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Tag: Edo

  • Bad times for ‘Agberos’, CDAs in Edo

    Bad times for ‘Agberos’, CDAs in Edo

    Until the coming of Oba Ewuare II and Governor Godwin Obaseki, traders, property developers, commercial drivers and bike riders lived in fear of ‘agberos’, private revenue collectors, Community Development Association and all sorts of thugs. They faced daily harassment from several other faceless groups who made them to cough out money that never got to local or state government coffers.

    Traders at various markets, including squatters and hawkers, were made to pay between N500 and N1200 daily out of which only N60 got to the local government purse. These money was forcibly collected and goods of any trader who failed to pay were confiscated.

    Commercial bus drivers were made to pay between N900 and N4000 daily, taxi drivers paid between N500 and N3000 instead of N400 official rate for the both the state and local governments. Keke operators coughed out between N500 and N1000 daily against N200 official rate. The drivers were made to pay union dues to Driver Welfare Union before it was handed over to Professional Drivers on Wheel, Road Transport Employers Association and the National Union of Road Transport Workers. Besides, they were made to pay feeding money to chairmen, secretaries and treasurers of various motor parks.

    For private property developers, it was a journey through hell to erect a building due to constant demands from leaders of CDAs. Most times, three different communities’ CDAs would lay ownership of the piece of land. They made unreasonable demands ranging from development levy, borehole levy, fencing levy, roofing levy amongst others.

    Besides huge demands from property developers, many communities are yet to recover from wanton destruction of properties and loss of lives occasioned from attempt to change leadership of community CDAs. It was a common parlance among some youths to brag that ‘I work in community’ because of the financial gains.

    Believe Irorere from Ekiadolor was just 17 years when he was arrested for being a community fighter in Ekiadolor village because he was promised a parcel of land. He was arrested alongside Abraham Osifo with dangerous weapons while they were on their way to engage in a fight with neighboring Isikhu community in Ovia North East local government.

    Irorere is an apprentice learning how to repair heavy duty trucks. In his bid to get rich quick through the sale of land, he was encouraged to join in the fight against neighboring community to recover a large expanse of land out of which he would be given a piece.

    Speaking to reporters during a parade by the police, he claimed it was his first time of handling dangerous weapons.

    According to him, “I am a community fighter for Ekiadolor. We were going for a fight with a neighbourng community when I was arrested and they called me an armed robber. I am not an armed robber. I have not killed or injured anybody. The fight has just started. It was because of land. The land belongs to Ekiadolor community but Isikhu said it belongs to them. They picked me and others. The chairman said we should go and fight for the land and they would give us a portion. We were promised parcel of land. I carried cutlass. The chairman does not used to go to fight with us.”

    The story of young Irorere is a typical example of what youths in several communities under the guise of Community Development Association (CDAs) have resorted for land grabbing. For the prompt intervention of the police, Ekiadolor and Isikhu communities would have engaged in communal clash that would have resulted to loss of lives and properties.

    In 2015, Arougba Community in Oredo Local Government was enmeshed in crisis over sales of community land. Youth chairman of the community, Okoro Obaretin, was killed. Chief priest (Ohen-Ogba) of the community, Clifford Omosomwan, was  assassinated at his residence. Assistant head of the community, Goodluck Uwumahongie, was beheaded and his head was never found. Ten other persons were killed in the crisis while several houses, vehicles and motor-cycles were set ablaze.

    Azagba community in Uhunmwode Local Government was also enmeshed in crisis in 2014. Three youths- Osadolor , 28, Amigolo Ighitu , 45, and Ameosa Egbeobamwanye- who were hired by the CDA chairman were killed. Several houses were razed. Crisis in the community occurred over leadership tussle between spiritual leader of the community, Nosakhare Ogieriakhi and the CDA chairman, Charles Egbe.

    At Evbuekoi community,  Chief Priest of the community, Mr. Adesuwa Osaghea Osarodion, was last year chased away from his residence after some thugs invaded  the community over leadership tussle.

    Communities, such as Ukhoromi, Okabere, Ogheghe and several others in Edo South have been ransacked and properties destroyed when over attempts to change the CDA leadership or the Ohen (Spiritual head) or Odionwere (village head) want to take charge of the sale of community land.

