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Tag: Edo

  • Education Varsity ready for take-off in Edo

    All is now set for the take-off of the Tayo Akpata University of Education, Ekiadolor, Edo State as Governor Adams Oshiomhole has emphasized the need to upgrade the quality of teachers in order to improve the quality of learning in schools.

    Speaking during the presentation of a report by Prof Dennis Agbonlahor Committee set up by the state government to evaluate the state-owned institutions of higher learning, Governor Oshiomhole said  the upgrading Ekiadolor to a university is to ensure that NCE teachers are not in the state’s secondary schools.

    “Because the quality of teachers is important, my view is that to teach in our secondary schools: junior and senior secondary schools, we must have Bachelor of Education (B.ED) so that the students will be in very good hands.”

    According to Oshiomhole, “the mass failure in exam is not by accident. If pupils have not learnt, it might as well be because the teachers have not taught. So, that is the whole idea. We must scale down on our NCE requirements.”

    “The real quality objective is that we want to phase out NCE because no matter what anybody says, the quality of our teachers is extremely important. Look at the level of performance in WAEC, NECO, JAMB and all that you have to go through with universities now setting up another exam because when you look at the failure rate, somebody is probably trying to play with standard, to pass people who ordinarily didn’t pass, so universities now do their own in-house examination.”

     

  • Edo investor Okunbo unveils $750m farm

    Edo investor Okunbo unveils $750m farm

    A $750 million farm project with an initial investment of $300 million targeted at creating 25,000 direct and 60,000 indirect jobs, has been unveiled in Benin, the Edo State capital.

    Unveiling the project in a presentation to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, the investor, Capt. Hosa Okunbo, explained that it has been his dream vision  to go into such project.

    Okunbo, who introduced his Technical and Financial partners from the San Carlos Group in Mexico, explained that the farm, located at Odighi and Odiguetue in Ovia Northeast Local Government Area, has already taken off with an $11 million on a 20-hectare Green House vegetables farm. The products are to be exported.

    He said: “I want to present to you what I call my vision, my legacy, something that I have been nurturing in the last four to five years.

    “Why this is very important to me is, as a pilot I conquered my profession at the age of 30 and I left. I went into shipping. With over 60 vessels, I have conquered the sea.

    “Now, I want to conquer the land before the land takes me.”

    According to the presentation, the farm is expected to produce cash and arable crops such as cocoa, pineapples, pawpaw and banana.

    Other products are livestocks, including cattle, poultry and piggery, just as it will also engaged in the production of tilapia – all targeted at export and meeting local protein and milk requirement.

    The farm also has plan for Agro Industrial Park and Airstrip to evacuate products to Europe and elsewhere.

    Responding, Oshiomhole commended Okunbo for the initiative and expressed his delight at the project, saying “one way to help our communities is how to create jobs”.

    “The objective of Wells Farm complements the Federal Government’s policy on food security and jobs creation. I think you are on the right path and I am excited that you come from this state.

    “Our government is committed to supporting you. Capt, you can take that for granted. I am also happy to note from your presentation that it is a diversified farm.”

    Calling for encouragement of local investors, the governor explained that Edo State was planning to create a one-stop desk on issues relating to agriculture.

    He told the Mexican partners that despite the country’s challenges, returns on investment in Nigeria were higher than elsewhere.

  • Robbers chop off Edo granny’s wrists

    Robbers chop off Edo granny’s wrists

    •Seeks N.4m to fix right wrist

    Robbers have chopped off the wrists of a septuagenarian, Pa Jacob Ikilo,  a security guard at a filling station at Eyaen village, on the Benin-Auchi Road.

    Pa Jacob is receiving treatment at the Male Orthopaedic Ward of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), where doctors are battling to save his right wrist.

    The severed right wrist, being kept alive by a tiny blood vessel, requires N380,000 to be fixed back.

    The incident was said to have occurred on Monday, February 29, at 3 am, when Pa Jacob was on night duty.

    Pa Jacob said the robbers used machete to chop off his wrist when he went to check an unusual noise at the plant house.

    He said he heard people running towards him. As he attempted to run, the robbers attacked him.

