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Tag: Mr Chris Nehikhare

  • 61 aspirants pick PDP nomination forms in Edo

    A total of 61 aspirants have purchased and submitted the nomination and expression of interest forms of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the Edo State House of Assembly and the National Assembly.

    It was learnt that 49 aspirants bought for the 24 Edo Assembly seat while 12 bought for the National Assembly seats.

    Read Also:Ex-Osun Assembly speaker resigns PDP membership

    The aspirants have been screened but none has been disqualified as at press time.

    Edo State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Chris Nehikhare, who confirmed the figures, said the party would ensure level playing field for the aspirants.

    Nehikhare said the aspirants for the National Assembly seats have no opponents contesting against them for the party’s ticket.

  • PDP kicks over plans sales of state owned media 

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)  in Edo State has urged Governor Godwin Obaseki to halt planned sales of the state-owned Media outfit, the Bendel Newspapers Ltd, and the Edo Broadcasting Service.

    It implored Governor Obaseki to rather put in place a well-motivated management team and invest only 50% out of the N600m being collected as security votes monthly.

    The PDP said the state government would achieve a world class Media Company if the money is well utilised.

    Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Chris Nehikhare, said the report of a committee of media executives was aimed to justify the sale, or concession of the media outfits.

    Nehikhare alleged that the panel produced a report to suit the prearranged position of Governor Obaseki and his alleged business interest.

    According to Nehikhare, “Presently, the governor has privately selected a preferred “investor” who happened to be the consultant to his campaign organisation.

    “The said investor is Dr. Henry Nzekwu. He manages a small radio station in Delta state.

    “However, the plan is to quietly divest Edo state interest from both companies, hand them over to Dr Nzekwu, who is allegedly acting as a front, as a tradeoff, for the role Dr Nzekwu played during the campaign.

    “We call on the state government to stop the illegal sale and acquisitions of government assets and properties.”

    Reacting, Special Adviser to Governor Obaseki on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, described the PDP’s allegations as false.

    Osagie said no portion of the committee report stated that the media outfit should be sold to private enterprise.

    Read Also: Obaseki to PDP: I’m paying your debts

  • Alleged diversion of IDPs rice: Police invites Orbih for questioning 

    Alleged diversion of IDPs rice: Police invites Orbih for questioning 

    Edo State Commissioner of Police, Babatunde Kokumo, has invited Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, Chief Dan Orbih, for questioning over allegations that the state government diverted rice meant Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

    Chief Orbih had alleged that 4721 bags of rice meant for IDPs at Ohogua village in Ovai North East local government area were diverted.

    The invitation of Chief Orbih was based on a petition by Governor Godwin Obaseki on the need for the police to make Chief Orbih present facts of the allegations.

    Governor Obaseki had in the petition said Chief Orbih in a a radio interview ‘falsely and maliciously stated that the Edo State Government was involved in a criminal conspiracy to divert 4,721 bags of rice released by the Federal Government for distribution to IDPs in the state’.

    In the petition signed by Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Osarodion Ogie, the Edo Government stated that Chief Orbih further claimed that 300 bags of rice were diverted to a certain Senator in Ondo State.

    According to the petition, “It is instructive to note that in making these allegations to the general public, Chief Orbih claimed that he had facts and records to back up these criminal allegations.

    “The purpose of this complaints is to formally bring these weighty and unsubstantiated allegations to your attention and to request a thorough investigation with a view to establishing the veracity or otherwise of same.

    “It is the contention of the Edo State Government that Chief Dan Orbih should be called upon to provide evidence of the serious crimes he has alleged to have been committed by the Edo State Government and to furnish your Command with facts, details and proof of the allegations he has made in the public domain.”

    State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Chris Nehikhare who confirmed the development said Chief Orbih will appear before the police.

    Nehikhare said the Edo PDP also wrote a petitioned for criminal incitement of the public against the leadership and members of PDP by the Edo State Government.

    He stated that Edo Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Mr. Paul Ohonbamu and the Media Aide to Governor Obaseki, Mr. Crusoe Osagie have consistently issued press releases referring the members and leadership of PDP as bandits, rogues, liars and fraudsters who stole the resources of the people.

