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Tag: Edo

  • Ndoma-Egba vows to change public perception of NDDC

    Ndoma-Egba vows to change public perception of NDDC

    The Chairman of the Governing Board of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba says steps are being taken to change the negative perception of the commission by the public.

    Ndoma-Egbe said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

    He regretted that the public image of the commission was not encouraging, adding that It would no longer be business as usual.

    According to him, members of the commission are being accused of collecting kick backs from contractors of the commission before paying them for contracts executed.

    “The story in the public is that the commission collects 10 to 15 per cent from contractors to get their payments for jobs executed.

    “This is absolutely wrong, if it is true, getting such payments from contractors would have become an industry by itself.

    “There is no reason why contractors who have met conditions for payment should not be paid without any gratification.

    “We are coming on board at a very challenging time.’’

    According to him, we must rebrand the commission and change the public perception of it as a slush fund, and this we must do through our honest work and single minded focus and discipline.Ndoma-Egba also pledged to reposition the board to enable it play its role effectively in the administration of the commission.

    He explained that the NDDC under his leadership would no longer serve as a place where things would be done without adhering strictly to set rules and order.

    “The bane of the commission seems to stem from the mentality of the leadership that once they are appointed, it is their turn to rip off the agency.

    “But the new Board and Management of the commission have understood where we are coming from and what the people expect from us and we have decided to depart from the ugly route of the past,’’ he said

    To this end, Ndoma-Egba said that on assumption of office, the management immediately swung into action by taking measures to put their house in order and change the way things were being done in the commission.

    He said this was done to show their seriousness and desire to stick to accountability and to ensure the much needed development.

    The chairman said the management assembled key members of staff and development partners for a retreat in February.

    This, he noted was part of efforts by the commission to reposition it for effective service delivery.

    “The three-day retreat, with the theme; “Collaboration for Sustainable Development”, held in Onne, Rivers State, and was attended by members of the Governing Board, directors, and strategic stakeholders from within and outside the region.

    “The retreat made it clear that the new Board and Management are solely dedicated to integrity, efficiency, transparency and accountability,” he stated.

    Speaking on abandoned projects in the region, Ndoma-Egba blamed the budget process for being “largely responsible for the spate of abandoned projects in the region.’’

    “The approach to projects has been ad hoc, arbitrary and self-serving, with very little end-user content. Many projects appear strange to beneficiary communities.

    “The projects are imposed on them and it creates crisis of ownership.

    “It will be apt to expect that with the combination of the chairman and the managing director in the saddle, a new era of rapid physical development driven by accountability will for once dominate the affairs of the commission.

    “Indeed, those who have taken time to look into the books of the commission are quick to point out that the amount of money received by the intervention agency since its establishment in 2000.“It is not commensurate with the quantity and quality of projects in the nine oil producing states of Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Imo, Delta, Edo, Ondo and Rivers.

  • Edo students unveil plans to immortalise Amodu, Keshi

    •Sports festival in motion

    Tertiary institution students from Edo State have taken the bull by the horns as they unveiled plans for an annual Sports Festival to honour two of the greatest coaches Nigeria has ever produced in Shuiabu Amodu and Stephen Okechukwu Keshi.

    The students under the aegis of the National Association of Edo State Students (NAESS), said through their Planning Committee Chairman, Comrade Oloke Emmanuel and their Director of Sports, Comrade Adeoye Raphael, that the plan is to hold an annual Sports Festival to honour two of the best coaches Nigeria and indeed Africa has ever produced.

    The duo said they have spoken to relevant authorities in  Edo and Delta states as well as football managers at the federal level and that they hope to get support for what they have tagged NAESS National Sports Festival in honour of Shuiabu Amodu and Stephen Keshi. Venue of the maiden event has been scheduled for the University of Benin Sports Centre, as  stakeholders meet to fine tune the date for later this year, with the middle of the year already touted.

    Comrades Adeoye and Oloke, were emphatic that they were not kidding on the project as they wish to use the sports festival to redefine the way heroes are treated in Nigeria, declaring that they were not quite satisfied at the way the duo of Amodu and Keshi were treated at both Federal and state levels when they passed on.

  • AAU denies cases of admission racketeering, sexual harassment

    AAU denies cases of admission racketeering, sexual harassment

    The authority of Ambrose Ali University (AAU) Ekpoma in Edo, says neither a case of sexual harassment nor admission racketeering exits in the institution.

    Its Vice- Chancellor, Prof. Ignatius Onimawo made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Ekpoma.

    According to him, the AAU engages in a monthly prayer session for sound spiritual development and to eliminate cases of sexual harassment in the institution.

    “There has not been any reported case of sexual harassment or admission racketeering in the institution.

