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Tag: Oba Ewuare II

  • Oba Ewuare II: Edo PDP chieftains disown social critic

    Oba Ewuare II: Edo PDP chieftains disown social critic

    Two members of the State Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State have dissociated themselves from a social media critic, Albert Obazee, following comments attributed to him about the Benin Monarch, Oba Ewuare II.

    The party officials are the Edo PDP Organising Secretary, Ogbeide Ifaluyi-Isibor, and the Publicity Secretary, Daniel Osa-Ogbegie.

    In a statement, Osa-Ogbegie said he was distancing himself from any posts, comments or narratives considered malicious, disparaging, disrespectful or irreverent towards the Benin Monarch, the Benin Kingdom, or anything regarded as sacred, historical, cultural or institutional to Benin.

    He urged members of the public to refrain from tagging, sending, associating or linking his name, image or platform with such content, either directly or indirectly.

    Osa-Ogbegie described himself as a proud son of Benin, noting that he remains bound by history, identity and conscience to the Benin Kingdom.

    He added that his commitment to Benin remains unwavering, stressing his deep respect and reverence for all that is connected to the Kingdom and its rich heritage.

    “My loyalty is, and shall always remain, to the Oba of Benin, who stands as the living personification of Edo in all its glory, dignity, continuity, and civilisation. Any attempt to suggest otherwise, or to drag my name into narratives hostile to the Benin throne or institution, is false, misleading, and unacceptable and would be treated as an act of war.

    “Let this serve as a clear notice to all concerned. Respect for Benin and the Oba of Benin is non-negotiable.”

    Ifaluyi-Isibor advised Obazee to be more circumspect in his words.

    He said Obazee would now be measured by his utterances even as he cautioned him to apply more decorum even when expressing anger.

    “I watched a snippet from his video where some unsavory comments were made and I think it was utterly wrong and unnecessary to make such comments at anyone much less the Monarch. We will hold our Monarch in high esteem and treat the throne with the respect it deserves. This is not optional.”

  • Obaseki withheld palace fund for seven months to undermine it, says Oba Ewuare II

    Obaseki withheld palace fund for seven months to undermine it, says Oba Ewuare II

    The Benin monarch, Oba Ewuare II has narrated how former Governor Godwin Obaseki withheld statutory funding for his Palace for seven months.

    Oba Ewuare II said the action of the previous administration was deliberately done to undermine the palace.

    The royal father, who spoke at a media parley with journalists in the state, said funds to the palace were first slashed before a final stop was put to it for seven months.

    He said the palace took responsibility for paying staff of the palace as well as clearing weeds around its surroundings.

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    Oba Ewuare II stated that slashing and putting an end to the funds going to the palace was meant to undermine it.

    He said God and his ancestors did not allow efforts of those that planned to undermine the palace prevail.

    Expatiating, the traditional ruler recalled how a former military governor, whom the palace earlier helped, turned around to spite the palace by erecting a storey building on a sacred ground opposite the palace.

    He vowed to reclaim all sacred ground forcefully taken over.

    Speaking on the need for constitutional review for traditional rulers to adequately perform their functions, he said such critical aspects should be looked into to define who is a traditional ruler.

    He noted that knowing what a traditional ruler means would help checkmate its abuses as well as make things right.

  • Oba of Benin passes vote of confidence in Edo first female CP

    Oba of Benin passes vote of confidence in Edo first female CP

    The Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, has passed a vote of confidence vote in Edo first female Commissioner of Police, Betty Otimenyin. 

    He charged her to remain focused in crime fighting and prevention.

    He spoke in Benin when he received the new police commissioner in his palace on Friday. 

    The first-class monarch prayed God Almighty and his ancestors would make Edo state and Nigeria peaceful for the security personnel and other Nigerians.

    He also prayed for Otimenyin to rise to the top in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and for God and the ancestors to give her the wisdom to discharge her duties diligently.

    Oba of Benin said: “We are so pleased with you. We are seeing the good works that you are doing in Edo State. May God and our ancestors empower you to do more. 

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    “We look forward to your rising. We will keep praying for you. May Edo be peaceful for you, your men and all of us. The palace and the throne are behind you.”

    The Edo commissioner of police solicited prayers from the great Benin throne, while describing the deployment to her state of origin as a homecoming.

