The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Edo State

  • Obaseki grateful for Tribunal victory

    Obaseki grateful for Tribunal victory

    Governor Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki of Edo State has expressed gratitude to the people of his state for his recent victory over the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu at the Edo Election Petition Tribunal, which sat at the Edo State High Court in Benin City, the State capital.

    While the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Godwin Obaseki the winner of the September 28, 2016 gubernatorial elections in Edo State, the PDP and Ize-Iyamu had written a petition challenging the result of the election and praying to be declared winner.

    The Tribunal, which sat to heart the petition however concluded proceedings on Friday, upholding the declaration of Governor Obaseki as winner of the elections.

    In a statement from the office of the governor, Obaseki said: “This victory at the tribunal  would have been impossible without the support of the multitude of well-wishers, soldiers and champions of democracy, who stood firmly with me and the good people of our state as we fought in defence of a mandate freely given, which we consider to be divine”.

    In addition, the governor appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for what he described as “his fatherly counsel and unwavering commitment to democracy and good governance” and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for “his wisdom, encouragement, and relentless support”.

    Continuing, Governor Obaseki also praised Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, National Chairman of APC for remaining a strong pillar and the judiciary for being an impartial arbiter and helping to defend democracy.

    Meanwhile, he acknowledged the impact of the media, saluting them for stirring rigorous debate, even as he lauded the support of the party faithful and the security forces who helped to maintain law and order.

    Also on the governor’s list of appreciation was his predecessor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who he said helped to liberate the state from the home of political irresponsibility, praying that history would be kind to the former governor.

    He, however, urged opposition parties to join him in building a progressive and prosperous state, noting that although their opposition helped his administration stay focused, he would refrain from gloating in victory and that the season of contestation was over.

    He said: “To all my dear citizens of Edo State at home and abroad, let me state again that our victory at the tribunal is a challenge to work hard on our promise to move Edo forward. Finally, all appreciation and honour goes to God Almighty for being our guide and guard. May His blessings be upon us all”.

     

  • Okpekpe Race: Walk race gold medallist vows to prove mettle

    Fadekemi Olude, a race walk gold medallist at the 2015 African Youth Athletics Championships (AYAC), has vowed to prove her mettle at the forthcoming 5th Okpekpe International 10km Road Race.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Okpekpe race, the only International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Label Road Race in Africa is scheduled for May 13 in Edo State.

    Olude, who recently recognised her strength for long distance races told NAN on Monday that she hoped to win first the Nigerian female category.

    “I didn’t believe it at first that I could win the second Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, but I guess being a race walker also helped me to achieve the position.

    “I am planning to win the best Nigerian female position in Okpekpe with God on my side’’ she said.

    Olude said she would repeat the feat like she did at the 2nd Access Bank Lagos City Marathon on Feb.11 in Lagos.

    NAN also reports that Olude won the 42km race with a time of 2:55:16.

    She said that she would continue to feature in race walks and marathons.

    Countries expected to participate in the event are Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Eritrea, Bahrain, Germany, Turkey, Morocco, Burundi and host, Nigeria.

    New technological innovations such as mobile applications, line tracking and transponders have been introduced into this year’s competition.

  • Two policemen escape death after suspects raise false alarm 

    Two policemen escape death after suspects raise false alarm 

    Two policemen serving in Ondo State escaped death by the whiskers in the hands of mob in Edo State after some suspects they were pursuing raised an alarm that they were fake policemen.

    The suspects, having fled to Ibillo in Akoko-Edo local government area, told residents in the area that the men in police uniform were kidnappers poising to abduct a former council chairman, Folorusho Akerejola.

    Without waiting to verify identity of the men even though they wore uniform, a mob descend on them and beat them mercilessly.

    It took the intervention of elders in the community for the policemen to be handed over to the police who later identified them.

    One of the suspects who the mobbed policemen were pursuing was later arrested.

    Police Public Relations Officer, Moses Nkombe, who reacted to alleged arrest of suspected kidnappers in police uniforms, said both men have been confirmed to be policemen on patrol.

    Nkombe said the policemen were attacked after a suspect, who was on the run from a neighbouring state, raised a false alarm that he was being chased by kidnappers.

    His words, “They were not kidnappers. They were policemen who pursued a felon into Edo State. It was the person they were pursuing that raised that alarm; the person failed to stop, so he was pursued across the border into Edo State.

    “Because he felt that he was in his area in Edo State, he raised an‎ alarm. He was just being mischievous.”