    “Edo PDP wants the police to investigate these matters and ensure that those behind these criminal incitements are brought to book.”

    Read Also: Rice, shoes for IDPs: Edo releases distribution roster

  • PDP insists Edo ex-Speaker must face trial 

    PDP insists Edo ex-Speaker must face trial 

    The People’s Democratic Party has insisted that a former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon Elisabeth Ativie, must be made to face trial if it was discovered that she contravened Section 10 of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Matters Commission (ICPC) Act.

    It said the issue was no longer whether Hon Ativie is made to return the four official vehicles she used as Speaker but whether it was lawful for her to receive gratification for performing a duty for which she was duly elected.

    After weeks of hesitation, Hon Ativie has agreed to return the vehicles following the intervention of party leaders in her Uhunmwode constituency.

    Ativie had alleged that the four vehicles, one Toyota prado jeep, one Lexus jeep 2016 model and two Hilux vans were given to her by former Governor Adams Oshiomhole for the sacrifices she made for stepping down as Speaker.

    She said she has sold one of the after registering them in her name.

    But Comrade Oshiomhole denied asking Ativie to convert the vehicles for her personnel use and called on the state government to prosecute for stealing.

    A statement signed by state Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Chris Nehikhare said the intervention by APC leaders and explanations of Oshiomhole were dangerously unacceptable.

    Nehikhare stated that the party will still seek an order of Mandamus to compel the arrest, investigation and prosecution of Oshiomhole and Ativie for their role in the purported sale of government vehicles and property.

    According to the statement, the PDP wants to establish if Adams Oshiomhole as governor had the power to gift government property to Hon. Ativie or anyone else for that matter.

    “That Adams Oshiomhole by gifting out the government vehicles in the circumstances which he said he did, was offering a bribe to a government official?

    “We want to state that Edo PDP is doing this in the interest of Edo people and its assets. A legal resolution of this issue will be a check on the conduct and behaviour of future governors and elected officers of the State and Nigeria at large.

    “A governor must know the limits of his powers and how to exercise them. He must know that deceit and bribery are not acceptable.”

  • Edo 2016: PDP has no plans to recruit militants

    Edo 2016: PDP has no plans to recruit militants

    The Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu Campaign organization Thursday condemned the remarks credited to Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole that the PDP has made arrangements with militants from neighboring states with the aim of disrupting the September elections in the state.

    The chairman of the Media Committee Of the organization Mr Chris Nehikhare in a statement said it is case of the pot calling the kettle black because it is the APC and the Governor Adams Oshiomhole that are spoiling for Violence!

    He said, “We have announced and drawn the attention of the security services to his many infractions and in his characteristic manner to divert attention from himself, the accused turns around to become the accuser”.

    It will be recalled that the Governor on Wednesday called on the Police to checkmate plans by some opposition politicians to import thugs into the state from neighbouring states with a view to causing mayhem during the election in the state.

    He was speaking during a visit to him by the Assistant Inspector-General in charge of Zone 5, Benin City, Mr. Adeyinka Kolawole Sodipo, to his office in Benin City.

    According to Nehikhare, “It is on record that renowned Niger Delta Militant Ayirimi Emami who is alleged to be helping Oshiomhole recruit ex-militants to perpetuate violence at the forthcoming Guber election was seen today campaigning with the Governor of the outgoing Party in Benin City”.

    He added that, “Ayiri as he’s popularly called has been given N240million by Adams Oshiomhole for the dirty job. He is said to have already received the First instalment a few months back when Adams Oshiomhole in company of Philip Shuaibu took Ayiri to pin-point hot locations of the PDP stronghold where violence will be required on the Election Day”.

    “Ayiri was taken yesterday to Egor LGA which is a sure LGA for the PDP and he’s to be taken to the Hometown of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and other locations today”.

    He said while the PDP and the Ize-Iyamu campaign organization sees  the governor’s position as laughable, “we wish to point out that this is indeed the sign that the APC with the comrade governor in the lead has stepped up their propaganda machinery to the level of misleading the security agencies.”

    He then called on the police and other relevant security agencies to be proactive in arresting any security breach that may lead to the disruption of elections in all parts of the state.