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Tag: Edo State

  • Former INEC REC wants number of political parties reduced

    A former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Edo State, Mr Aniedi Ikoiwak, has called for a reduction of the number of political parties in the country.

    Ikoiwak made the call in Eket, Akwa Ibom on Monday while reviewing the just concluded general elections across the country.

    He said that there should be a legislative amendment of the Electoral Act pruning the number of political parties to two or five.

    He said a situation where over 100 political parties were registered for an election when only two or three of such parties had massive followers was cumbersome and a waste of resources.

    “The ballot papers in the just concluded general elections were littered with names of parties that could best be described as village associations with no national coverage as stipulated by law,” he said.

    Ikoiwak said that some voters found it difficult to locate the logos of their preferred parties during the elections.

    According to him, there was a remarkable improvement in the just concluded polls which he described as credible.

    The former REC said that in few years from now, INEC would be the toast of Africa in election matters.

    He added that the problems faced by INEC in the 2019 general elections were caused by desperate politicians.

    “The way INEC is improving with each passing election, I foresee a situation where it will be difficult for a non performing governor or representative to have a second term.

    Read Also: Blame politicians, not INEC, for inconclusive elections

    “This is because the people’s votes will not only count but will be seen as having counted,” he said.

    Ikoiwak further said that the country was politically and technologically ripe for electronic voting and called on politicians not to drag INEC and the Nigeria’s democratic journey backwards.

    “Politicians in the country want to drag our democratic journey backwards by trying to set the rules at variance with the ethical standards of INEC, “Ikoiwak said.

    NAN

  • Afuze Attack: Edo Police arrest culprits

    Following the marching order to the Edo State Police Command by the State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, to fish out the culprits in the massacre of Police officers in Afuze Divisional Police Headquarters, the Police will on Monday, March 18, parade the suspected killers.

    In a statement by Special Adviser to the State Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, the state government said that a proper briefing of the operation that led to the arrest of the suspected killers will be given during the parade.

    According to him, “It is a bit of closure that the police has apprehended some of those suspected to have attacked the police station. Though we hear a good number of the suspects have been apprehended, we hope to get more information when the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Danmallam briefs the press tomorrow.”

    He said that the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration is committed to protecting lives and property in the state and would never allow criminals have a free reign in the state.

    “The state government is committed to the security of Edo people and residents in the state. The incident in Afuze is condemnable and we commiserate with the affected families. We also hope that the speed at which the suspected culprits were arrested will bring some closure to the families, even as we await the full briefing from the police commissioner.”

    Recall that a gang of criminals attacked the Afuze Divisional Police Headquarters, Owan East Local Government Area of Edo, killing the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and three other officers on duty.

    The governor gave a directive immediately for the killers to be unraveled.

     

     

  • 2020 NSF: Facilities re-designed to accommodate all games, says Obaseki

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has assured that sports facilities in the state are being remodelled to accommodate games for the 2020 National Sports Festival, to ensure smooth hosting of the sporting event.

    Obaseki disclosed this during a courtesy visit by the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, at Government House in Benin City, Edo State.

    He explained that adjustments have been made on all the sporting facilities being built by the state government, to ensure the facilities are fit for hosting of the National Sports Festival in 2020.

    He said that the state government is prepared to justify the confidence reposed in the government in granting her the hosting right for the 2020 National Sports Festival, noting that his administration is working to ensure that Edo State sets a standard for hosting the games.

    Obaseki explained that he has secured assurances from contractors that some of the facilities to be used for the games will be test-run by October or November this year.

    “We will do everything to justify the confidence reposed in us as a state. We have begun to revamp all our sporting facilities in the state,” the governor said.

    According to him, security and other logistics were being put in place ahead of the games to ensure that participants have a memorable stay.

    “Edo is the home of culture and we have so much to show and display to the world. This is the home of sports in the country. As a state, we understand our role in the history of sports in Nigeria. Some of our leaders contributed to establishing the National Sports Festival to promote nation-building,” he added.

    Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Dalung, urged the state government to pay more attention to developing traditional sports, noting “The role of traditional sports is amazing. We encourage and challenge Edo people to present new sporting activities. We will be interested in developing such sports, it will go a long way to enhance national unity.”