    Besides the leadership tussle and wanton destruction of lives and properties, CDAs in some communities made land developers pay heavily for a building to be erected. They could sell one parcel of land to more than five persons, collect development levy as high as N300,000 for a land measuring 50 feet by 100 feet. As the chairmen of some CDAs became rich and powerful, they would start having loggerheads with the recognised head of the communities like the Ohen (Chief Priest) Odionwere (oldest man) or Enogie (Duke)

    However, Governor Obaseki did the unthinkable when on January 1 he announced a ban on all forms of collection of taxes, rates and levies from market women, hawkers and street traders. To show leaders of other various groups that he meant business, State Chairman of RTEAN, Osakpamwan Eriyo, was arrested in December last year over alleged threat to life. The action of Obaseki was in line with a promise he earlier made that his administration would not allow non-state actors collect revenue in the state.

    The state government has begun a pilot a scheme in three local government areas for the collection of revenue using Point of Sales otherwise known as e-ticketing. Commercial drivers are now made to pay N200 daily.

    It was Oba Ewuare II who began the campaign for the eradication of CDAs activities in communities under his domain. At the thanksgiving service to mark his coronation, Oba Ewaure II said the taking over of many communities by some youths under the guise of CDAs was worrisome and that communal affairs especially as it relates to land administration would henceforth be handled by the recognised leadership in the community.

    During a courtesy visit to Obaseki, the monarch told the governor to eradicate the menace of CDAs across the state.

    His words, “May I use this opportunity to seek the state government’s support in eradicating the menace of Community Development Associations in Edo South in particular and Edo state in general. Most of their actions have impeded the development of our communities. For the avoidance of doubt, CDAs are not supposed to be involved in land matters. Community lands as in other matters of the community are under the enigie, odionwere or ohenn as the case may be.”

    The Oba said youths have become terror in their communities instead of contributing to the growth of communities frowned at the current situation where the CDAs chairmen are custodian of community land instead of the Enogie, Odionwere or Ohen (Chief Priest). He said the era of illegal land grabbing has stopped and urged the youths to go back to farming instead of idling away in the name of CDAs.

    His words, “We are talking about hunger. The palace has many lands which many CDAs have encroached on. I don’t want hunger in the land. We have to produce our food. Many people don’t want to work again. They don’t want to go to the farm. Non indigenes are now doing the farm work in Edo land. Why is it that Edo people don’t want to farm again?

    Last month, the State House of Assembly passed the bill criminalizing activities of CDAs in the state. The bill prohibit forceful and illegal occupation of landed property by CDAs in the State.

    Explaining contents of the bill, Speaker Justin Okonoboh said the bill prescribed that no person or group of persons while acting for themselves or acting as agents or members of a community Development Associations to occupy any landed property in the State.

    ‘He said, “No youth organisations or other body by whatever name called shall demand or collect any fee or levy in whatever guise in respect of construction or development activities in any property in Edo.

    ”The bill also prescribed that a task force shall be established in the state which shall be responsible for the provisions of the law.”

    Speaker Okonoboh stated that any person who contravenes the provisions of the law commits an offense and shall be liable for ten years imprisonment or a fine of two million Naira.

    Following a recent increase in criminal activities in the state, the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 5, Mohammed Abubakar, at a stakeholders meeting warned the former revenue collectors to desist from causing mayhem in the state under the guise of being jobless.

    Alhaji Abubakar said the police has received security report that some groups among them were warming up to forment trouble and cause mayhem since they have been disengaged by the Edo state government.

    According to him, “The purpose of this meeting is for crime prevention. We are all aware of the fact that the state is very peaceful and the crime rate of the state is low. We have businesses going on without molestation. We have nightlife and everything is perfect.

    “However, we got intelligence that  some group of people are not happy with the recent happenings because of some policy pronouncement and that they are likely going to do some acts that will lead to the breakdown of law and order and to heighten tension in the state because of criminality and we feel that the people we need to partner with is you.

