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Tag: Obaseki

  • I was elected to serve Edo people not political leaders – Obaseki

    Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo has said that he was elected to serve the people of the state and not political leaders.

    Obaseki said this on Friday during the second anniversary thanksgiving of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Christian Prayer Contact Committee.

    He was represented by the Secretary to Edo State Government, Mr Osarodion Ogie.

    Obaseki said: “We can’t share the money and still meet up with our electoral promises to the people of the state.

    “Our focus is on Edo people, developing the state and making life better for the overall well-being of Edo people.

    “My administration has done well by fulfilling my electioneering promises; We have built institutions and restored law and order in the state.

    “We are not owing our civil servants; we will pay August salary on the 20th due to the holidays.”

    According to him, pensioners no longer demonstrate in the state because their entitlements are paid when due while civil servants receive their salaries on the 26th of every month.

    He added that the dream of the administration was to make the state the economic hub of the nation.

    In his remarks, the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Religious matters, Pastor Eghosa Omoruyi, said God had used the governor to touch the lives of the people.

    Omoruyi said that the state had experienced great development in just two years, adding “we are optimistic that before the end of his administration, Edo will be better.”

    Similarly, Bishop Chukwu Anayo, the General Overseer of Covenant Ministry International in Imo state, said the governor had made the state peaceful for various religions to worship God.

    Anayo noted that prayer had helped the governor to achieve significant development, adding that the people were benefitting his leadership style.

  • We will not share Edo people’s money – Obaseki

    Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has said the money meant for development of the state would not be shared under his watch.

    Obaseki stated this at the Government House, in Benin City, during the first-year anniversary of the Edo State Task Force Against Human Trafficking.

    He said: “All Edo State Government’s money would be used for the development of the state. This is the brand of politics I have chosen to play. Our developmental challenges are so enormous and only a frugal and prudent utilisation of tax payers’ money would ameliorate the sufferings of our people.”

    The governor said “no matter the pressure and irrespective of the quarters such pressure would come from, I won’t break my oath with Edo people, to provide purposeful leadership.”

    He assured that his administration is opening up rural areas through the provision of infrastructure to stimulate the local economy and enhance the lives of the people.

    He maintained that people would not embark on illegal and life-threatening journeys to Libya if there are structures to support quality life at the grassroots.

    “Taxpayers money is meant for development and it will be used to develop the state and make life better for our people. We are taking development to those in the grassroots where the need is greater. We will not share money like those we displaced from government,” the governor added.

    He assured that his administration’s “target is for Edo State to be ranked as one of the three most developed states by the end of my tenure, in infrastructural development, education and improving the business environment especially in the rural areas, amongst other indicators of growth and development.

     

     

     

     

     

  • CPS: Obaseki presents N7.3m cheques to four next-of- kins

    Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has disbursed N7.32 million to four next-of-kins (NoK) of two deceased enrollees in the state’s Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).

    The beneficiaries are Oriomon Morrison, Oriomon Emuata, Osahenrunmwen Iyawe and Patience Iyawe, who received the sum as benefits under the Group Life Assurance Scheme.

    Presenting the cheques at the Government House, Benin City, Obaseki said the presentation of cheques to the NoK to deceased civil servants with the State Civil Service Commission is history being recorded during his administration.

    He said the payments demonstrated the benefits of pension reforms in the state.

    He stated that when the government came to power, he promised that he would not leave the pension scheme the way he met it.

    He said: “When we came into office, we assured Edo people that all issues relating to pension are going to be resolved.

    “Those who do not believe that our government is working will now know that we mean well for our people and those who served the state.”

    Obaseki assured workers who are in active service that they have nothing to worry about regarding their pension, noting that his government has put measures in place to settle pension benefits after service.

    The Head of Service, Mrs Gladys Idahor, expressed appreciation to the governor for initiating the CPS, adding that with the scheme in place, pensioners will have no reason to protest and demand for pension.

    Idahor said a provision under the scheme requires that aside NoK receiving pension, they are also entitled to three times the annual salary prior to death.

    Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr Osahenrunmwen Iyawe expressed appreciation to the governor for the scheme.