    The minister commended the Obaseki-led administration for the ongoing massive development of sporting facilities in the state in preparation for the 2020 National Sports Festival.

     

  • School Feeding programme: Caterers applaud synergy between FG, Obaseki

    Caterers engaged in the Federal Government’s National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) in Edo State have commended the synergy between the state government and the managers of the HGSFP, noting that the inclusion of the state in the programme will boost the local economy.

    The NHGSFP was launched in the state in February to provide children in primary 1-3 with nutritious food in 60 public schools across two local governments, namely Orhionmwon and Uhunmwode local councils.

    Not less than 261 caterers were engaged for the scheme, who have all undergone training in food hygiene, food handling, food portion, and products management. of the 261 caterers, three are male.

    One of the caterers in the programme, Mr. Akugbe Monday, thanked the state and federal governments for the laudable programme, pledging to discharge his responsibility effectively.

    “I am grateful to the state government for ensuring that we are included in the national programme. With this, children in Edo State can now benefit from what their colleagues across the country are also enjoying,” he said.

    For Mrs. Faith Ken-Iza, the scheme is an opportunity to earn and make a living from providing nutritious food, assuring both the state and Federal governments that she will do her best and promise never to be found wanting.

    The caterers were provided with start-up kits which include coolers, plates, spoons, aprons, and crates of eggs.

    Edo State Programme Manager, NHGSFP, Dr. Mrs. Doris Ayanka-Imalele said the state government is complementing the federal government’s effort in the NHGSFP, noting that the programme will benefit the school children, caterers and local farmers in the state.

     

  • School feeding programme expands to more schools in Edo LGAs

    The National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) has been expanded to include more schools in Uhunmwode and Orhionmwon local government areas in Edo State, beginning from next week.

    The State Focal Person of the Social Investment Programme in Edo State, Ms. Osayuwamen Aladeshelu, disclosed this while monitoring the distribution of start-up kits to caterers for the commencement of the NHGSFP in the two local government areas in the state.

    Read Also: Edo Poly eyes grant for research

    She said over 60 schools will benefit from the NHGSFP in Uhunmwode and Orhionmwon local councils, adding that over 261 caterers have been engaged and will earn daily income from the programme.

    According to her, “We have engaged over 261 caterers to feed the pupils, hoping to encourage more pupils to come back to our public schools across the state. From Monday, over 60 schools will become beneficiaries of the programme in Uhunmwode and Orhionmwon local government areas.”

    Aladeshelu said the programme will boost the local agricultural economy as farmers in the communities will supply the products used in the NHGSFP.

    “The caterers have undergone training and test as they have been taught food hygiene, food handling, food portion and product management. We have monitoring teams that evaluate them and ensure they comply with our standards,” she explained.

    Edo State Programme Manager, NHGSFP, Dr. Mrs. Doris Ayanka-Imalele, said that Governor Godwin Obaseki supported the scheme by ensuring that pupils in primary 4 to 6 are included in the programme, as against that of the Federal Government which takes care of only those from primary 1-3.

    Mrs. Ayanka-Imalele encouraged the caterers to focus on their job, as a posting letter will be released, indicating which schools they have been assigned before next week.

     

  • Echoes of election drama in Edo

    Correspondent OSAGIE OTABOR examines why the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won the presidential election in Edo State and the All Progressives Congress (APC) won the House of Assembly polls.

    During the All Progressives Congress presidential campaign rally in Edo State, Governor Godwin Obaseki boasted that the state would deliver one million votes to President Mohammadu Buhari. By the time the votes were counted on February 23, the Edo APC was defeated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with a margin of 7849 votes. The PDP won in eight local government areas and had a total of 275,691 votes while the APC won in 10 local government area with a total of 267,842 votes.

    The loss of the February 23 presidential and parliamentary elections has dealt a big blow to the Edo APC. It was a defeat leaders of the APC in Edo South Senatorial District never expected, especially in the three metropolitan Oredo, Ikpoba-Okha and Egor. The margin in these three local government was so wide that victory from other local government areas could not bridge the gap.