    Otimenyin, who was accompanied by Edo Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), Ben Abang, and other senior officers in the command, assured the foremost traditional ruler that she would continue to put in her best.

  • Businessman laments deportation of business partners

    A United Kingdom-based businessman, Mr. Monday Ohuimuwen, has said that many of his business partners coming to Nigeria for genuine businesses have been deported because of what he termed misleading guidelines on the entry Visa on arrival programme posted on the Nigeria Immigration Portal.

    Monday said the Norwegians and British nationals he invited based on the information contained in the Nigeria Immigration Portal, regarding Entry Visa on Arrival Programme were deported on arrival at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos.

    Speaking to reporters in Bénin-City, Monday, who is engaged in distributive business said the Immigration authorities were supposed to allow in invited business partners who had followed the guidelines.

    Monday said they were deported under very flimsy excuses that they ought to have gotten approval in their home country before traveling to Nigeria.

    He said: “The said approval was not contained in the guidelines posted on the portal of the Nigeria Immigration Service.

    “Besides frustrating industrialists and their foreign partners, the activities of the immigration authorities is creating integrity problem for Nigerian businessman in Nigeria.

    “I want the authorities concerned to review the said guidelines and update same, so as not to continue to frustrate genuine businessmen and women who relied on the guidelines, only to be misled at the end of the day.”

    Monday commended Governor Godwin Obaseki and the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II for introducing and facilitating the Private Property Protection (PPP) headed by Solomon Arase in the state.

  • Don’t renew BEDC’s licence, Oba Ewuare II tells Buhari

    OBA of Benin Ewuare II yesterday urged President Muhammadu Buhari not to renew the licence of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) for what he called its inability to provide electricity.

    Oba Ewuare II appealed to Buhari to support Governor Godwin Obaseki’s quest to find an alternative source of providing electricity.

    Ewuare II spoke when President Buhari paid him a courtesy visit at his palace in Benin City during his campaign tour of the state.

    He said: “Mr. President, I will not fail to mention the challenge of electricity supply in Edo State. Electricity supply is, no doubt, key to the development of any society. Unfortunately, over the years, the people of Edo State have experienced inadequate electricity supply by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).

    “In fact, during one of the meetings of the Edo State Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs, we issued a communique condemning the inefficient performance of BEDC, including its estimated billing method.

    “We also called for the withdrawal of the operational licence of BEDC. In its place, Traditional Rulers appealed to the federal government to encourage and support the efforts of Edo State government in seeking alternative sources of providing electricity to meet the demand of the people.”

    The Bénin monarch hailed the President for the sustained fight against corruption and commended the effort at curtailing activities of Boko Haram insurgency in the North Eastern part of the country.

    He urged politicians to be more patriotic and concerned about the security and welfare of the people.

    But the BEDC Electricity Plc (BEDC) management reacted to the monarch’s remarks, restating its commitment to improving service delivery to customers in its franchise states, including Edo.

    In a statement by its Head, Corporate Affairs, Adekunle Tayo, the BEDC Electricity Plc spoke of its efforts to improve service.

    The statement reads: “For Edo State in particular, we are glad that the reduction in supply to Benin metropolis occasioned by the failed 60MVA with two power transformers is almost over.

    “TCN commenced work assiduously to sort out the inconveniences that this dual failure caused by arranging for replacement transformers; with the first of the two transformers being made available to BEDC for power distribution on 24th December 2018.

    “In the meantime as a stop-gap measure, BEDC immediately restored power supply at an average of six hours daily availability to most of the affected areas, by connecting several of the customers on the affected feeders to the only existing functional TCN transformer.

    “This was done in a manner that did not overload the system whilst providing supply albeit; on limited basis, pending when normal supply will resume, after the replacement of the faulty TCN transformers.

    “BEDC also immediately commenced construction of new extending electrical lines from three different locations outside Benin to provide more power temporarily for Benin City.”

     

     

     

  • Fighting corruption is important to my administration – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has said that fight against corruption was of utmost importance to his administration.

    Buhari said this on Thursday when he visited the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, in his palace in Benin.

    Buhari said the rehabilitation and construction of roads was well captured in the budget.

    He said he would pressurise the ministry to expedite action to execute the project.

    He noted that much had been achieved in the agriculture sector, adding that the Federal Government also gave soft loans to farmers, to ensure food security.

    Buhari, however, promised to do his best to restore and stabilise power supply in Edo.