    “You are the people we are to partner with so as to know where the problems are and how we can tackle the problem so as to prevent commission of crimes and to prevent the breakdown of law and order. That is the essence of which we invited you here today because without you, we will not be able to know where the grievance are and you have a lot of membership”, he said.

    State Chairman of Road Transport Employee Association of Nigeria Pastor Sunday Erhahon informed the AIG that many of the association workers have been laid off due to the state government directives stopping them from collecting union dues.

    Pastor Erhahon stated that the state government directive may force the disengaged workers to take to crime and criminality in the state.

    Chairman, Akugbe Venture, Comrade Tony Kabaka told the AIG that the 2,722 persons working under him are jobless since the government opted to using POS to collect revenue.

    “For the revenue side like me, I have a database of 2,722 workers all over the state, they are jobless as we speak likewise the Road Transport Employer, likewise the Drivers Rebirth, the Drivers on Wheels, likewise with the National Union of Road Transport and the Drivers Welfare.

    “Sir,the latest development will not help the youth. We want you to use your good office to appeal to the governor to streamline the revenue collection this way.To start with, revenue collectors do not have a central park where vehicle can queue up and use the POS because most drivers are illiterate.”

  • Obaseki urges Edo farmers to see agriculture as a business venture

    Obaseki urges Edo farmers to see agriculture as a business venture

    Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo has urged farmers in the state to see agriculture as a veritable business that can be used to grow the state’s economy.

    The governor gave the advice on Tuesday when he received members of the state chapter of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in Benin.

    Obaseki said that the state government was creating the enabling environment for farmers in the state to thrive and become millionaires through its agribusiness initiative.

    “We want to help you improve your yields and reduce the challenges you are facing such as lack of access roads and storage facilities.

    “We are interested in structured cluster farming, where farmers can cultivate large hectares of lands via mechanisation.

    “We are also rehabilitating the fertiliser plant in Auchi, so as to expand the farmers’ access to fertilisers to boost their productivity.

    “So we want farmers in the state to see agriculture as a business with self-sustenance capacities,’’ he said.

    Obaseki said that the aim of his administration was to make available about 200,000 to 250,000 hectares of land for agricultural purposes within the next four years.

    “We have acquired lands in some local government areas and we are carrying out the pilot phase of our cluster farming.

    “We have prepared about 2,500 hectares of land for maize production in some local government areas.

    “We intend to replicate the model in other local government areas across the state,’’ he said.

    Besides, Obaseki informed the farmers’ association of the government’s plans to curb the menacing activities of herdsmen in the state.

    He said his administration was considering the establishment of cattle ranches across the various local government areas in the state.

    He said that the ranches would not only curtail the menace of the herdsmen at farms but would also serve as means of generating revenue for the government.

    Earlier, the state Chairman of AFAN, Chief Emmanuel Odigie, commended the governor for diversifying the economy via investments in the agriculture sector.

    Odigie said that the farmers’ association had over 80,000 registered members who were involved in full-scale crop growing across the state.

    He also said that the association was about to initiate an insurance scheme for its members, as part of its efforts to secure their farm produce.

    He, however, urged the state government to sign the some agreement documents with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to facilitate the release of the first batch of the Anchor Borrowers Programme’s loan to farmers in the state.

    He listed the challenges facing agriculture in the state as the heinous activities of herdsmen, poor storage facilities, lack of irrigation facilities and poor access roads to farmlands, among others.

  • Edo polls: Obaseki, Ize-Iyamu know fate soon

    Edo polls: Obaseki, Ize-Iyamu know fate soon

     

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and the People’s Democratic Party governorship candidate in the September 28 governorship election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, may soon know their fate as the election tribunal on Monday reserved a date to deliver judgment.

    Pastor Ize-Iyamu had filed a petition before the tribunal asking the tribunal to declare him winner of the elections based on alleged non-accreditation, over voting and non-compliance with the electoral act.

    INEC had declared Obaseki winner of the election with 319, 483 votes while Ize-Iyamu scored 253, 173 votes.

    The three man panel tribunal headed by Justice Ahmed Badamasi said a date to deliver judgement would be communicated to parties involved in the suit after the parties adopted their written addresses.

    Counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Onyechi Ikpeazu, ‎told the tribunal to dismiss Ize-Iyamu’s petition as the petitioners failed to establish instances of over-voting by not tendering the voter register, ballot papers, the recounted ballot papers and the outcome of the recounting exercise as evidence.

    Ikpeazu ‎said the proof of over-voting must be done polling unit by polling, rather than covering only 29 out of all the polling units in the state.

    The INEC counsel said the petitioners relied on invented figures not before the court and failed to provide competent evidence before the tribunal when they called witnesses who merely flipped through documents.

    Ikpeazu stated that Section ‎138(2) of the Electoral Act, as amended, said that ticking to the left or right for accreditation and voting emphasised by the petitioners, could not be grounds for non-conformity with the electoral process.

    Lead counsel to Obaseki, Chief Wole Olanipekun, urged the tribunal to dismiss the Petition on grounds that the identity of the first petitioner and who was sponsored by the PDP were different.

    Olanipekun stated that the petitioners abandoned their claims in the petition and are holding onto any straw.

    His words, “They could not prove anything. They are holding onto any straw. They don’t know what they want. They didn’t tender anything. What is remaining is carcasses.”

    “The straw of corrupt practices and non-compliance raised by the petitioners was weak as they could not prove anything. The first petitioner’s claim that he got majority votes and won the election was undoable”.

    Olanipekun opined that the name of Pastor Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu used in the petition was different from Osagie Andrew  Izs-Iyamu used for the election.

    He said there was no pastor in his name in the document used for the conduct of the election but it was only added in the petition.

    He said that with the conflict in identity of the first petitioner the petition was deemed as incompetent and doom to fail.

    Counsel to the APC, Lateef Fagbemi, told the tribunal that the petitioners failed to substantiate their claim of electoral irregularities in their pleadings, evidence and address.

    Fagbemi argued that the petitioners failed to establish fact before calling witnesses.

    “I urged your lordship to hold that the petitioners have failed. There is no leg on which the deposition stand. They did not establish over-voting. If there was deduction in the recount of results declared by INEC, APC will still win by 58, 696 votes.

    Lead counsel to the petitioners, Yusuf Alli, said the most logical thing for the tribunal to do was to dismiss the submission of the respondents as there was merit in all the complaints of the petitioners.

    Ali stated that allegation of non-compliance with the electoral law was made against INEC but the electoral body failed to present any witness ‎to answer to the allegation.

    He said the petition was mainly based on documentary evidences and argued that it was only PDP that can question the identity of the candidate and not any other party.

    He said no member of PDP was challenging the candidacy of the petitioner.

    He however urged the court to uphold the petition and declared the petitioners as the winners  of the election.

     

     

    “I urge the court to hold that there is merit in all  the complaints of the petitioners and as result of the merit the petitioners should be declared as the duly elected candidate of the election”, he stated.

    “All said my lords, I pray you, sir, that there is merit in all the complaints of the petitioners. And that as a result of the merit of the complaints, the petitioners are entitled to be declared as the duly elected governor of Edo State from the election of September 28, 2016.‎”

  • Woman dies as rainstorm destroys 50 houses in Edo

    A rainstorm, which blew off the roof top of a building at Imoga community in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, has killed a mother of three.

    But the identity of the deceased could not be ascertained at press time last night.

    It was learnt that the rainstorm blew off over 50 houses in the community, including the family home of the deceased.

    Several electricity poles were pulled down.

    It was gathered that the rainstorm started at 6 p.m on Saturday and lasted about 30 minutes.

    A victim, Adeloye Perry, said strong winds accompanied the rainstorm.

    He said his house was destroyed.

    Husband of the deceased, Christopher Yakubu, said his wife died instantly as the roof fell on her.

    Yakubu said: “The roof of my house was blown off by the storm. We tried to save the children and evacuate some of our property, but my wife could not come out.”

    The affected residents urged the State Emergency Management Agency to provide succour to them.

    A resident, David Yusuf said: “I am appealing to relevant authorities to come to our aid to cushion the effect of the rainstorm.

    “The rainstorm wreaked havoc on our buildings. As you can see, we no longer have a roof over our heads.

