The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Governor Godwin Obaseki

  • Edo poll: INEC to open defence Tuesday

    Edo poll: INEC to open defence Tuesday

    …APC counsel allays fears over recounting of ballot papers

     

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will Tuesday open its defence as the first respondents in the ongoing sitting of the Edo State Election Petitions Tribunal.

    Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Ahmed Badamasi, had adjourned sitting to Tuesday after the Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu closed his case last Thursday with the recounting of ballot papers used in four local government areas.

    Counsel to INEC, Onyinye Azumonye, told the tribunal last week that the commission could not open its defence because it need to know the results of the ballot papers that were recounted.

    Local government areas that were recounted were Estako West, Estako East, Egor and Akoko-Edo.

    Justice Badamasi had earlier ruled that the tribunal’s secretary would today made known the results of the ballot papers recounting.

    Pastor Ize-Iyamu is asking the tribunal to declare him winner of the September 28 governorship election which was won by Governor Godwin Obaseki.

    Ize-Iyamu called a total of 91 witnesses for a period of 14 days against 400 witnesses that were to be called.

    Meanwhile, Counsel to the All Progressive Congress, Lateef Fagbemi, has allayed fears of the party’s supporters over the recounting of ballot papers.

    Fagbemi told newsmen that there was no problem with the recounting and that the issues would be dealt with at the appropriate time.

    His words, “There is no issue about recounting. When we get to that bridge we will cross it. There is no problem about recounting of ballot papers. What issues have been made out of the recounting?

    “I cannot be arguing my case in the media or the pages of newspapers. This is not the first time they are doing recounting but whether they are doing it the right way is another matter. I know that recounting of ballot papers is one of the weapons the petitioners can use effectively and the law has spelt out the procedure to follow. Our contentious is that the procedure had not been followed. It is not like the case of Oshiomhole.”

  • NLC, TUC threaten protest, strike action in Edo

    NLC, TUC threaten protest, strike action in Edo

    Organized Labour in Edo State has threatened to embark on a mass protest and began an indefinite strike action if Governor Godwin Obaseki failed to meet their demands within seven days.

    The Labour movement made up of Nigeria Labour Congress (TUC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Joint Negotiation Council (JNC) issued the ultimatum at an enlarged State Executive Council meeting.

    It rejected the implementation of the contributory pension scheme which it said was done in ‘flagrant and total disregard to due process and rule of law.

    The Labour movement called on Governor Obaseki to urgently stop what it termed unlawful deductions from workers’ salaries and maintain status quo ante in the interest of industrial peace and harmony in the state.

    Addressing journalist after the meeting, State Chairman of NLC, Emmanuel Ademokun, condemned the non-utilization of about N11.3bn Paris Club refund received by the state government for the payment of outstanding workers’ pension and emoluments.

    Comrade Ademokun called on Governor Obaseki to immediately use the Paris Club refund to pay local government workers whose salaries arrears ranged from between four to 14 months.

    Other categories of workers to be paid from the fund according to Ademokun are staff of Tayo Akpata University and Colleges of Education in the state, Judiciary staff who are owed seven months salaries arrears, pensioners in both the state and local government and the 2016 Leave Transport Grant owes Primary School Teaching and non-teaching staff.

    Ademokun also called for the opening of the State Pension Board and arrears of salaries owed staff of the Pension Board since December, 2015.

    According to him, “That Organised Labour in Edo State can no longer repose confidence and trust in the administration of Mr. Governor because his policy decision are anti-workers and therefore repugnant to the principle of natural justice, equity and good conscience.

    “The State Government should open the window for a more comprehensive dialogue with the leadership of organized Labour in the state towards having a more reliable, dependable, transparent, purposeful and accountable Contributory Pension Scheme in the state.

    Ademokun gave Governor Obaseki till Sunday February 12 to meet the workers’ demand or face mass protest onFebruary 13 to be followed by an indefinite strike action on the 14th of February.

    When contacted for comments, Chief Press Secretary to Obaseki, Mr. John Mayaki said the Governor would soon address journalists on the matter.

    As at press time, Governor Obaseki was yet to address the press.

  • Edo Assembly passes N153.2billion 2017 budget estimate 

    Edo Assembly passes N153.2billion 2017 budget estimate 

    Lawmakers in the Edo State House of Assembly have passed the sum of N153.2bn for the 2017 fiscal year.

    The lawmakers increased the budget estimate by N3bn.

    Governor Godwin Obaseki had last year presented a budget estimate of N150 billion to the house for consideration and passage.

    Breakdown of Obaseki’s budget estimate showed that N75.11billion was allocated for capital expenditures while the sum of N74.9bn was earmarked for recurrent expenditures.

    Chairman, Appropriation and Project Monitoring, Hon Damian Lawani representing Etsako Central Constituency said the budget reflected the views of the people and was designed to consolidate and complete all ongoing projects.

    The Assembly increased the capital expenditure to N76.6 billion and recurrent expenditure was increased to N76.5 billion.

