The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Edo State

  • Something big in the offing for Edo farmers

    Something big in the offing for Edo farmers

    • By John Mayaki

      Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo state is planning something big for Edo farmers in the weeks ahead – he has invited anyone who wants to act as an Observer to indicate interest – he is set to get our people back to farm in a manner never seen before, it was learnt.

      During a recent appearance on TVC’s Journalists’ Hangout, Governor Okpebholo laid out his post-100-day agenda which includes tackling insecurity head-on and Back to Farm Initiative – both would take center stage in the coming weeks, the governor said.

      According to governor Okpebholo, the coming weeks will mark a significant step in this direction, and we invite anyone interested to join as farm observers to witness our efforts in promoting farming and food security firsthand.

      He said food production is a key component of his five-point agenda, and that we must take decisive action to ensure our people have access to sufficient food supplies.

      His words, “Edo State is blessed with fertile land, which in some cases requires little to no fertilizer. However, due to climate change, we now need fertilizers to maintain productivity.

      “We will engage with the President and the Minister of Agriculture to seek support and ensure that our farmers have the necessary resources to succeed”, the governor said.

      Okpebholo’s leadership style is defined by his close engagement with key stakeholders, including the federal government. His relationship with President Tinubu is particularly noteworthy, as he proudly acknowledges the president’s consistent inquiries about the well-being of Edo people.

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      The governor narrated how Mr. President would always ask him about the well-being of Edo people whenever he sees him. “My friend, how is Edo State?” the president would often asks – an indication of his vested interest in the state’s development.

      For Governor Okpebholo, this is more than just a casual question; it is a reminder of his responsibility to ensure security, improve infrastructure, and enhance the livelihoods of Edo citizens. His willingness to collaborate at all levels of governance tells of his commitment to securing the best for his people.

      It also reassures us in Edo state that Mr. President cares about Edo people and about the leadership of Governor Okpebholo. According to the governor, “I am proud to align myself with him and honored to be considered his political son. To God be the glory.”

      If our farmlands are secured, our farmers will certainly return to their farms. This strategic approach by the governor will lead to a significant increase in farmland cultivation, resulting in improved agricultural productivity. Our farmers should be able to cultivate about 95% of Edo State’s arable land, contributing significantly to the decline in food prices.

    • ‘Why pupils of Edo public schools are sitting on floor despite World Bank’s N200b’

      ‘Why pupils of Edo public schools are sitting on floor despite World Bank’s N200b’

      Edo State Commissioner for Education Dr. Paddy Iyamu has disclosed that pupils of most Edo public schools are sitting on floor, despite World Bank’s N200 billion support.

      He blamed the immediate administration of Godwin Obaseki for alleged mismanagement and insensitivity.

      Iyamu, who spoke yesterday in Benin, as part of activities to mark 100 days in office of Edo Governor Monday Okpebholo, disclosed that he wept during his recent inspection of most public schools in Edo, because of the decay of infrastructure.

      He said: “Obaseki’s administration put in place the Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (EdoBEST) programme. If you want to look at it holistically, one of the major problems with the initiative is that you cannot be teaching students where the teachers are using tablets that cost Obaseki’s administration billions of Naira, but the students are sitting on the floor, without windows or doors in the classrooms. Then, what is the essence of such education?

      “In Obaseki’s EdoBEST programme, one teacher was teaching primary one, two, three and four. The primary one, two, and three would be in one class. When the teacher wanted to teach primary one and two, primary three and four students would wait inside the same class? Is that what is EdoBEST? So, the reviews that we are doing are not to witch-hunt anybody and they are not politically-motivated, but the right things must be done. We are solving the problems created by Obaseki’s administration.

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      “Governor Okpebholo has seen it all. There is even a report that you will see in the coming days. Looking at a holistic view, the EdoBEST programme got over N200 billion. By this time, we are not supposed to be talking about classrooms. The N200 billion from the World Bank is a lot of money. That is $70 million. We met an appalling situation.”

      The commissioner also expressed displeasure over the decision of the immediate adminstration for not distributing to the state’s public schools, books donated by President Bola Tinubu.

      He said: “A lot of things have been achieved in these 100 days. We have the case of over 10,000 books that were hoarded in the warehouse because the books had the face of President Bola Tinubu on them.

      “The immediate past administration refused to distribute the books. I can  conveniently and comfortably tell you that we have distributed them for learning by our children. The intention is to make the lives of the benefiting students better.