    “When I was coming from the generator house, they surrounded me. They just cut off this my hand (left hand). As I shout, they said shut up and cut the other hand. I fell down and started asking them to leave me, that I was dying.”

    The company manager was said to have invited the Egba Divisional Police Station after a driver discovered Pa Jacob.

    Pa Jacob said he needs money to pay the bills as he had been working for the last six months without his N15, 000 monthly pay.

    He said his employer did not pay regularly even when he did 12 hours work daily.

    Pa Jacob added that N3, 000 was deducted and paid to the company that helped him to get the job which made his take home pay N12,000.

    Efforts to reach the management of the company failed.

  • Edo 2016 and danger of godfatherism

    Nigeria’s long years of military rule brought about militarized leadership in the country. It was an era better imagined than experienced. With the return of democratic governance in 1999, Nigeria returned to the path of freedom, equity, fairness, rule of law, period elections and constitutionalism.

    But quite disappointedly and unexpectedly, a cabal crept in and hijacked the democratic and election processes in the country. That was the commencement of godfatherism syndrome in the country’s politics. A syndrome which perverts democratic processes through undemocratic means for the benefit of the members of the cabal at the detriment of the people. At a time, the syndrome became a democratic tradition and norm in the country.

    The godfathers who usually enjoy the backings of the powers-that-be then dictated the dynamic of political power both at states and national levels. They were worshipped by power seekers, and their homes became a Mecca of sort. Their words were laws and oftentimes above the law. Prominent among them were Chief Chris Uba, Sir Emeka Offor, Late Lamidi Adedibu, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Chief Tony Anenih alias “Fix It” and others.

    It was Anenih who announced in 2002 while serving as Minister of Works during Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration that there was no vacancy in Aso Rock in 2003. Anenih stated further that the then 21 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors would be given automatic ticket in 2003, thereby foreclosing any transparent primaries in the party.

    Just as dictated by Anenih, President Obasanjo and the PDP governors with the exception of Chinwoke Mbadinuju of Anambra State were issued automatic return tickets in 2003 to the disappointment of many Nigerians and party faithful especially party aspirants. It was the height of political impunity in the PDP and the beginning of the party’s disastrous end.

    Anenih also extended his godfatherism activities to his home State Edo where he operated like a political colossus, dictating who gets what, how and when in the party and the governments at will. He and his party had a field day for a while in the state until 2007 when the people of Edo State revolted with protest votes against Anenih and his party, PDP during the governorship election. It would be recalled that before the election, Anenih had preference for Senator Odion Ugbesia as governorship candidate of the party, but Obasanjo opposed him and imposed Prof. Oserehimin Osunbor on the party as its governorship candidate.

    Not even the PDP’s manipulations in the election could save the party’s candidate in the court of law as the court declared Comrade Adams Oshiomhole of the defunct Action Congress (AC) winner of the election. That was how Anenih’s godfatherism activities and PDP inglorious days ended in Edo State through the people’ votes. PDP godfathers paid dearly for their sins and it was end of dark era in the politics of the state.

    The greatest beneficiary of the demystification of political godfatherism in the state was Comrade Adams Oshiohmole who overwhelmingly enjoyed the support of the people. That was why the voters voted massively for Oshiomhole during his second term bid against the PDP candidate, Major General Charles Airhiavbere (rtd) that was imposed on the PDP by Anenih and his cohorts against a popular and acceptable aspirant. Since then till date, PDP in the state has never known peace and may not know peace in the nearest future, especially now that the party is not in control of power at the centre. Having murdered sleep by political godfatherism and imposition of candidates during elections, PDP lost not only followership but leadership in the state. It is hard lesson the ruling APC in the state must learnt from, and a trap the party must avoid like a plague.

    But it seems obvious that ahead of the forthcoming governorship election in the state, if the APC fails to manage the primaries well, the party will go the way of the PDP in the election. There is already growing apprehensions and concerns among the people over the growing political godfather activities of Governor Oshiomhole. The situation deserves quick intervention of the Presidency and the party’s national leadership.

    It is public knowledge in the state today that Oshiomhole who was severely critical of Anenih’s godfatherism posture is doing everything possible to muscle the party hierarchy and impose his godson, Godwin Obaseki as his successor. Oshiomhole has told everyone who cares to listen that he will dictate who succeeds him. He has been going round the state picking political fights with the people, while trying to sell the candidacy of his preferred successor.

