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Tag: Edo

  • Edo: Tribunal rejects pleas to recount ballot papers in Estako

    An application by Mr. Blessing Agbomhere, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the recount of ballot papers used for the election into Etsako Federal Constituency was rejected by the National and State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal.

    Agbomhere is challenging the declaration of Hon Johnson Oghuma of the All Progressives Congress as winner of the election.

    İn the application filed by Counsel of Agbomere, Chika Adindu, the PDP candidate requested for recounting and fingerprint assessment of the ballot papers used for the poll.

    Read Also: Edo: Tribunal fixes June 10 for hearing on Estako West I

    But Chairman of the tribunal, Justice O. Ogundana, declined the plea petitioners and ruled that there was no provision in the electoral act as amended that provides​ for recount after declaration of result.

    “At the place of voting, the polling officers can allow the agents to count.

    “Recounting and fingerprint assessment does not have any correlation with errors or miscalculation, as a result, the application lacks merit and is hereby dismissed.

    The Tribunal subsequently announced June 11 for the commencement of substantive hearing on the petition.

     

     

  • Edo: Tribunal reserves ruling on oral evidence

    The National and State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Bénin City, capital of Edo State, has reserved ruling till Thursday, May 15, on whether to call for oral evidence in the petition filed by Ehiozuwa Agbonyinma against the election of Jude Ise-Idehen in the Ikpoba-Okha Federal Constituency seat.

    The Chairman of the tribunal, Justice O. Ogundana, frowned at several processes and motions filed by counsel to petitioners and respondents before the tribunal at the weekend.

    Justice Ogundana said the tribunal does not relish the sort of practice as the panel ought to have knowledge of what to do for the day.

    Counsel to the petitioners, Ken Mozia, in his argument on the need to call the bailiff to give oral evidence, said the respondent gave conflicting statements in their affidavit.

    Mozia said the issue would not be resolved without calling for oral evidence.

    He said the respondent in two separate affidavits  said there was service and there was no service.

    Counsel to Ise-Idehen, Richard Ahonaruogho, said the call for oral evidence  was not a case contemplated by law.

    Ahonaruogho said there was inconsistently in the document sought to prove service.

    In the petition filed by Engr. Abubakar Momoh, against the election of Senate Deputy Chief whip, Mr Francis Alimikhena, the APC urged the Tribunal to strike out the petition on the ground that the person whose name was mentioned in the petition is Mr Akemikhena.

    Counsel to the APC, Mr. C.I Aiguobarueghian, said ‘Akemikhena’ is not known to the party and did not contest the election been challenged.

    Aiguobarueghian also urged the tribunal to strike out Paragraph 16 of the petition and all the tables thereunder,on the ground that it is “generic, in-exact, meaningless and speculative.”

    “We are asking with respect sir, that paragraph 32(c) of the petition be struck out because it is not a ground known to the Electoral Act,” he stated.

    Counsel to Momoh, Mr G.C.Igbogwe, who described the APC moio  as frivolous, urged the tribunal to dismiss the application.

    According to Igbogwe, “The Paragraph 16 he talked about is a further reference  to paragraph 15 of the petition, they should have taken a closer look at it for better understanding.“ On the second issue, paragraph 32(c), it is only a typographical error in the spelling of the name of the respondent.”

    After listening to both counsels, the Chairman of the National and State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal in Edo, Justice O. Ogundana, reserved ruling on the motion to the final judgment day of the petition.

  • Road traffic crashes claim 36 lives in Edo, Delta, Anambra

    No fewer than 36 persons were reported dead in road traffic crashes in Edo, Delta and Anambra between January and March this year, according to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

    Mr Kehinde Adeleye, FRSC Commanding Officer for the Zone 5 comprising the three states, said yesterday  Benin that the figure was against the 34 deaths recorded within the same period in 2018.

    Adeleye spoke at the second quarter zonal retreat for commanding officers, zonal heads of departments and units.

