic growth and development.”

    According to him, “The spirit of celebration of Eid-El-Fitr should guide us in accommodating one another and building strong alliances in entrenching development.

    “Muslims constitute a major force for peace and progress wherever they are and have always upheld the import of the Prophet’s teachings. ”

    Obaseki reassured Muslims of his commitment to create an environment where everyone would have a fair chance of contributing to his administration.

    He expressed appreciation to Muslims for supporting his administration’s policies and programmes, which are aimed at improving the state’s economy and assuring prosperity for all in the state.

     

  • Democracy Day: Obaseki lauds Edo people for unflinching support

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has commended residents and indigenes of the state for the peaceful Democracy celebrations, thanking them for their unflinching support for his administration and policies.

    Obaseki, who noted that his government is strengthening relevant institutions for democratic consolidation, applauded the serene and reflective mood with which the day was marked.

    He enjoined the people of the state to continue to play their role in deepening democracy by actively participating in the electoral process, which has improved over the years.

    He said the state government will continue to work for the people, by designing and implementing people-centric policies, assuring space for equal access to justice and ensuring economic growth and development.

    According to him, “This day is one of extreme significance in our history as a nation as it marks the 19th year of return of power to the people under this republic. I therefore join Nigerians in the celebration.”

    “For nearly two decades, our democracy has continued to mature, leading to strengthened institutions, social justice and economic development. Also, as our democracy is being progressively deepened, our electioneering process is getting better,” he noted

    Noting that improved structures have deepened the dividends of democracy in Nigeria, he said, “In Edo, this advancement in our democracy has resulted in better infrastructure, improved education and health care delivery system, and a government that empathises with those dislocated by social crisis, many of whom unfortunately became victims of human trafficking and modern-day slavery but are now being reintegrated into society.

    “I use this opportunity to call on all Edo people, Nigerians and friends of our dear country to support our effort to enlarge the gains of our democratic journey.”

  • Democracy Day: Obaseki urges support to enlarge gains

    …says non-interruption, proof of overwhelming popularity

    The Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has described Democracy Day as a day of extreme significance to Nigerians and urged support for the system of government in order to enlarge its associated gains.

    Obaseki who said this in his Democracy Day Message in Benin City, noted that: “This day is one of extreme significance in our history as a nation as it marks the return of power to the people.”

    He maintained that “Despite the challenges we have faced in our effort to firmly establish our democratic institutions and deepen the values, the non-interruption of our democracy since 1999, is proof of its overwhelming popularity and acceptance.”

    Read Also:Democracy Day: Nigeria on the right track, says Osinbajo

    He added: “It has proven to be the best form of government for human development and advancement because it encourages the participation of everyone in the society and we are happy that it is now firmly rooted in our country.

    “In Edo State, we have taken development to the grassroots in recognition of the fact that power belongs to the people.

    “We have institutionalised our relationship with all Edo people and residents in every ward of the state by appointing aides who report the needs of our people in every ward, directly to me.”

    The governor said “the duties of the 192 special assistants in the state’s 192 wards complement those of the elected local government councillors and chairmen, who have since embarked on the transformation of our 18 local government areas, following the successful local government polls.”

    He further said that the appointment of the aides was informed by his administration’s “recognition of people power in a democracy.”

    He called on “all Edo people, Nigerians and friends of our dear country to support our effort to strengthen our democratic institutions to deliver the dividends of democracy to every nook and cranny of the state.”

  • Edo COSON threatens to drag Tuface manager before Benin Monarch 

     

    Members of the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) have threatened to drag the manager of Tuface Idibia, Mr. Efe Omorogbe before the Benin Monarch, Oba Ewuare II for engaging in conduct that negates the culture of Edo people and the creative community.

    The COSON members said the decision to drag Omorogbe before the Benin Monarch was for him to be called to order and appropriate sanctions imposed on him.

    Speaking at a press briefing in Benin City, Chief Arala Osula, the Osula of Benin, urged Omorogbe to stop parading himself as the Chairman of the Governing Board of COSON.

    Chief Osula said they only recognised Chief Tony Okoroji as Chairman of COSON and not Omorogbe.

    Reading a letter addressed to Omorogbe by the Edo CUSON, Chief Osula stated that their grouse against Omorogbe was because they felt the support and contributions of Okoroji.

    The letter reads in parts, “It is unfortunate that given your position of visibility as the manager of Tuface Idibia, no one in the state as felt you impact in any way.

    “While you purport to come from Edo State, we do not know you because you always go around with your nose in the air.

    “We are shocked that despite our clear democratic choice of Chief Okoroji as COSON chairman, you have mischievously and fraudulently continued to parade yourself as Chairman of COSON. Your behaviour is contrary to the norms and culture of the great people of Edo State.”

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  • China Harbour intensifies work on Gelegele Seaport

     

    …Edo Govt. sees record time delivery of project

     

    The Edo State Government has said that efforts to industrialise the state is gaining momentum as China Harbour Engineering Company Limited intensifies work on the development of the Gelegele Seaport in Benin City.

    Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said “we are excited at the pace of work on the project. We foresee the delivery of this project well ahead of the scheduled delivery date.

    “Our partner, China Harbour Engineering Company Limited is living up to its billing as its personnel have been on ground for over about two months now. They have been working round the clock doing soil testing, ground mapping, following the aerial survey they did immediately they arrived Benin City, to ascertain the positioning of the facility in line with best environmental practice.

    “A visit to the site showed some de-watering, excavation and land reclamation work and the Project Execution Plan revealed that the Seaport will be delivered well ahead of the scheduled date of delivery.”

    Osagie added: “Governor Obaseki is in a hurry to transform Edo State into a state with solid industrial base. A lot of work is ongoing in the background to ensure that these projects are delivered in record time. It is not his style to create a buzz around projects.

    He further said: “The Edo Fertiliser and Chemical Company came on stream without any media hype until it was commissioned. The first phase of the Edo- Azura Power project was delivered in same manner and we are looking forward to receiving the first ship that will berth at the Gelegele Seaport. It will be a landmark event that will change the face of the state’s economy forever.”

    The governor’s Aide assured that with a functional port in Gelegele, Edo people and residents in the state will start enjoying the benefits of exporting and importing their goods to and from Europe/America, respectively.

    “We foresee the establishment of allied businesses such as tank farms, private dry ports and others, that by default go with seaports,” he added.

    China Harbour in January, began the execution of the project with an in-depth assessment of the Gelegele Seaport Report submitted by the Engr. Greg Ero-led Technical Committee on the Actualisation of the seaport, to the state government.

    The company with over 90 branches and operating in about 100 countries across the world commenced operations in 1994, is handling various projects in Nigeria including Calabar, Warri ports and most recently, the $1billion Lekki Deep Seaport.

    Read Also: Gelegele Seaport: Edo, Navy strengthen ties to deliver project

  • Ojezua to Edo PDP: Take cue from Secondus, beg Edo people for forgiveness

    …urges opposition party to forget governance, complete repentance

     

    Less than 24 hours after the National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Uche Secondus, apologised to Nigerians for what he described as “the past mistakes of the PDP,” Chairman of the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Barrister Anselm Ojezua, has called on the Edo State PDP members to emulate their national chairman and apologise to Edo people.

    Ojezua said: “Edo people deserve an unreserved apology from the Edo State chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih as well as other leaders of the party in the state, for their years of misrule. We need not debate the sins of the PDP over and again, now that the national chairman of the opposition party has courageously admitted to impunity and misrule.”

    He explained that the “Edo APC has in the past, urged the Edo PDP to apologise for their sins which are still visible in all parts of the state, several years after they were voted out of office.”

    He maintained that “it is foolhardy and imprudent to continue to grandstand when your sins stare at you daily, from the failed dredging of Ikpoba River, the failed Edo Water Board resuscitation project, failed Cassavita Factory, failed Fruit Juice processing factory in Ehor, failed Bendel Breweries and Edo Line, for which billions of naira were either borrowed or allegedly spent, yet Edo people never had the benefit of seeing their actualisation, and enjoying the outcomes.”

    Ojezua argued that “if the Edo PDP government meant well for Edo people and completed these projects, the socio-economic profile of the state would have appreciated a great deal. Former Governor Adams Oshiomhole picked up a completely broken down state and rescued it from total collapse by aggressively fixing the huge infrastructural deficit he inherited, constructing schools, roads, hospitals  and enthroning purposeful leadership.

    “Today, Governor Godwin Obaseki is paying the desired attention to industrialisation, infrastructure, law and order and job creation, amongst other sectors. This is how to govern. Leaders must continue to raise the bar of service delivery and add value to our lives and not engage in looting spree, sponsoring lavish birthday parties with state funds.”

    Secondus said at a well-attended public discourse on contemporary politics and governance in Nigeria on Monday in Abuja: “We are sorry, we have made several mistakes which will not happen again.

    “In the past there were impunity and imposition, we are not spirit, we have to be humble to apologise for imposition, impunity and other wrongdoings, while in government.

    “Since it is said that charity begins at home, I am the very first to admit that our party the People’s Democratic Party of Nigeria made many mistakes. Consequently, we were roundly sanctioned by Nigerians occasioning our loss at the polls in 2015.

    “Let me seize this opportunity to apologise to Nigerians unequivocally for the several shortcomings of our party in the near and far past. It was all parts of an evolution process without which there can be no maturity.”

    Ojezua stressed that “the evolution process of the PDP is far from complete” and advised them to “forego governance for the now and take out some years to mature, which requires several years, before making a re-launch.”

    Read Also: PDP: we beg Nigerians for our mistakes

  • Human Trafficking: Edo Diaspora Community backs Benin Monarch’s orders

    As more Edo people and groups in the country throw their weight behind the orders of the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’ Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, Edo people in the diaspora have expressed their support for the orders and curses of the Monarch and the state government’s tough stance on human trafficking.