    The governor and his foot-soldiers have in a recent meeting tried to cow some of the party governorship aspirants to drop their ambitions and support that of his godson. But they have vehemently opposed him, asking him and the party leadership to create a level playing ground for transparent primaries. There are enough signs of what will befall the party in the election if Oshiomhole and his allies are allowed to impose unpopular candidate on the party. From the governor’s actions and inactions ahead of his exit from office, it seems he is working for the success of the opposition PDP in the election.

    It was recently alleged that passport photographs and signatures of some delegates are being obtained by the state government under the guise of emergency employment to cow and hoodwink them into a compulsory endorsement of governor’s preferred aspirant. Delegates to the primaries have been allegedly placed on a monthly salary of N20,000 effective December 2015 including a fertilizer scheme for Edo North delegates. There is urgent need to call Governor Oshiomhole to order before power drives him out of the way to detriment of the people of Edo State and the APC.

    A party that won election on platform of change mantra cannot afford to support political godfatherism and other undemocratic tendencies that destroyed the PDP and the political space in the last 16 years. President Muhammadu Buhari and other elected APC members in the last general elections were not products of political godfatherism and Edo State should not be different. If Oshiomhole feels that his preferred aspirant is popular and acceptable, he should not be afraid of presenting him for a free and fair party’s primaries.

    Nobody is or will be against Oshiomhole having an interest on who succeeds him because it is his personal and legitimate right. But such interest should not override the general interest of the party faithful and general public. It is not out of place that the governor’s choice of possible successor may be at variance with that of the majority members of the party faithful and the people, but such is not unusual in a democratic practice. After all the beauty of democracy is that the minority will have their say, while the majority will have their way.

    • Adiga, a public affairs analyst and human right activist wrote from Benin City, Edo State. 
  • ‘Edo needs technocrat as governor’

    ‘Edo needs technocrat as governor’

    Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Clement Ugbikile, in this interview with MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE, explains why the party should field a technocrat as candidate for governorship election. 

    How would you assess the preparation by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Edo governorship election?

    It is going to be a landslide victory for the APC in the coming election. If you look at the last election held in the state, with the money at the disposal of the PDP, it would be right to say the APC gave a good account of itself. The party won with more than two third in the Edo State House of Assembly and left only three or four seats for the PDP. If you use that as a yardstick to analyse the next election, it will be a victory for the APC. Now, you will say the PDP won the senatorial election in two places. That has to do with the kind of voters we have in Edo State. That election was done along with that of the Presidency. The voters thought that former President Goodluck Jonathan would win the election. They thought that everything would favour the PDP. That was why we lost some of the senatorial seats in the state and also some seats in the House of Representatives. But, immediately that election was over, and they discovered that the PDP did not win the Presidency, they had to re-strategize. Given that the next election was going to be the House of Assembly, they had to rally round the comrade governor. It was being speculated that, if the PDP won the majority in the House, they were going to impeach the governor. The Edo State voters are often appreciative any good done to them. They were appreciative of what Governor Adams Oshiomhole had done. That was why they voted for the APC in the last election. It was a landslide for the APC. My prediction this time around is that the governorship election is going to be a landslide for the APC. The issue is, who are the people coming up for the election? On the side of the PDP, they have many candidates, but three foremost are Prince Solomon Edebiri, Matthew Iduoriyekenwen, Osaro Onaiwu and Pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu. Among these people, only Ize-Iyamu looks the most potent of them. He has been preparing for it long ago. I assume that he is going to be the candidate of the PDP. Any person who emerged from that camp will square it up with the candidate of the APC.

