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Tag: Mr Godwin Obaseki

  • Why Obaseki reinstated Ojuromi of Uromi

    The Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has explained the reasons for the reinstatement of the Ojuromi of Uromi, His Royal Highness, Anselm Aidenojie II, by the state government, who was deposed by the administration of Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

    Obaseki disclosed that “Consequent upon his tendering of apology to the Edo State Government and a plea for leniency from well-meaning citizens of Edo State, the Executive Council of the state, approved the reversal of his deposition and was reinstated as His Royal Highness Anslem Aidenojie II, the Ojuromi of Uromi.”

    The governor said that “the people who pleaded for his reinstatement reported that the Ojuromi of Uromi had been sober and remorseful and we are happy that he has undertaken to eschew acts unbefitting of his royal status.”

    Prominent sons and daughters of Edo had pleaded on the Ojuromi’s behalf, and begged for his reinstatement, as his conduct, mien and relations in public and private showed his readiness to work with the state government in manners worthy of the exalted Ojuromi throne.

    It is said that the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II also waded into the matter and pleaded for leniency for the Onojie.

    News of the reinstatement was greeted with excitement in Uromi and other parts of the state, on Wednesday after the Edo State government announced the decision.

    Recall that he was deposed on October 26, 2016 following the approval by the Edo State Executive Council that, amongst other things, the Royal father engaged in acts capable of breaching the peace in Uromi Community in Esan North East Local Government Area, contrary to section 130 and 131 of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.

    Read Also: Obaseki assures of sustenance of Edo cultural heritage

  • Obaseki promises to complete NYSC Orientation Camp

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has promised to complete the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) permanent orientation camp at Okada within the stipulated time.

    Obaseki said he has deployed all machineries to the construction site to ensure that the next batch of corps members hold their orientation at the permanent site.

    Obaseki admonished corps members to embrace the Federal Government’s programme tagged “Change begin with me” in order to restore the nation’s dignity, pride and values.

    Represented by his deputy, Hon Philip Shaibu, Governor Obaseki spoke at the closing ceremony of the 2018 Batch ‘A’ corps members held at the NYSC Camp, Okada in Ovia North East Local Government Area of the state.

    Obaskei urged the corps members to eschew Internet fraud, armed robbery, thuggery, kidnapping, drug addiction, cultism, violence and prostitution.

    He identified corruption as one of the challenges facing the country adding that the only way out is for the corps members to take advantage and key into the “Change begin with me” initiative of the Federal  Government.

    According to him, “I charge you as future leaders to embrace the federal government programme ‘Change begins with me’ initiative which is aimed at restoring our national values and upholding all that is right.

    “The good people of Edo State are very friendly, receptive and accommodating. They are enlightened, sociable and above all hospitable.”

    The NYSC state coordinator, Mr. Abdullahi Baba Yusuf, disclosed that a total of  2,137 corps members have been equipped through orientation exercise for the challenges ahead of the service year.

    He said all through the orientation exercise, they have exhibited a very high level of discipline and decorum which culminated in the hitch free and very successful period they have stayed in the camp.

    Abdullahi said over 75 percent of the corps members have been posted to various educational institutions in the state to impart knowledge in our young ones in compliance with the posting policy of NYSC while the rest consisting of doctors and lawyers were posted to Primary Health Facilities and the Ministry of Justice respectively for their Primary Assignment.

  • Edo’s devt: Obaseki appeals to donor agencies for support   

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has called on donor agencies for continued support of its development initiatives, assuring that the government is committed to ensuring high impact of donors’ assistance for all stakeholders.

    The governor said this at the First Quarterly Review of Donor Agencies’ projects in the state held at the Banquet Hall, Government House in Benin city, the Edo State capital.

    Obaseki, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq., said that in the light of Nigeria’s transition from low to middle income status, the country risked losing access to certain funding for development.

    He said this calls for more creative approaches to addressing developmental challenges, especially in healthcare and education, noting that the state government is adopting the Edo State Health Insurance Scheme to ensure that accessible and affordable healthcare does not elude her people.

    According to him, “Edo State is not sleeping on its oars in the face of such dire situation. Hence, we are adopting a special Edo State Health Insurance Scheme.

    “As donor support is shrinking, we must put on our thinking caps to begin to look at other sources of funds to assist us with our developmental projects. It is on this note that we request our donor partners to keep granting Edo State the understanding it truly deserves because of our unalloyed commitment of ensuring that every of your effort crystalizes into high-yielding gains for all stakeholders.”

    He said the meeting was also to acquaint local government executives with the different donor funded projects in their domain so that they do not only have inventory of the projects, but also to ensure monitoring and maintenance.

    In her remarks, Commissioner for Budget, Hon. Maryam Abubakar, said the state government organised the meeting to review performance and ascertain intervention and impact of donor agencies’ projects.

