Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has promised to tackle challenges associated with housing business to ensure affordable houses.
He spoke at a two-day workshop on housing/real estate with the theme: “Quest for adequate and sustainable real estate for Edo people” at the weekend.
The governor noted that the sector’s major challenge was lawlessness as the system could not work effectively without law and order.
Obaseki noted the state has laws but people have over the years been invoking jungle law and appropriating lands to themselves.
He said his administration was serious about housing in the state and had commenced the process of developing the Benin Master plan to clean up the system and implement the outcome of the workshop.
“We have the human capacity and unique geographical opportunity.
“Our location has given us greater opportunity as the entire key ingredient needed to create a modern society exists in our state. We have the capacity to drive major economy growth,” Obaseki explained.
Tag: Edo
-
‘Edo ready, open for housing businesses’
-
Edo Govt. promises to tackle challenges confronting housing sector
Gov.Godwin Obaseki of Edo says his administration will tackle the lingering challenges confronting the housing and real estate sector in the state to ensure affordable houses for people living in Edo.
The governor made the promise on Friday in Benin night while delivering his closing speech at the end of a 2-day workshop on Housing/Real Estate.
The workshop, entitled, “Quest for Adequate and Sustainable Real Estate for Edo People” was organised by the state government.
Obaseki said the problem facing the state in the housing and real estate sector was that of violation of law and order by the people, noting that the system would not work effectively without people abiding by the laid down law and order.
According to him, the state has law governing land but that over the years, people took laws into their hands, violating property laws, invoking jungle law and indulging in appropriating land to themselves.
He also said that the present administration in the state was ready and open for housing business and had commenced the process of developing the Benin Master plan to clean up the system,
The governor also said his administration had taken housing issue very serious and would implement the outcome of the workshop and make housing for the people a reality.
“We have the human capacity; we have the unique opportunity in terms of our location.
’Our location has given us greater opportunity as the entire key ingredient needed to create a modern society exists in our state.
“We have the capacity to drive major economic growth of the state.
‘’I am very confident that the quality of participants that gathered for this workshop has the experience to help the state move to the desired level in the area of housing,” he said.
The Chairman of the workshop, Alhaji Ali Magashi, said the essence of the workshop was to create a road map for the governor to have a well integrated and planned housing development for the state.
He said, ‘’There is need to start with planning; you need an urban planning and urban renewal.
‘’You need to open up new estate, provide land for developers to put money and create financial structures for people of the state to get their new homes”.
He commended the state governrnment for the workshop and called on the governor to ensure implementation of the outcome of the workshop to achieve the desired result.
-
Edo to renovate its Central Medical Stores
The Edo Government is to commence immediate renovation of its Central Medical Stores in Benin, in preparation for the receipt of 2.6 million insecticide-treated mosquito nets.
The nets are a part of the roll back malaria campaign of the World Health Organization (WHO), which is being organised in collaboration with the state government.
Edo Deputy Gov., Mr Philip Shuaibu, stated this in Benin on Wednesday while inspecting facilities at the state-owned central medical stores.
Shuaibu said that despite the short time frame, the state governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, had directed that modalities must be in place before the arrival of the third and fourth tranches of the treated nets.
He explained that the state government was ready to collaborate with the WHO in furtherance of the state’s health policy.
The deputy governor explained that proper monitoring of the treated nets would be done across all the 18 Local Government Areas in the state.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Peter Ugbodaga, who conducted the deputy governor and his team round the facility, said the state had already taken the delivery of the first and second trenches.
Ugbodaga said that the state had received 36 trucks of the nets, while about 34 trucks are being expected in June, this year.
He explained that the distribution of the insecticide-treated nets would be done in July and August, this year, across the 192 wards in the state.
-
FRSC records 110 deaths in road accidents in Edo, Delta, other
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Wednesday said no fewer than 110 deaths were recorded in Edo, Delta and Anambra due to road accidents in the first quarter of 2017.
Mr Kehinde Adeleye, the Zonal Commanding Officer, Zone 5, comprising Edo, Delta and Anambra, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin on Wednesday.
Adeleye said 1,334 persons were involved in 170 road accidents within the period under review, with 551 people sustaining varying degrees of injury.
Giving a breakdown of the incidents, the Zonal Commander said that in Edo 30 deaths were recorded from 62 accidents involving 495 people in January
He said that in Delta 61 deaths were recorded in 52 road accidents involving 252 people, while in Anambra 46 deaths were recorded in 66 accidents involving 487 people within the period.
Adeleye explained that compared with the statistics of the last quarter of 2016, the figure was high as 70 deaths, 363 were injured in 142 accidents involving 1,251 people in the zone.
He, however, said the figure was similar to that recorded in the first quarter of 2016 which was 111 deaths from 110 accidents involving 924 persons with 525 injured.