    The speculation is that the governor has an annointed candidate…

    When Oshiomhole said he was supporting a candidate, he did not say I will not provide a level playing ground for the aspirants. In fact, I have read what he said at a meeting for all the leaders of APC in Edo State. He said it would be foolish of him, your governor about to vacate office, not to have sympathy for one of my children, who is aspiring to replace me. A leader who is leaving a position and is not thinking of somebody to replace him is not a good leader. He said if I had my way or if the constitution had allowed it, I would have said this is the governor. But, the APC constitution does not allow it. The constitution does not equally bar him from saying this is my preferred candidate. So, what he has said is that this is my preference. Why the governor said so, is that he works with many people under him both in government and outside the government. And from his experience, he believes that certain person will be a better governor. But who are those people that are actually aspiring to replace him? I can assure you that my analysis of who they present will see the light of the day. In APC there are so many candidates, they have one Godwin Obaseki, Deputy Governor Pius Odubu, Dr. Chris Ogemwonyi, General Charles Airhiavbere, Prof. Osarhiemen Osunbo ect. There are other people, but we are just using this as a basis for our analysis. These are the top contenders. If the rumour going about that Oshiomhole support is for Obaseki, I think it is in order. Obaseki is not a politician. He is more of an economist, otherwise a technocrat. From behind, he was the head of the economic team advising the governor from time to time on the policies that he should pursued for the good of Edo State. And because of the situation in the country which is looking gloomy then the successor must have the economic wherewithal.  If it was gloomy last year, it is going to much gloomy this year. In the past, our governors go to Abuja to collect Edo State allocation and begin to distribute. If you could make money internally good for you, if not, there was no problem because Nigeria had lots of money then. It was no issue because any fool could be a governor because you had the money that comes from Abuja. The situation has changed because Nigeria is a mono economy state. That means that we rely solely on oil for revenue. Now oil revenue has dwindled, it takes an economist to draw a good plan. We are not even too sure that it is not going to slide further. This has some adverse effects on how much we will be able to get from Abuja. The governor that Edo State like other states need is the governor that can think. They must reflect on how they can get revenue to run the state. Assuming no money is coming from the federal allocation, the person must be capable of doing what an economist should do. This is certainly the job of an economist. He will sit down and analyze all the variables and come to the conclusion that he is not going to rely on the money that comes from the federal allocation. This requires somebody who is very vast on the economy of the state.

    The Benin monarch plays a major role in the emergence of the governor. Will the governor’s candidate get the palace’s support?

    I respect the Edo traditional order in great deal, the Oba of Benin is highly revered monarch. But, there is a different between tradition and politics. By law, the traditional rulers are not supposed to meddle into politics, but that is only theoretical. The Oba too is interested in somebody who will govern his state creditably well. The rumour making the round that Obaseki will not get the support of the Oba because of what happened many decades ago cannot be true. The rift in both families happened during the period of the great-grandfather, during the Oba Ovonramwen’s time. Assuming that the great-grand-father offended, which may not be true, why would you visit that on the son? I am aware of members of the Obaseki family that are holding position in the Oba of Benin Palace.

  • Edo PDP congresses: Youths mob three PDP leaders

    Edo PDP congresses: Youths mob three PDP leaders

    Former Chief Whip of the Nigeria Senate, Senator Roland Owie and two other leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party in Edo State were Friday mobbed and harassed by youths.

    Senator Owie was raised high up and lifted out of the venue of a stakeholders meeting of the party ahead of Saturday’s Ward congresses.

    Others harassed were Samson Esemuede and another simply identified Ijesurobo.

    It took the intervention of a governorship candidate, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen before Senator Owie was allowed entry into the meeting venue.

    Iduoriyekemwen locked the door and insisted that nobody would be allowed in if Senator Owie is refused entry.

    The meeting however commenced at about 6pm .

    Dr. Carol Ojugboh who addressed the meeting urged the Edo PDP leaders to work together if they want to defeat Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

    Ojugboh noted that Governor Oshiomhole was not somebody to be underestimated in election matters.

    He promised that the ward congresses would be free and fair and assured that election materials would be distributed early.

  • Linus Idahosa’s quest for Edo governorship

    Linus Idahosa’s quest for Edo governorship

    As a Christian, the story of Daniel who was in the lion’s den and came out unscathed is well-known to him. As a believer, he must also believe that with God all things are possible. His name is Linus Idahosa. His belief in Christ has nothing to do with his surname and the late Bishop Benson Idahosa.

    Idahosa is one of those men who have to carry the burden of being described using their popular wives. His wife is a successful actress and film maker Stephanie Linus who produced the award-winning ‘Dry’, a film on VVF. But with Idahosa’s quest for Edo State’s number one seat, chances are that he will no longer have to bear this burden.