    In Oredo for example, the APC scored 21,496 against the 35,841 garnered by the PDP. And Oredo is supposed to be the stronghold of Governor Godwin Obaseki, Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, National President of Road Transport Employers of Nigeria, Comrade Osakpamwan Eriyo, Chief Osaro Idah, Captain Hosa Okunbor, Secretary of Edo APC, Lawrence Okah, Attorney General of the state, Professor Yinka Omoregbe, Chairman of SUBEB, Joan Oviawe, Nigerian Ambassador to Mozambique, Hon Uyi Igbe amongst others.

    The APC lost all the 10 wards in Egor local government and polled 11,903 while the PDP got 23,556 in the presidential election. It was the huge votes from Edo North senatorial district where National Chairman of the APC,  Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, hails from that narrowed the margin of defeat. Buhari polled 114,071 votes from Edo North. The APC won in all the six local government areas in Edo North.

    What made Edo South APC leaders sure of victory was that the excuses given for the 2015 defeat were no longer tenable. In the 2015 general elections, the PDP defeated the APC with a margin of defeat of 78,400 by scoring 286,869 votes while the APC had 208,469 votes. The PDP won two senatorial seats and five House of Representatives seats while the APC had one seat in the Senate and four seats in the House of Representatives. The factors adduced for the defeat were that the PDP had huge financial war chest from the then federal government and the support of security personnel to harass and detain APC chieftains.

    However, without the resources available to the Edo PDP in 2015, the party was able to win elections in Ovia North East, Oredo, Ikpoba-Okha and Egor.

    Earlier in January this year, a chieftain of the PDP, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, had said in an interview there were many members of the APC that refused to defect and are prepared to work for the victory of the PDP.

    But Mr. Charles Idahosa replied that the Edo APC leaders have identified those planning to sabotage the APC chances of winning the election in Edo State.

    He said: “It will interest you to know that we are already aware of the saboteurs within the Edo APC. We are waiting for them but we don’t want to expose them. We are monitoring them. We want to see how they will do it. The APC is bigger than any of us. The APC will outlived us.

    “The truth is that Obaseki is doing well. Before the rally, they held a meeting somewhere in Abuja that Edo State will not get up to 20 percent of the population at Garrick.

    “They met with Oshiomhole and told him all kinds of stories that Obaseki is not doing well. The people complaining are people like me and other party leaders who are not having bounteous time. We know people are susceptible to change and you cannot say Oshiomhole is Obaseki. Obaseki style is different and we are happy. We, the political leaders, are not getting the bounty harvest we used to get but we have to face the reality.

    “The survival of the party is paramount. You saw the crowd at Garrick, it is due to how the general public perceive Obaseki. The people are with him but because we are vocal and are the political leaders. It is not the common man that is complaining.

    “The ordinary man is with Obaseki. The civil servants are happy, he is constructing roads and building infrastructure across the state. He is preparing Edo for the future. It is high time those of us politicians that are shouting key into the Obaseki’s vision. We should stop all the complains.”

    Governor Obaseki might have promised Buhari the one million votes apparently based on the over 500,000 APC members that turned out to participate in the APC presidential primaries and the achievements recorded by his administration. He has created 77,000 jobs. He is called ‘Wake and See’ Governor and ‘Governor of Oredo’ due to numerous roads constructed and others under construction. Salaries are paid as at when due. Reforms in local government administration have led to astronomical rise in the council’s IGR which in turn led to payment of arrears of salaries owned local government staff. He, however, failed to realise that some party chieftains were waiting in the wings to humiliate him.

    Some APC leaders who attributed the electoral loss to internal sabotage by aggrieved APC chieftains said some leaders did not spend the mobilisation fund given to them because they felt it was their own share having been abandoned for over two year.

    The hate speech against President Buhari by some religious leaders made it difficult to convince some voters to vote for the APC. Many Christians were told pointedly to vote against Buhari. An APC chieftain in Egor said many voters were out to vote out President Buhari  and in the process voted against all APC candidates.

    He said, “Our members voted for us but other non-partisan people voted against Buhari and in the process they voted against other APC candidates.”

    A chieftain said the battle for the APC governorship ticket in 2020 was responsible for the role some leaders played in Oredo, Egor and Ikpoba-Okha. It was learnt that those interested in Obaseki’s job asked their boys to work for the PDP so as to discredit Obaseki before the national leadership of the APC.