The FRSC Zonal commander attributed road accidents to speed violations, dangerous driving as well as break failure.
Adeleye advised drivers to maintain speed limits, especially with the approaching rainy season and to avoid buying fairly used tyres.
He also appealed to stakeholders to ensure strict compliance and enforcement of Federal Government directives or policies made to ensure safer roads.
The zonal commander commended the NSCDC and the Army for their collaboration with the corps toward ensuring that the correct data on road traffic crashes were obtained from the hinterlands.
-
Businessman to set up $2bn dollar modular refinery in Edo
U.S.-based businessman, Mr Charles Ihaza, says he has acquired about 453.9 hectares of land to establish a modular refinery in Eghudu, Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo.
Ihaza said this at an Open Forum organised on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the proposed refinery in Benin.
He said that the project would cost over two billion U.S. dollars, adding that the refinery would produce about 80,000 barrels of refined petroleum products daily.
“I know what it takes to establish and manage a refinery, and we are already discussing with the relevant Federal Government agencies on the immediate commencement of the project.
“I decided to site the refinery in Eghudu so as to help our people back home in Nigeria, and I am very passionate about this project.
“As part of our social corporate responsibilities to the host community, we are going to construct roads, build satellite clinics, standard primary and secondary schools and a functional international market,’’ he said.
Ihaza, therefore, solicited the cooperation of the members of the community, urging them to work with the site engineers and other workers toward the successful execution of the project.
Earlier, Mr Larry Edosomwan, who presented the EIA Report on behalf of the consultants, Vokosen Ltd., said that the report had captured all the socio-economic needs of the host community.
“We have looked at the positive social and economic needs of the community, the aquatic environment, drainage and sewage management and treatment of effluents.
“Forests will not be destroyed and wherever it happens, we will plant new trees.
“We have ensured that we met all the requirements of the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR). We will mitigate all negative environmental impacts,’’ he said.
Mr Joshua Taiwo, spokesman for the Minister of Environment, Alhaji Ibrahim Jubril, said that he was particularly happy that the project was named after the community.
Taiwo said that the refinery project would provide jobs for the people and improve the socio-economic lives of the residents of the area.
-
Professor lied about being brutalised, says Edo Police Commissioner
Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Haliru Gwandu, has described as mere tissues of lies allegations by Professor Sunday Edeko that he was brutalized by some men of the anti-cult unit of the Edo State Police Command.
Prof. Edeko who is the Dean, Faculty of Law of the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma had in a publication alleged that he was beaten up at Ekpoma and detained for several hours until the intervention of prominent individuals.
Edeko said the policemen attacked him because he asked a suspect who was in a police van why he was arrested.
He said all the statements he wrote were torn by the policemen and he was forced to write an apology letter.
But Commissioner Gwandu said the matter first happened on March 17, 2016 when his men arrested some cultists over the beheading of two students.
Gwandu noted that four suspects, including one Dennis Aghidi were arrested in connection with the beheading.
He said the suspects were charged to court and remanded to prison custody.
Gwandu stated that on March 20, 2017, the police got a tip that Dennis and other cultists were sighted at a notorious joint holding a meeting for possible attacks on rival cult group.
“We drafted the anti-cult unit and Dennis was nabbed. We thought he was still in prison. While he was arrested and being taken away, the lecturer blocked the police vehicle.
“He said he wanted to know why the suspect was arrested. My men did not molest him or beat him. At the police station where they were indenting the case, Prof. Edeko went to the police station and met the DPO.
“He told the DPO he was at the station to know why some policemen were operating in that area. The DPO explained the action of the anti-cult unit and the lecturer apologized. He even wrote an apology letter.
“As a learned person, it is expected that he did things with decorum. My doors are opened. There was never a time he came to complain to me about the conduct of my men.
“The IG is committed to democratic policing. He will not condone criminals in uniform. Wrongful detention and corruption of any form will not be tolerated. It is a lie,” Gwandu said.
-
Why we rejected Edo tribunal’s ruling-PDP
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State has explained why it rejected Friday’s ruling of the Election Petitions Tribunal which affirmed the election of Governor Godwin Obaseki.
Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Ahmed Badamasi, had in a unanimous judgment thrown out the petition of the PDP and its governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu for failing to support their pleadings with evidence as well as abandoning some pleadings in their petition.
State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, who gave reasons why the party rejected the judgement said the tribunal threw away the results obtained from the inconclusive ballot recount.
Chief Orbih said the tribunal expected the party and its candidate to call over 2,000 witnesses within the 14 days allotted to prove its case.
Orbih noted that the tribunal through it pronouncement said different unit presiding officers could adopt different standards in the conduct of same election and that the tribunal was saying that there was no need for uniformity in the conduct of elections.
He said, “Conduct of an election is not a free-for-all exercise where anyone is at liberty to apply his own discretion. What Justice Badamasi was simply saying was that whether the presiding officers followed the regulations or not did not matter.