    Read Also: Insecurity: No sacred cows in Anambra – Obiano

    He said that within the same period, 57 road crashes were recorded against 47 in 2018, while 170 persons were involved against the 173 recorded in 2018 in the same period.

    He stressed that the retreat was a capacity building programme targeted at commanding officers in the zone in view of the increase in road crashes and fatalities in the first quarter.

    He said it was, therefore, necessary to put heads together and come up with new initiatives to ensure that the major goal and objective of the “Decade of Action on Road Safety” was achieved.

    He explained that the FRSC had less than one year to achieve the basic objectives of the Decade of Action on Road Safety, adding, “there was the need for personnel in the zone to work hard and smart to achieve the goals.”

    Mr Ben Anafa, FRSC Corps Commandant, Monitoring and Evaluation, delivered a paper titled “An Overview of Assessment Criteria for 2019 as Aligned with 2019 FRSC corporate strategy Goals”.

  • Edo restates commitment to Okpekpe race

    The Edo state government has restated its total support for the historic Okpekpe international 10km road race.

    The state’s deputy governor, Rt Hon Phillip Shaibu restated the commitment when the promoter of the race,Mike Itemuagbor and his team paid him A courtesy call at the weekend.

    Shaibu assured the event organisers of the commitment and continued support of the Edo State government to the race, demanded very good value and the delivery of the essence of the event to the people of Edo State, Nigeria and the international community.

    ‘We are delighted Edo state has been playing host to this historic race,the first road race in West Africa to get an International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) label status.We are committed to making the race the first IAAF gold label race in West Africa next year after scoring another first as the first IAAF silver label race to be run in Nigeria and the West Africa sub-region in 2018,’said Shaibu who enjoined organisers of the race to keep the flag flying high.

    In his response, Itemuagbor said the visit of the organisers of the Okpekpe international 10km road race was an opportunity to brief the Deputy Governor and the media on their preparions and readiness of the event.

    ”This year’s race will be different from the IAAF silver label race we had in Nigeria last year.Although it is still technically an IAAF silver label race,what Nigerians will witness will be a gold label event because we want to upgrade to a gold label race.We want to be the first IAAF gold label race in West Africa and the second in Africa after the marathon race in Cape Town, South Africa,” said Itemuagbor who expressed delight that he has used the Okpekpe race to proof that Nigerians can organise events that can be classified as truly world class.

    ”What an IAAF Label denotes are high standards in event organisation and full application of the IAAF competition rules.This we have done and by next year,Okpekpe race will be talked about in the same breath as the London, New York, Dubai, Berlin and Boston marathons.These are gold label IAAF road races,” he said and thanked the Edo state government for throwing its weight behind the race.

    ”One of the factors that has also made the rcae truly world clss is the support we have received from the state government.This is a guarantee demanded by the IAAF and we are delighted we have the heartbeat of the nation,Edo state backing us 100%.We have also demonstrated the commitment demanded by the IAAF to the advancement of the sport and have taken concrete steps in the global fight against doping.”

    This year’s race will hold on the 25th of this month in Okpekpe, Etsako East local government area of Edo state.

  • Edo 2020: Support swells for Obaseki/Shaibu

    Ahead of next year’s governorship election in Edo State, there is fear that the disagreement between some aggrieved APC leaders and Governor Godwin Obaseki’s supporters over his re-election bid may threaten the party’s unity, reports Osagie Otabor, Benin

    THE stage is set for hot political contest in the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress on who gets the party’s ticket for next year’s governorship election. Incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki appears to be facing obstacles from some APC leaders who have vowed to unseat him.

    Obaseki introduced a style of governance many APC leaders are not happy with. They have therefore vowed to fight to the last to stop him from getting the APC ticket for a second term in office. It does not matter whether the people are happy with achievements of Obaseki, all the aggrieved APC leaders want is to deny the governor a return ticket.

    Despite the resistance of the APC leaders, Obaseki has been getting accolades and endorsements from the party leadership in the state. His support base is swelling by the day as the people he has defended these past three years are lining up behind him. For example, Obaseki has secured the backing of the Deputy Governor, Hon Philip Shaibu, the governor’s Chief of Staff, Taiwo Akerele, the Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Osarodion Ogie, and other key party leaders across the state.