    She added that the state government places emphasis on the deepening of development by donor agencies, especially in line with her developmental plan, captured in thematic areas in the State’s Strategic Plan 2010-2020.

     

     

     

  • Edo strengthens ties with Police, Navy on Security

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said the state is working with the Nigeria Police Force as well as the Nigeria Navy to ensure robust security architecture in Gelegele community as work progresses on the Benin River Port in the community.

    The governor stated this during a tour of the Gelegele waterway in Ovia North East Local Government Area of the state on Sunday.

    The governor was accompanied by the Commander, Joint Taskforce Operation, Delta Force, Rear Admiral Suleiman Opochi, and the Edo Commissioner of Police, Mr Johnson Kokumo, on the boat ride which extended to the state’s boundary with Delta State and lasted for about two hours.

    Speaking to journalists after the tour, the governor said the state was planning to undertake some security initiatives in collaboration with the Navy and Police in Gelegele community hence the trip to have first-hand knowledge of the waterway.

    He said the state was privileged to have a Marine Police Command, which would be sited in Gelegele community, noting, “The visit to this place is also to see how much work was done by China Harbour, the company handling the project and the facilities available at the Marine Police Base.”

    The governor added that a road network different from the Ekenwan route would be constructed during the execution of the Benin River Port project, to link other parts of the state and country to the area.

    “A road network to link other parts of the state to this environ is contained in the feasibility study of the Benin River Port project but we have decided to upgrade the Ekenwan Road starting from the Oba Market axis,” he said.

    Edo Commissioner of Police, Mr Johnson Kokumo, said the Marine Base in Gelegele community is to effectively combat crimes on the waterway.

    “I was able to get the approval of the Inspector General of Police to have a base here to ensure there is adequate security in this environ,” he said.

    Kokumo added that the Police has established a synergy with the local vigilantes in Gelegele community to beef up security in the area.

    Real Admiral Suleiman Opochi, Commander, Joint Taskforce Operation, Delta Force, said protection of facilities and installation on the Niger Delta waterways was part of the taskforce’s mandates.

    He said the tour with the governor of the Benin River Port project was to assess the terrain, which is part of the taskforce’s surveillance duties.

    “What we have come here for is within the confines of our mandate to protect oil and gas installations on waterways from sea robbery and crude oil theft. We have relayed the challenges in this environ to the Edo State Government and we believe it is on top of the issue,” he added.

    Chairman, Gelegele Community, Mr. Dennis Milton, described the governor’s visit to the facilities in the Benin River Port as laudable, noting that there are assurances that the project would be actualised.

    He said the people of the community are ready to guarantee security in the area and support the state government in the execution of the project.

  • Edo to co-invest in devt of Weppa Farm

    …Partners Leventis Foundation on Agric Institute

     

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said that the state government will in the coming weeks sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Leventis Foundation to fast-track the development of the 13,500 hectares Weppa  Farm, Agenebode, in Etsako East Local Government Area of the state.

    Governor Obaseki disclosed this at the foundation- laying/groundbreaking ceremony of the Leventis Foundation’s Agricultural Management Training Institute, Weppawanno, to be sited at the farm, in Agenebode.

    The governor said he was delighted that private interests, such as the Leventis Foundation are aligning with his vision to reposition the state as a thriving industrial hub and setting up institutions to deepen the penetration of his policies.

    According to him, “I know that you have only developed 50 per cent of this farm. I want to implore and inform you that the Edo State Government is willing to collaborate with you for the rapid development of this facility. To this end, in the next two weeks we will like to sign an MoU with the Leventis Foundation to co-invest in the farm.”

    He said the state will work with the foundation to train and provide support for Agripreneurs in the state to guarantee a market for their produce as well as technical support for agricultural development. We want to ensure that our people do not only get trained but have access to the required support to set up, operate and create wealth from their farms.”

    “The establishment of the Agricultural Management Training Institute could not have come at a better time. As a state government we have decided to take action and recreate our tertiary institutions to ensure they do what they were set up to do.  In particular, we have shut down our colleges of agriculture in Iguoriakhi, Agenebode and Irrua. This is so that we can restructure and reposition them. The idea is to train dependable, dynamic and competent middle level manpower in the agricultural industry.

    We want to thank the management of the facility for the assistance they have rendered to us as we strive to reposition our schools of agriculture. In the meantime, we have decided to spread the students in our schools to various agricultural enterprises in Edo State such as Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc, Presco Plc, Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria and the Leventis Farm.”

    Chairman, Leventis Foundation, Alhaji Ahmed Mantey, said that the state government has been a worthy ally in the development of Weppa Farm, noting that this spurred the management to contribute to the economic development of the state.