    President, Edo Global Organisation, Dr. Stephen E.O. Ogbonmwan, a frontline pan-Edo cultural group, with members spread across various countries of the world, said the drastic times the Edo people found themselves called for the drastic measures.

    The United Kingdom-based Consultant Obstetrician, said: “What happened in the Palace shows the concern of the Omo N’Oba about the current negative trend in Edo land. We need more of such actions from religious, political and traditional leaders to stop our youths on the sliding slope to self-destruction, greed, excessive love for money and the get-rich-quick syndrome, to come back to the straight and narrow path.”

    Ogbonmwan decried “the behaviour of the ‘madams’ (traffickers) and the attitude of our young women, which made many of us ashamed in the Diaspora, hence we were working relentlessly to support the young ones on the right path to success to show to the world that Edo People are not bad people.”

    He explained that “the love of money, more than the love and care for our fellow brothers and sisters and greed, degenerated to a point where brothers were selling brothers into slavery or ‘grassing on them’ by sending armed robbers and kidnappers on their brother’s trail. It is to reverse these ugly trends that we in Edo Global Organisation support our Oba.

    “Drastic issues call for drastic measures in the language our people understand. It shows how very well the Palace understands the current issues affecting our people.”

    He noted that “with the Edo State government’s tough stance against illegal migration, the involvement of Omo N’Oba and the event in the Palace a few days ago, we have seen the final nails on the coffin of illegal migration and prostitution which are organised crimes against our young men and women.”

    On the efforts by his organisation to check the menace, Ogbonmwan said “in July last year, we organised an international conference to draw attention to it. The effort was lauded by the United Nations and the European Union. We wrote petitions that went viral on the internet.”

    He urged Edo youths to embrace the several opportunities in the state, to improve their lives and become respected citizens of the nation.

    Read Also: FG, Edo, others brainstorm on strategise to tackle youth unemployment

  • Edo committed to attaining self-sustenance with IGR – Shaibu

    Edo committed to attaining self-sustenance with IGR – Shaibu

    …Says Obaseki prioritises wellbeing of Edo people

     

    Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, has said that the Godwin Obaseki led-administration remains committed to implementing economic policies that will create wealth for Edo people and self-sustenance through aggressive Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) drive.

    Shaibu made this submission during an interview with journalists in Benin City, Edo State capital.

    The deputy governor said, “The Godwin Obaseki led-administration prioritises economic policies that will spur growth, wealth creation and prosperity for Edo people.

    “These policies are targeted at reducing the rate of poverty and unemployment. The long-term economic plan of the state governor is to create wealth and prosperity for Edo people.”

    He said the state’s economic model is targeted at driving economic growth and sustainability, noting, “With our policies, we intend to achieve self-sustainability for the state where proceeds from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) will be used to drive economic growth and prosperity for Edo people without depending on the allocation from the Federation Account to drive social growth and development.”

    Shaibu maintained that “When we have fully achieved this, proceeds from the Federation Account will be considered an addition, just like grants from donor agencies.”

    He assured that the state government is committed to opening up the economic space in the state and creating avenues for more people to participate in economic activities.

    “The state government’s economic blueprint is also directed at opening the economy to encourage the participation of more people to contribute to economic growth.

    “We intend to capture more Edo people in the quest for development, so as not to burden few people with taxes. This measure will improve revenue generation. When the economy is open, more people will be captured in the tax net and the tax burden will be spread. We are interested in reducing the tax burden on few persons,” he said.

    Read Also: Edo SUBEB launches Edo-BEST programme, trains 300 teachers in pilot scheme

  • Yuletide: Obaseki assures of improved security, business climate

    Yuletide: Obaseki assures of improved security, business climate

    The Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has assured Edo People and residents in the state of improved security in the Yuletide season.

    Obaseki who gave the assurance in Benin City, said the ongoing work on a new security architecture by the state government in partnership with the federal government, has reached advanced stage and urged the peace-loving people of the state to take advantage of the improved business environment for brisk sales that characterise the season.

    “I urge you all to enjoy the festive season without any fear of molestation. We have commenced the retooling of security agencies to be able to pre-empt crime well ahead of time and respond at great speed to distress calls from victims, if any,” he said.

    He called for vigilance on the part of the citizens and urged them to report suspicious individuals and situations to law enforcement agencies.

    The governor added that “several failed roads are being reconstructed across the state to ensure smooth commuting by our people during the festive period.”

    He urged motorists and other road users to cooperate with the revamped Edo State Traffic Management Agency (EDSTMA) and obey traffic rules to avoid unnecessary traffic jams and gridlocks.

     He maintained that his administration’s desire is to make Edo State the most secure state in Nigeria and the preferred destination for business, recreation and leisure.

    “We have the human and material resources to attain any height as a state and my administration is committed to creating the space and support-structures for our people to express their God-given talent,” Obaseki said.

    He called for more support for his administration’s health, educational, agricultural and other programmes which he said are tailored to enhance the socio-economic wellbeing of all Edo people and residents in the state.