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Tag: Obaseki

  • Obaseki warns against disruption of activities at Benin Central Mosque

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has warned against disruption of prayers and other religious activities at the Benin Central Mosque, insisting that persons or groups found disturbing the area will be dealt with accordingly.

    The governor gave the warning during a meeting with Muslim leaders in the state led by Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Kabiru Adjoto and the Otaru of Auchi, His Royal Highness (HRH) Alhaji Aliru Momoh Ikelebe III at the Government House in Benin City, Edo State.

    Obaseki noted that he was aware of the leadership tussle at the Benin Central Mosque involving Alhaji Edosomwan and Alhaji Enabulele, adding that he refused to interfere, with the hope that both parties will resolve their differences internally.

    “As a government, we saw the development, challenges, and crisis as an internal matter that needed to be settled by members of the faith. The death of Alhaji Edosomwan should have naturally resolved the matter but I was disappointed that the crisis continued. I am glad that the issue has been addressed,” he said.

    The governor continued, “I will inform the Director of State Security (DSS) to make adequate security arrangement at the Benin Central Mosque to stop the disruption of prayers and other activities.”

    Assuring the Muslim community of his administration’s support, he urged them to go about the practice of their faith peacefully, adding, “Let me warn at this point that anybody or party that disrupts activities at the Benin Central Mosque henceforth will be dealt with according to the law.”

    Governor Obaseki also commended the Otaru of Auchi and other Muslim leaders in the state on how the leadership tussle was handled and the subsequent turbanning of Alhaji Fatai Enabulele, as Chief Imam of Benin Central Mosque.

    “You have done what the faith asked you to do by turbanning Imam Fatai Enabulele as the Chief Imam of Benin Central Mosque, so be it. The government has no choice but to recognise him as the Chief Imam,” he noted.

    Obaseki expressed confidence in the leadership of the Otaru of Auchi and Alhaji Kabiru Adjoto, adding that he will continue to consult them for advice relating to affairs of Muslims in the state.

    The Otaru of Auchi, Alhaji Momoh Ikelebe III, explained what was responsible for the leadership tussle at the Benin Central Mosque, noting that the tussle has been laid to rest with the death of Alhaji Edosomwan.

    He condemned the disruption of activities at the Benin Central Mosque, noting that a true Muslim should not subscribe to thuggery.

  • Atiku, PDP hallucinating over 1.6m votes claim, says Obaseki

    Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki on Thursday faulted the Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, who claimed that he defeated President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC), with about 1.6 million votes.

    According to him, it was mere hallucination.

    Obaseki spoke with State House correspondents after meeting with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Asked to respond to Atiku Abubakar’s claim that he won the elections with about 1.6 millions, Obaseki simply said, “You heard the word, they are hallucinating”

    According to him, he was at the State House to congratulate President Buhari and also to discuss some developmental issues that have to do with the South-South and South East being the only APC governor in the area.

    He said, “I came to congratulate the President on his victory in the pools. If you understand the Nigerian politics, I am the only APC governor in the South South and South East. So, it means I must keep a very close relationship with my President.”

    Read Also: APC hits Atiku, PDP over electoral victory claim

    On what he discussed with him, he said, “It is just issues pertaining to the region, economic development of the region, security and how to make progress in the next four years.

    He said that his discussion with the President had nothing to do with politics.

    “Well, I didn’t come to discuss politics. INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission) will determine what it needs to do, and as a compliant party we will accept the decisions of INEC.”

    He also said that his party has nothing to worry about in the Saturday’s supplementary election in Rivers State as it has no candidates in the election.

    On what his administration was doing to curb insecurity in Northern part of Edo State where some police officers including a Divisional Police Officer (DPO), he said that those involved in the act had been rounded up.

    He said “Security in that part of the state has been a concern to us and fortunately the Police stepped up investigation of the killings in Afuze Police Station last week and I am happy to report that the culprits have been found.

    “They are hoodlums who wanted to release one of their colleagues in the police cell. They did it in such a gruesome manner by killing four police officers including the DPO who Watson duty at that time.