“For the first time ever, a judge redefined over-voting as a situation whereby the total number of votes cast exceeds the total number of registered voters. Is that not laughable? I think these are the salient issues that we will challenge.”
Orbih also challenged former governor Adams Oshiomhole to explain what he meant when he (Oshiomhole) referred to the tribunal verdict as “Mama Akara judgement.”
He stated that Oshiomhole’s comment suggested that Oshiomhole may have inadvertently exposed how his party purchased the verdict.
His words, “I watched former Governor Adams Oshiomhole on national television describing Friday’s judgement as Mama Akara judgement. This is about the first time Oshiomhole will be describing things the way they are in his political life.”
“We know what goes into the making of akara and we also know that the Mama Akara will not part with her akara for nothing. So, we are demanding from Oshiomhole to tell Edo people and indeed Nigerians what was handed the Mama Akara before she let go of her akara.”
-
PDP, Ize-Iyamu kick against Edo tribunal ruling
The Peoples Democratic Party and its governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, have rejected the ruling of the Election Petitions Tribunal which upheld the election of Governor Godwin Obaseki.
Pastor Ize-Iyamu described the judgment dismissing his petition as porous and one that cannot stand at the higher courts.
Addressing PDP elders, leaders and party supporters at his campaign office , Pastor Ize-Iyamu described the judgment as unacceptable.
Ize-Iyamu expressed gratitude to his supporters who he said thronged the Tribunal venue without any form of compensation and assured them that the journey ahead would be shorter.
“From the snippets I heard of the tribunal judgement it cannot stand in the higher courts. This case must be pursued up to the Supreme Court.
“I want to thank God that we have all been able to reach this part of the journey. What gladdens my heart is that God will vindicate us in the long run.
“Don’t be dismayed. We are still hoping for your support. I urge you all to be calm and refrain from being provoked into violence. Even if they push you laugh,” Iyamu said.
State chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, said the party plans to appeal the tribunal ruling.
“I want to tell you that we have just started the journey as a party. I have no doubt that we are fighting a just cause,” he said and declined to give details on what happened at the tribunal.
Commending elders, leaders and supporters of the party across the state for their show of solidarity Orbih said, “the mandate that was freely given to us by Edo people we have a duty to retrieve it. The party will go on appeal.
“Definitely we are going to appeal against the judgement. We reject the judgement of the tribunal; it is not acceptable to us.
“We have told our lawyers to appeal the judgement. The issues we raised in the petition were not addressed by the tribunal.
“I appeal to Edo people to remain calm but be resolute in our bid to reclaim the mandate given to Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.”
Governor Obaseki described the tribunal’s verdict as victory for Edo people and an act that would spur him to do more.
Former Minority Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon Samson Osagie, congratulated Obaseki and the APC for the tribunal victory.
Osagie urged all party supporters to join hands with the Governor and the party to drive development in the state.
His words, “This victory should serve as cushion to all frail nerves and a catalyst for the administration to embark on the continuation of its well thought out development agenda for Edo State. It’s time to work together in the interest of the State irrespective of political or ideological differences. After all a better Edo State is for the benefit of all.”
Former Governor Adams Oshiomhole described the petition as a busybody petition and mama akara busy body.
His words, “The PDP has no case, Pastor Ize-Iyamu has no case. The reason we have people going to court for no reason is because there is no cost. I think the Electoral Act should be amended that if you bring such frivolous case and didn’t make sufficient efforts to show that you were cheated, you just do out of fun. There should be sufficient cost to applicant who tried to abuse the Court processes.
“This was just as mama akara looking for trouble. In other jurisdiction when you go to court on a non-issue, you pay the cost of litigation and that serve as a deterrent. I know that our people will not vote PDP and they can never vote PDP.
“People can say whatever they say about the judiciary. The judiciary has shown it has men and women of courage and character. This was a a bush body petition and we thank God that justice had been done,” the former governor said.
-
Oshiomhole hails tribunal judgment
Former governor of Edo, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, on Friday commended the judgment delivered by the Election Petitions Tribunal on the Edo 2016 Governorship Election, affirming the election of Gov. Godwin Obaseki.
Speaking to newsmen in Benin, Oshiomhole said the judiciary still remained the hope for common man.
“The judgment is sound and a testimony that the people of Edo never voted for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
‘‘The petition was a busy body one to distract the electorate; this was just like ‘Mama Akara’ judgment going to see over non-issue.’’
Oshiomhole further said that the judgment has shown that there were still men and women of good character in the judiciary.
‘‘This will serve as a deterrent to some people who can say whatever they like about the judiciary.
‘‘But it has shown it (judiciary) has men & women of good charter of courage and knowledge,’’ he said. (NAN)
In a relayed development, the counsel to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Victor Ohiosunua, has appealed to PDP chieftains to support Obaseki to develop the state.