    According to the President, electricity is very important to the economy, adding that power supply is a critical issue.

    Read also: Why Buhari will not rig election – BMO

    He also promised to look into the Oba Ewuare’s recommendations on security, and work harder to secure the country.

    He commended the Oba of Benin for mobilising traditional rulers to stabilise the polity.

    Earlier, Oba Ewuare commended the President for the fight against corruption and for curtailing the activities of Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East, as well as other notable achievements of the Buhari administration.

    However, the Oba said much still needed to be done to guarantee security of lives and property of Nigerians.

    Ewuare said as chairman of the traditional rulers, they were concerned about the outcome of the 2019 general elections.

    He said that meetings were held with the traditional rulers in the kingdom and the communities were directed to offer prayers and sacrifices to avert violence and bloodshed in the country.

    The Oba said they equally cautioned politicians against use of weapons or youths as thugs to disrupt the electoral
    process.

    Oba Ewuare also appealed to the Federal Government to intensify efforts at the dualisation of the Benin-Auchi-Lokoja highway,  to make the movement of goods and services easier as well as save the lives of motorists on the busy road.

    The Oba also commended the President for the encouragement given to the oil-producing host communities.

    Gov. Godwin Obaseki, also commended the President and appealed to the Oba to thank President Buhari for the support given to him.

    Obaseki said as a result of his support he was able to achieve more as governor. (NAN)

  • Don’t renew BEDC license, Oba of Benin tells Buhari

    The Benin Monarch, Oba Ewuare II, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari not to renew the license of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) for its inability to provide electricity.

    Oba Ewuare II appealed to Buhari to support Governor’s Godwin Obaseki’s quest to seeking an alternative sources of providing electricity to meet the demand of the people of the state.

    Ewuare II spoke when President Buhari paid him a courtesy visit at his palace in Benin City during his campaign tour of the state.

    According to him: “Electricity supply is no doubt key to the development of any society.

    “Unfortunately, over the years the people of Edo State have experienced inadequate electricity supply by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).

    “In fact, during one of the meetings of the Edo State Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs, we issued a communique condemning the inefficient performance of BEDC, including its estimated billing method.

    “We also called for the withdrawal of the operational license of BEDC. In its place, Traditional Rulers appealed to the federal government to encourage and support the efforts of Edo State government in seeking alternative sources of providing electricity to meet the demand of the people.”

    The Bénin Monarch also hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for the sustained fight against corruption and commended efforts at curtailing activities of Boko Haram insurgency in the North Eastern part of the country.

    He urged politicians to be more patriotic and concerned about the security and welfare of the people.

    “Politicians on their part should endeavor to be more patriotic and be concerned about the security and welfare of the people which of course is the primary purpose of government.

    “As the 2019 general elections draw near, it is pertinent to call on politicians to let the interest of Nigerian and Nigerians be uppermost in their mind.

    “Consequently, they should not do anything that would undermine our collective peace, unity and progress. They should not engage in acts that could truncate our democracy”, he said.

    The Oba of Benin noted efforts should be intensified to ensure dualization of the Benin-Auchi-Lokoja highway is completed to ease the movement of goods and services as well as save lives of motorists and travelers on that ever busy road.

    Buhari commended the Benin monarch for his roles in stabilizing the nation’s politics.

    He assured him of never to relent in his fight against corruption and ensuring adequate security for the people of the country.

    He also promised to look into the request presented by the Oba of Benin.

  • Benin Monarch shuns UNIBEN honourary award

    The Benin Monarch, Oba Ewuare II, has shunned the event to confer honourary Doctor of Law Degree on him by the University of Benin.

    Oba Ewuare II was to be honoured at a special  convocation ceremony on Friday but the event was put off.

    The Oba of Benin was said to have shunned the conferment because he was not consulted before the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Faraday Orhumwense went public with the announcement.

    Sources said the Benin Monarch was shocked to read about the honour to be conferred on him in the pages of newspaper..

    But the University management explained that the Oba in a letter accepted the award, but informed them that the date of conferment was not convenient to him.

    Read Also: Benin Airport: Obaseki praises NAMA

    The University said it will confer the degree on the Oba at a later date.

    Archbishop Margaret Idahosa of Church of God Mission International and Professor Augustine Orhue, were conferred with Honorary Doctorate Degree of Letters and Professor Emeritus, respectively, by the University of Benin during the Convocation ceremony.