    The PPRO said the policemen suffered minor injuries due to the beating and have been released.

    “Our men sent for them. They were brought in after they were attacked and it was discovered that they were policemen. It was confirmed from their command and they were released.”

    “The felon was invited by the police and he is helping the police in the investigation. It was not a case of kidnapping at all,” Nkombe added.

     

  • Why Edo ranking is low in National libraries rating – NLA

    Why Edo ranking is low in National libraries rating – NLA

    The National Library Association (NLA) has said that Edo State lost its pride of place in the national libraries rating due to rapidly declining staff strength, obsolete structures and books.

    It said the deteriorating nature of public and private library systems in the state was worrisome.

    Chairman of Edo State chapter of the association, Dr. Evelyn Omoluabi Idiodi, stated this when the association paid a courtesy visit to Governor Godwin Obaseki.

    Dr. Idiodi recalled that the old Mid-Western region, later Bendel State Library Board did not only provide opportunities for knowledge development but also kept children from truancy.

    She called for the establishment of school libraries in all secondary schools in the state, explaining that it would not only create jobs, but also bring the state library system up to speed with the modern standards.

    In his reaction, Governor Obaseki expressed the state government readiness to establish e-library as a model to restoring library system in the state.

    Obaseki stated that his administration was set to collaborate with the association to  rethink and restore the library system in the state.

    He encouraged individuals to contribute to the library project by donating books, structures or funds to speed-up the development of public and private library systems in the state.

    He said, “What we are looking at is to rethink the library system. We can have many more books than we can store physically, we can store such electronically. We can have an e-library, using it as a model to re-enact our library system in the state.

    “I know of people who are currently investing on libraries in schools. I am speaking with an investor with the funding to come invest in the state. We must agree and come out with a plan and our project must not be too expensive”.

     

  • Sickle cell patients to get 24 hours service in Edo

    Sickle cell patients to get 24 hours service in Edo

    It was cheery news for sickle cell sufferers in Edo State as they would now enjoy 24 hours service at the sickle cell center.

    This was due to the passage of the bill for a law to amend provisions for the establishment of Edo State Sickle Cell Centre Law 2005.

    The new law would enable sufferers access comprehensive and affordable health care services for 24 hours.

    Speaker Justin Okonoboh said the center would now be headed by a Chief Medical Director(CMD) in place of an administrative secretary.

    Okonoboh thereafter directed that clean copies of the bill be sent to the governor for accent.

     

  • PDP knocks EFCC over Oshiomhole

    PDP knocks EFCC over Oshiomhole

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State has knocked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)  for inviting former governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as a guest speaker to the National Anti-corruption Stakeholders’ Summit.

    It said the invitation of Oshiomhole showed that the country has a long way to go in the fight against corruption and akin to inviting the “devil to give a talk on holiness and sainthood”.

    State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chris Nehikhare, in a press statement issued in Benin City said Oshiomhole has over fifteen (15) pending petitions against him.

    Nehikhare said the party would avail the EFCC with relevant documents to prove their case against him if the Commission commenced investigation.

    According to the statement, “Oshiomhole has till this moment not told Edo people about the $54m he collected from the federal government in December 2014. Edo people and Nigerians only got to hear of that money because NNPC books were audited.

    “The only good thing that can come out of the just concluded seminar is for Oshiomhole to submit himself for full scale investigation. There can be no better way to start the anti-corruption war than inviting Oshiomhole to answer for his financial crime against the state.

    “We join others to urge EFFC to swing into action. No need for glamorous talk shows of anti-corruption with tainted characters. God help Nigeria.”

     

  • Obaseki seeks to strengthen state’s judicial system

    Obaseki seeks to strengthen state’s judicial system

    Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo said no meaningful development would be achieved in the state without strengthening the judiciary.

    Mr John Mayaki, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor said in a statement on Saturday in Benin that Obasaki made the remark at a workshop on judiciary held in Benin.

    According to Obaseki, strengthening the judiciary is sine qua non for economic development.

    He said “we cannot pursue the goals we have set for ourselves without strengthening the administration of the judiciary.

    “Repositioning Edo and make it an economic hub will be difficult if we do not have
    legal system to protect property right and ensure contracts and things the law can do for us.”

    The governor added that the state would uphold the independence of the judiciary as evidenced in the over 600 per cent increment in 2017 appropriation bill for the sector.

