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Tag: Edo

  • Edo hosts Enina Theatre Festival

    Edo hosts Enina Theatre Festival

    Edo State has hosted the Enina Theatre Festival. The fiesta marked a celebration of theatre, creativity, arts, and culture in Edo.

      The event, which drew its inspiration from the word Enina (humanity), marked a cultural milestone with facilitators from the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)-SKYE programme.

      The two-day festival was a cornucopia of creativity, offering a wide range of enthralling experiences.    Attendees were treated to captivating stage plays, mesmerising dance performances, a vibrant carnival, thought-provoking art exhibitions, soul-stirring music, enlightening workshops, and engaging panel discussions.

    Read Also: PHOTOS: Heavy gridlock as truck falls on Otedola Bridge

     It was organised by the Edo State Skills Development Agency (Edojobs), in collaboration with the Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub and support of the German Government, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, EDSOGPADEC, Azura-Edo, Olivia Table Waters, Super FM Benin, and Independent Radio and Television Benin.

    Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki reiterated his commitment to nurturing creativity, with a vision to establish the state as the hub of culture and creativity

       One of the festival’s highlights was the presentation of “Azagidi: when gods die,” a play that explored themes of power struggles and the complexities of love.

      The performance, written by Pedro Agbonifo Obaseki and directed by Osarumen John Igbinidu and Olajide Jolayemi, featured 100  talented Edo youths.

  • Man kills wife over disagreement on food in Edo

    A twenty one-year-old man, Salami Anedu, has been arrested for killing his wife, Esther Friday following disagreement over food.

    The deceased was also 21-year-old.

    Anedu was paraded yesterday, along with other suspected criminals by Edo Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Chidi Nwabuzor, a Superintendent of Police (SP).

    Nwabuzor disclosed that the suspect was arrested on August 30, 2024, by the Fugar division of the state command.

    The Edo PPRO revealed that one Aluaye Momoh, on August 29, reported to the police that Salami Anedu

    used wood to kill his wife, Esther Friday, in their house at Ugbekpe, Edo state.

     He noted that the suspect hit his wife with a wood, during the misunderstanding, and she died in the process.

    Nwabuzor stressed that the police stormed the house, arrested the suspect, and evacuated the body of the victim to Fugar General Hospital’s morgue, for preservation.

    Read Also: Tribunal affirms Ndume’s election as Senator

    The PPRO in Edo disclosed that the case had been transferred to the homicide section of

    the state’s criminal investigation department in Benin, for further investigation.

    The suspect, while responding to reporters’ questions, admitted having a quarrel with his wife for not giving him food after cooking.

    Anedu said: “My wife cooked rice, and she said I should eat from the food. I went to cook yam and egg on my own, but she said I would not eat my food. As I was still eating the food, she started quarrelling with me, and she threatened to bring his brother to my house, beat me up, and would leave.

    “I thought my wife was joking, but she came back with two of her brothers, who were armed with sticks, and started fighting me. After that, my wife went to my mother’s house to pass the night, but I was surprised when vigilance members came to arrest me, that I killed my wife”.

    “I did not kill my wife. I did not hit her with wood. It was her brother that came to my house with wood, but because I dragged them with them, they said I was the one that killed her. My wife was sick before.”

  • Don’t trivialise vying for governorship, says Edo aspirant

    Don’t trivialise vying for governorship, says Edo aspirant

    A Frontline governorship aspirant on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, John Yakubu, has stated that vying for governorship is a serious business, which must not be trivialised.

    He noted that there was nothing wrong in having many governorship aspirants from his Edo Central Senatorial District/Esanland, which he described as the beauty of democracy.

    Yakubu, a former Chairman of Esan Northeast local government council of Edo, who described himself as a trader, in an interactive session with reporters in Benin, insisted that governorship aspiration should be for men, not boys.

    He said: “Social media has made governorship aspiration very easy. Out of the numerous governorship aspirants in Edo State, ahead of the September 2024 election, 90 per cent do not have offices in Benin City, but are ‘popular’ on social media.