    Arising from its quarterly meeting, the Edo APC State Executive Committee, passed a vote of confidence on Obaseki/Philip Shaibu ticket and assured that the party would sustain support for the governor’s administration and policies.

    In a statement signed by the State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Chris Azebamwan, the state chapter of the party noted: “Members were unanimous in their conclusion that the House of Assembly election results equates to a referendum of the administration and the performance of Mr. Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki as governor. It, therefore, amounts to an implicit and explicit vote of confidence on him by the citizens of Edo State who have, in very clear and unmistakable terms, indicated their preference for a House of Assembly that would be supportive of the vision and mission of the governor without any distraction whatsoever.”

    The party executive members, he added, “resolved that in line with the mandate, the party would continue to sustain its avowed commitment to give the government and administration of Obaseki the needed support to keep it focused and on track.”

    Also, the Oredo chapter of the APC last month declared Obaseki as its sole candidate for next year’s election. It said it was impressed by the performance of the Governor Obaseki-led administration. The Oredo party leaders that endorsed the statement were Chairman, Oredo LGA chapter of the APC, Hon. Godwill Alabi and Secretary, Hon. Magdalene Isekhure including Local Government Executive, Councilors, Ward Chairmen, leaders from the twelve (12) wards in the LGA, Special Adviser to Edo State Governor on Political and Community Matters, Chief Osaro Idah; Secretary, Edo State Chapter of the APC, Mr. Lawrence Okah; Chairman, Oredo LGA, Hon. Jenkins Osunde and Edo APC Youth Leader, Hon. Valentine Asuen, among others.

    They said, “Considering the pace of development in different sectors of the state from infrastructure to education, industrialisation, civil service and judicial reforms, enterprise development, prompt payment of pensioners and civil servants’ emoluments, among others; we are convinced beyond doubt that the only way to sustain the current rapid growth trajectory is to ensure that Obaseki continues as governor of the state after the expiration of his first four-year term.

    “With a full sense of responsibility, we call on him to run for a second term and hereby adopt Governor Godwin Obaseki as our sole candidate in the coming 2020 governorship election in the state.”

    The leaders are also impressed by the administration’s effort in repositioning the state as a front-line sub-national among those considered to be prudent with resources.

    “At the moment, among states in the Federation, Edo State stands out in all development spheres, heads and shoulders above states that are far more privileged than us in terms of federal allocation and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). As the saying goes, the reward for hard work is more work; we, therefore, urge Governor Obaseki to heed our call to take on the responsibility of governing the state for another four years, beginning from 2020,” they said.

    Not deterred by the loss of the Oredo House of Representatives seat to the PDP, Chief Whip of the Edo State House of Assembly representing Oredo East Constituency, Hon Osaigbovo Iyoha, last week mobilised leaders of the APC in Oredo Ward 2, to endorse Governor Obaseki to enable the administration to consolidate on its developmental strides in the state.

    A frontline social-political and cultural organisation, the Etsako Solidarity Front (ESF), last week declared ‘no vacancy in Edo seat of power till 2023’.

    President of the group, Alhaji Saidu Momoh, noted that in less than three years of Obaseki’s administration, the state has witnessed silent revolution

    Momoh said, “I think it is time to make our position clearly known that Governor Godwin Obaseki cannot be politically intimidated or blackmailed by anybody from contesting the party’s primary or 2020 governorship. We are tired of this talk that he will not get his second term on account of the fact that he is not sharing the state resources to service professional politicians.

    “Obaseki has demonstrated purposeful leadership and we are happy with him. Edo people will continue to support him to ensure that there is sustainability of the people’s oriented projects he has embarked upon which are visible to all”.

    A public notary, Olayiwola Afolabi, said he was convinced that with the developmental strides recorded by the Obaseki-led administration, a ticket for another four-year-term would enable the administration continue with its good work, which are spread across every part of the state.