    “Some of us no longer have a place to live in.”

  • ‘Edo is in safe hand’

    Collins Idahosa, ex-Special Supervisor of Neighbourhood Watch to the immediate past Governor of Edo State Adams Oshiomhole, said governance is on good course in the state. The former president of National Association of Edo State Students (NAOSS) at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) urged the youth to support Gov. Godwin Obaseki in his drive to consolidate on the gains of All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government in the state. He spoke to WALE AJETUNMOBI

    How much do you know of Governor Godwin Obaseki?

    Governor Godwin Obaseki has established himself as a leader, who listens to the opinions of the people. In the last four months of his administration, the governor has demonstrated that he is ready to tackle challenges facing our state from the grassroots. When he assumed office, he told everyone who was ready to work with him to go back to their wards and meet with leaders of our party. This is to give everyone ward a sense of belonging. The governor made it clear to everyone that, no touts and thugs would have roles to play in his administration. This is a good omen for our state whose political trajectory is filled with hooliganism and brigandage. Former Governor Adams Oshiomhole and Gov. Obaseki have realised that the state cannot move forward when we have thugs and miscreants working in government. This is a good change that has come to Edo and we are happy the journey has been smooth in the last nine years.

    Assessing Obaseki’s leadership, what has changed?

    Unlike others, the governor does not make noise about his achievements in the last four months, but this does not mean he wants to be silent on his success. No. Obaseki has been making bold moves to consolidate on the gains of the previous administration in terms of job creation and increased internally-generated revenue. It has also been observed that Gov. Obaseki does not believe in politics of personality, which was the hallmark of previous PDP administrations in which godfathers recommended unqualified people for appointments and positions. The governor is looking for educated person and professionals to engage in the running of the state. If this merit-based policy is sustained, it means that all indigenes would have equal access to opportunities and jobs. These are part of the new thinking and behaviour the governor has introduced into the body politic of the state. You don’t have to know anyone before you get jobs or positions in the state. All that is required is your qualification and professional experience.

    Isn’t it too early to assess the governor?

    I don’t believe in people waiting for the end of the tenure to judge any government. Like they say, the brighter the morning, the brighter the day. Those that have the interest of the people at heart are easily known by the way they conduct their affairs of their people. Since the governor assumed office, he has distanced himself from people who want to curry cheap favours at the expense of the state’s scarce resources. This should tell you that it is no more business as usual in the day-to-day affairs of the state. The civil servants are now adjusting to the new measures, because the governor has shown, by example, that the development of the state is sacrosanct. Everybody who must work with the governor must also be ready to key into this, because there is a clear direction in which the administration of Obaseki is toeing to bring dividends of governance to the people, irrespective of social status or class.

    ‘Edo is in safe hand’

    There is no doubt that Oshiomhole handed over the rein of power to the best man that can consolidate on his foundations and gains of his eight-year tenure. Since government is a continuum as they say in political science, I believe the achievement of Obaseki would be another solid foundation for greater achievement for his successor. This is the beautiful thing about APC-led administration in the state. Our past political experience in the past nine years is showing that there is a new dawn in the state. Opinions of ordinary people are now being taken for consideration by the government. The manner with which Gov. Obaseki is educating Edo State revenue collectors and building his economic team is a good pointer to the fact that governance is on higher pedestal in Edo State. This is why I believe our state is in a safe hand. We can entrust our collective future on the hands of Gov. Obaseki; he won’t disappoint us.

    On the crisis in Ovia Southwest Local Govt

    I am aware of the Appeal Court judgement, declaring Godwin Adeomo as original person to represent the local council in the State house of Assembly, instead of the incumbent Hon. Sunday Aghedo. We must tread softly on this, because the matter is now in Supreme Court. We should wait for the Supreme Court to give final adjudication on the matter. This is not a lawless country. Being a students’ leader, youths and students have met with me to complain about delay by the House of Assembly to swear in Aghedo after the Appeal Court Judgement. I told them to exercise restraint. Staging protests won’t solve the matter, because there is no need for such. The fact that the incumbent lawmaker has approached the Supreme Court shows the law would take its natural course after the Supreme Court judgement. We must respect position of the House of Assembly. Our society is founded on the principle of justice and rule of law. If we must live in this society, then we must be ready to obey the rule of law, especially in political matters. I have personally reached out to aggrieved youths and students to shelve their planned protest against the assembly. We must remember that the parties in the matter belong to the same political party. If the Supreme Court passes judgement on the matter and the assembly does not obey, students would be justified to protest.