    Read Also: Stop disrespecting Ondo people, PDP tells Akeredolu

    “Most politicians are incurable optimists. Nobody will stop anybody’s political or governorship aspirations. Politicians have the right to aspire, but the electorate will separate the men from the boys.

    “We are pushing for true reconciliation in Edo Central PDP. Ahead of the governorship primary election, the aggrieved members of the party would have agreed to sheathe their swords, in order to have a formidable PDP.”

    Yakubu, the running mate to Edo PDP’s governorship candidate in 2016, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, also declared that greed and selfishness were the bane of local government administration in the state.

    He assured that if elected Edo governor next year, he would not intervene in the local government’s administration, but to complement the efforts of the chairmen.

    The governorship aspirant gave an assurance that as Edo governor, he would fix federal roads in the state within six months, in view of his impressive performance as LG chairman.

    Yakubu added that in order to ensure good governance in Edo, if elected governor, he would hold regular town-hall meetings with the stakeholders.

  • Tribunal affirms election of Edo LP Rep

    Tribunal affirms election of Edo LP Rep

    The National/State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Benin on Thursday affirmed the election of Mr Omoruyi Osaro of the Labour Party (LP) for the Egor/Ikpoba-Okha Federal Constituency of Edo.

    In a unanimous Judgement by the three-member panel, led by Justice O. A. Chijioke, the tribunal dismissed the petitions of the candidates of the PDP, Mr Okhuarobo Henry and that of APC Mr Crosby Eribo for lack of merits

    The tribunal held that the two petitioners could not prove a case of non-compliance with the electoral act, corrupt practices and non-qualification allegations against the LP candidate in the election.

    Delivering the judgement, Justice O.A. Chijioke held that the petitioners failed to prove their cases, and thereby dismissed the petitions for lack of merit.

    Read Also: Tinubu’s tribunal victory foretold, says ex-Minister Dare

    “We hold that the petitioners failed to prove any of the grounds raised in the petitions and the petitions are hereby dismissed for lack of merits, ‘’ he said.

    The petitioners, Henry and Eribo had approached the tribunal to challenge the election of Osaro on the grounds that he was not qualified to contest for the election.

    They claimed non-compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022 in the conduct of the election, as well as Osaro’s dual nationality adding that the LP could not have had a candidate in the said election.

    However, the Justice Chijioke led election panel resolved all the grounds and averred that the petitioners merely dumped documents on the tribunal without any probative value.

    Eribo had alleged that the LP candidate was a citizen of the U.S and his standing for election negated Section 77 of the Electoral Act, 2022 as well as Section 66 of the Constitution of Nigeria.

    He also contended that Osaro was not validly nominated by the LP for the election, which by inference meant that the LP had no candidate in the election.

    (NAN) 

  • Edo varsity suspends academic activities

    Edo varsity suspends academic activities

    The management of Edo State Government-owned Ambrose Alli University Court orders Ambrose Alli University to reinstate sacked staff member (AAU), Ekpoma has suspended academic activities indefinitely. 

    AAU, yesterday in a statement by its Acting Registrar, Ambrose Odiase, said the suspension became necessary, in view of an emergency meeting of the senate to appraise the continued protest by the students. 

    Read Also: Obaseki, Ambrose Alli varsity teachers clash over ban

    Management of AAU said: “To prevent a breakdown of law and order, as well as the need to guarantee the safety of lives and property in the university community and its environs, senate was left with no other choice, but to direct immediate suspension of academic activities.

    “All students residing in the hostels on campus are to vacate the halls of residence without fail, within the next 24 hours.”

    AAU students have been protesting increase in school fees of returning students for three days, which disrupted academic activities, and scheduled commendation service in honour of the late Professor of Economics, Moses Aliemen, which led to the dissolution of the students’ union executive. 

  • Edo varsity suspends academic activities indefinitely

    Edo varsity suspends academic activities indefinitely

    The management of Edo state government-owned Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, in Edo Central Senatorial District, has indefinitely suspended all academic activities in the higher institution, with immediate effect.