    If his plans sail through, Idahosa, 37, will take the baton from Governor Adams Oshiomhole and Stephanie will be addressed as wife of Edo State governor.

    But who is this man daring the old to the coveted seat? He is the CEO of Del-York International and Farenheight Global Security Solutions. In a career spanning 15 years, his organisations have championed various initiatives to drive innovation in media, entertainment, youth development and national security.

    When he completed the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) programme, he was awarded ‘Corper of the Year’. After this, he joined Nayee Security Printing Press (a high level security printing company in Lagos, Nigeria) and rose to become General Manager. He later became Managing Director  of Joscas Engineering, a turnkey engineering and construction firm. His constant interface with International media/PR agencies coupled with his inherent skills in Public Relations and Mediation eventually informed his career move into the media and broadcast Industry. Linus honed his skills while working with ace broadcaster Segun Akpata for CNN as its exclusive accredited agent and producer in Nigeria.

    He played a pivotal role in raising awareness of Nigerian brands on CNN. He also worked with the private firms and government agencies to maximise their visibility on the platform. His quest to enhance youth and institutional development led him to sign a strategic partnership deal with The New-York Film Academy to represent the institution in Africa, and between 2010 and 2015 he successfully flew in 72 of its lecturers from New York and Los Angeles into Nigeria.

    Idahosa has forged positive strategic relationships with global media organisations, NGOs, and governments across Africa.

    Through intensive vocational training programmes, he has empowered young graduates and professionals within the creative and media industries, resulting in job creation, higher professional and technical standards and lucrative international collaborations.

    In recognition for his work, he was in July 2015 invited by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth to Buckingham Palace where he met with her personally at the Queens Young Leaders Awards in London.

    He has been a tireless campaigner for the youth, both domestically and internationally. He carries with him a message that good governance delivers extensive social capital —including the creation of jobs as well as enabling growth and diversification of the economy. He believes that Nigeria should be a net exporter of its cultural products, whilst deploying the creative arts as a potent instrument for diplomacy and international relations.

    As an ardent ambassador for ‘Brand Nigeria’, Idahosa seeks to serve his people, using his wealth of experience and vibrancy of youth to positively contribute to the collective effort of building a greater Edo State and Nigeria.

    With the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) saturated with older and richer aspirants, Idahosa has pitched his tenth with the Young Democratic Party (YDP).

    Idahosa is convinced that mobilising young people to support what is in their interest is not as difficult as it seems.

    “On the 15th of March 2014, I received a picture from a Thisday Photo journalist, by name Sunday Aghaeze; that picture was to change the course of my life. It was my screensaver for a whole year.

    “It was an aerial shot of a crowd of almost 70,000 young men and women between the ages of 18 and 35 cramped up at the Abuja stadium in search of a job opportunity at the Nigerian Immigration Service

    “Eyes filled with hope, fear, promise, desperation and faith in what was possible. For me, it was the highest demonstration of faith in an idea in what was possible but a lack of skill in how to get there. I was convinced that these same men and women some day would come out in their droves if they were convinced that their best interest was going to be served,” he said.

    On generational shift, he says: “I believe we now have an opportunity to rewrite history. Nigeria is at its tipping point; at no time in our history has there been the need for a generational shift in governance in Nigeria. We have been debating, analysing and pontificating on this across various traditional and social media platforms, it is now time to turn our resentment about all that is good or not with our Country and leaders to a strong resolve that we would be the change that we seek. We constitute 70% of our population; where is our representation in Government?”

    ”There seems to be a fundamental flaw in our thinking; a veil that we have placed before ourselves, when it comes to young professionals vying for elective offices. A veil that immediately stops us from attempting to take on the challenge of governance. We have often been referred to as the SA Generation’. A generation whose birth right it seems is to become SAs and PAs, when indeed we provide the architecture, the policies and the brains for the smooth running of most elected officers at both federal and state levels.”

    He identifies money politics as the biggest challenge to politics in this clime.

    His words: “The biggest challenge to democracy in Africa is money politics. When people are impoverished they want instant gratification.