      “Irrespective of party affiliation, one expects that the books ought to have been distributed. But Obaseki’s administration, for reasons best known to the officials, hoarded them, but forgot that they denied Edo children their rights. Their condemnable action did not affect President Tinubu, but affected Edo children. The bottleneck was removed.”

    • Juju scare at Benin-Owena River Basin Dev Authority

      Juju scare at Benin-Owena River Basin Dev Authority

      • Staff flee office, demand spiritual cleansing

      Some officials and retirees of the Benin-Owena River Basin Development Authority (BORBDA) have fled from their head office in Obayantor, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State over alleged juju scare.

      The staff, who staged a protest at the Akure office of the Benin-Owena River Basin Development Authority, said they were wary of returning to their offices in Obayantor unless the Benin Monarch, Oba Ewuare II, directed traditional cleansing of the headquarters.

      They said some Benin youths stormed their office and placed charms and occult materials while protesting the appointment of Dr. Femi Adekanmbi as the Managing Director of the organisation.

      The protesters said it was unsafe for non-indigenes to return to Obayantor to resume duties.

      Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Ondo State representative of BORBDA Stakeholders Forum, Mr Tokunbo Agbetuyi, said the activities of heads of the organisation’s host communities were worrisome.

      He said it was wrong to locate the headquarters of the Authority in Obayantor and has remained unsafe for workers from Ondo and Ekiti states.

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      “We therefore direct that all the staff from Ondo and Ekiti states should report at the Alagbaga GRA Office, Akure. In the interim, Dr. Adekanmbi and his team should operate from the Alagbaka edifice of the Authority.”

      National President of the retirees from BORBDA, Dr. Kayode Ayeni, urged the National Assembly to urgently consider splitting Benin-Owena into two autonomous entities.

      Dr. Ayeni said “miscreants” under the aegis of a purported coalition of host communities protested against Adekambi’s appointment.

      Ayeni said Adekanmbi remained a resourceful, resilient, dogged, rugged, dedicated and result-oriented manager of human being and materials who could salvage the Authority from ruins.

      He declared that Adekanmbi’s appointment was not only justified but also aligned with the principles of fairness and equity.

      “We members of the Stakeholders Forum of Benin-Owena River Basin Development Authority were suddenly alarmed by the activities of a group of Barbarians that went viral on the social media that barricaded and sealed off the headquarters of the Authority at Obayantor, a village 24 km outside Benin-City metropolis along Benin-Sapele Expressway.

      “Their uncivilized action imitable of the Early Man during the Stone Ages Era was not only condemnable but irrational, uncivilized, misinformed, and uncalled for.

      He appealed to alleged sponsor of the protesters at the headquarters of the Authority to reconsider their stance and recognise that Adekanmbi’s appointment does not undermine Edo State’s interests.

    • Edo election: Why no party benefitted from over-voting

      Edo election: Why no party benefitted from over-voting

      By John Mayaki

        The recent testimonies before the Edo State Governorship Election Tribunal have provided critical insights into the conduct of the election, particularly regarding incidents of over-voting.

        Witnesses, including collation and polling agents from various political parties, have corroborated a singular fact: whenever over-voting was detected, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) took decisive action by canceling the affected results. This meticulous decision of the electoral umpire is commendable – being a commitment to upholding electoral integrity and ensuring that no political party derived undue advantage from irregularities.

        From Esan North East to Akoko Edo, Oredo, and Owan West, testimonies from party agents and independent monitors consistently indicate that INEC enforced strict adherence to its electoral guidelines. Afuda Theophilus Idemudia, who monitored the election in Esan North East, confirmed that despite the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) agent signing the election results, the discovery of over-voting led to their outright cancellation. This immediate nullification of compromised results prevented any party from unfairly benefiting from electoral discrepancies.

        Similarly, in Oredo LGA, the APC’s Collation Agent, Engr. Gabriel Iduseri, testified that no political party raised objections to the election’s conduct. However, when over-voting was detected in Polling Unit 8, Ward 10, INEC officials invalidated the results at the Ward Collation Center. This proactive measure reinforces the fact that over-voting was addressed impartially, irrespective of the political party involved.

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        The testimonies of these witnesses has further thrown more light on the unusual but significant aspect of the election: broad agreement among political parties on the fairness of INEC’s process.

        Hon. Frank David, APC’s Collation Agent for Owan West LGA, confirmed that neither he nor any other party agent – including those representing PDP and Labour Party – contested the final results. The fact that agents from opposing political parties signed off on the result sheets is a strong endorsement of the credibility of INEC’s collation process.