    AAU in a press statement issued on Tuesday, September 5, by its Acting Registrar, Ambrose Odiase, stated that the suspension became necessary in view of an emergency meeting of the university’s Senate to appraise the continued protest by the students.

    Management of AAU said: “In order to prevent a total breakdown of law and order, as well as the need to guarantee the safety of lives and property in the university community and its environs, Senate was left with no other choice, but to direct an immediate suspension of academic activities.

    Read Also: Obaseki, APC chair clash over Edo council poll’s results

    “All students residing in the hostels on campus are to vacate the halls of residence without fail, within the next 24 hours.”

    It would be recalled that students of AAU have been protesting the increase in school fees of returning students for three days, which disrupted academic activities, and scheduled commendation service in honour of a late Professor of Economics, Moses Isunu Aliemen, which led to the dissolution of the students’ union executive.

  • Edo Deputy gov ejected from Govt House complex

    Edo Deputy gov ejected from Govt House complex

    Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has relocated the office of his estranged deputy Philip Shaibu outside the Government House Complex, Benin as their relationship takes a turn for the worse.

    Shaibu, who was physically stopped by Obaseki’s security aides from exchanging greetings with the governor at a church service last Sunday, will now operate from a building formerly used by the State Public Procurement Office in Benin.

    The building is located at 7 Dennis Osadebey Avenue, a short distance from the deputy governor’s former office in the Government House.

    It was undergoing renovation yesterday with a signpost newly erected putside the gate.

    The signpost carries the inscription “Office of the Deputy Governor, NO 7, Dennis Osadebey Avenue, GRA, Benin City.”

    Read Also: Obaseki/Shaibu rift: Deputy Gov’s Office moved out of Govt House

    The building was commissioned on December 16,2014 by the then  Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

    Contacted yesterday by phone on the development, Communication and Orientation Commissioner Chris Nehikhare said:   “If there is Edo State government’s signboard at the entrance, stating that the new building is now the office of the deputy governor of the state, then it must be so.”

    Twenty four hours after last Sunday’s showdown in the church, the state government disbanded Shaibu’s media crew after the deputy governor walked out of a colloquim organized by government.

    He claimed that his media aides were prevented from accessing the event with him.

    The DG is currently in court over allegation that his principal wants to get him impeached with the aid of ethe state House of Assembly.

    Obaseki and the Assembly have denied the allegation.

    The governor accused Shaibu of planning a coup against him, but Edo deputy governor insisted that he remained loyal to the governor.

  • ‘Edo council poll: No restriction of movement tomorrow’

    ‘Edo council poll: No restriction of movement tomorrow’

    • Seven parties will participate in election’

    Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has said there will be no restriction of movement during tomorrow’s local government election in the 18 councils.

    He assured commuters transiting through the state of safe passage.

    Obaseki spoke yesterday at the Government House, Benin, while briefing reporters after the state’s security council meeting.

    He assured residents of security before, during and after the election, urging the electorate to come out en masse to cast their votes for their preferred candidates. 

    The governor said Edo would be peaceful, noting that security agencies were on ground to protect the electorate.

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    Police Commissioner Muhammad Dankwara said security agencies were prepared for the election.

    He added: “We are on the same page with our sister security agencies. Surely, the poll will be very peaceful.”

    The Chairman of Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC), Justice James Oyomire (rtd.), said the electorate would be expected to vote for 18 council chairmen and 192 councillors in the poll, which would take place in 4,519 polling units across the state.

    He was briefing reporters on the level of preparation for the election.

    He said arrangements had been concluded to ensure the deployment/movement of electoral materials to the polling units.

    Justice Oyomire said there were 18 registered parties in Nigeria, but only 11 invited EDSIEC to monitor their primaries, with forms given to them, while only seven submitted their forms before the deadline.  