Ohiosunua made the call in in Benin after the Election Petitions Tribunal in Benin dismissed the petition filed by PDP candidate, Mr Osagie Ize-Iyamu, challenging Obaseki’s election.
“I want to appeal to the petitioners to joining hands with the governor to develop and carry the state to the next level.
‘‘The business of the governor is tedious and the few five months the present governor has spent in the office, shows his capability and focus to take Edo to the next level.
‘‘The logical order the tribunal made today is the right one for them to make.
‘‘We are happy that the votes and wishes of the Edo people who voted on Sept. 28, 2016 has been restored,” Ohiosunua said.
NAN reports that the Justice Ahmed Badamasi-led three-member Tribunal had dismissed the petitioners’ claims based on no credible evidence to prove their case.
The tribunal, therefore, upheld Obaseki’s victory in the governorship election of Sept. 28, 2016, as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
On his part, Ken Muzia (SAN), counsel to Obaseki who also commended the tribunal’s judgment, said the tribunal did a proper review of the evidence.
“The tribunal has done a fantastic job, what we should be thinking of is the development of the state,” Muzia added.
-
Timeline of the Edo Election Tribunal
In anticipation of the Tribunal’s ruling on the Election Petition of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Pastor Ize-Iyamu, concerning the declaration of Mr Godwin Obaseki as Governor of Edo State, there is a need for something of an eschatology independent of sub judice.
I do not deem myself in a position to declare with any certainty or authority that such and such would be the outcome of the tribunal, but I know I have some freedom to employ the analytical forecast of deductive logic.
Since I do not want to state categorically that this man, or this party will lose for this reason or for that reason, I will leave the reader with a timeline of the successes and failures of those parties and let predict in their hearts the expected ruling of the Election Tribunal sitting in Benin City.
The handwriting on the wall…
To start with, Edo’s Election Tribunal restrained the (PDP) and its candidate in the September 28 governorship election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, from utilising any equipment to examine, scan, or howsoever interact with the ballot papers used in the election unless the integrity of such equipment had been demonstrated and cleared by the Election Petition Tribunal.
Secondly, the Judges rejected PDP and Pastor Ize-Iyamu’s application for extension of time to call more witnesses at the Election tribunal.
The petitioners had lined up witnesses in excess of 1000 and had only been able to call 99 of them. Many of these had put up dramatic appearances at court, with some declaring that they were the petitioners.
According to the Chairman of the three-member panel, Justice Ahmed Badamasi, the tribunal lacked the powers to grant such an extension and the application lacked merit. Consequently, the PDP and Ize-Iyamu had to close their case.
Again, the tribunal declined PDP and Ize-Iyamu’s bid to amend their petition. Shortly after, the tribunal ruled against another attempt by Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu to make amendments to a paragraph in the petition.
The Tribunal Chairman, Justice Ahmed Badamasi, held that the amendment could not be made by mere application. Since justice was not a one-way traffic, the application was described as fraudulent and an attempt to amend the main petition.
Ruling on the application, Justice Badamasi held that the correction could not be made by mere utterances, and that the petitioners has not stated any reasons justifying why they wanted to make the amendment.
The Tribunal ordered (PDP) and its candidate in the September 28 governorship election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu to comply with an earlier order that all parties to the case must be represented in the scanning of the ballot materials.
Counsels to the respondents had informed the tribunal that the PDP and its candidate were carrying out scanning of ballot papers without the representatives of APC and Obaseki.
He said continuous scanning of the ballot papers without respondents’ representatives was a breach of the Tribunal’s prior order that all parties must be present.
The Tribunal Chairman reiterated the prior order and emphasised that no party should be excluded.
While the petitioners appealed the Tribunal’s decision to cease ballot recount after the 14 days allocated to them were expired, the Appeal Court dismissed the bid to continue the ballot recount, adding that the petitioners’ appeal lacked merit.
Justice Mudasiru Nasiru of the Appeal Court held that paragraph 41 of the First Schedule of the Electoral Act prescribed the time upon which petitioners and respondents were to prove and defend their case.
He ruled that any action done outside the prescribed time would be a nullity and that the tribunal was right to stop the counting of ballot papers after the 14 days had elapsed.
The Independent National Electoral Commission closed its defence without calling any witnesses saying that since the petitioners had not yet proved their case, the Burden of Proof remained with them and while it had called evidence, it deliberately did not call witnesses.
Counsel to Obaseki and APC urged the Tribunal, with ample citing of previous Supreme Court rulings, to dismiss the petition because there was no sanctity in the identity of one of the petitioners, and so there was no validity to the petition.
Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Ahmed Badamasi adjourned the sitting and ruling on the matter to a later date, which will be communicated to the parties involved.
- Oviosun, PhD, sent this piece from Benin