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Tag: Obaseki

  • Obaseki betrays, again

    Obaseki betrays, again

    Godwin picks Godwins and he might think there is a God in all of it. But the governor of Edo State may go down as the biggest violator of the rule of law in the history of this republic. He kept a legislature like a mouse in the cage. The lawmakers became happy pawns in the hand of the man whose ancestry is known for playing outside the law and noble path of history.

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    He will descend into history as impeaching a deputy the same day the man is accused and swears in his replacement. It is what you call answer before the question.  The same Obaseki,  whose stewardship is such an anticlimax for a man who betrayed his boss and ditched his fellow traitor. If his former deputy Shaibu acted the way he did, it was because Obaseki did not treat him as a human being. If you don’t want a deputy to succeed you as governor, call him aside first and tell him. He didn’t. In politics, reward does not follow sacrifice. Obaseki showed that. First to Adams, and later to Shaibu. His worst victim of betrayal is Edo State. He performed poorly as chief executive. His forbears also betrayed the kingdom.

    This same Obaseki set himself against the palace on artefacts, betraying his king. He may be the first in Nigerian history to betray both state and kingdom.

  • Obaseki leads Nigeria to LaBiennale di Venezia in Italy

    Obaseki leads Nigeria to LaBiennale di Venezia in Italy

    The  Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, will be the Commissioner of the Nigerian Pavilion at the 60th International Art Exhibition organized by La Biennale di Venezia and taking place in the Veneto region of Italy from the 16th to 18th April 2024.

    The governor was nominated by the Federal Government of Nigeria to lead the Nigerian delegation due to the State’s landmark successes in promoting our rich culture, arts and heritage and advancing the economic potential of tourism in Edo State.

    Read Also: Obaseki’s deputy to operate from outside Govt House

    According to the Federal Government, “Edo State and its capital city, Benin City, have been a main heritage and cultural artistic hub in Nigeria for centuries and Governor Godwin Obaseki has a strong desire to support arts and culture.”

    “The government of Edo State is planning to develop a cultural district in the centre of Benin City. The cultural hub is intended to span a large expanse of land that will bring in new structures and also accommodate existing ones such as the National Museum Benin City. The development of the cultural district is intended to expand the cultural and creative industries to attract tourists to the country, The Federal Government noted in its letters to the organizers to nominate Governor Obaseki.

    The Board of the Museum of West African Arts alongside the President of the Veneto region, will receive the delegation and guide Governor Obaseki and his team on a tour of the Nigerian Pavilion and Art Exhibition.

  • Obaseki’s deputy to operate from outside Govt House

    Obaseki’s deputy to operate from outside Govt House

    The newly-inaugurated Deputy Governor of Edo State, Chief Godwins Omobayo, will still operate from an office outside the Government House, Benin, where the impeached Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu, was pushed to by Governor Godwin Obaseki, some months before his Monday’s removal.

    Omobayo, 37, an indigene of Ibilo in Akoko-Eko Local Government, in Edo North Senatorial District, and Labour Party’s (LP’s) House of Representatives candidate for Akoko-Edo constituency during the 2023 general election, but lost; immediately after his Monday’s inauguration, inspected the office being renovated.

    The new deputy governor was accompanied by the permanent secretary in his office, while the renovation continued yesterday, and to last for some days, with Omobayo to live at the deputy governor’s official residence on Commercial Avenue in the Government Reservation Area (GRA), Benin, unlike Shaibu, who lived in his personal residence in the same GRA.

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    Some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are, however, not pleased with Omobayo’s selection, as they argued that there were more competent and experienced PDP members in Akoko-Edo Local Government and Edo North Senatorial District, who could have been chosen.

    A PDP member in Etsako, Hassan Umoru, expressed sadness about Edo governor’s decision to appoint an LP member as the deputy governor, instead of a capable replacement from within the party.

  • JUST IN: Obaseki replaces Shaibu with 37-year-old Omobayo

    JUST IN: Obaseki replaces Shaibu with 37-year-old Omobayo

    Edo Governor Godwin Obaseki has named 37-year-old Omobayo Godwins as his Deputy shortly after the impeachment of Philip Shaibu.

    The inauguration of Omobayo is scheduled for Monday in Benin City’s Edo State Government House.

    Read Also: Senate committee lauds Obaseki for making LG system work in Edo

    Well-wishers and friends of the newly appointed Deputy Governor have gathered at the inauguration venue for the swearing-in ceremony.

    Details shortly…

  • ‘Edo facilitating ease of doing business’

    ‘Edo facilitating ease of doing business’

    Edo State Government has said it is leveraging technology to boost investment inflow into the state, facilitate ease of doing business and promote business growth through the land administration reforms by the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration.