  • Obaseki and challenges of development in Edo

    Fomer House of Representatives member Patrick Obahiagbon highlights the steps taken by Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki to reposition the state and enjoins the people to support his development initiatives.

    Much has been said about political leadership in states of the federation and in the Nigerian nation-state in the contexts of good and bad leaderships.  The essential prisms through which to appreciate leadership could be philosophical or ideological, spiritual or temporal, economic or political, social or cultural. Whichever it is, the important thing is that one of the marks of leadership in all its variegated nuances is mentoring.  The leaders galvanise the led or the followers and provide the critical force in the exploration and voyage of administration for the good of the collectives.

    A leadership that cannot galvanise followership will not only be deprived of the benefit of loyalty which is a quid pro quo element between leadership and followership,  but will also miss its place in history and its connection in posterity. That is the reason leaders at different intersections, especially in the political sphere in Nigeria, are wont to show more than scant interest in those who succeed them. A body of arguments exists to support this thesis.  One which enjoys cosmopolitan resonance is the idea of continuity of programmes, projects and policies.

    Building incrementally on progressive legacies is an approach that should be unassailable even in the enclave of the most vicious political oppositions. But this is not so in the typical Nigerian ambience where the opposition will become so obsessed with their enterprise of pulling down the governing party or the incumbent president or governor at the slightest or flimsiest of opportunities. Oppositional elements in Nigeria have been irrationally sardonic from times of yore.

    The situation supra is the fons et origo of the outlandish macabre dance that  has maniacally engrossed opposition homo sapiens in the country. This is the   testy and tricky moment that the federal government and all APC governors must keep their eyes on the ball and this is exactly where Governor Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki has become an exempli gratia of good governance and thus not only quickly writing his name in gold,but also defining his place in the pantheon of fame.

    Obaseki is building on the solid infrastructural development foundations laid by his predecessor, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, in a deliberate bid to reinforce the essential validation that the Oshiomhole-Obaseki government in Edo is a continuum. This is the point I made earlier about mentoring. The present administration has not only embraced continuity as a directive principle of state policy, it has also imbibed the audacious spirit of Oshiomhole to embark on ambitious projects, one of which was the construction and reconstruction of over 500 kilometres of roads across the state in the first year of the administration.

    Importantly, the scope, shape, contents and texture of Obaseki’s development narrative in Edo state are grandiosely overwhelming. The trend presently is that one sleeps and wakes up to see one development initiative or the other taking place in the state. This is now a common feature that has earned the Obaseki administration the sobriquet of “wake and see” development. Indeed, the philosophical underpinning of the present luminous epoch of development in Edo state was the forging of the Edo State Investment Summit Alaghodaro 2017 with the apt theme: “Envisioning the Future.”

    In fact, a government that is forward-looking and committed to rapid transformation of the state must envision the future and chart pragmatic trajectories to get there.  In the administration’s commitment to ensure the crystallization of its goals and objectives of development, the focus on institutional reforms is in apple-pie order. The key to such reforms and development are institutions. It is in this context that the administration must be commended for embarking on processes that have made the civil service reform more efficient and productive to ensure smooth service delivery.

    This is in pari materia with the programme of capacitating the state’s workforce on how to deploy the computer in service delivery. Significantly, the administration had already signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Training Institute on the capacity training initiatives. This is already having some direct positive bearings in the area of revenue collection wherein technology had been introduced.  By the introduction of technology, coupled with the use of persuasion, education and enlightenment, the administration has been able to accountably and transparently increase local government revenues collection by over 500 percent in recent times.

    With a robust background in business investments and development economy, Governor Obaseki has sharply directed one of the focuses of the administration on industrialization. He is thinking along the lines of utilizing the state’s natural endowment, particularly the available energy and logistic advantages, to make the state an industrial hub. If there is a striking similitude between Obaseki and his predecessor, Oshiomhole, in their style of governance, it is the gravitas that they bring to government.  They both talk and do (described in local parlance as Otokinado).