    “But if there has been any case, it has never been brought to the attention of the school authority.

    “It is the vision of this administration to position the university to be the best state university and one of the best 10 universities in Nigeria.’’

    He said that admission racketeering had become “an anathema in the AAU as the system put in place does not allow such act at all’’.

    “We give admission to applicants on merit, and the system is so robust that no staff has the chance to play on the intelligence of any student seeking admission.

    “But some of the few cases brought before the authority were promptly dealt with and the staffers involved were sanctioned,’’ he said.

    Onimawo assured the staff and students as well as the host community of the institution’s determination to run an open and transparent administration.

  • Ogbemudia’s burial holds Friday

    Ogbemudia’s burial holds Friday

    Former Governor of the defunct Bendel State, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia who died of diabetes complications will be interred on Friday.

    The burial date is in accordance with the wish of the deceased that his body must not be kept in the morgue and should not be left for more than seven days.

    Dr. Ogbemudia also reportedly requested that his body must not be publicly displayed.

    The decision was disclosed after a meeting Governor Godwin Obaseki had with members of the family.

    More details later….

  • Edo people mourn Ogbemudia’s death

    Residents of Ihieya area in Benin, Edo where the late Dr Samuel Ogbemudia lived before his death and the adjourning streets, on Friday lamented the death of a man they described as a good neighbour.

    Ogbemudia’s eldest Son, Samuel Jr, had earlier confirmed his father’s death at a Lagos hospital on Thursday at 84 years.

    Some of the residents who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), at Ishieya on condolence visit,also described Ogbemudia’s death as a big loss to the community.

    They said Ogbemudia represented everything good to them.

    Mr Ehigie Aigbiremolle, a neigbour to the Ogbemudias’ and who said he had has lived in the area for over 25 years, described the late Ogbemudia as a man with good heart.

    “He did not only attract infrastructure to the area through his influence.”

    Another resident, who identifies himself as Gabriel, described Ogbemudia’s death as shocking and called on other influential Nigerians to emulate what the late Ogbemudia represented to the people.

    “He was a good man who will be remembered for a very long time to come.Nobody around here has anything bad to say about him,” he said.

    He said t was through the initiative of the late former two-time Governor of old Midwest and Bendel that the area and the entire state witnessed infrastructure development.

    Samuel Ogbemudia was born in Benin City in 1933 and attended Benin Baptist School (1941–1945), Government school, Victoria in the Cameroons (1945–1947) and the Western Boy’s High School, Benin City (1947–1949).

    He joined the Nigerian army in 1957 and had a brilliant career and training, culminating in being appointed as the Military Administrator of the defunct Mid-West in September, 1967 among others.

    His administration was associated with various achievements in the social, economic and social life of the people of both the old Bendel and Edo.

     

  • INEC withdraws Certificate of Return from Edo lawmaker

    The Independent National Electoral Commission has withdrawn the Certificate of  Return issued to Hon Sunday Aghedo representing Ovia South West Constituency in the House of Assembly.

    It issued the Certificate of Return to Mr. Godwin Adenomo in compliance with the Court of Appeal judgement which sacked Hon Aghedo.

    The appellate court had last week sacked Aghedo and declared Adenomo as the duly elected member representing  Ovia South West Constituency. 

    It ordered the immediate swearing in of Mr Godwin Adenomo as the rightful elected member.

    After collecting the certificate, Adenomo stormed the House of Assembly with his supporters to submit it to Speaker Justin Okonoboh.

    He vowed to use all legal means to ensure that the sacked lawmaker refunded all the money he has collected since 2015.

    He said, “Today I presented  myself before the State House  of Assembly and presented my Certificate of Return. I have done everything within time limit and I expect speeding action towards a speedy swearing in”

    “By law the former House of Assembly member does not have the locus to seat as the member representing the constituency any longer. What entitles him to seat, the certificate of return has been withdrawn. What is important is that as we speak the former member cannot legally seat at the State House of Assembly. 

     “I am very happy, though Justice was delay but it was never denied . The judgment says the former member should return every paraphernalia and penny he had collected so far to me. So when we finish this process I will approach court for enforcement but as for swearing in I will depend on my party for that. It is a family matter I don’t have problem with anybody.”

  • Edo polls: APC begins defence

    Edo polls: APC begins defence

    The All Progressive Congress has opened its defence in the ongoing hearing of the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party and its governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

    Pastor Ize-Iyamu is asking the tribunal to declare him winner of the September 28, governorship election over alleged non-accreditation of voters and over voting.

    The APC which is the third respondent in the suit opened its defence after Governor Godwin Obaseki closed his defence by calling 68 witnesses.