    He explained that the essence of the judiciary workshop was to acknowledge the challenges confronting the sector in the state and to proffer solutions to them and come up with a master plan.

    Mayaki stated that Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Femi Falana, at the workshop, with the theme “State of the Judiciary and the Administration of Justice in Edo
    State” advocated proper remuneration for judicial workers to build confidence in the nation’s judicial system.

    Falana said election petition cases should be handled by justices of the various High Courts in states.

    He said restricting the functions of state chief judges to only administrative functions was unhealthy for the system.

    Also, a former governor of Edo, Prof. Osariemen Osunbor, said there was need for government to publicise the revised laws of the state.

    Osunbor said it would keep the people abreast with the judicial system.

  • Pastor nabbed for attempting to bomb church 

    Pastor nabbed for attempting to bomb church 

    A Benin based pastor who gave his name as Abel Eku has been arrested for attempting to bomb the headquarters of his church, the Christ Chosen Church of God.

    Pastor Abel who claimed to have served the church for 25 years planted explosives inside the auditorium of the church headquarters on January 22, the day the church was to hold an international conference.

    The explosives were detected and policemen were invited who detonated the explosives.

    Men of the Edo State Police Command arrested Pastor Abel on March 7 and he confessed to have manufactured the explosives and planted them himself.

    Speaking to newsmen during a parade at police headquarters, Pastor Abel said he planted the bomb because he was bitter about his dismissal from the church over marital issues.

    Pastor Abel said he did it out of annoyance but later regretted his action which made him to call the church officials about the location of the bomb.

    He said the bomb was not meant to kill but to scare his church members and elders.

    According to him, “It was out of annoyance that I planted the bomb. I was dismissed from the church after serving for 25 years. After planting the bomb, I was not happy with myself. I had a change of heart and called the people about it. It was to scare people. I have to call people to check and diffuse it.

    “I am 57 years old. I had marital issues with my wife. We came to the church to resolve it and it was not resolved. It led to my dismissal. I was very bitter about the dismissal. I don’t have the intention of killing people. My action is very bad.”

    On how he was made a pastor in the church, Pastor Abel said his parents offered him to the church as a first fruit because of inability to have children.

    “I was given to the church as a first issue. My parents were married for many years without any issue, so they vowed at the alter that any first child God gave to them would be given to the church. That was how they gave me to the church.”

     

  • Obaseki, Okowa eulogise late Ogbemudia

    Obaseki, Okowa eulogise late Ogbemudia

    Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State and his Delta State counterpart, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa have said that the Late Dr Samuel Ogbemudia would be remembered for his numerous contributions to the development of defunct Bendel state.

    This was as the governors, receiving the remains of late Ogbemudia, a two-time governor of old Bendel State (now Edo and Delta) at the Benin Airport on Monday, referred to him as a friend to all.

    According to Governor Obaseki, he left a lasting legacy, which Edo is building on.

    ‘’He admonished me and assured me of his support during my electioneering period. I cannot forget the encouragement he gave me, without his open and clear endorsement, my campaign would have been difficult’’, the governor said.

    Meanwhile Governor Okowa described late Ogbemudia as a role model to politicians, noting that he still lives through his works.

    He said, “I want to condole with the family of the late elder statesman; he meant a lot to both states of Edo and Delta. We will remember him for so many things; as at today, a lot of things still stand in his name”.

    Speaking about his last moment with late Ogbemudia, Governor Okowa recalled that he had a quiet time with him in 2015, when he invited him to deliver a lecture during his birthday.

  • Buhari mourns Ogbemudia

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday extended condolences to the Ogbemudia family as well as the government and people of Edo State on the death of Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, a former‎ governor of the defunct Midwest region and old Bendel State.

    Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, joined them and other admirers in mourning the elder statesman who diligently served the country with courage and dedication at crucial moments in her history, both as military governor and a democratically elected civilian governor.

    He believed that the late Ogbemudia, who had a distinguished career as a military officer, administrator and Federal Minister, has left an impressive legacy of hardwork, discipline and commitment to communal, state, regional and  national development.

    Recalling that the unique role of the elder statesman in the nation’s return to civilian rule in 1999, he said that as a tireless advocate for equity, he will be long remembered and honoured for his dedication to the advancement of his people, especially in the fields of education, social welfare and infrastructure.

    President Buhari prayed that God Almighty will comfort all who mourn the late Brig.-Gen. Ogbemudia and grant his soul eternal rest.