    The Obaseki administration had already set the stage for the building of a multipurpose Benin Industrial Park at Ikpoba-Okha local government area of the state. This will certainly bolster the state’s strides towards industrial development and creation of employment or job opportunities for the teaming youths.  It takes a strategic and thinking government to break the shackles of lack of development, under-development, poverty and misery among the people.

    With Obaseki in the saddle in Edo state in the next six more years or thereabout, building strategically, incrementally and audaciously on the substructure of development that Oshiomhole left behind, I have no doubt in my mind that our dear state is on the surefooted path to glory days again. All well-meaning sons and daughters of Edo should join hands with the APC government both in the state and at the centre to bring about the much-needed development in our state.

    This is not the time to play opposition politics. We will benefit more by being in accord and on the same page with the Federal Government.  The APC platform offers that possibility.

  • Obaseki reduces cost of C/O to N50,000

    The Edo State government  has reduced cost of acquiring Certificates of Occupancy (C/Os) from N300,000 to N50,000.

    Governor  Godwin Obaseki spoke yesterday in Benin after inspecting work at the Edo Geographic Information System (EDOGIS).

    He said the measure was to enable residents acquire C/Os, registration of licences as well as titles on time and with ease.

    He said: “We have as well reduced the cost of obtaining C/Os from N300,000 to N50,000.

    “It will help to reduce both the time and the amount spent in obtaining C/Os in our state.

    “We will ensure that our building approval as well follow the same speed, to make life more comfortable and meaningful for the people.”

    Obaseki said that EDOGIS, which clocked one year on yesterday, would improve the experience of workers and create opportunities for those seeking to get C/Os within 30 days.

    He said his target was that Edo would be one of the foremost states where interested people could come, buy land and obtain documents within a month.

    The governor promised EDOGIS will attract investors once they discovered that the time of acquiring land is easier and corrupt-free.

    He called on workers to maintain the facilities and ensure all appliances were shut down at the close of work.

    The governor said he will provide conducive environment for workers.

    He promised that the renovation and construction work at the state secretariat will improve productivity.

    Earlier, Chairman of EDOGIS Frank Evbuomwan, who led the governor to inspect work at the facility, hailed the Obaseki-led administration for the initiative.

  • Obaseki: no hiding place for human traffickers

    Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has said his administration, in collaboration with stakeholders, will end human trafficking and illegal migration.

    He said: “There is no hiding place for traffickers.”

    Obaseki spoke at a conference organised by the Edo State Task Force Against Human Trafficking, to examine and proffer solution to the causes of human trafficking.

    He said people resorted to illegal migration because of economic pressure, family pressure and unemployment, adding that his administration would create jobs.

    “I have vowed to reduce illegal migration before the end of my tenure, with your assistance.

    “My government has put in place measures, which include resettling victims of human trafficking after they are rescued. We will offer returnees medical care and train them to acquire skills,” the governor said.

    He said his administration would give residents good governance, to dissuade them from illegal migration.

    Obaseki listed Uhunmwode and Orhionmwon as the local governments with the highest  illegal migration, and said economic activities would be enhanced in the area.

    He hailed the Benin Monrch, Oba Ewuare II, for his support in the fight against the menace, stressing the monarch’s intervention has discouraged people from illegal migration.

    A social justice activist, Dr. Ayode Alakija, said 1,037 people travelled from Kano State to Tripoli, the capital of Libya, daily.  She urged the government to stop illegal migration.

    Deputy Head of European Union (EU) delegation to Nigeria and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Mr. Richard Young said EU would support Nigeria in tackling illegal migration and human trafficking.

    He praised Obaseki’s efforts in fighting human trafficking and illegal immigration.

  • Ambode, Obaseki celebrate retiring Ademowo

    Governors of Lagos and Edo states Akinwunmi Ambode and Godwin Obaseki yesterday showered encomium on the outgoing Diocesan Bishop of Lagos, and Dean Emeritus of Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev Adebola Ademowo on his 70th birthday.

    They described him as a respected clergy, who contributed significantly to mankind and national development.

    The governors spoke to reporters at a special thanksgiving service to mark Ademowo’s 70th birthday and retirement held at Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina in Lagos.