    “We live in an age where young men and women pursue fame instead of honour, riches instead of wealth and position instead of service.

    “It is time to frontally combat money politics in Nigeria. A different kind of education is needed; an education of the head, an education of the hand and most importantly, an education of the heart.”

    He says being young is an advantage.  ”Look through history and ask yourself: what was the age of the young Europeans who came in the 18th century to conquer Africa?”

    He adds: “What was the age of Henry Stanley when they came to the continent to capture and enslave our ancestors? What was the age of Wilberforce when he was agitating for the abolition of slavery? How old was Jean van Rhibeck when he settled in SA in the cape coast in 1668. How old was Ferdinand de brasa when he conquered what is now called Congo Brazaville?

    “What was the age of Martin Luther King junior when he led the civil rights movement? How old was Eduardo Mondlane or Samora Moises Marshel in Mozambique? What was the age of Nelson Mandela in 1964 and Oliver Tambo? How about Sam Nyoma and Toivoya Toivo in Namibia? How old was Augustino Naeto in Angola or Jounas Malheiro Savimbi? How old was Kenneth David Kaunda in Zambia and Hastings Kamuzu Banda in Malawi or Kwame Nkrumah? How old was Donald Duke when he became Governor of Cross River State? They were all in their 20s and 30s.

    “At that time they knew only one thing, they had to liberate their continent. They had no wealth, they had only the force of their conviction. Young Nigerians must realise that we are the masters of our own subjectivity. We must realise it is time to rise up to the occasion. Here lies the generation that would liberate Nigeria!”

  • How PDP can win Edo, by Edebiri

    How PDP can win Edo, by Edebiri

    What is Solomom Edebiri, the Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant, up to? The technocrat, businessman and Benin chief is on the popularity weighing scale as he warms up for the primary election. Many observers believe that he has a big hurdle before him. But, at the weekend, the aspirant reiterated his resolve to succeed Governor Adams Oshiomhole. “I have goodwill among the people of Edo and this gives me confidence,” he told reporters in Lagos.

    “We need to have a government that will cater for the future. How can the state grow without a solid foundation? I am on a rescue mission. That is the motivation for entering the race,” he added.

    However, it is a moment of storm and stress for his party. Not only has the party lost power at the federal level, it is also grasping for breath in Edo. Greed, disunity and godfatherism are the bane of the Edo chapter. Yet, Edebiri is of the view that the party has prospect, if it can put its house in order. Noting that the governorship poll offers an opportunity for the chapter to bounce back, he , however warned that the chance can be bungled, if a wrong candidate is picked. “If a wrong candidate is picked, the exodus from the party will be worse,” he stressed.

    Edebiri believes that the PDP needs a new name to sell it to the people of Edo. This corresponds to a call for a clean break from the past. Flaunting his credentials, he said his competence, clear understanding of Edo, liberal disposition and cognate experience as an operator in the oil industry for 26 years have marked him out. He urged delegates to swing the pendulum of victory towards his direction during the shadow poll.

    Unfolding his vision, he said:”My vision for Edo State as a governor is to build s state on strong foundation that future leaders can build upon, a state where human capacity development , technology transfer and industrial development will be top on the agenda, where the state can become an export hub rather than an import based economy to guarantee self-satisfaction, confidence in the future within a healthy environment and sound educational base.”

    The aspirant also said that he has a mission to employ the services of the natural and human resources in the state to actualise his vision without ignoring the experience of more advanced and developed nations. “When Edebiri is mentioned, it is about credibility, integrity, accountability, transparency and push for industrialisation, human capacity development and a new order to create a new society,” he added.

    Edebiri may not be an aspirant on the fringe. He described himself as a highly educated and well connected person. But, he could be described a politician who is ready to embrace reality. Not only does he knows his onions, he also understands his limitations. The aspirant has set up a campaign structure, the Ise Initiative, to actualise his dream. He knows that he has other formidable aspirants to contend with at the primary. He also understands that politics is a slippery field. Party insiders agree that the shadow poll will not be a walk over for him and indeed, other aspirants. Edebiri, also said the exercise is not a do or die affair.