    Witnesses called by the APC insisted that they were not trained by the Independent National Electoral Commission but by their party.

    The witnesses that testified included Mr. Charles Adenomon, Diamond Ogieriakhi, Ugeleri Sunday, Emmanuel Omoregbee, Hon Osadolor Gilbert and Samuel Omoruyi, all from Ikpoba/,Okha and Ovia South West local governments respectively.

    During cross examination , the witnesses said no voted without accreditation.

    Diamond Ogieriakhi said he saw INEC officials ticked the voter register in his unit during voting and accreditation which he said was done simultaneously.

  • Edo APC members kick against list of appointees

    Members of the All Progressive Congress in Estako East local government area on Tuesday protested against list of commissioners’ nominees submitted by leaders of the party in the locality.

    The protesters said the names submitted by the party leaders do not represent the interest of party members across the locality.

    Governor Godwin Obaseki had asked for nominations from Ward leaders to be appointed Commissioners, Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistant and Special Assistants.

    The protesters said the party leadership led by one Sunday Adoga and Musa Afegbua  picked names in Benin City without recourse to the choice of party members at the Ward level.

    They protested to the State House of Assembly, party secretariat and Government House.

    Spokesman for the protesters, Oba Steven Peter, said the APC leaders opted for zoning arrangement with adhering to the guidelines issued by Governor Obaseki.

    Oba stated that elected members from the zone kicked against the plot but the APC leaders refused to listen.

    According to him, “They don’t represent us and should not preside over our Affairs anymore. We call for outright rejection of the diabolical list of nominees concocted in their bedroom.

    “That list is not from us and is designed to serve some parochial interest of those who do not care about the general interest of our party.

    “We call on you Excellency to order an all-inclusive process of nomination exercise.”

  • Osinbajo’s visit: Obaseki apologizes to Edo people over gridlock

    Osinbajo’s visit: Obaseki apologizes to Edo people over gridlock

    Gov. Godwin Obaseki has apologised to people of the state, especially those in Benin metropolis, for the traffic difficulties experienced during Acting President Yemi Osinbajo’s visit on Monday.

    In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. John Mayaki, on Tuesday, Obaseki regretted the inconveniences people went through during the visit and assured such situation would be better managed in future.

    It can be recalled that Osinbajo was in Edo in continuation of his visit to the Niger Delta for dialogue with the people on the issues affecting the region.

    In the state, the visit enabled him to interact with leaders of the oil-producing communities on how to resolve the persistent crisis in the area arising from oil activities.

    “I apologize to everyone in the state, especially those in the Benin Metropolis, for the difficulties experienced in mobility.

    “The torrential downpour also worsened the situation. I want to assure you that the situation will be managed more effectively next time.

    “I want to thank the Acting President, Prof. Osinbajo, for the visit and for rubbing minds with the good people of the state on how best to develop its oil-producing communities.

    “The people of Edo have no doubt that you mean well for the state and the entire Niger Delta region.

    “Be rest assured, Professor, that the government and people of Edo will support you, and may your strength never fade.

    “To the people of Edo, I also say thank you for successfully hosting the Acting President in the state warmly,” he said.

     

  • Edo polls: Obaseki calls 65 witnesses, closes defence Monday

    Edo polls: Obaseki calls 65 witnesses, closes defence Monday

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, will on Monday closed his defence at the ongoing hearing of the petition filed by Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and the Peoples Democratic Party at the Election Petition Tribunal.

    Governor Obaseki who is the second respondent in the suit has so far called 65 witnesses to testify and make counter claims of non-accreditation and over voting as postulated by the petitioners.

    Obaseki has three days left to call witnesses.

    The first respondent, INEC, did not call any witnesses. It only tendered documents claiming that its witnesses may help the petitioners proved its case.

    Pastor Ize-Iyamu and the PDP called 92 witnesses and tendered several documents to back claims of  alleged non-accreditation and over voting. 

    At the resumed sitting on Thursday, lawyers to Obaseki informed the tribunal that they want an adjournment to enable them re-strategise their defence.

    Lead counsel to Obaseki, Mr Adetunji Oyiyepo, said the adjournment was to enable the defence team re-appraise their case before proceeding to calling any more witness.

    “My Lords, we are asking for an adjournment for this petition. We have so far called 65 witnesses across the wards from the 18 local government areas of the state.

    “We need Friday and Saturday to reappraise our defence strategy. We need more time to re-appraise our case.

    “We need to re-strategise to make maximum use of the available time on Monday. We don’t want to dump all manner of witnesses at the tribunal,’’ he said.

    Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Ahmed Badamasi granted the order and told Counsel to the third respondent, Mr Rotimi Ogunesho, to be ready to open his defence on Tuesday.