    Ambode commended the clergyman for serving the state meritoriously, saying it was not in doubt that he made significant impact to the development of the state and the nation in general.

    According to him, “for somebody that has served Lagos so meritoriously; Bishop Ademowo has been like a father to all of us, and I say a big thank you to him on behalf of all Lagosians and for attaining the age of 70, we are very glad to have witnessed this celebration and I also wish him well and his family.

    “We know the impact that he has actually created for Lagos and even the whole of Nigeria and one is happy to be celebrating this day with him.”

    Obaseki said Ademowo deserved all the accolades and commendation for the peace and unity he brought to bear on the church during his tenure in active service, as well as the service to mankind.

    He recalled how his mother worshiped in the church for 50 years, saying it was on record that Ademowo performed his role as spiritual leader brilliantly and excellently well.

    “My mother worshiped in this church for the past 50 years and Bishop Ademowo was my mother’s Bishop and as a true Anglican, we know how much contribution that he has made to the Anglican Communion; the peace he has brought, the unity and more importantly the service he has made to the church and to mankind.

    “We wish him well; we wish him God’s grace and God’s peace in his retirement,” Obaseki said.

    In his sermon, Primate of Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev Nicholas Okoh, thanked God for His grace and loving-kindness which saw Bishop Ademowo through his service to the church and mankind, saying it was evident from all fronts that the clergyman had enjoyed the blessings of God.

    Taking his text from the book of Psalm 103, Okoh said the thanksgiving service was most deserving considering the landmark achievements of Ademowo in his 46 years of service to the church, 29 of which was in the episcopacy (being Bishop), saying he would be greatly missed.

    Besides, Okoh admonished the people to run away from sin, saying it blocks access to God and weakens the power of man.

    While declaring that the church was against all forms of homosexuality, Okoh also urged people to prepare for eternity, saying it was important for people to know that their actions in life had eternal consequences whether good or bad.

     

     

  • Ambode, Obaseki, others celebrate Ademowo at 70

    •Anglican cleric retires

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and his Edo State counterpart, Mr Godwin Obaseki, yesterday hailed the Dean Emeritus of Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and outgoing Diocesan Bishop of Lagos, Most Rev Adebola Ademowo on his 70th birthday.

    The two governors described Ademowo as a respected cleric who contributed significantly to mankind and national development.

    Addressing reporters at a special thanksgiving service to mark Ademowo’s 70th birthday and retirement at the Cathedral Church of Christ in Marina, Lagos, Ambode praised the cleric for serving the state meritoriously.

    The governor said it was not in doubt that he made significant impact on the development of the state and the nation.

    He said: “For somebody who has served Lagos so meritoriously, he (Bishop Ademowo) has been like a father to all of us. I just want to first of all say a big thank you to him on behalf of all Lagosians and for attaining the age of 70. We are very glad to have witnessed this celebration. I also wish him well and his family.

    “We know the impact he has actually created for Lagos and even the rest of Nigeria. One is happy to be celebrating this day with him.”

    Obaseki said Ademowo deserved all the accolades and commendations for the peace and unity he brought to bear on the church during his tenure as well as his service to mankind.

    The Edo State governor recalled how his mother worshiped in the church for 50 years.

    He said it was on record that Ademowo performed his role as a spiritual leader brilliantly and excellently.

    Obaseki added: “My mother worshiped in this church for 50 years and he (Bishop Ademowo) was my mother’s Bishop. As a true Anglican, we know how much contribution he has made to the Anglican Communion, the peace he has brought, the unity and, more importantly, the service he has made to the church and to mankind.

    “We wish him well; we wish him God’s grace and God’s peace in his retirement.”

    In his sermon, the Primate of Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Rev Nicholas Okoh, thanked God for His grace and loving-kindness which saw Bishop Ademowo through his service to the church and mankind.

    The cleric said it was evident that the clergyman had enjoyed the blessings of God.

    Taking his text from Psalm 103, Okoh said the thanksgiving service was most deserving, considering the landmark achievements of Ademowo in his 46 years of service to the church, 29 of which was in the episcopacy (being Bishop).

    He said the retiring cleric would be greatly missed.