    “They have been arrested and they have made useful confession. We are still investigating to see how this activity is related to such similar activities that we witnessed in that part of the state over the past one year.”

  • ‘Airhiavbere’s aggression on Obaseki misdirected’

    Mr. Crusoe Osagie, Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy to Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, has said it was wrong for a former governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (rtd), to blame the governor for his travails.

    Gen. Airhiavbere was suspended from the APC by Oredo Local Government Ward One executives for alleged anti-party activities.

    But a group, the Edo Continuity Forum, advised Obaseki not to play dirty ahead of the 2020 governorship election to avoid political tension.

    Osagie, who was reacting to the group’s statement, wondered why Airhiavbere turned attention on Obaseki when it was party leaders at the ward who suspended him.

    He said: “The group’s aggression is misdirected. Airhiavbere was suspended by the party, why turn attention on the governor? Party members signed the suspension of Airhiavbere.

    “From the statement, Airhiavbere was suspended by Ward one Executives. If Airhiavbere has any issues, they should direct their aggression to the party. Governor Obaseki has no hand in the suspension. It is purely a party affair.”

  • Obaseki ‘threatens to deal with APC leaders’

    Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has threatened to deal with some leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) whose activities led to the party’s defeat in the February 23 elections.

    Government sources said what angered Obaseki was the margin of defeat recorded in Egor, Ikpoba-Okha and Oredo councils in Edo South.

    Obaseki hails from Oredo.

    The governor was said to have issued the threat at a meeting with the party leaders.

    A source at the meeting, who pleaded for anonymity, said Obaseki challenged the affected leaders to reveal what he gave to them.

    He added that the governor was almost moved to tears as he expressed his disappointment with some of the leaders, especially when it was revealed one of the leaders did not buy generators meant for Ward collation centres.

    Read also: Deeper Life partners CAN, PFN to train church leaders

    “We were shocked when Obaseki started talking. He revealed so many things. He said he was shocked how the leaders sabotaged his efforts. “The governor spoke to a point that he threw away the microphone. None of the leaders could say anything in defence, and he promised to deal with them.

    “We are happy that the governor set up a 25-man team to work with him to win the House of Assembly election on Saturday.”

  • Obaseki backs UN’s call for action to change discriminatory laws

    Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has thrown his weight behind the United Nations’ call for global action against discriminatory laws in order to guarantee equality and inclusion.

    According to Obaseki, “respect for people’s rights, irrespective of their classes or status, is a major force driving our ongoing reforms across all sectors of Edo State.”

    The governor said this in commemoration of the United Nations Zero Discrimination Day, marked on March 1, each year.

    According to him, “In Edo State, we are alive to the yearnings and aspirations of the physically challenged, women, children, people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS), the disadvantaged and other vulnerable groups in society and have set out to eliminate man-made barriers hindering their progress.”

    He noted that the Edo State Violence Against Persons Law, which he signed recently and the Child Right’s Law, have begun addressing violent behaviour in the state.

    According to Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS), “Human rights violations are happening all over the world because of discriminatory laws and practices.”

    Sidibé emphasised that “Laws must protect, not cause harm. All countries must carefully examine their laws and policies in order to ensure equality and protection for all people, without exception.”

    UNAIDS, the main advocate for accelerated, comprehensive and coordinated global action on the HIV/AIDS pandemic, noted that Zero Discrimination Day provides opportunity to highlight “equal dignity and worth of every person, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”

  • Facebook partners MainOne on metro internet infrastructure expansion in Edo

    Riding on the wave of Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki’s reforms in investment promotion and determination to build a robust technology ecosystem in the state, global technology giant, Facebook has invested in providing broadband internet in Edo State, in partnership with MainOne, a submarine cable system operator.

    The investment is part of a 750km terrestrial fibre infrastructure project being implemented by the two companies in Edo and Ogun states. The project would provide an open-access transport network for metro fibre connectivity to reach more than 1,000,000 people in over 12 cities, including Benin City.