    ‘Youths must support Obaseki’

    This is not the time for hooliganism in Edo State. That era of thuggery has gone for good. The governor, who is the leader of the state, is a professional and educated. The youths must follow his footstep. Whatever we are doing, we must support it with education. We must drop destructive behaviours that do not reflect the values of our founding fathers. The governor is creating jobs to engage jobless youths in productive ventures. All they need to do is to register through their local governments and submit their qualifications. This is a sign that Gov. Obaseki is ready to build the capacity of our youths for employability and entrepreneurship. Youths must support the governor in his drive to reduce unemployment in the state.

  • Edo, Paxherbal Clinic to collaborate on agriculture

    Edo, Paxherbal Clinic to collaborate on agriculture

    Edo State Government is set to partner PaxHerbal Clinic and Research Laboratory, Ewu to create agricpreneurs.

    The deal will include the modalities for putting resources together for farmers to take advantages of. The two parties described the partnership as a rare opportunity for farmers.

    The areas of interest will include cultivating ginger, lemon grass, tomato and other herbal plants.

    Governor Godwin Obaseki made this known while receiving a delegation of the clinic, led by its Director, Rev. Fr. Anselm Adodo at the Government House in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

    Obaseki said although the state had come up with various agricbusiness models, his administration was interested in the PaxHerbal Clinic and Research Laboratory’s initiative because, “they seem to have adopted a different and appealing model.”

    Obaseki: “Our administration has taken another view, departing from treating agriculture like a social course, but like a business, assisting people to ensure they participate meaningfully and make profit from it. We go into business for profitability; otherwise, we can’t sustain it.”

    The governor said the state wants to employ other models that have worked in other parts of the world, including leaning towards large-scale commercial farming.

    Obaseki said his administration was examining the PaxHerbal Clinic and Research ‘s method of using organic materials for cultivation, and that his administration would like to collaborate with the group in human capacity development.

    Rev. Fr. Adodo said the group was ready to work with the government in strategic poverty and unemployment eradication policies, adding that his organisation is capable of assisting the government to create job opportunities in the state.

    According to him, it is a shame that Nigerians import and consume tons of ginger tea, lemon grass tea, and other herbal teas when Edo state alone can cultivate enough ginger and tomato to feed the world.

    “With your support, the first approved herbal malaria drugs can come from Edo State. We invite you to visit our facility and see what we are doing,” he said.

    Obaseki praised the group for its progress over the years in herbal medicine, saying that he was impressed with the achievements made so far, and promising to visit them to see things for himself.

    “I will come and visit. I promise and I will do it within the next few weeks so that we can come and see for ourselves what you are doing,” he said.

    Rev. Fr. Adodo said the centre was founded over 20 years ago as a Catholic Church centre for scientific cultivation, identification, utilisation and promotion of the country’s medicinal plants.

    He said the clinic is one of the few herbal manufacturing companies left in Nigeria that i s producing its herbal medicine, despite the harsh economic climate, which supports the importer more than the manufacturer.

    He, however, noted that the company cultivates its herbs using the indigenous and community farmers.

  • Edo students hail Obasanjo at 80

    The University of Benin (UNIBEN) chapter of the National Association of Edo State Students (NAESS) has congratulated former President Olusegun Obasanjo on the occasion of his 80th birthday and commissioning of his Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL).

    The association, in a statement by its president, Suleiman Abdulahi, eulogised the octogenarian for his “doggedness in the defence of democracy” and “patriotic service” to the nation.

    The statement reads: “The entire Edo State students celebrate Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on the occasion of his 80th birthday. We congratulate him for his patriotic service to Nigeria and Africa at large. We are proud of his achievement during his tenure as president, the hallmark of which remains birth of Global System of Mobile Communication (GSM).”

