The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Edo state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

  • All items for IDPs including judiciously distributed – Obaseki’s Aide

    All items for IDPs including judiciously distributed – Obaseki’s Aide

    The Edo State Government says all the bags of rice and other items like shoes, apart from the ones that were damaged in storage before they were allocated, were distributed to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and other orphanage homes within the state.

    Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr Crusoe Osagie, declared as completely false, the allegation of diversion of rice by the Edo State People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    “The allegation is laughable and completely false and is a design of detractors to smear the image of a performing government,” Osagie said.

    He added, “they have tried and failed on all other fronts, now they have stooped lower to a commodity as cheap as rice.”

    The governor’s aide maintained that “the Edo PDP has a rich history of diverting items meant for the less privileged and the state’s resources and its members think other people are like them.”

    He explained that the state government has made several donations to people in distress in the past and it is irreconcilable that a known donor to humanitarian courses would divert items meant for IDPs.

    “PDP’s allegation that out of the 6822 bags of rice meant for IDPs in Edo State, over 4000 bags of rice were diverted as only 2101 bags were only given to the IDPs, is a figment of the imaginations of members of Edo PDP.”

  • PDP’s Open Grazing Bill premature – Obaseki’s aide

    PDP’s Open Grazing Bill premature – Obaseki’s aide

    The Edo State Government has described as premature, the Bill for a law to prohibit open rearing and grazing of livestock, sent to the Edo State House of Assembly by the Edo State People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr Crusoe Osagie, commended the Edo PDP for heeding the counsel of the Edo State government to learn how to be a responsible opposition party that can contribute to the development of Edo State through well-researched policies and laws.

    Osagie noted that while the new role of the Edo PDP is worth commending, the opposition party would require more schooling to fully appreciate that well-researched policies of the Obaseki-led government such as the ban on overnight grazing, the ban on armed herdsmen and the monitoring of herdsmen activities by the government and security personnel, cannot be changed when they are yielding positive results.

    “It is interesting to see members of Edo PDP embrace our advice. However, their proposed bill for a law that will ban open grazing is a faulty start. Policies have clear timelines and set outcomes. Since February 8 when Governor Obaseki unveiled the new set of policies to end the clashes between herdsmen and farmers, there has not been any incident. This means that the policies show promise and no one changes a winning team. So on what basis is the Edo PDP proposing its bill?”

    He maintained that while sending a bill to the House of Assembly is a civilised thing to do, rather than propagation of falsehood at a state-wide circus and making outrageous comments on issues of national security, the Edo PDP’s bill is impulsive.

    “PDP should stop being overtly emotional about issues that require tact and research. They have started learning how to be responsible, but they need to learn more from our technocrat Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki,” Osagie said.

    He added that the Edo PDP has over the years displayed its lack of capacity to solve the problems of the state and stressed that the opposition party has nothing to offer the state.

  • FG’s anti-corruption war on track – SERAP

    FG’s anti-corruption war on track – SERAP

    Mr. Adetokunbo Mumuni, Executive Director, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), says the anti-corruption war of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration is on track.

    Mumuni spoke in Lagos on Wednesday at the launch of SERAP’s latest report titled, “Combating Grand Corruption: An Agenda for Institutional Reforms in Anti-corruption Strategies”.

    He faulted claims in some quarters that the anti-graft campaign was selective, saying anyone who flouted the nation’s laws was supposed to face the music.

    Mumuni said: “This is my professional opinion as a lawyer and social rights campaigner. I believe that the war against corruption by this administration is on track.

    “Until Buhari came along, nobody knew how much of our money was being stolen, especially in the guise of buying weapons to combat insurgency.

    “So, it does not really matter if you belong to the All Progressives Congress or the Peoples Democratic Party; if you cannot account for over 2 billion dollars, then you deserve to face prosecution.”

    He explained that corruption eroded confidence in, and respect for democratic institutions, and was as an obstacle to social, economic and human development.

    Mumuni said the anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria, however, face challenges of inadequate legal framework and resources.

    As part of SERAP’s recommendations, he urged government at all levels to provide stronger and more concerted approach to tackling grand corruption in Nigeria.

    Mumuni urged the Attorney General of the Federation and those of the states to seek stiffer penalties for convicted corrupt officials and to minimise the use of plea bargaining to serve as deterrent.

    Also speaking, Dr. Olajumoke Akiode, Director, Centre for Ethics and Sustainable Development, called for attitudinal change in the fight against corruption.

    “Until the citizens come together and say `enough is enough`, we cannot win this fight against corruption,” she said.

    On his part, Mr. Babatunde Ogala, a former member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, noted that undue pressure placed on politicians by their constituents had also contributed to widespread corruption in the country.

    Ogala said, “Nigerian politicians are not measured by what they contribute to good governance but the assistance rendered to various individuals in their constituencies.

    “So, the society itself invests in corruption and that it why a collective effort is required to address this issue.”

  • ‘Iduoriyekemwen a loyal PDP man than Ize-Iyamu’

    ‘Iduoriyekemwen a loyal PDP man than Ize-Iyamu’

    The Next Generation Foundation, a socio-political group under the Edo state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it is Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu that needs to apologize for his political prostitution and not Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, recalling that while Ize-Iyamu had left the PDP for the then ACN.

    The group on Thursday Iduoriyekemwen had been a member of the PDP since 1999.

    Reacting to the comment by the Edo Youths PDP Vanguard, which accused Iduoriyekemwen of political prostitution and a “double agent”, the Foundation in a statement signed by Osaretin Omobude said “we are aware that no PDP youth will speak that way against Iduoriyekemwen because Matthew has been the rallying point for Edo youths from day one.

    “When you go to Iduoriyekemwen’s house you see our youths every day and he accommodated everybody. So I wonder where you find any youths that will say Ize-Iyamu accommodates. He owns a house that is like a stadium can any youth go there and eat, is he accessible? So no youth will ever sign such a statement. And the issue of prostitution, it is laughable to accuse our governorship candidate Iduoriyekemwen of political prostitution when Ize-Iyamu in his own greed fought Anenih to destroy PDP in 2006.

    “Ize-Iyamu later left the PDP for ACN then because he wanted the governorship ticket, when he discovered Oshiomhole his good friend will play him out of it, he ran back to PDP just because of the ticket. As a matter of fact, Ize-Iyamu was a member of the ACN during the Local Government election when he denied his current running mate, John Yakubu the opportunity to become chairman of Esan North East because Ize-Iyamu ordered the Chairman of the SIEC to go and declare the result in favour of his then ACN.

    “So those who are calling Iduoriyekemwen a political prostitute should hide their heads in shame. It means they don’t even know what is happening in Edo state politically. And that was why a leader of the party, Okharedia Ihimekpen told Ize-Iyamu to apologise to Edo PDP before he said he wants to be governor of Edo state because the damage he caused in PDP today is still what we are suffering.

    “So Ize-Iyamu should be the one to confess and ask for forgiveness and that is why it is laughable to see him seeking for the ticket of the PDP he destroyed while he was SSG” it stated.