    The Governor Godwin Obaseki-led government has prioritised technology as one of the cardinal pillars of his reform agenda in Edo State, introducing Information Communication Technology (ICT)-compliant pedagogy in primary schools; building the Edo Innovation Hub, where school leavers and graduates undergo beginner and advanced training in technology, as well as revamping technical education to increase productivity.

    The new internet infrastructure by Facebook and MainOne will connect mobile operators’ base stations, Internet Service providers (ISPs), Points of Presence (POPs), and public locations including schools and hospitals.

    In Benin City, extensive work has been done in laying the cables, as manholes with MainOne markings now dot different parts of the city, indicating that fibre cables lay underneath.

    Speaking on the project, Network Investments Lead for Emerging Markets at Facebook, Ibrahima Ba, said: “We are working closely with MainOne and other partners to accelerate broadband deployment. In Nigeria, we are bringing together Facebook’s learnings from scaling our global infrastructure with MainOne’s knowledge of the local environment to develop and test new working models for multiple operators to access common infrastructure.”

    MainOne’s Chief Executive Officer, Funke Opeke, lauded the collaboration and the commitment of Facebook and authorities in Nigeria to improving broadband penetration across the country.

    Commenting on the partnership, she added, “MainOne has always been committed to broadband innovation, job creation as well as growing the digital economy of West Africa. We believe that this partnership and the open-access network we have developed, will be beneficial to improving the quality of access and accelerating the digital transformation in Ogun and Edo states.”

  • Obaseki congratulates Buhari on deserved victory


    …salutes Nigerians’ ballot for uprightness, honesty

    …says president’s 2nd term will provide impetus for good governance, war on corruption

     

    Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari, on his re-election.

    Obaseki who issued the congratulatory message in the early hours of Wednesday, shortly after president Buhari was declared winner of the Presidential election, held on February 23, said: “On behalf of the government and people of Edo State, I congratulate our President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, on your well-deserved victory.”

    Read Also: Buhari’s victory testament of level of acceptance, says IYC

    Obaseki added: “I salute the renewed resolve of Nigerians to cast their ballot for uprightness and honesty, exemplified by your leadership and for endorsing the people-centred programmes of the All Progressives Congress (APC), under your guidance.”

    He explained that another four years of president Buhari’s leadership “will provide the much-desired impetus for good governance, the ongoing war on corruption, completion of ongoing infrastructural projects and boost our new image in the comity of nations.”

  • Obaseki’s Chief of Staff floors PDP

    Chief of Staff to Governor Godwin Obaseki, Mr. Taiwo Akerele, has delivered his polling unit for the All Progressives Congress.

    Akerele voted in Unit 11 Ward one Akoko-Edo local government area.

    The results are below:
    House of Representatives
    APC-180
    PDP-134

    Senate
    APC-191
    PDP-129

    President
    APC-185
    PDP-129

  • Obaseki votes, hails peaceful polls

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has voted at about 10:30am.

    He arrived the polling unit at 9:55am and waited on the queue.

    Many voters rushed to shake hands with him.

    Speaking to newsmen after voting, Governor Obaseki commended INEC and security for ensuring a hitch free exercise in the state.

    Obaseki said he worked hard to ensure voters were sensitized to see the need to come out en mass to cast their votes.

    “This is my voting unit and it is quite orderly for the past 20 minutes or so that I have been here, it has been quite orderly.

    “I am quite impressed with the presence of the security persons at the polling unit. As I was just diving in here, I saw a lot of security personnel here.

    “It was anticipated but our people at various levels worked very hard to sensitize the people to make them see the need to come out to vote. I think whatever we suffered from the postponement, it is made up of the publicity given.

    “My message is that everybody with their PVC should come out early enough so that we can complete this process early by 2pm”, he said.

    The governor said the government has made adequate security for the elections adding that he is optimistic of a peaceful elections at the end of the exercise.

    “So I am quite optimistic that the process will be peaceful”, he said.

  • Obaseki lifts rural communities with road projects

    For many years, residents of Ekpoma, headquarters of Esan West Local Government Area used to pray for rain not to fall even though they are predominantly farmers. Their reason was simply because of the bad state of roads network in the community.