    Speaking to reporters in Benin City, Managing Director of Edo Geographic Information Service (EdoGIS), Osaro Grace Aihie, noted that the ease and convenience in processing title documents for landed property and the improved land administration system had opened the state for economic growth and attracted investors.

    According to her, “we have done so much to enhance the ease of doing business through our reforms in land administration. Ease of doing business comprises that the investors should have a level-playing field and the people should be carried along to understand what the investors have come to do. So, what we do is sit together and discuss. where there are problems, we look at the problems and look for a solution and everybody agrees, then we go on. That is the ease of business we are talking about.”

    “We have ensured that businesses and investors don’t have bottlenecks that are stopping them from doing their business. We also make the people understand that if they cooperate with the investors, they are likely going to get employment and other benefits. These are the things we do. We don’t fight; problems are to be solved. We sit down, look at the problem and solve it. A little to the right, a little to the left, and everybody is happy. And when it comes to the title, if you say you have a land somewhere, we will look at our records and tell you that from the records, this or that person is the true owner and problems are solved.”

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    The EdoGIS MD continued: “Since the beginning of this new technology that His Excellency has brought, many things have changed. Land grabbing has reduced drastically; no more loss of investment or capital. Before now some people will just go and buy land without conducting a search and when they come to EdoGIS, they see that the property is either mortgaged or does not belong to the person who sold it to them. There is a loss of investment there.

    “But what I keep saying is that you should conduct a search. If you are going to buy land for N100 million, you just need N25,000 to find out if that land is free from all encumbrances. If you do that, and we tell you, ‘Yes, it is John that owns the land, then you are good to go. Then, if there is already a C-of-O and you come for the same land, there is an overlap and we cannot continue. We stop there and call those involved, communities even come.

    “Sometimes they agree that they even gave the same land to two people, then we say no, you have to relocate one person to another land. For those we cannot solve their problem, we refer them to the court and the law court decides who the owner is. When they send in the judgment, we accept and implement it. Because of all this, the issue of double-dealing has been drastically reduced.

    “We also visit communities. We went to one community recently and told them about the need to register their layout. If they do that too, there will be no double-dealing, there will be no land grabbing, no strife. They have been able to key in because they see it is good for them. If you have a community where they don’t fight, where they don’t double deal, many people will like to come there and the value of your land will increase. When investors come and you accept them in a community, they are happy. That is what we are talking about, ease of doing business, and it is helping us,” she added.

  • Senate committee lauds Obaseki for making LG system work in Edo

    Senate committee lauds Obaseki for making LG system work in Edo

    The leader of a team from the Senate Committee on State and Local Government Administration, Kayode Adebayo, an engineer, has hailed Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, for allowing the local government system to work in Edo.

    Adebayo spoke at Urhokpota Hall, Ring Road, Benin, the Edo state capital, at the launch of Oredo online services platform.

    The Senate committee’s team leader said: “To have this initiative (Oredo online services platform), it means the local government system is working in Edo State, and I wish to thank Governor Obaseki for it.

    “It is only when the local government system is allowed to work that we can come out of the current challenges.

    “With a functional local government system, most of the crises will be curbed at the local government level, without snowballing into national tragedies.”

    Adebayo also stated that the initiative would enable more people to do business with Oredo local government council.

    The Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission in Edo, Chief Tom Uloko, while also speaking, noted that the local government system must be dynamic and futuristic, while pointing out that the initiative would reduce corruption in the system.

    Read Also: Court declines request to restrain Obaseki, Assembly, others on moves to impeach Shaibu

    Chairman of Edo Internal Revenue Service, John Inegbedion, in his remarks, stated that Oredo local government council Chairman, Dr. Tom Obaseki, was setting the pace, and should be emulated by the 17 other Edo LGAs, while declaring that without technology, there would be no accountability and transparency.

    Tom Obaseki, in his welcome address, described the Oredo online services platform as a breakthrough cutting-edge platform, poised to transform the way local government administration would engage with citizens.

    He noted that Oredo was the most urbanised LGA in Edo, and not only serving as the  state capital, but also the seat of the state government and the palace of the Oba of Benin, as well as the capital of the historical Benin Empire, thereby making it one of the oldest cities in the world.

    Oredo local government council chairman pointed out that the online services platform could boast a plethora of features, tailored to meet the diverse needs of citizens and residents of the area, including convenience, flexibility and reliability, thereby promoting transparency in governance and residents-friendly experience.

    He said: “It is accessible 24/7, and offers a platform for citizens to access multiple services remotely and from the comfort of their home, while eliminating indiscriminate, selective and excessive billing.