        Moreover, Kamarudeen Coker Bello, the APC’s Local Government agent in Akoko Edo, corroborated that election results were canceled in cases where over-voting was detected, reinforcing the non-partisan application of electoral rules. These cancellations ensured that no party, including the then ruling led by former Governor Godwin Obaseki or the then opposition APC, gained an unfair advantage due to compromised vote counts.

        The consistent and non-discriminatory approach taken by INEC in invalidating results affected by over-voting simply speaks to institutional safeguards against electoral fraud. The electoral body’s reliance on the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) has further strengthened the transparency of the process, making it easier to detect and rectify irregularities. In this election, over-voting did not translate into a gain for any party, as INEC ensured that all such cases were expunged from the final vote tally.

        Let me add that, the absence of formal complaints from party agents at the collation centers demonstrates a level of consensus rarely seen in contentious elections. It suggests that the process was conducted in a manner that inspired confidence among stakeholders, reinforcing public trust in the electoral system.

        The testimonies before the tribunal have painted a clear picture of an election where INEC upheld its mandate to conduct a free, fair, and credible process. By systematically identifying and canceling results tainted by over-voting, INEC ensured that no political party unfairly benefited from irregularities. The absence of complaints from party agents at critical collation points, coupled with their willingness to sign off on final results, further affirms the credibility of the process that led to the victory of Senator Monday Okpebholo as the governor of Edo state.

        While electoral systems are never perfect, the Edo election stands as a case study in how an electoral body can mitigate irregularities without partisan bias. The tribunal proceedings have, if anything, reinforced the fact that the election’s outcome was determined not by electoral fraud but by the democratic will of the people.

      • Enabulele to inaugurate Edo sport associations boards

        Enabulele to inaugurate Edo sport associations boards

        With the National Sports Festival (NSF), Gateway Games weeks away, the  Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Amadin Desmond Enabulele will today inaugurates the reconstituted sports association boards.

        The event billed for 11am, will hold at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Samuel Ogbemudia  Stadium, Benin.

        According to a statement from the commission,  Enabulele said the inauguration was to galvanize the various sports associations to begin  preparations for the National Sports Festival taking place in Abeokuta, Ogun State between May 16 and 30..

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        “There is need to quickly inaugurate the boards of the associations so as to start  preparation for the Gateway Games. His Excellency, Governor Monday Okpbebholo has

        given us a clear mandate to restore Edo State sports to its past glory and at the  Commission, we don’t want to chances because the time is short,” Enabulele said.

        At the end of the 20th  edition hosted by Delta State, Team Delta topped the medal table winning 158 gold medal, 116 silver medals and 110 bronze medals while Team Edo came second.

        Enabulele recalled that in the last two editions of the National Sports Festival, Edo State  came second behind Delta State, stressing the target this time is to come tops in Abeokuta.

        “Edo is the number one in sports in the country, therefore, we cannot continue to play  second fiddle. This is why it is expedient to inaugurate the boards of the various  associations so that preparation can start in earnest,” the chairman said.

      • ‘Non-payment claim of January salary to council workers mischievous’

        ‘Non-payment claim of January salary to council workers mischievous’

        The Chief Press Secretary to Edo State Governor, Mr. Fred Itua, has denied that the state government owed local government workers January salary, in view of the crises in the 18 councils.

        Itua, yesterday in a statement in Benin, said the rumour was not only false, but also mischievous and intended to mislead the public.

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        He called on the public to ignore the rumour, which he described as the handiwork of mischief makers, who were envious of the successes recorded by the Governor Monday Okpebholo administration since coming on board on November 12, 2024.

        Reaffirming Okpebholo’s commitment to workers’ welfare, the CPS said no civil servant in the state, including local government workers, was owed, as all payments, including that of January 2025 salary, had been paid.

      • Three suspected kidnappers arrested in Edo

        Three suspected kidnappers arrested in Edo

        The Commander of Edo State Security Corps, Friday Ibadin, a retired Commissioner of Police, yesterday disclosed that three suspected kidnappers were arrested at Uromi in Esan Northeast Local Government Area of Edo.

        Ibadin, while speaking with reporters in Benin, gave names of the suspects as Asene Ogah, 49; Ibhafidon Eric, 29; and Ekpu Godfrey, 44.

        He disclosed that his men achieved the feat when they responded to a distress call made by Mrs. Rita Ufuha, while his men were mobilised on patrol and bush-combing of Esan land.