    He said the parties that would participate in the election included Accord Party (AP), African Action Congress (AAC), Africa Democratic Congress (ADC), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), All Progressives Congress (APC), Labour Party (LP) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

  • LP campaigns in Edo for council poll

    LP campaigns in Edo for council poll

    Presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP) during the February 25 election, Peter Obi; National Chairman of the party, Julius Abure and many chieftains of LP yesterday stormed Benin, Edo State capital, for a mega rally, ahead of the September 2 local government poll.

    The well-attended rally took place at the Baptist Convention Centre, TV Road.

    Edo Chairman of LP, Kelly Igbaloi; former Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mrs. Elizabeth Ativie; ex-President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olumide Akpata and Pastor Azemhe Azena of the Omega Fire Ministries (OFM), also attended the rally.

    Obi said the development of any country was domiciled in the local governments, with the councils being the nearest to the people.

    Read Also: Bauchi sets up ‘relief funds’ committee

    He said: “For the system to work and for a country to develop well, it is the local government that has everything that has to do with development. This is why it is critical to our development and sustainability.

    “We are here to support our candidates in the forthcoming local government council election in Edo State. We will support them with everything. Vote massively for candidates of LP in the coming local government election.”

    Akpata urged LP members and supporters not to entertain fear, but should massively vote for the candidates of the party.

  • Edo, NDDC fight over ‘shoddy jobs’

    There seems to be strained relationship between the Edo State government and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). Emergency road projects appear to be the bone of contention, writes OSAGIE OTABOR

    The relationship between the Edo State government and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has not been cordial since Governor Godwin Obaseki assumed office in Edo State. The strained relationship is connected to the shoddy and sub-standard jobs executed by the NDDC contractors.

    Few months after Obaseki assumed office, he paid an unscheduled visit to some road projects being executed by the NDDC in the state. Obaseki was peeved that the contractors’ jobs were shoddy and the drainage were not linked to any primary drain. This, the governor observed, would make the water stagnant in the drains and make the road easily damaged.

    Obaseki directed the NDDC contractors handling various road projects in the state to stop work immediately. He said the NDDC would not be allowed to execute any projects in the state without meeting the state’s specifications and designs.

    The NDDC contractors were given seven days to submit the design drawings, Bill of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation of their respective projects to the State Ministry of Works.

    After some grey issues were resolved, NDDC resumed construction and rehabilitation of roads in the state. Governor Obaseki entered tripartite agreement with the NDDC and the Edo State Oil and Gas Development Commission (EDSOPADEC) on the repair of the Benin-Abraka Road. The NDDC was to pay 40 per cent of the fund. Construction work has commenced on the Benin-Abraka Road and the NDDC is yet to meet its obligation.

    Crack re-emerged in the relationship between Edo government and the NDDC over who was responsible for the massive repairs and construction of many internal roads in Benin-City and its environs.

    When agents of Obaseki listed roads constructed by the administration, those opposed to second term coming of Obaseki were quick to point out that majority of the roads were constructed by the NDDC but there were counter-arguments that under previous administrations, the NDDC did not execute much projects as it is doing under Obaseki. Former Edo NDDC Commissioner, Hon Saturday Uwuilekhue, published list of roads executed by the NDDC apparently to out a lie to claims by agents of Edo Government.

    However, many of the newly constructed and rehabilitated roads were washed away by heavy rains and developed potholes. Obaseki’s administration was criticised for constructing poor roads. The Apostolic Street in Bénin-City that was just asphalted was washed away and houses in the street were flooded.

    Some roads such as the College Road, Joromi Street, Aiguobasimwin and others recently reconstructed by the NDDC have developed potholes.

    Last week when the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on abandoned NDDC projects visited Edo State, Governor Obaseki opened up on his reservation for the NDDC and why probe into its activities should commence. Obaseki stated that the N20 billion emergency funds allegedly expended by the NDDC on projects in the state in the last six months must be probed.

    Governor Obaseki said his administration was exploring the option of suing contractors handling the Commission’s projects for delivering sub-standard projects, which caused flooding in parts of the state.

