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Tag: Governor Adams Oshiomhole

  • Obaseki to electorates: Trust me with your votes

    Obaseki to electorates: Trust me with your votes

    Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Godwin Obaseki, has told electorates in the state to trust him with their votes.

    He said the September 28 election in the state would be the beginning of an economic revolution with more wealth creation capacities and better opportunities for all Edo people than ever experienced before.

    Speaking at an interactive session with 2000 support groups in Benin City, Obaseki noted Governor Adams Oshiomhole laid a solid foundation on which he and his running mate, Honourable Philip Shaibu, would build on.

    Obaseki stated that his administration would be a people-oriented government with open and efficient channels of communication to allow every Edo citizen make an input into how the state is run through their critical feedback.

    His words: “For me, September 28 will be the beginning of a real economic revolution in Edo State. When the comrade Governor assumed office almost 8 years ago the circumstances were very different: we have to fight hard to free the state from the stranglehold of the PDP cabal who had held us down in perpetual under-development for 16 years.”

    “In spite of their fierce resistance because they were used to sharing our money, we still were able to rebuild schools for our children, and we opened up many communities across the state through the massive road construction projects that we undertook. Nobody thought it was possible but we did it; we proved to our people that with good and determined leadership Edo State can work again.”

    Commenting further Obaseki said: “Today, Edo State is in a better place than we met it almost eight years ago. Yes, there are many challenges facing us – mostly as a result of the global economic recession – but we believe that with the solid foundation that the Comrade Governor has laid in infrastructure development we now have a unique opportunity to bring about an economic revolution in the state by broadening of our revenue stream through strategic investment in non-oil sectors of the economy.

    “As an investment banker of over 30 years standing, I have helped create wealth and jobs for many organisations. And with the experience I have garnered in the last 8 years of working with the Comrade Governor, I believe that I have all it takes to be the driver of Edo’s economic revolution. I, therefore, ask you to trust me with this all-important task by voting massively for the APC come September 28, and I promise you that – by the special grace of God – I will make Edo State greater and more prosperous than we have ever experienced.

    “I want to assure you that the way we have campaigned – with the people and issues affecting them at the core – is the way we will run our government. We will have functional call centers for citizen feedback on problems within their communities, and we will do everything in our power to address them. So even if you may not always see the governor one-on-one to talk to him, you can be rest assured that we will have a system where you can bring your issues and complaints to us, and we will respond to them.”

  • Oshiomhole inherited pension, gratuity arrears -Commissioner

    Oshiomhole inherited pension, gratuity arrears -Commissioner

    The Governor Adams Oshiomhole led administration of Edo, which took over government on November 12, 2008, inherited pension and gratuity arrears from 1998.

    Comrade Didi Adodo, the state Commissioner for Establishment and Special Duties who disclosed this to newsmen in Benin, on Wednesday, said the arrears of these gratuity and pension have been cleared to 2011 by the present administration.

    He said the governor deserve commendation and not condemnation on issue regarding workers welfare, especially the pensioners. 

    Adodo revealed that Oshiomhole rescinded an earlier decision to pay pension and gratuity of only those who retire under his administration, by clearing the backlog left behind by the government of Chief Lucky Igbinedion.

    The commissioner who acknowledged that some pensioners were been owed arrears, however said it was not true that some were been owed arrears of about 42 months.

    “People should know Oshiomhole government has done more to ameliorate the plight of pensioners in the state than any other government.

    “Thousands of pensioners, including the military government of Adamu Iyang and administration of Chief Lucki Igbinedion, who retired thousands of workers without paying any gratuity and pension to any. 

    “When Oshiomhole came in, his jettisoned the plan of paying only those who retire under him. He started by paying from 1998 and as I speak, we have cleared the backlog up to 2011. 

    “We are currently working on the batches, before the pension board was dissolved. In another week or so, these people will receive their entitlements.

    “I do not know where this issue of being owed pensioners 42 months arises from. It is true that we are owing some few months arrears and not as been exaggerated to 42 months.

    “Moreover, the pensioners themselves should be majorly blamed for these arrears. Why I say this is that most of them do not fill their papers on time. 