    Other factors adduced were lack of political patronage, non-appointment of boards of parastatals and alleged imposition of unpopular candidates and party chairmen.

    A former Chairman of Oredo and candidate of the APC for Oredo East, Osaro Obazee, insisted that internal sabotage was not responsible for the defeat of the APC.

    “We did not loose the election. It is voter education we need to embark on. It is politics. A lot of people will say what they want to say. After election, we did appraisal of what happened and we discovered that the people who voted for voted wrongly and that was why the results were voided.

    “If a lot of our results were not voided, we would have been declared. There is nothing like internal sabotage. The major factor is that those who voted did not know how to vote.”

    Speaking on the outcome of the elections, Governor Obaseki, said the APC performed better when compared to results of the 2015 general elections and expressed appreciation to Edo people for the growing acceptance of the party.

    Obaseki, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy, Crusoe Osagie, assured that the APC  would record better results in the March 9 House of Assembly elections.

    According to him, “With the results out, it is obvious that there is a growing acceptance of the APC in the presidential and National Assembly elections in the state. The margins show that we have considerably closed the gap here. The outcome of the polls turned out to be better than the previous one held in the state in 2015.

    “A comparison of the results shows that in 2019, PDP polled 275,691, and the APC got 267,842; while in 2015, the PDP scored 286,869 against APC’s 208,469 in the presidential election.

    “In 2015, the margin of defeat was 78400 votes, but in 2019, it dropped by 90 per cent to 7849 votes. This is a considerable improvement on the party’s performance.

    “We appreciate the people of Edo for coming out en masse to cast their votes and for aligning with the vision of returning President Muhammadu Buhari, and we wish to congratulate them for the party’s strong showing.”

    Hon Ehiozuwa has however kicked against the results released by INEC for Ikpoba-Okha/Egor Federal Constituency in which his PDP opponent, Jude Ise-Idehen, was declared winner.

    Candidate of the All Progressives Congress Hon Ehiozuwa Agbonnayima, has rejected the results of the February 23 National Assembly elections.

    Speaking to newsmen in Benin City, Agbonnayima said reports from APC agents and independent observers from various Wards in the constituency established flagrant violations of the provision of the Electoral Act.

     

  • Lagos Building Collapse: Obaseki commiserates with affected families

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has commiserated with families of victims, the Lagos State Government and people over the collapse of a four-storey building in Ita Faji axis of Lagos Island.

    In a statement by Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, the governor said the incident and the attendant deaths are regrettable and a huge loss to the country, wishing the survivors quick recovery.

    He noted, “On behalf of the government and people of Edo State, I commiserate with the state government and people of Lagos State, over the tragic building collapse. The deaths as a result of the incident are regrettable, and one can only imagine the trauma the survivors are going through. I pray that God gives the families of the victims the fortitude to bear the loss.

    Read Also: Groups laud Obaseki for leading Edo APC to victory

    “To the survivors of the collapsed building, I wish them quick recovery. I also extend heartfelt condolences to the governor, Akinwunmi Ambode on the terrible incident.”

    Obaseki said that the incident once again brings to the fore the need for strict regulatory measures, effective monitoring and efficient implementation of safety guidelines in the building construction sector.

    He said there is a need for Nigerians to support governments across all levels in ensuring that buildings are constructed in line with regulatory guidelines and safety measures put in place to avoid casualties in such incidents.

  • Obaseki flags off EU/FG water reticulation project in Uromi

    Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has flagged off the Uromi-Ugboha Water Reticulation project in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of the state that will provide potable water to over 500,000 people in Edo Central Senatorial District of the state.

    The nine million litres per day capacity water plant was completed by the Federal Government in 2018 and handed over to the Edo State government.

    Speaking on the efficient management of the facility, Obaseki said that water from the plant would be metered to regulate usage and check leakages.

    “The scheme was designed to bring water to the homes of everybody in Esan land. To ensure sustainability of the water project, it will be paid for; we will give you meters and you will pay a token to ensure you continue to have water in your houses,” the governor told beneficiaries of the project.

    He urged the contractors handling the project to ensure that greater percentage of the workforce was drawn from the host community.