    According to him, “Our aim with the Leventis Foundation Agricultural Management Institute is to fast-track the development of young agricultural specialists to become the commercial farm managers of tomorrow.

    “The course will be run on a one-year residency basis and will comprise both practical and academic elements. Weppa Farm is a mixed farm with arable, tree crops, livestock and processing activities and by siting the institute on the farm, students will have the opportunity to gain full exposure to modern mixed commercial farming.”

     

  • Press Bus accident: Edo refurbishes, hands over accidented vehicles

    The Edo State Government has handed over two vehicles that were damaged in the accident involving the Government House Press Corps Bus, to their owners, after refurbishment.

    The refurbished vehicles, a Toyota Corolla saloon car with Registration Number FC 291-APP belonging to Ezeora Obiora, and a Honda Civic saloon car with Registration Number USL 380-AH belonging to Mr. Obi Charles Ifechukwu, were handed over to the Nigeria Police Force at the Government House, in Benin City.

    The Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Chief Taiwo Akerele, said the vehicles were refurbished and handed-over to the Police for onward delivery to the owners.

    He said the handing-over was a fulfilment of the governor’s promise, noting, “The handing over was done as we operate a responsive government that cares for its people and take responsibility for its actions.”

    Obaseki  said the state government took care of the hospital bills of all the victims of the accident as promised, adding “All the victims were adequately attended to as the state government ensured that the medical bills were cleared.”

    He expressed appreciation to the owners of the vehicles for their patience and understanding, adding, “we also appreciate the level of professionalism displayed by the Nigeria Police while investigating the cause of the accident.”

    The Chief Executive Officer, Lady Mechanic Initiative, Sandra Aguebor, whose company refurbished the vehicles, said the state government made real its promise to refurbish the vehicles, adding that the vehicles were in better working condition.

    Recall that a bus assigned to the Press Unit of the Edo State Government House was involved in an accident on its way from an official assignment, on March 14, opposite the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), in Benin City.

    The medical bills of all the victims of the accident were settled by Governor Obaseki when he visited the patients in the hospital, including the bills of a medical doctor, a mother with her five-year-old child, Freeman Okoro, whose cancer treatment has been taken over by the state government.

  • Ireland lauds Obaseki’s reintegration plan for Libya returnees 

    Impressed by the Edo State government’s holistic plan for receiving and reintegrating Libya returnees, the  Ambassador of Ireland to Nigeria, Sean Hoy, has expressed his country’s readiness to collaborate with the state government in training the returnees on technical and vocational skills to become self-reliant and employers of labour.

    The envoy disclosed this when he led a delegation of Irish diplomats on a courtesy visit to the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, at the Government House in Benin City, Edo State.

    He commended the efforts of the governor at curbing illegal migration and human trafficking, noting, and “Providing the youths with means through which they can acquire skills is a significant step in curbing illegal migration, modern-day slavery and human trafficking”.

    “We have identified ways we can assist the state in training these youths. We are in talks with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) on the training of returnees. We want the returnees in Edo State to benefit from the programme.

    “It is important for us to show love and empathy to the returnees and assist them to acquire skills which will provide them with opportunities to seek gainful employment,” he added.

    In his response,  Governor Obaseki said the state government has a comprehensive work plan with clear strategies for curbing illegal migration which includes providing youths with technical and vocational skills.

    He said his administration is partnering with the European Union (EU) to empower the youths. He commended the Irish Government for offering to support the state government in empowering Edo youths.

    The governor told his guests that statistics gotten from about 3,082 returnees of Edo State origin showed that 77 per cent were males; 79 per cent of the returnees sponsored themselves for the journey; while 81 per cent of them embarked on illegal migration voluntarily.

     

  • Obaseki advocates non-punitive tax regime for local companies

    …Commends Guinness Nig. Plc. for expansion, new product

     

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has made a strong case for more incentives for local companies, including a non-punitive tax regime to encourage more investments and boost the nation’s economic growth.

    Obaseki made the case while playing host to the management team of Guinness Nigeria Plc., led by the Chairman, Babatunde Savage, who paid a courtesy visit to the governor, at the Government House in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

    According to the governor, local investors who choose to contribute to the economic growth of the country must be encouraged with a tax regime that will serve as an incentive for their businesses.

    He said the state government will continue to encourage local investors, noting that “such measure will attract other investors to locate their businesses in the state.”

    He emphasised that “Without strong local investors, we cannot attract international investors,” and assured that he would take the campaign for a non-punitive tax regime to the federal government to attract more companies that will create jobs for the nation’s teeming unemployed youths.

    Obaseki commended Guinness Nigeria Plc for expanding its investment in the state with the unveiling of the company’s new product, Royal Kingdom Premium Lager Beer, noting that it is the beer for Edo people.