    ‎Archbishop Idahosa was honoured for her contribution to Education and human capital development, while Prof. Orhue, a retired Professor of Medicine, was honoured for his outstanding contribution in his field.

  • Obaseki mobilizes traditional rulers for 2018 Alaghodaro Summit

    The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has begun the mobilization of traditional rulers across the state ahead of the second edition of the Alaghodaro Summit, scheduled for November.

    The move to galvanise occupiers of the revered traditional seats is predicated on the crucial role traditional rulers play in the lives of Edo people and residents, as custodians of the people’s culture and traditions.

    Special Adviser to Governor Obaseki on Media and Communication Strategy, Crusoe Osagie said: “Our royal fathers and chiefs across the state are being mobilized by the governor for a colourful Alaghodaro Summit which has Edo people as its focus.

    “As representatives of various communities and clans, these traditional rulers are in the best position to gauge the impact of the Obaseki-led administration on the people, in the last two years.”

    Osagie explained, “They are very influential. Most of the traditional rulers are opinion leaders and moulders. They foster peace and unity in their domains and have proven to be dependable allies in the state’s growth trajectory, as enunciated by governor Obaseki.”

    Read Also: Obaseki commiserates with Ohiwerei’s family

    The governor’s aide maintained that “traditional rulers in the state have been supportive of the various reforms executed in critical sectors of the states, such as the fight against human trafficking and child molestation; the scrapping of Community Development Associations (CDAs); efforts at maintaining law and order, and the ban on the use of thugs for the collection of revenue in parts of the state amongst others.”

    Osagie added that the traditional rulers will be at the Alaghodaro Summit to share their experiences with other participants at the event.

    “For example, the traditional rulers in Edo North and central senatorial districts would talk about the impact the Edo Fertiliser and Chemical Plant in Auchi, is having on agricultural activities in the area.

    “Worthy of note is the role the Benin Monarch, Oba Ewuare II, has played in mobilising parents for the immunisation programme; his royal backing for the fight against human trafficking and illegal migration as well as the outlawed Community Development Association (CDAs),” he added.

    The 2018 edition of the Alaghodaro Summit will focus on Edo people, showcasing how the state is designing and implementing policies, programmes and initiative to improve the lives of the people, engender inclusive growth and enhance law and order.

    Recall that the 2017 edition of the Alaghodaro Summit tagged Envisioning the Future, hosted the crème of Nigeria’s investment climate, drawn from within and outside the country, who hailed Governor Godwin Obaseki’s efforts to re position the state as the most viable investment destination in the country.

  • Obaseki, Police CP, DSS boss hold security meeting

    …read riot act to criminals

    …assures of adequate security for Oba Ewuare II’s 2nd anniversary

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said that the state government will not relent in its effort to flush out criminal elements from the state, assuring that security has been beefed up with relevant agencies to ensure the safety of life and property in the state.

    Governor Obaseki who said this after a meeting with heads of security agencies in the state, including the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Johnson Kokumo, and Head of the Department of State Security (DSS) in the state, noted that the state was firming up security to curb criminal activity across the state.

    The security meeting followed the receipt of intelligence on plans by those who do not mean well for the state to disrupt the peace and scale up their nefarious activities as the year comes to an end.

     “I have met with the Commissioner of Police and the DSS boss over the increased spate of cult activities in the state and we are deploying resources to ensure that those fueling the crimes are brought to book. We are committed to a safe Edo State and will not tolerate any criminality,” Obaseki said.

    Read Also: I am not stingy, says Obaseki

    He assured that adequate security measures have been set up in preparation for the 2nd coronation anniversary of the Benin Monarch, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’ Edo, Uku Akpolo kpolo, Oba Ewuare II.

     “I am very much committed to stemming the increased criminality perpetuated by cult groups and gangs in the state.

    “As a state that is forward-looking and desirous to attract foreign investment, I want to reiterate that we have exited the days when cult activities held sway in society.

    “We have beefed up measures to check the reported cases. The new security architecture is taking shape to ensure that the people are safe,” he added.

    He assured that preparations, especially those pertaining to security, are being finalised for the 2nd Coronation Anniversary of the Oba of Benin, noting that a combined team of security operatives will be deployed to ensure adequate security for the ceremony.