    A further breakdown of the passed budget showed that the sum of N18.5 billion, N7.2 billion , N3.6 billion and N6.034billion were allocated for the recurrent expenditures of the administrative, economic, law and justice and social sectors respectively.

    Also N5.68 billion, N47.billion and N1.84 billion, and N22.09were allocated for the capital expenditures for the administrative, economic, law and justice and social sectors respectively.

    Speaker Justin Okonoboh directed that clean copies of the bill be sent to Governor Obaseki for assent after the budget was passed.

  • Edo government house not bank – Obaseki

    Edo government house not bank – Obaseki

    Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo on Tuesday said the Government House was not a bank where people went to collect money but a place to render service.

    Obaseki made this known while receiving executive members of Women’s wing of All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state in Benin.

    He assured the women of 35 per cent appointment in his administration but insisted that ‘’government house is not where you come to make money, but where you come to serve.

    According to him, I don’t have money to give anybody; the money I have is to work for the people.

    “I can create money going by my experience as an investment banker; I can organise things and people must be ready to work,” the governor said.

    He told the women that the days had gone when politics was about money sharing.

    “The question is what do you do with the political power. It is our level of commitment that gets us where we want to be.

    “People should be ready to work. We should prioritise and cut waste because our biggest problem is wastes.

    “God chose me for a purpose to change things at this time and politics of money and sharing is not possible,’’ Obaseki said.

    He commended the party women for supporting him during the 2016 governorship poll in the state and urged them to be the vanguard of the new politics.

    He called on the women to partner the government in the development of the state, especially in the area of ensuring quality basic and technical education for their children.

    In her remarks, the APC women leader in the state, Dr Aisosa Amadasun, commended the governor on his victory at the polls and pledged their support to the success his administration.

    Amadasun said that the visit was to solicit the fulfilment of the United Nation’s mandate of 35 per cent appointment position for women in his administration.

  • Ensure Independence of  judiciary, new Chief judge tells Obaseki

    Ensure Independence of  judiciary, new Chief judge tells Obaseki

     

     

    The New Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Esohe Frances Ikponmwen, has tasked Governor Godwin Obaseki to respect the rule of law and ensure independence of the judiciary as enshrined in section 6 of the Nigeria Constitution.

    Justice Ikponmwen who spoke after she was sworn-in as the Chief Judge of the state promised to work assiduously for the enthronement of justice in its finest form in the state.

    Making reference to the seven months unpaid salaries of judicial workers in the state over strike action, Justice Ikponmwen appealed for forgiveness where there are perceived wrongs saying ‘it is time to forge ahead and heal wounds.’

    Justice Ikponmwen stated that her work ethics and what makes her happy ‘is that in matters of principle, I stand as a rock.’

    Her words, “There will be no room for corrupt practices in our judicial system nor for undue favoritism and influence or untoward conduct by judicial officer.

    “All judicial officer will be made to understand that every court must be ready to prevent the improper use of its machinery as a means of vexation and oppression in the process of litigation.

    “I appeal to staff of the judiciary to be patient. We shall not allow ourselves to be controlled by people, money or past experiences.”

    On his part, Governor Godwin Obaseki said the over 500% increase in the budgetary provision in this year’s budget is to enhance quick dispensation of justice.

    Governor Obaseki promised to respect the rule of law and called for more cordial relationship among all arms of government.

  • Edo poll: Tribunal throws out YDP petition

    The Edo State Election Petitions Tribunal on Thursday threw out one of the petitions filed by the Young Democratic Party and its governorship candidate, Nurudeen Inwanfero, for abuse of court process.

     

    It said the YDP failed to comply with paragraph 29 of the Electoral Act by filling the necessary application before the tribunal seeking to discontinue with the first petition it filed.

     

    Candidate of the YDP, Nurudeen Inwanfero, had in his petition asked the tribunal to cancel the entire September 28election because the party’s logo was not included in the ballot papers used for the election.

     

    The petitioners filed petitions number one and three and it filed notice of discontinue for petition number one but the tribunal held that filing of petition number three was abuse of court process.

     

    Ruling on the application filed by Governor Godwin Obaseki through his lead Counsel, Lateef Fagbemi, the three-man panel earlier granted leave of the respondent to argue the application outside the pre-hearing session.

     

    Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Ahmed Badamasi, who read the ruling said it was clear that there are two same petitions from the petitioners before the tribunal.

     

    Justice Badamasi held that there was nothing to show that the notice of discontinuous was filed by the petitioners and described it as vague and incompetence.

     

    Badamasi therefore struck out petition number three and all pending applications against the petition.

     

    Attempts by the petitioners’ Counsel, Ugo Nwofor, to request for adjournment to enable him put his ‘House in order’ rejected by the respondents’ Counsels.

     

    Nwofor stated that it was in the interest of justice for the tribunal to grant the adjournment to allow him time put things together in respect of petition number one.

     

    Olanipekun urged the tribunal to remove the life support on the petition as there was no application for extension of time before the tribunal.

     

    Justice Badamasi adjourned sitting to December 13 for ruling on whether petition number one still has merit.