    The first critical step to the electioneering is fortifying the party. Edo PDP, in the aspirant’s opinion, needs to present itself as a better alternative. “We must move away from the greed and disunity of the past and ensure cohesion,” he said. To forge unity and harmony in the party, he promised to use his liberal disposition to bring stakeholders together and chart a new course. Edebiri said the party must know that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is not sleeping on guard. He said a wrong flag bearer will boost the chance of the ruling party at the poll. “APC is interested in the PDP primary. We can’t afford to get it wrong,” he stressed.

    If elected as governor, Edebiri said he will restore the lost glory of Edo. “In the past, we had bendel Insurance Company, Edo Line, Bendel Breweries. All these industries have been castrated. There is job loss, no money for trade and nowhere to work. We need to revive the dead industries and create job opportunities for youths,” he said. If these are done, the aspirant said crime, corruption, armed robbery, kidnapping and insecurity will end.

    Edebiri acknowledged that Oshiomhole has done well in certain areas. He applauded him for constructing roads. But, he alleged that the governor has ignored other areas, including transportation, industrialisation, healthcare and human capacity development. The PDP chieftain also chided the administration for what he described as the tax burden. He said: “If the intent of the leader is at variance with the intent of the people, things will not work.”

    The aspirant promised to harness the resources of the state to fuel its development. Noting that Edo is endowed with a lot of mineral resources, he said these can be converted into financial resources, instead of leaning on the now elusive federal allocation. He said the state will survive if it creates wealth, instead of the penchant for sharing wealth.

    Edebiri also said that Edo should embrace agriculture as a viable alternative for revenue generation. “I will initiate one local government, one commercial crop syndrome. We have studied the local governments. Some can engage in rice planting. Others can go for cassava. We have local governments that can go for pineapples,” he added.

  • Edo governorship poll holds Sept 10

    Edo governorship poll holds Sept 10

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed the Edo State governorship election for September 10.

    Governor Adams Oshiomhole is serving out his second term.

    INEC also said Ondo State’s governorship poll will hold on November 26.

    Some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo yesterday defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The defectors are from Etsako Central Local Government, where the embattled chairman, Chief Dan Orbih, hails from.

    PDP has postponed till further notice its ward congresses fixed for yesterday because of a court injunction.

    Speaking to reporters in Benin City, a chieftain of the APC, John Akhigbe, said more defectors are expected.

    Akhigbe said:  “Some of the defectors discovered they were in darkness and when light comes they have to leave and they found what the Comrade Governor is doing, things that they were told was never possible are now possible and they are happy. Many of us are happy; the leader of that group is one person PDP relies on to deliver Etsako for them but because of the step he has taken, I can tell you that between now and the next few weeks, more will defect.’’

  • Photo: ‘Pure water’ hits N20, hawkers protest

    Photo: ‘Pure water’ hits N20, hawkers protest

    Price of satchet water popularly known as ‘pure water’ on Thursday soared to N20 from N10 per one in Benin City.

    At some restaurants, customers opted to drink bottled water whose price rose to between N70 and N80.

    The increase in price however sparked protest from hawkers of satchet water who lamented poor sales.

    They said a bag of satchet water that hitherto sold for N100 per bag now sells for N150 per bag.

     

    Satchet water hawkers protesting hike in prices of satchet water in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
    Satchet water hawkers protesting hike in prices of satchet water in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

    Helen Usunobun who spoke to reporters said the situation was worsen with the N60 paid daily to council officials.

    She said they could not cope with the hike in price which would leave them making N30 profit for very bag of satchet water.

    Her words, “They said dollar has gone up. Whether dollar is in the water, we don’t know.”

    Another hawker, Mrs. Enoma Blessing, said people that used to consume four satchet water now buy only one per day.

    A water factory owner, Mr. Irhue John, ascribed the hike in price to increase in sourcing for packing materials.

    Irhue said a film roll that sold for N600,000 last week now sells for N920,000 while packaging material rose from N3300 to N5000.

    According to him, “Nobody can give water treatment and sell at the former price of N100. It is a terrible situation we have found ourselves.”

    “It is the sourcing of the materials that is causing these problems.”

    Chairman of the Water Producers in the state, Henry Eremokhai, said the approved price by the association was N120.

    Henry noted that many water factories have been closed due to dearth of packaging materials.