    “Oredo online services platform is an automated and innovative service-delivery platform, initiated and executed by our administration that will render various services to Oredo residents in a timely, seamless, and more efficient manner.

    “The digital platform has also been designed to automate access to services in a way that anywhere in the world, citizens of Oredo can have access to services such as local government origin/identification certificate, marriage registration, burial permit, and other services, without being physically present.”

    Tom Obaseki also stated that the launch of the platform was equally aimed at taking the lead in digitising the process of rendering services to residents at the local government level, thereby making it seamless and more efficient.

  • Edo: Court refuses to stop governor, assembly, others from impeachment process

    Edo: Court refuses to stop governor, assembly, others from impeachment process

    – Group warns Obaseki, lawmakers against unpopular move to impeach Shaibu

    A Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday declined to grant an application by Philip Shaibu, Edo Deputy Governor, directing Governor Godwin Obaseki, the House of Assembly and others in his case to maintain status quo pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

    The development occurred after Justice James Omotosho refused to grant the oral application made by Shaibu’s lawyer, Prof. Oladoyin Awoyale, to the effect.

    The embattled deputy governor had, in a motion ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/321/2024, sued the Edo State Government, governor, house of assembly and speaker as 1st to 4th defendants.

    Also joined in the suit are clerk of the assembly, chief judge, Inspector-General (I-G) of Police and director-general of state security service as 5th to 8th defendants.

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    In the motion dated and filed March 8, Shaibu sought an order of interim injunction restraining the 3rd to 5th defendants from interfering with the res (subject matter) of the originating summons.

    He also sought an order of interim injunction restraining the defendants jointly or severally from taking any adverse actions in relation to any attempt or process targeted at his removal from office as deputy governor of Edo pending the hearing of the motion on notice.

    He urged the court to make an order restraining the 1st to 8th defendants from preventing him from performing his official duties and discharging his responsibilities, including, attending the State Executive Council meetings/functions and other duties.

    Justice Omotosho had, on March 13, refused to grant the ex-parte motion after it was moved by Awoyale.

    Instead, the judge ordered the lawyer to serve all the defendants with the processes and hearing notices and adjourned till March 18 for hearing.

    But on Tuesday when the matter came up, Awoyale told the court that he was unable to serve some of the defendants and the judge adjourned until yesterday to hear another motion filed.

    Upon resumed hearing yesterday, Awoyale informed the court that he had a humble application dated March 8.

    The judge, who granted the leave for substituted service as prayed by the lawyer, adjourned the matter till April 15 for hearing.

    The Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) in Edo State has warned Governor Godwin Obaseki and members of House of Assembly against the “unpopular” move to impeach Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu.

    It said it was surprised that in spite of the interventions of well-meaning Nigerians, including highly-respected religious and political leaders, who pleaded with Obaseki and Edo lawmakers to exercise restraint and jettison their planned impeachment, they were unperturbed.

    CRPP, yesterday through its Chairman in Edo, Dr. Samson Isibor, said most disturbing was the rejection of the Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja summons, delivered to Edo House of Assembly by the court’s bailiff, who was harassed and chased out of the Assembly complex by security personnel on duty, on the orders of the leadership of the House.

  • Court declines request to restrain Obaseki, Assembly, others on moves to impeach Shaibu

    Court declines request to restrain Obaseki, Assembly, others on moves to impeach Shaibu

     A Federal High Court in Abuja has declined the request by Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu for an order directing parties in a suit he filed, including Governor Godwin Obaseki, the House of Assembly and others to maintain status quo pending the hearing and determination of the suit.

    Shaibu, is by the suit, seeking to among others, frustrate the move by the state House of Assembly to impeach him.

    At the mention of the case on Shaibu’s lawyer, Prof. Oladoyin Awoyale moved motions for substituted service of court documents in respect of the case on some of the first to fourth defendants, who he said were yet to be served.

    Justice Omotosho granted the motion as prayed, enabling the plaintiff to serve the four defendants – the Edo State Government, the Governor, the House of Assembly and the Speaker by pasting the documents on the gates of the State House and the Assembly or through courier services.

    Shortly after the judge’s ruling, Awoyale applied orally to the court to issue an order for parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the suit.

    Justice Omotosho declined on the grounds that since the plaintiff has been unable to effect service on all the listed defendants, it would be untidy to issue any order against them.

    Read Also: Shaibu’s bid to stop impeachment move fails

    The judge, who noted that the court’s Easter vacation would commence on Friday, advised the lawyer to the plaintiff to apply to the court’s Chief Judge for permission to have the case heard during the vacation.

    He adjourned till April 15.

    Shaibu was in court to witness proceedings on Wednesday.