    Technical Assistant Team Lead, Niger Delta Support Programme 3, Albert Achten, said the project, which is an extension of the European Union/Niger Delta Support Programme, is a win-win for all stakeholders.

    “This is a remarkable triple win project; a win for the federal government of Nigeria, a win for the EU which seeks improved water service delivery and a win for Edo State, as it will serve a significant number of people,” Achten said.

    Minister of Budget and National Planning, Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma, commended Governor Obaseki for embarking on the reform of the state water and sanitation sectors.

    “The newly adopted Water Supply and Sanitation Policy and the state’s new water law are highly commendable,” Udo Udoma said

    The minister, represented by a Director in the ministry, Mrs Elizabeth Egharevba, said the Uromi reticulation project would be completed in six months’ time.

    The Odionwere of Idumu-Eganlan Quarters in Uromi, Pa Michael Igbirenmonlen, expressed his gratitude to the governor for the project and appealed to him to assist them with a perimeter fence around the school close to the water project as well as link roads for the community.

     

  • World Glaucoma Week: Obaseki assures on responsive policies to tackle ailment

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has said that the state government will continue to advance responsive healthcare delivery policies that will help curb glaucoma and reduce the incidence of blindness in the state.

    The governor said this in commemoration of the 2019 World Glaucoma Week held annually between March 10 to 16. It is championed by the World Glaucoma Association and the World Glaucoma Patient Association.

    According to the governor, “As the World marks the Glaucoma Week, I want to assure our people in Edo State that we are working round the clock to ensure that necessary policies to promote efficient healthcare delivery are put in place, including those that would help fight glaucoma.

    “Even with a focus on primary healthcare, we are also very keen on ensuring that ailments like glaucoma get the needed attention. We are strengthening the healthcare system in the state to promote awareness creation and efficient management of the ailment and are ready to work with health missions.”

    He said this is made possible with the siting of healthcare centers closer to the people in rural areas, as much work has been done with the Edo Healthcare Improvement Programme (Edo-HIP) to ensure that efficient healthcare is provided for the people.

    Noting that the state government will continue to prioritize the wellbeing of the people, the governor said that glaucoma, which is the second leading cause of blindness after cataract, would be mitigated with responsive policies.

    “This is why we need the support of other stakeholders, such as the traditional institutions, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to key into our health programmes so that we can, together, help in managing glaucoma and other related ailments in the state,” he said.

  • Gunmen kill DPO, expectant police officer, others

    Gunmen have attacked the Divisional Police Command and office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), at Afuze, Edo State, with Improvised Explosive Devices (IED).

    The IED at Afuze Police Command exploded, but the one at INEC office did not explode.

    Four police officers, including the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Ojo Kosenami and an expectant policewoman, Sergeant Justina Aghomon, were shot dead.

    Others killed were Inspector Sado Isaac and Corporal Glory David.

    Sources said the gunmen burnt a police van parked at the INEC office.

    The incident reportedly occurred about 8pm on Tuesday when many of the officers had gone out for duty.

    An eyewitness, who gave his name as Mr. Godwin Ikpekhia, said:  “We heard gunshots. Nobody knew what happened until this morning.

    Read also: 18 die, 41 injured in Lagos Island building collapse

    “The divisional police officer and three other officers, who were on duty, were killed inside the police station.

    “The hoodlums didn’t stop at that. They went to the INEC office and shot sporadically in order to attack officials on duty.

    “Election materials and the police van at INEC office were torched by the hoodlums.”

    The Secretary to the Local Government (SLG), Mr. Godwin Imoudu, described the incident as politically-motivated “since the gunmen did not steal guns or cars.

    He said: “The gunmen can be described as terrorists. They simultaneously attacked the police station and INEC office.

    “They came in groups. The IED at INEC office did not explode. They shot sporadically. One man was shot in the stomach. The act was politically-motivated because they wanted to demobilise the police before going to INEC office.”

    Police Commissioner Mr. Muhammed Danmallam, who visited the scene, said investigation would begin immediately.

    He vowed to arrest the perpetrators.

    “Urgent steps will be taken to curb increasing crimes in Owan area of the state,” Danmallam added.