    He lauded the company for complementing the drive by the state government to create employment opportunities, “We commend Guinness for the direct and indirect jobs it has continued to create in the state. Local companies like Guinness Nigeria Plc. have continued to contribute to the overall development of the state.”

    Earlier, Chairman, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. Babatunde Savage, expressed his company’s appreciation to the governor for supporting their operations in the state, noting, “Through the support of the state government, the company has been able to expand its business in the state.

    Savage said “The company’s new product: Royal Kingdom Premium Lager Beer, has its materials sourced locally. This was a deliberate choice to empower people in the state.”

  • Obaseki charges journalists on ethics, independence

    The Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has charged journalists to uphold the ethics of the journalism profession to deepen good governance and fast-track the nation’s advancement.

    Obaseki who gave the charge on the occasion of the United Nation’s World Press Freedom Day, celebrated on May 3, each year, noted that “a free, uninhibited and independent press is a major pillar for the sustenance of democracy, good governance and economic advancement.”

    He commended the display of courage by journalists who daily challenge oppressive governments, obnoxious policies and impunity by political actors, and explained “that the world’s history is replete with inspiring stories on the doggedness of journalists, who published objective reports in defense of truth, that changed the course of history for the better, even at great personal cost.”

    “In Nigeria, the struggle for independence from the colonial masters was led largely by journalists and sustained by their fiery articles. Media practitioners were in the fore-front to oust the military from the country’s political space and enthrone democratic governance with such values as; the Rule of Law, free and fair elections, accountability of the government to the people, independent judiciary, tolerance of opposition views and multi-party system, which we all enjoy today,” he said.

    He added that “the recent global outcry over the activities of human traffickers and modern slave masters by the horrifying report of the international media outfit, the Cable News Network (CNN), on illegal migration by Africans, exposed the frightening scale of the inhuman activity.”

    According to the governor, “media practitioners will do more to advance the quality of governance if they uphold the ethics of the profession, leverage on the power of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and strive for more independence in carrying out their task as the society’s watch- dog and members of the exalted forth estate of the realm of governance.”

    He assured that his administration is set to commence the revamp of the state-owned media enterprises; Edo Broadcasting Service Radio and Television and the Observer Newspapers, to strengthen the media platforms for people in the state to express themselves and contribute to the development discourse.

    “The United Nations General Assembly declared May 3 to be World Press Freedom Day  to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and marking the anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration, a statement of free press principles put together by African newspaper journalists in Windhoek in 1991,” the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) said.

    The global body organises a series of activities to mark World Press Freedom Day, including “the conferment of the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize on a deserving individual, organisation or institution that has made an outstanding contribution to the defence and/or promotion of press freedom anywhere in the world, especially when this has been achieved in the face of danger.”

    Read Also: Obaseki assures Edo workers of timely completion of Labour House, industrial harmony

  • Obaseki assures Edo workers of timely completion of Labour House, industrial harmony

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has assured workers in the state, that the construction of the Labour House Complex would be completed in record time.

    Obaseki gave the assurance at the foundation laying ceremony for the proposed State Labour House Complex, in Ikpoba Hill, Benin City, Edo State, noting, “the state government will work closely with workers to ensure that we do not record strikes in the state.”

    He said the state will work to ensure that the edifice is completed by meeting its obligations, stressing, “This beautiful edifice would be completed in record time. If there is delay in completing the building, the contractor should be held accountable.”

    He commended the foresight of his predecessor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for the steps taken to ensure the State Chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) gets a befitting complex, adding, “I am here today to execute what Comrade Oshiomhole started.”

    Obaseki noted that Comrade Oshiomhole allocated the land for the project, completed the building design and came up with a plan to source fund for the project.

    “It was his vision that, since the state has produced great labour leaders for the union in the past, it would only be befitting to have a beautiful edifice to serve as the Labour House.

    Chairman, Edo State Council of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Emmanuel Ademokuo, commended the Godwin Obaseki-led administration for his worker-friendly policies, which have improved workers’ productivity.

    He thanked the former governor of the state for taking the bold step to ensure that Labour as a body in the state, has a befitting building to call its own.

    Ademokuo expressed appreciation to the former governor Oshiomhole for uniting the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and NLC in the state, noting “In developing the plan for the proposed labour house, the former governor insisted that the complex should accommodate both groups.”

    He assured Governor Obaseki of workers’ support and assured, “We will continue to support your administration to ensure that it delivers the dividends of democracy to the people of the state.”

    Chairman of the State Council of the TUC, Comrade Marshal Orhue, said members of the TUC are confident that the Obaseki-led administration’s developmental strides will deliver expected benefits to the state and her people.

    Read Also: Better days ahead, Obaseki tells Edo pensioners