    Afolabi appealed to the leadership of the APC to give what he described as “the performing governor” a second term. He argued, “The man has worked and he is working everywhere; even during the elections, work did not stop. During the Presidential and National Assembly elections and the State Assembly election, he kept working. He is working everywhere.

    “Obaseki is not making noise but working everywhere; if he says he is not going to contest, we are going to beg him because we need him. If he says he doesn’t want, we will compel him. He has been able to prove that development is possible. His style is unique from what we are used to and that is why Edo people and residents here believe he deserves a second term as governor of Edo State.”

    Senator Domingo Obende, who is the patron of Obaseki/Shaibu Movement (OSM), said the group would embark on a state wide enlightenment campaign to sensitise Edo people on achievements recorded by Governor Obaseki in the state.

    “We are proud of the meaningful projects executed by the Obaseki/Shaibu administration in the state and assure Edo people of more people-oriented projects,” he said.

    There is growing support from different quarters for the Obaseki/Shaibu 2020 ticket even though the electoral body is yet to release guidelines for the election. Given that the aggrieved leaders are bent on stopping Obasaki notwithstanding the growing support for his re-election, the coming days will unfold how APC in the state would avoid implosion ahead of the election.

     

  • Prospect of being millionaires excites Edo farmers

    When Shakespeare said in his play Macbeth that “there is no art to find the mind’s construction in the face,” it appeared to be incontrovertible. But an event at Warake, Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State was strong enough to invalidate this age-long axiom.

    When Governor Godwin Obaseki addressed farmers in the local government on his plan to make them Agriprenuers through a collateral-free loan he accessed from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on their behalf, it sounded strange to them. There was an element of disbelief on the part of the farmers.

    Issues seemed compounded when Governor Obaseki revealed to them that loans could be given to them without collateral and that the profits accruing from the farming exercise entirely belong to them.  This time, one could find the mind’s construction on the faces of the farmers. From their facial expressions, there was no way they could hide their reservations.

    It appeared so outlandish to the farmers who gathered to listen to Governor Obaseki on how he intended to make them agriprenuers. It was not something they ever fathom could happen in Nigeria that they could be given loans without collaterals and become sole owners of the entire proceeds from the ventures. To some of them, they would rather wait till harvest time when money from the proceeds of the farms would be handed to them before they would believe that the country has really changed.

    The farmers asked several probing questions in a bid to ensure that they heard right that money would soon be deposited in their various bank accounts.

    Governor Obaseki had secured N5 billion loan from the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Anchor Borrowers’ Programme under the Commercial Agric Credit Scheme for rice and maize production.  The rice and maize would be cultivated on over 10,600 hectares of land across the three senatorial districts.

    Rice would be cultivated at Iguoriakhi, Iguomon, Illushi, Warrake and Agenebode while maize would be cultivated at Usugbenu, Sobe and Ekpoma. The target is to harvest 17,000 tons of rice and 11,000 tons of maize at the end of this year’s planting season.

    The loan was secured after the state government carried out an experiment last year with the FADAMA III additional financing programme. Despite the setback occasioned by flooding that destroyed most of the rice farms, many farmers that participated in the scheme, especially those that insured their farms, smiled to the banks.

    Represented by his Special Adviser on Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security, Prince Joe Okojie during a sensitisation tour of the different farm locations, Governor Obaseki urged the farmers to carry out proper supervision of the farms for good yields.

    The farmers were taught how to access the loan and how much they stand to make at the end of harvest if things were done accordingly.

    They were also warned against selling their produce to other merchants except the off-takers that entered agreement with the state government.

    Explaining how the loan would be expended, Governor Obaseki said N2.2 billion would be used for crop production, N2.3 billion for land development and N100 million for irrigation. He said N1.2 billion would be for rice and maize cultivation.

    Obaseki said flooding disaster would be avoided by planting early before the flood comes and doing another planting after the flood has receded, adding that experts would be engaged to give technical support to the farmers while a bank has been engaged to oversee appropriate disbursement of the funds throughout the farming season until harvest.