    “The fact is that the law says someone planning to retire should fill their papers six months before the retirement date. But what we experience is that most don’t, until they are finally retired. Some even do so years after retirement.

    “They don’t know that this thing takes time to process. When they fill on time, we have plenty time to process and not when you do so late, you expect your papers to be processed overnight.

    Adodo who noted that the dissolved pension board has not in any way affected processing of pensioners papers, said that an office has since been opened to take care of that.

    “Yes, the pension board was dissolved sometime last year, but that has not anyway affected processing of papers, as I speak with, work is going on smoothly in the office opened to handle such matter,” stated Adodo.

    The commissioner said the government was working out plan that will see to pensioners receiving their pension immediately after retirement.

  • Guber poll: APGA promises to build fashion village in Edo

    Guber poll: APGA promises to build fashion village in Edo

    Candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for the September 10, governorship election, in Edo State, Mr. Osaro Onaiwu, has promised members of the Tailors and Fashion Design Association (TAFDAN) that he would build a fashion village in the state if elected as governor.

    This promise is coming 24 hours after tailors in the state threatened to pull support from the All Progressives Congress (APC) over unfulfilled promises by Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

    Onaiwu who was the former Director General of the PDP Governors’ Forum said the fashion village would be equipped with all necessary infrastructures for the fashion industry to attract more investors to Edo State.

    He said his intention is to create a better business environment for the textile and Fashion industry to excel.

    In a press statement issued yesterday in Benin City, Onaiwu said his administration would also focus on employable education whereby everyone trained in any vocation is gainfully employed before finishing the formal  training.

    Onaiwu enjoined all eligible voters in the state not to mortgage their future for temporary frivolous gifts from selfish politicians who do not have their wellbeing at heart.

  • ‘PDP didn’t pay to use public schools for campaign’

    ‘PDP didn’t pay to use public schools for campaign’

    Edo State Government has described as untrue allegations by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) that it refunded money paid by the People’s Democratic Party for the use of public school fields and other public places for electioneering campaigns.

    It also said no school head was summoned by Governor Adams Oshiomhole for allowing the PDP to use Okpujie primary school in Uromi for its campaigns in Edo Central Senatorial district.

    State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chris Nehikhare, had accused the state government of denying them the use public property for its campaigns.

    But State Commissioner for Education, Gideon Obhakhan, in a chat with newsmen said it is difficult to refund any money paid into the state Internally Generated Revenue account.

    Obhakhan challenged the PDP to show evidence of its application and payment for the use of school field and other public places across the state.

    He said the APC led administration believed in equity and fairness and as such gives equal opportunity to everybody in the state to use public facilities.

    The Education Commissioner said there was no evidence to show that the PDP paid for the use of any school field and was denied access.

    According to him, “As far as they apply, they pay and it is approved, they are allowed to use it. There is no evidence from our record to show that the PDP paid and they were denied. There was no request from them to use any primary school and there was nothing that was denied. They have used other primary schools and there was no denial.

    “To say a school head was sanctioned is the figments of their own imagination because there is no record to show that anybody has been sanctioned or queried for allowing use of Okpujie Primary school because there is no reason for denying them the use of the school.

    “Their allegation is not going to prevent APC from winning the election. They are free to use any school as far as they follow due process. I heard they said they paid and somebody refunded the money. How do you get money from the IGR account as if it is one man’s business. Raising sentiment in the public will not help their course because their past government was a failed one. They think the only way to gather support was to create media hype and sentiments from the public.”

  • Igbinedion spends ‘looted’ funds on Oshiomhole’s election -Ize-Iyamu

    Igbinedion spends ‘looted’ funds on Oshiomhole’s election -Ize-Iyamu

    Governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has asked Governor Adams Oshiomhole to refund the money Chief Lucky Igbinedion expended on his elections in 2007.

    The refund, Pastor Ize-Iyamu said, became necessary because Governor Oshiomhole has consistently accused his predecessor of looting the state treasury.

    Pastor Ize-Iyamu for the first admitted that the man behind the mask that financed Governor Oshiomhole in 2007 was Chief Igbinedion.