        The commander stated that after the call, the woman hid in the bush, while his men rescued her, kept her in a safe place, before swiftly arresting those involved, as the victim identified them.

        He noted that his men arrested three of the seven young men who invaded Mrs. Ufuha’s residence in Uromi to kidnap her, and he told other criminals in Edo that the state would be hot for them, unless they relocated to other states.

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        Ibadin noted that the three suspects confessed to the crime, while two locally-made pump action guns were found with the suspected criminals, who he said would be handed over to the police for further investigation.

        Mrs. Ufuha alleged that kidnappers were sent by the leader of Esan Awareness Group, which was created by one Mr. Bruce, who lives in Sweden, and she thanked the officers and men of Edo security corps for saving her life.

      • Edo poll: Tribunal admits 148 BVAS machines in evidence

        Edo poll: Tribunal admits 148 BVAS machines in evidence

        Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja has admitted in evidence, 148 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices used during the last governorship election in the state on September 21, 2024.

        The devices were tendered during yesterday’s proceedings in the petition by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, by a Senior Technical Officer in the ICT Department of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Anthony Itodo.

        Itodo, who featured as the 15th petitioners’ witness, said the 148 BVAS machines were used at 133 polling units in the state.

        The witness added that INEC was subpoenaed by the petitioners to produce the devices in furtherance of their case, in which they alleged, among others, over voting.

        Although there were arguments about the actual number of the devices, the tribunal led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi admitted them in evidence despite the objection raised by the All Progressives Congress (APC), its candidate, Governor Monday Okpebholo and INEC.

        Earlier, two ward collation agents of the PDP – Eseigbe Victor and Uyide Imasuem – testified and justified their decision to decline to sign result sheets of the election.

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        In his testimony, Victor, who identified himself as a farmer and politician, said he was the agent for Ward 9 in Akoko-Edo Local Government of the state, which he said had 36 polling units.

        He added that he received copies of polling unit results contained in Forms EC8A, from polling unit agents of the party, during the governorship election.

        On cross-examination, the witness, told the court that he did not sign the Form EC8B for Ward 9 owing to the discrepancies he noticed in the results that were collated.

        “When the election was going on, I discovered incorrect computation and refused to sign. My lord, if you check, you will see that no agent signed the result,” he said.

        Victor agreed that although there was nothing on the face of the document before the tribunal to confirm that he actually served as a ward collation agent of the PDP during the election, he presented a tag, which he said was issued to him, which the panel admitted in evidence.

        The witness confirmed to the tribunal that results of the election he received from the polling unit agents of the party, were all signed.

        He said: “The election at the polling unit level was okay. Our only complaint is on wrong computation of the results.”

        He told the tribunal that at the ward collation centre, the BVAS machines and hardcopies of the election results were presented for reconciliation.

        When shown copies of extracts from the INEC’s IReV portal and reports of accreditation from the BVAS, which were tendered by the petitioners, the witness acknowledged that there were discrepancies in the figures.

        Imasuem, who featured as the 14th petitioners’ witness, said he served as PDP’s ward collation agent in Oredo Local Government of the state.

      • Edo CP warns personnel against random phone search

        Edo CP warns personnel against random phone search

        The first female Commissioner of Police in Edo State, Betty Enekpen-Otimenyin, on Monday warned personnel of the command against extortion and random search of phones of residents.

        Enekpen-Otimenyin said: “The IGP has said we do not need to check phones, but when there are issues that relate to checking information, we cannot stop that.

        “I am here (in Edo State) to make sure that the crime level is reduced drastically. I will also look at extortion because the IGP strongly warned against it.

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        “We are going to look at sex-based violence, violence against women and children. We are going to work on laws that have to do with the protection of women and the Child Rights Act.”

        The new commissioner of police in Edo, who began her career in Bauchi State in 1992, served in various capacities in commands across Nigeria.

      • Edo market razed

        Edo market razed

        The popular Jattu Market in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State has been razed, barely six months after over 100-year-old trees succumbed to windstorm and crushed four traders to death after downpour.

        The fire yesterday, according to some of the victims through the phone, destroyed goods and property worth millions of naira, but the cause had not been ascertained.

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        One of the traders, simply identified as Alhaji Momoh, disclosed that the fire, which started around 8 p.m. on Tuesday, raged for some hours, without the firefighters in sight.

        Jattu residents, it was learnt, could not also salvage the goods in the market, in view of the intensity of the fire.