    Besides, Okoh admonished the people to run away from sins, saying they block access to God and weaken the power of man.

    Other dignitaries at the service included Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun; former Lagos State Deputy Governors Femi Pedro and Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire; former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; former Deputy National Chairman (South) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George; former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Odein Ajumogobia and foremost banker, Otunba Subomi Balogun.

  • How Edo is battling paedophiles

    It all started in May when Governor Godwin Obaseki read reports of a 12-year-old girl, who was sexually assaulted by 58-year-old Lambert Ighodaro.

    Obaseki, aside ordering the immediate arrest, prosecution of Ighodaro, constituted an inter-ministerial committee to give tooth to the Child’s Right Act.

    The governor’s worries, his aides said, stemmed from his belief that abused children become disturbed adults, who most likely, become dangers to the society.

    The committee comprises representatives from the State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, State Universal Basic Education Board  (SUBEB), media and civil organisations. It was mandated to identify children with traits of sexual assaults, arrest and prosecute their abusers.

    The thinking is that pupils will not fully benefit from the good-intentioned programmes of the government if they were continuously exposed to paedophiles, whose actions alter their psychological and emotional balance.

    To achieve its mandate, the committee launched a state-wide campaign to names and shame paedophiles, just as it partnered trained Basic Education Sector Transformation (Edo BEST) teachers, who have been schooled on the art of fishing out pupils going through physical, sexual or emotional abuse.

    Barely two months into its mandate, the committee, according to SUBEB’s acting Chairperson, Dr. Joan Oviawe, has recorded many arrests, while some cases were being investigated.

    Among those arrested, Oviawe said, was 65-year-old Matthew Omokhafe, who defiled a 13-year-old pupil in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of the state.

    She said Edo SUBEB was instrumental to the suspect’s arrest by ensuring the case was moved from Akoko-Edo Police Division to State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Benin City.

    Oviawe said: “With the collaborative efforts of the Child Protection Network (CPN), SUBEB was able to handover the child’s custody to the State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.”

    Another milestone in the campaign against child molesters was the arrest of 70-year-old Francis Ezomo with his two sons, Nosa, 26, and Festus, 29, who defiled their nine-year-old relative.

    Oviawe said: “The issue came to limelight when the headmistress of the minor’s school noticed a change of behaviour in her. She decided to ask her what the problem was and the pupil narrated her ordeal to the headmistress, who then informed the Education Secretary of the local government council where the alleged crime took place.

    “We then swung into action and got the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development involved,” Oviawe said. When we could not get the necessary action required from the police, the state government swung into action and these three men were apprehended almost immediately.

    She said: “What the men have done is bad and their actions have attempted to destroy the life and future of the minor. The three men took advantage of the child and exposed her to trauma. We waded into the case to ensure justice prevails.”

    Already, a medical report has established the defilement of  the nine-year-old girl, whose hymen was torn.

    Oviawe explained that the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development has taken custody of the child who is now in a safe place and assured that SUBEB would ensure that her education is not truncated.

    Explaining while the suspects were being paraded, Oviawe said it was to send a clear message that Paedophilia was unacceptable in Edo, adding that the Governor has vowed to create a safe society where children can pursue and actualise their dreams.

    Kokumo said: “Scientific investigation on the minor was sent to the hospital and a doctor’s report has shown that her hymen has been broken. The scientific report has established that the minor was sexually abused. We will investigate the case and charge them to court.”

     

  • Obaseki places N10m on police killers

    Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has placed N10 million bounty on policemen killers, following a report of killing of four officers by gunmen at Sabon-gida Ora in Owan West Local Government.

    Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy Mr. Crusoe Osagie spoke yesterday after an emergency security meeting between the governor and security chiefs in Benin City.

    He said the meeting was attended by heads and representatives of the Police, Army, Department of State Security (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence  orps (NSCDC) and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

    Osagie said: “Governor Obaseki described the situation as appalling and has ordered an investigation into the killings and arrest of the assailants.

    “He announced a N10 million reward for anyone with information that can lead to the arrest of the criminals.

    “The governor pledged to support the families of the slain policemen, saying the killers must be arrested and prosecuted.”