    He spoke last weekend at the unveiling of a book titled “Betrayal of Trust” written by an ex-aide to Governor Oshiomhole, Orobosa Omo-Ojo.

    The PDP governorship candidate said Lucky Igbinedion was one of the biggest contributors to the money that was spent to making Oshiomhole governor.

    Pastor Ize-Iyamu stated that Governor Oshiomhole as President of the NLC never protested against Lucky’s policies ‘because he deliberately needed Igbinedion friendship.’

    Ize-Iyamu also urged Oshiomhole to refund the money collected from President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 to ensure the defunct ACN lost the presidential election.

    According to him, “Lucky Igbinedion recommended him to some of us that people are saying he had not done well, let him appoint a man who is popular, who appears to have popularity among the people. Let it be on record that he helped him to become governor. That was how he introduced Oshiomhole. We did it for two reasons.”

    “First was that because Edo is one and an Afenmai man has never become the governor. We felt it was time for an Afenmai man to become the governor. I also bought the story of Lucky Igbinedion that this man just left office as President of the NLC. This man will be interested in the masses, he will be interested in our pensioners, he will be interested in students. This man will excel. On that note, we supported him. He declared he had no money, we have to put all the resources together to support him.”

    “When he is busying talking about Lucky Igbinedion, let Edo people know that it was Lucky Igbinedion that brought him. In 2007, I want him to tell Edo people where he got the money he spent to become governor. In case, he has forgotten, I will like to remind him that most of the money comes from Lucky Igbinedion. Since he is saying Lucky Igbinedion stole Edo State money, can he please refund the money he collected from Lucky.

    “In 2012, Oshiomhole was in ACN. I know that a governor in ACN collected money from Jonathan in 2012 to betray his party such that ACN lost in Edo.

    “I did not betray my party. A governor collected money from Jonathan to betray his party and ensure his party lost in Edo. As he is talking about people refunding money, please remind him to refund the money he collected from President Jonathan. He should please refund that money.

    “Let me confess that when I was his DG, he brought a lot of money for us to use for campaign, I don’t know where he got that money from. I have been told he got that money from the state government coffers. Can he please refund the money.”

    Author of the book, who was a former Commissioner for Transport, Orobosa Omo-Ojo, said the book gave an insight into the person and administrative style of Governor Oshiomhole.

    He said the book revealed those that supported Oshiomhole to power and why Oshiomhole lost focus in governance.

  • EDO 2016: Why Oshiomhole must meet aggrieved  aspirants -APC Chieftain

    EDO 2016: Why Oshiomhole must meet aggrieved  aspirants -APC Chieftain

    A Concern Chieftain of the All Progress Congress, APC in Edo Central senatorial district in Edo State, Comrade Mathew Emiohe, yesterday advised Governor Adams Oshiomhole to lead a proper peace reconciliation committee to meet all the aspirants that lost in the party’s primary pen-ultimate week.

    The chieftain of the party gave this advice in Benin yesterday on the heels of the PDP governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu declaration which attracted thousands of PDP faithful across the three senatorial districts.

    Emiohe a staunch backer of the Edo State Governor, Pius Odubu, said the call became necessary following the discontentment among APC members in the state especially after the party’s primary adding that “regardless of the fact that APC controls political structures in the state and at the centre must approach the September 10thgovernorship election as a united and indivisible family if it must come out victorious.

    He regretted that a situation where some proxy of the governor are sent to meet with some of these aspirants who are still very aggrieved does not augur out well in healing  wound occasioned by the outcome of the APC primary which he noted was greeted by petitions.

    According to him “Agreed the primary may have been contested and won but the major battle ahead is winning the September 10th Governorship election which is very key to the APC in the state and that is why the governor as the father of the party in the state should meet all the aspirants one on one and nobody should be neglected because this is politics”

    “Some of the aspirants, no doubt have huge supporters who are waiting patiently for direction from their political leaders as the governorship election approaches. The governor must come down to the level of all and reconcile everybody. It shouldn’t be the case of winner takes it all.