    He said: “We have engaged a lot of agronomists. We have employed the services of Nigeria Incentive-based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) that is going to be our technical partner and who will bring on board a lot of agronomists that will help us.

    “We are trying to deploy best practices for the cultivation of the crops this season and hope that we get better yield than those of two years ago. We will not allow side selling. You are to sell the produce to the off-takers we have signed contract with. The CBN will come after you if you go contrary to the rules and regulations.

    “The ultimate beneficiaries are the farmers. All you have to do is to be dedicated to your farms for you to have good yields. We took about N5 billion under the Commercial Agric Credit Scheme, about N2.2 billion is for crop production, N2.3 billion for land development and about N100 million for irrigation.

    “We hope to produce millionaire farmers this year. We do not anticipate a drop in the price of rice. We hope that we are able to produce about 17,000 metric tons of rice after cultivating about 4,400 hectares of rice farms.”

    One of the beneficiaries expected to grow maize, Afadama Enotaye said: “Before now, we have been anxious about the matter, but from I have seen today, I think the government is committed to do something great which we are happy about. Since we have a dynamic SA on Agric, we pray that our patience for the past three years will pay off this time around.

    “We are very prepared to engage in serious farming. We will ensure that we didn’t disappoint the confidence that the government has reposed in us. We still find it difficult to believe it is true because we are not contributing anything.”

    Mrs Gloria Ogala at Illushi, Esan South East Local Government Area, said she participated in the scheme because of the cheap loans farmers could access from CBN’s Anchor Borrowers’ Programme.

    “We find it difficult to access loans here in Illushi and the ones we get come with high interest rates. For instance, if you borrow N200, 000 at the beginning of a planting season, you pay back N400, 000 at the end. This drastically affected our profits. I am happy because the state government wants us to make a good profit from farming”, she said.

    Another farmer at Warrake, Mr. John Aregbokhia, said the programme would encourage youths to take to farming as a business, going by the profit to be made at the end of each farming season.

    He said: “We usually make about N1 million from 20 hectares of rice farm but we have been told that we can make about N4 million from the same farm land. This is really wonderful. I have no doubt that the programme will be a success because we did something similar last year and the outcome was positive.”

    Field Officer, NIRSAL, Mr. Paul Jatau, said NIRSAL is partnering with Edo State government to provide technical support and inputs for the farmers. He urged them to take advantage of the opportunity provided by the programme to scale up their operations into commercial enterprises.

    He explained that the state government secured financing for the projects, which could only be accessed by the farmers when necessary requirements have been met.

     

  • Edo records 20,000 increase in public school enrolment

    Edo State Government said it has recorded 20,000 increment in the enrolment of pupils into public primary schools since it introduced the Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation known as Edo BEST in April last year.

    It said the increment showed parents were withdrawing their pupils from private schools to public schools.

    Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Joan Oviawe, who spoke to newsmen in Bénin City, said the state government has built electronic database of all pupils in its school.

    Dr. Oviawe said the database including academic records now helped the state government track pupils and their movement from school to school.

    Oviawe states that additional 4600 would soon be trained as the state government expanded that the Edo BEST programme to 345 schools across the state.

    She noted that the tablets distributed to teachers under the Edo BEST have helped to exposed some teachers attitude to work and how long they stay in school.

    The SUBEB chairman said the Edo BEST attracted the attention of Facebook who has offered to build internet in some selected schools.

    According to her, “Under the Edo BEST, we have achieved a lot. We have trained 7000 teachers and distributed over 800,000 textbooks.

     “We have trained 11688 persons from communities where our schools are located to help manage the schools in terms of protection from theft and vandalism.

    “Edo has access about N9bn from UBEC and we are currently working on 232 schools. 56 of the schools are new while 2000 classrooms are being renovated.  We are in the process of procuring furniture.”

  • Obaseki awards N2.8bn contract for road construction

    In furtherance of his mandate to develop infrastructure in the state to drive development, Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki has awarded the contract for the construction of Textile Mill Road; Iyoba, Iyobanosa and Omozogie streets as well as an underground drainage system in the area valued at N2.8 billion.