    The Ekpoma township roads were first constructed during the administration of late Prof. Ambrose Alli between 1979 and 1983. Despite the road networks like the Irrua-Igueben-Ebudin-Ugbekun-Ujogba road and the completed Ubiaja-Okhuesan-Emu-Ohordua-Ewatto-Ewohinmi-Igueben constructed in other local government areas by former Governor Adams Oshiomhole within Esanland, he was still accused of not doing anything in the locality because roads in Ekpoma were in a bad state.

    It, thus, became a yearly ritual for the people of Ekpoma to complain about bad roads during the rainy season. What worsens the situation was when the Ekpoma axis of the Bénin-Auchi-Abuja highway collapsed.

    But this year, the story is different. The people are no longer afraid of the coming rains because of the nearly completed roads network in Ekpoma. Roads where work has reached advanced stage are Ekpoma-Uhumudumu road, Mousco – Ukpenu Road, Market road and Uwenlebo Road.

    A legal practitioner, Ehis Osagiede, who heaped praises on Governor Obaseki, for opening up rural areas especially in Edo Central for economic prosperity said ‘past administrations totally neglected Esan land and did not give them a sense of belonging which made us feel like outcast in the Edoid race.

    According to him, “The feedback I get from the people of Ekpoma, a town where I lived the most of my life, attended my nursery, primary, secondary schools and university, is that, Ekpoma is being transformed, and truly getting back its status of a metropolis which I have always dreamt of and certainly that which Prof. Ambrose Alli envisioned for it. It would also interest you to know that, there is nothing that has gladdened my heart as much as getting these feedbacks from Ekpoma.”

    Apart from Ekpoma, construction work has commenced in several farm roads in other local government areas like Uhunmwode, Owan East, Igueben, Ikpoba-Okha and Oredo. From Airport road in Bénin City, work has started at the Irhirhi-Aroobga-Obazagbon-Obagienevbosa-Oghehghe road to connect Bénin-Sapele-Warri road.

    A resident in Irrua, Esan Central Local Government, Mrs. Grace Omo, said the reconstruction of roads in the area would open the area up for development, noting, “It will be easier for people to commute and carry out their business. We appreciate the governor for his good intentions for us. Before now, during rainy season, the roads were terrible and difficult to pass through.”

    Read also: Ogun professionals decry political violence in state

    In Uhunmwode that was described as the least developed local government, Obaseki has commenced construction of the College Road at Ugieghudu, the Ehor-Ukpogo, Obadan-Ugonoba and Oke-Oruah roads. Governor Obaseki said he embarked on the roads to open up the area for more socio-economic activities and change its development narrative for the better.

    At Owan East, Governor Obaseki flagged off the reconstruction of the 16.2km Ihievbe-Ogbe road that cuts across Ihievbe, Ogbe-Ihievbe, Warrake communities in Owan East LGA and Egeuno community in Etsako West LGA. He told the people that work would soon commence on the Afuze-Erha road.

    According to the governor, his administration’s decision to invest in road infrastructure across the state was informed by the important role that roads play in economic development.

    “Our youths in this local council need jobs and I will create more jobs for the youths of this council area. Water is another problem our people are facing here and I have already started working on water projects, and soon water will begin to flow in the area.”

    Speaking on how Governor Obaseki raised the funds for the rural roads construction, a top government official who pleaded anonymity said the governor saved N500m monthly that was previously used to pay debt.

    The source explained that when the state government finished paying the loan with the N500 million deducted from the state’s monthly allocation, Governor Obaseki decided to continue ‘paying’ the loan in the form of savings.

    According to the source, “That is how we were able to save N6 billion for the state. We were paying a loan with N500 million monthly deducted from our monthly allocation and after the completion of the payment, the governor in his wisdom said the deduction should now be converted to savings for the state and that what the governor is deploying to rehabilitate, reconstruct about 400 roads across the road.

    “You see that we are in the dry season and this is the best time for road construction and that is why you saw the governor award the roads. The contractors are happy working because they are seeing the money there and so will be working with confidence that they will get their money once work is completed.”