    “We must realize that the opposition PDP are not relenting in their battle to take over the state at all cost and therefore if Edo must continue to remain an APC state, then everybody must be carried along. He added.

  • Why Oshiomhole won in 2012 – Ikimi

    Why Oshiomhole won in 2012 – Ikimi

    Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi, has said that Governor Adams Oshiomhole won his 2012 re-election because former President Goodluck Jonathan provided a level playing field.

    Chief Ikimi disclosed that the party was set to drop Governor Oshiomhole after his first term but Oshiomhole begged him to be given a second term ticket.

    Ikimi stated that Oshiomhole won the election with a landslide victory not because of Governor Oshiomhole’s merit but because himself and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu took Oshiomhole to former President Jonathan to demand for a level playing field.

    The former minister spoke in Benin City at the flagging-off of Pastor Ize-Iyamu governorship campaigns.

    There were joyous moments inside the hall when news of the court ruling in Port Harcourt filtered in.

    Caretaker Committee Chairman of the PDP, Senator Ahmed Makarfi’s who was represented by Senator Odion Ugbesia, presented the party’s flag and new keys of the Edo Government House to Pastor Ize-Iyamu.

    Chief Ikimi boasted elections were won in the state with personalities like Chief Gabriel Igbinedion and Chief Tony Anenih.

    He urged President Mohammadu Buhari to provide a level playing field during the elections as a payback to him for leading the formation of the All Progressive Congress.

    According to him, “Pastor Ize-Iyamu brought Oshiomhole to me. I never knew him before. I was told he was a former Labour leader. I was persuaded to accept him and we took him round the 192 wards.”

    “In his first four years, he betrayed us. We wanted to drop him but he knelt down to beg me. It was myself and Pastor Ize-Iyamu that took Oshiomhole to former President Jonathan to beg him to provide a level playing field.”

    “Jonathan supported us. Oshiomhole won not because he was brilliant but he has paid us in band coin.”

    Senator Matthew Urhoghide said Oshiomhole paid all of them who supported him to power with ingratitude.

    Former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, said the High court verdict that affirmed the removal of Sheriff was a good sign that victory was in sight.

    Pastor Ize-Iyamu insisted that the PDP would win the September 10 governorship election.

    He promised to restore the lost glory of the state.

    Ize-Iyamu stated that the party was sincere and passionate about the development of the state.

    Governor of Akwa-Ibom State, Emmanuel Udom, urged the crowd to vote in the PDP.

    Udom said it was time for the people of Edo to return Edo to the PDP family and assured that Pastor Ize-Iyamu would govern with transparency.

    Senator Ben Obi said Pastor Ize-Iyamu has always ensured victory on whichever side he belonged since 1999.

  • Edo Need Additional Teachers-NUT Chairman

    Edo Need Additional Teachers-NUT Chairman

    Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Edo state chapter Chairman, Comrade  Mike Uhumwangho,  said an additional 30 per cent teachers were needed to fill the vacant space in public schools in the state.

    The NUT chairman stated this while fielding questions from newsmen in Benin on Thursday.

    He said the vacant spaces were those teachers who left the service due to retirement as well as those who have died.

    Uhunmwangho who commended Governor Adams Oshiomhole for approving teachers promotion for 2014/2015/2016, noted that they would continue to give their best to enhance quality education in the state.

    “As I speak with you, the screening exercise for the three years promotion is ongoing in Benin.

    “We are also using this medium to appeal to the governor to extend the 25 per cent minimum wage to teachers in the state.

    “We know this have been reflected in other public workers in the state, we also want same extended to the teachers,” he said.

  • Odubu, Imasuagbon, Agbonmhere shun meeting with Oshiomhole

    Odubu, Imasuagbon, Agbonmhere shun meeting with Oshiomhole

    Edo State Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu who is also a governorship aspirant of the All Progressive Congress Thursday shunned a meeting with Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

    Other aspirants that shunned the meeting included Blessing Agbomhere, Kenneth Imasuagbon popularly known as the ‘Rice Man’, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor and Austin Emuan.