    The contract was awarded during a recent Executive Council (EXCO) meeting held before the governor proceeded on his annual leave.

    On completion, the project will “solve the perennial flooding problem of the area and enhance human and vehicular movement especially to the two major motor spare parts market at Evbareke and Uwelu communities and security of lives and property as well as bring to life access to the revered Traditional Palace of Iyoba,” a document on the project stated.

    Edo residents, particularly those in the area, have hailed the award of the contract, appreciating the Governor Godwin Obaseki for the project which will drive development and provide a conducive environment for businesses in the axis to thrive. The governor, during the campaigns for the last elections in the state, visited the communities and assured them that construction would start on Textile Mill Road and the adjoining streets, a promise which is now being fulfilled.

    The project follows closely behind the award of contracts for the construction of Benin-Abraka Road; St. Saviour, Oba-Obazagbon, PZ-Okabere Roads and Ugbor-Amagba Road, which were hailed by Benin City residents.

    The Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration has sustained the campaign to deliver infrastructure projects in different parts of the state, aimed at fortifying the infrastructure base to drive industrialisation, one of the administration’s cardinal policy thrusts. The projects are also expected to open up new towns, as well as, regenerate urban centres.

  • Fuel shortage: Edo, oil marketers warn residents against panic buying

    In the wake of rumoured shortage of petroleum products in the state, the Edo State Government has warned residents in the state not to engage in panic buying as adequate arrangements have been made to ensure ample supply of the products, especially during the Easter break.

    Edo State Commissioner for Minerals, Oil and Gas, Hon. Joseph Ugheoke, disclosed this after a meeting with executives of the Edo Chapter of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) in Benin City, the Edo State capital, at the weekend.

    The Commissioner urged residents in the state to disregard rumours of impending fuel scarcity, assuring that there would not be a disruption in the supply of petroleum products.

    He said the state government was working in collaboration with major stakeholders in the fuel distribution chain to sustain the present availability of products.

    On the outcome of the meeting with the oil dealers, the commissioner conveyed the resolve of the marketers to continue to dispense petrol at the approved pump price and without instigating artificial scarcity through hoarding.

    On their parts, Vice Chairman of the Edo State IPMAN, Abdulhamid Baba Saliu and the Chairman, Major Oil Marketers and Dealers, Tony Aghedo, affirmed the availability of petroleum products for consumers, noting that there was no cause for alarm.

    The commissioner said the stakeholders are expected to reconvene next week to review the situation for further action.

  • Edo wades into dispute between Chinese companies, host communities

    To arrest breakdown of law and order, the Edo State Government has waded into the dispute between three Chinese companies and their host communities in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of the state, calling for dialogue between the contending parties.

    Following a directive from the Ministry of Environment and Sustainability, government officials temporarily shut the premises of the three companies and ordered their staff to stay clear of the premises until the matters are resolved.

    The affected companies are Time Ceramics, Rhongsheng Glass Company, Rongtai Aluminium Company and Watson Doors Industry Ltd.

    Recall that the community leaders raised the alarm that the companies were not abiding by agreements contained in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the communities.

    READ ALSO: ‘Edo is investing in Primary Healthcare to address basic health needs’

    The leader of the government enforcement team and Director of Environment, Mr Godfrey Ehon, who represented the Commissioner of Environment and Sustainability, said government acted swiftly to sustain peaceful coexistence between the companies and their host communities.

    He noted, “We are carrying out the directive of the state government because, for some time, there has been heightened tension in the community. The idea is to temporarily close down the companies so as to give room for dialogue with the host communities.”

    He explained that the intervention was aimed at inviting the community leaders and the companies to a dialogue so as to resolve their differences amicably.

    Public Relations Officer, Rongtai Aluminum Company, identified as Mr.  Bunk denied the allegation, noting that the company maintains a good relationship with the community leaders.

    He said, “We have not received any complaint from the community leaders.  We have been meeting with them and also ensured that we meet our responsibilities to them.”