    Obaseki, who reiterated his desire to stop NDDC contractors from executing sub-standard projects said there was need for synergy between the state government and the NDDC in delivering quality projects.

    He faulted claims by the interim management of the NDDC that the sum of N256 billion was spent on emergency project work, out of which N20 billion was spent in Edo State in the last six months.

    “This kind of action is embarrassing to our administration and causing us political problems as our citizens are confused about the roads we are constructing and the sub-standard roads executed by NDDC contractors.

    “I have instructed the state’s Solicitor-General to begin the process to take legal action against NDDC contractors, who execute sub-standard work in the state, particularly the contractor who handled the project on Apostolic Street off Sokponba Road, which led to flooding in the area. We will blacklist them.

    “I am surprised that the NDDC management is here as I invited them months ago when I received complaints about the quality of work done by their contractors but they ignored the invitation. There is no need having NDDC in the state when they have total disregard for the state government.

    “A year ago, barely 10 per cent of the NDDC budget for Edo State was implemented. The immediate past interim management team of the NDDC needs to come and show us how they spent N20 billion in the state.

    “Beyond what the House Committee is doing, there must be a judicial enquiry into the activities of the NDDC. People must go to jail for their corrupt acts. The 13 per cent derivation fund collected from oil-producing communities that was supposed to be used for the development of the region has not been spent by NDDC.

    “We have registered our displeasure on NDDC projects in Edo State and contest the claims of their spending N20 billion in the state for emergency work. We signed a tripartite agreement with NDDC. They were supposed to commit 40 per cent while the state provides 60 per cent. We opened an account but they didn’t remit one kobo into it,” he noted.

    Speaking during inspection of NDDC projects in Edo State by the Ad hoc Committee, Governor Obaseki said the NDDC and its contractors must pay compensation for victims whose properties were affected by flooding at the Apostolic Street.

    He said: “The contractor did the asphalt work on the road without taking into consideration the fact that there were manholes to channel water in the area. When the community advised the contractor not to block the manholes, he disregarded the complaints and blocked them. You can see the devastation that it has caused?

    “We are holding the NDDC and the contractor liable and we will take legal actions to ensure they compensate the victims affected.

    “The NDDC was supposed to contribute 40 per cent, while the state government and its agency would contribute the remaining 60 per cent to the Benin-Abraka Road project but the commission reneged on the agreement.

    “The state government has commenced work on the road and it will be completed with or without NDDC’s counterpart fund because the NDDC is grossly mismanaged.”

    Leader of the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee, Hon. Sergius Ogun, stated that they were in the state to investigate abandoned NDDC projects.

    Ogun, who expressed disappointment with the number of NDDC abandoned projects in Edo State, said some projects awarded since 2012 could not be accounted for anywhere in the state.

    “It is obvious that NDDC has not partnered with the state government. We are talking about projects awarded by NDDC in 2012. Seven years after, we cannot see any visible projects. These are some of the things we will take back to Abuja.”

    Uwulekhue berated the Ad-hoc Committee and Governor Obaseki for making what he termed unfounded allegations without asking relevant questions.

    Uwulekhue said he attracted projects worth N20 billion to the state but the money was not paid to contractors as it was the NDDC policy not to mobilise contractors to site.

    He said contractors must finish their jobs and certificate issued before payments are made.

    On why the NDDC did not fund Benin-Abraka Road project, Uwulekhue stated that the contractor should show evidence of job done before money would be released.

    His words: “People are talking without reading the NDDC Act. Once you bid for job, you go to site with your own money at your own risk. If our engineers did not certify the jobs as good, we will not pay.

    “Any NDDC contractor that does substandard jobs will not be paid as files go through 43 offices before payments are made. NDDC cannot go to Treasury Single Account (TSA) account and make payment anyhow.

    “I did my best to attract N20 billion projects but the question is whether the money was released. The Ad-hoc Committee does not have any information. They are just making noise. A right thinking person will not talk like that.”