    Suleiman said the OOPL’s opening was not just a mere celebration of the former president’s public life, but also his achievements and legacies. According the Suleiman, the library would remain a reminder of Obasanjo’s commitment to the unity and progress of the nation.

  • Edo to partner herbal institute

    Edo to partner herbal institute

    Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has said his administration is ready to collaborate with the Pax Herbal Clinic and Research Laboratories to produce and package ginger and sesame for export.

    The governor gave this assurance when he received a delegation from the herbal research centre at the Government House in Benin on Wednesday.

    He expressed delight over the agribusiness initiative of the centre which was producing herbal drugs and crops like as ginger and sesame.

    “I am interested in your agriculture and agribusiness initiative because we are considering different models of ventures that can work for us.

    “We want to treat agriculture as a business; we are looking at how people can make money out of it and how government can assist the citizens to enable them to participate meaningfully and profitably in agriculture.

    “We will like to partner you on ginger and sesame production because this is one area which the Nigerian Export Promotion Council has been seeking increased production for exports,’’ he said.

    Obaseki said that the creation of “agro-preneurs’’ was the hallmark of his agribusiness initiative, aimed at ensuring gainful employment for all.

    He said his administration would also collaborate with the centre in the area of human capacity development.

    The Director of the centre, Rev. Amslem Adodo, said that the centre, which had 120 workers, was involved in the scientific cultivation, identification, utilisation and promotion of African herbal medicines.

    Adodo said the centre, which was established about 20 years ago, cultivated its own herbs directly with the help of more than 200 farmers in its host community.

    He said the centre was ready to partner with the state government in poverty and unemployment eradication efforts.

    He solicited the government’s support in speeding up the process of obtaining regulatory clearance for the herbal malaria drug which the research centre had produced.

  • Police review security strategies in Edo

    Edo State Police Commissioner Haliru Gwandu and the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in-charge of Zone 5, Abubakar Adamu Mohammed, have reviewed security strategies, following killings.

    Four persons including a pastor, a businesswoman and an ex-council chairman were killed in the state within three days.

    Addressing reporters after a meeting, Mohammed said they discussed the situation and how to tackle it.

    He said the recruitment of 10,000 policemen would solve manpower shortage.

    His words: “Situations are dynamic. Crime is dynamic; the strategy we put in place has to change. I sat down in police commissioner’s office and we discussed the crime situation and strategies to overcome it. We have discussed strategies to combat crime.”

  • Edo awards scholarship to child of slain Afegbua

    Edo awards scholarship to child of slain Afegbua

    Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has offered full scholarship to the only child of ex-council chairman of Etsako East local government area, the late Prince Suleiman Afegbua, who was shot dead along Benin-Auchi Road on Thursday by gunmen.
    Obaseki said: “Even if Suleiman is gone, I will make sure we take care of Zaiki, offer scholarship to his child to the university level and provide the necessary needs for the family.”
    He spoke during a condolence visit to the family home of the deceased at Awoyemi Quarters of Okpella in Etsako East Local Government of Edo State yesterday.
    The governor was received by late Afegbua’s father, his wife and other members of the quarters.
    Obaseki also promised to complete the road leading to the deceased’s quarters.
    According to him: “This road leading to this quarters (Awoyemi) which Suleiman could not complete will be completed and the youth will not be forgotten, as Suleiman was always fighting for the youth”.
    He described Afegbua as an administrator and man of peace who did his best to foster unity and development in his community.
    According to Obaseki, “You all know him to be a man of peace. He was going to Benin on that day for a reconciliation meeting to settle the problem in Okpella.
    “He was a man of peace and you will recall that for the last few weeks there has been series of robbery by Fulani on that road as well as kidnapping.”
    The governor noted that a leader of APC from Akoko-Edo local government area escaped being kidnapped by the Fulani herdsmen, stressing that information available to him revealed that Afegbua was killed why trying to escape from the robbers.
    “What I heard was that when his vehicle was intercepted by the robbers, he wanted to escape but the robbers felt he was going to attack them and they shot at him. That was why the other two persons with him in the vehicle were not killed,” he stated.