    Agbomhere told our reporter on phone that they decided to shun the meeting because there was nothing new they expected to hear from Oshiomhole.

    Seven aspirants that attended the meeting were Mr. Godwin Obaseki, Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (rtd), Comrade Peter Esele, Prof Ebegue Amadasun, Mrs. Tina Agbara and Hon. Emmanuel Arigbe-Osula.

    In his speech, Governor Oshiomhole expressed regret over delay in the release of the delegate list by the National headquarters of the APC.

    Governor Oshiomhole noted that no aspirant would put his hand on the Bible and say, ‘I have not induced delegates with money’.

    He assured the aspirants that the primaries would be free, fair and devoid of violence as adequate security would be provided.

    Oshiomhole stated that his only regret was that some aspirants seemed to be more vicious in the course of intra-party contest rather than focusing.

    The governor noted that enemies of the APC should not be allowed to infiltrate their ranks, take position or create tension such that it would be difficult to work together.

    His words, “We all need to work together. I want to be able to go out with any candidate to campaign. I want to be able to give support.”

    “There will be enough security, and anybody going into the arena will not be able to carry any offensive weapon by however defined. That I can assure you, and it is not a place for supporters’ club. It is a venue for delegates polling.

    “As for the allegation of people spending money, the truth is like what they said in the Bible: who will cast the first stone? Of the seven of you here seated, how many can put his hand on the Bible and say, ‘I have not induced delegates with money’?

    “My plea is let’s maintain our friendship. Let’s not scandalize ourselves. I tell them that what we do in APC is that service delivery and infrastructural development is a way of life in our party, and that explains why even six months or less than six months to the end of my tenure, we are still flagging off new projects when others can’t even pay salaries. I want to service the bond between Edo electorate and the All Progressives Congress as a party so that I will leave the ladder stronger than I met it.”

    The aspirants who spoke emphasized the need to unite behind whoever emerges the candidate of the party with a view to winning the general election on September 10.

  • Edo APC Guber  Primaries : Obaseki DG, others on PVC hunting- Dr. Omorodion

    Edo APC Guber  Primaries : Obaseki DG, others on PVC hunting- Dr. Omorodion

    It was a show of shame for the DG of Obaseki campaign  organization, Osarodion Ogie,Oshiomhole Chief of Staff and Dennis IDAHOSA at Iguobazuwa on Monday as they seek to buy up PVC from Ovia South West delegates at a meeting held at the party Secretariat.

    Dr. Harrison Omorodion , Public Affairs analyst said the trio in company of others had intimated the delegates of their desire to pay 25,000 to each delegates in other to have them surrender their voters card to them as a demonstration of their commitment to Obaseki’s candidacy but were however rebuffed by the delegates who vowed not to part with their voters card for any sum of money.

    Omorodion said they were told in clear terms by representatives from the various wards that the demand for PVC was untenable ahead of the APC primaries.

    “Miffed by the developments the PVC merchants only parted away with 500,000 naira for the entire delegates to enable them return back .

    It will be recalled that several persons have raised alarm over the desperate and criminal act if mopping up delegates PVC by the Obaseki supporters  in other have them cloned for none delegates to gain access to the venue of the primaries or induce the delegates into camping or deny those that are not likely to vote for them access into the venue.

    Ten out of the 12 screened aspirants have petitioned the national leadership of the party to quickly address the issue in the interest of the integrity of the process.

    A lot of party members have expressed  disappointment over the desperation of Obaseki and his minders to win the forthcoming primaries at all cost by engaging in criminal and underhand tactics.

    According to him, “If care is not taken the way things are been handled by agents of government who are pushing for the Obaseki candidacy ahead of the primaries may inflict on serious damage on the chances of the party winning the general election.

    “As things stands Other aspirants except Obaseki are preparing for a free and fair primaries which only the National leadership of the party can guarantee. ”

    It will be recalled that Obaseki is the anointed candidate of Governor ADAMS Oshiomhole , but he is battling to get the acceptance among party delegates even in the face of humongous sum of money that the Governor has deployed into selling him.

    Saturday 18, June will tell if Gov Oshiomhole will have his way.