  • Heavy security at Edo tribunal sitting

    Heavy security at Edo tribunal sitting

    There was heavy presence of security presence at the premises of the Edo State High Court where the State Election Petition tribunal is sitting along Sapele Road in Benin City.

     

    To avert a clash of political parties supporters, roads leading to the court were cordoned off. 

     

    The tribunal was scheduled to hear applications filed Governor Godwin Obaseki and the All Progressive Congress against the petition filed by Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and the People’s Democratic Party.

     

    Vehicles were allowed to ply one way along the dualised Sapele Road.

     

    At the last tribunal sitting, thugs loyal to both the PDP and the APC stormed the tribunal premises and it resulted in a clash which left about three persons injured.

     

    The heavy security presence prevented suspected thugs from gaining access to the tribunal premises.

  • Crisis looms in Esan Central over political appointments

    Crisis looms in Esan Central over political appointments

    Three communities in Esan Central local government area have appealed to Governor Godwin Obaseki not to marginalize them in the distribution of political appointments.

     

    Obaseki had requested for six weeks to work with Permanent Secretaries in the state with a view to understanding what shape his administration would take before making political appointments.

     

    Leaders of the communities namely, Ewu, Opoji and Ugbegun, vowed to resist any move to give juicy appointment to politicians from other communities in the locality.

     

    The leaders in a press statement signed by Prince Tom Anuge and Mr Mathew Emiohe, want Governor Obaseki to stop the injustice meted against them in terms of political appointments.

     

    They claimed that they have always voted massively for the victory of the APC in the state but are forgotten when it comes to benefitting from the dividends of democracy.

     

    The statement reads, “We of these three Kingdom seriously demand a change of attitude from the majority group by allowing equitable distribution of infrastructures, political appointment, elective offices that are usually allocated to the local government area, subsequently as this will enhance development and peaceful co-existence among the component Kingdom that make up Esan Central.

     

    “Throughout the years, we have watched patiently and painfully from the political wilderness that we seemed to have been how Irrua Kingdom continues to snatch in the most unjust manner most of the political position of significance in our local government especially important position of council chairmanship. From 1999 till date, the chairman of the Council, all executive directors, special assistance, board chairman allocated to the LG are all centred in Irrrua Kingdom”

     

    “It is our humble hope to pursue political and peaceful avenue for protest that is available to us until this great marginalization, injustice melted on us by the Irrua people is fully addressed. We shall agitate constructively, protest peacefully in order to avoid the real possibility of a breakdown of law and order if this trend remain unattended to”.

  • Benin Monarch tasks Obaseki on campaign promises

    Benin Monarch tasks Obaseki on campaign promises

    The Benin Monarch, Oba Ewuare II, has tasked Governor Godwin Obaseki to fulfill his campaign promises of creating 200,000 jobs for the people.

    Oba Ewuare II urged Governor Obaseki to set up cottage industries that would take the youths off the street.

    He spoke when Governor Obaseki paid his first official visit to the palace of the Benin Monarch.

    Oba Ewuare II said his palace was ready to partner with the state government on the establishment of cluster industries otherwise known as mini industrial parks and called for the setting up of a working committee in conjunction with the palace to actualize the idea.

    The Benin Monarch also urged Governor Obaseki to eradicate the menace of Community Development Association 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 owhien as the case may be.”

    “I have no doubt in my mind that you will deploy all your wealth of experience both in the private sector and in the immediate past administration of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to effectively utilise the human and material resources in Edo state to take it to greater heights through good governance and provide the good people of Edo state the good dividends of democracy.

    “Endeavour to deliver on your campaign promises and attract more federal support and presence particularly my initial appeal to the federal government to transform Gelegele into an Export Processing Zone for agro allied industries.”

    Godwin Obaseki on his part called for support from the Benin Kingdom to have a more friendly land administrative system that would be investors friendly and in tune with his administration’s desire for more development for the state.

    Obaseki said his administration would ensure a friendly environment to make Edo one of the cleanest states in Nigeria.

    He promised to, in the next few weeks, unveil the plans to achieve his promise of creating 200,000  jobs for the people of the state.

    “This kingdom used to have the best land tenure system in Nigeria; unfortunately we have lost that pride today. We want to deal with the issue of land properly so that can attract private investment to the state; we need your support to do this.”

     

  • Obaseki appoints Chief Judge 

    Obaseki appoints Chief Judge 

    Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has appointed Justice Esther Ikponmwen as the Chief Judge of Edo State.

     

    Obaseki in a letter to lawmakers in the State House of Assembly said the appointment followed recommendation of the National Judiciary Council.

     

    He urged the lawmakers to confirm the appointment Justice Ikponmwen.

     

    Speaker Justin Okonoboh who read the letter of the governor at plenary Wednesday referred the request to the House Standing Committee on Judiciary.

     

    He urged the committee to present the report at next Plenary for consideration.

     

    Speaker Okonoboh announced the dissolution of all House Standing Committees with immediate effect.