    This is the second time the court will decline a request by Shaibu to intervene in the ongoing move to impeach him.

    The court had on March 13, refused to grant an ex-parte motion filed and argued for Shaibu by Awoyale.

    In refusing to grant the ex-parte motion, Justice Omotosho ordered the plaintiff to serve all the defendants with the processes and hearing notices and adjourned until March 18 for the hearing.

    On March 18, Awoyale told the court that his client was unable to serve some of the defendants.

    He said his client filed a motion for leave to effect substituted service on the defendants who were yet to be served, following which the judge adjourned till Wednesday for hearing of the motion.

    Listed as defendants in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/321/2024 are: The Edo State Government, the Governor, the House of Assembly and the Speaker.

    Others are the Clerk of the Assembly, the Chief Judge, the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police and the Director-General of the State Security Service.

    In one of the motions filed, Shaibu is seeking an order of interim injunction restraining the 3rd to 5th defendants from interfering with the res (subject matter) of the originating summons by way of further restricting his rights and privileges or disempowering, commencing, initiating or further initiating any adverse process or proceedings by way of issuance of notice of allegation, holding proceedings or setting up of any panel of investigation towards his removal from office as deputy governor of the state pending the hearing of the motion on notice.

    He is also seeking an order of interim injunction restraining the defendants jointly or severally from taking any adverse actions in relation to any attempt or process targeted at his removal from office as deputy governor of Edo pending the hearing of the motion on notice.

    Shaibu wants the court to make an order restraining the 1st to 8th defendants from preventing him from performing his official duties and discharging his responsibilities, including, attending the State Executive Council meetings/functions and other duties.

  • ‘Why Obaseki’s govt will complete  Ekenwan road’

    ‘Why Obaseki’s govt will complete  Ekenwan road’

    Edo State Commissioner for Roads and Bridges, Ethan Uzamere, an engineer; has said Governor Godwin Obaseki’s administration will complete the strategic 16.1km Ekenwan Road in Benin, to prove that the governor is a promise keeper.

    Obaseki earlier promised to complete the road before the expiration of his second term on November 12.

    Uzamere, yesterday in Benin, while inspecting ongoing development projects in Benin and its environs, in company with top officials of the ministry, gave an assurance that the governor would finish well and strong.

    He said: “The ongoing construction of Ekenwan Road will be taken to Ekenwan Barracks, for now. We will do some palliative works to Gelegele Port, for the road to be passable.

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    “The first phase of Ekenwan Road, which is from Siluko Road Junction near Ring Road to Ekenwan Barracks of 4 Brigade, Nigerian Army in Benin City, will be completed fully and delivered in October.

    “Ekenwan Road dualisation becoming single carriage towards Ekenwan Barracks is the design of the road, and we carried the residents along on the design of the road.”

    The commissioner stated that he and other officials of his ministry would continue to push the contractors, in order to make them to adequately utilise the current dry season.

  • To Obaseki: Between empathy and impeachment

    To Obaseki: Between empathy and impeachment

    SIR: I make a humble and passionate appeal to Governor Godwin Obaseki. I entreat him because I regard him as a civilized and enlightened man. May it not be in the annals of Edo political history that there was once a deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, impeached under his watch for his aspiration. It will be perceived as a sting of “betrayal” and it will invariably redefine “loyalty and aspiration” as antithetical. Please, don’t get me wrong because this is far more polite than one can imagine. This is the kernel of my entreaty: Leave your deputy alone to deal with his issues and resolve them without initiating impeachment. Reconciliation is always a prosperous option. Listen to your kind heart. I am not insinuating he must be governor.

    Yet, we cannot justify an impeachment without putting a wedge on the path of positive advancement in other spheres of life. Please, Mr. Governor, talk to Edo State House of Assembly to discontinue the impeachment process. Honourable members must ensure that legislation prohibits any move that bears the semblance of retaliation. Do yourselves a favour because you don’t know the next victim in sudden political twists and turns.

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    Dear Mr. Governor, here is the point: Bear with Comrade Philip Shaibu, not for his sake but for the sake of your own indomitable spirit. What I see in you is what I see in your deputy – a resolute spirit. We often say only God can determine who gets power. This saying should not be personalized and meaningful only when it is to our advantage.

    When you were at your lowest point and facing your political trials, your rock bottom foundation was the support from Edo people and your deputy, who you used to call your brother.

    I am pleading. Your silence has been golden. Continue to be a big brother to him. Feel for the number two man who seeks power so passionately and determinedly without your support. A man whose level of determination makes him literally stressed out, worried, burdened, spending strength and resources, deserves empathy not impeachment. Hear my humble plea for mercy.

    • Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Andrew Obinyan, Benin City, Edo State.