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Tag: Obaseki

  • Why I reinstated deposed Uromi monarch, Obaseki

    Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has explained why he reinstated the Ojuromi of Uromi,  Anselm Aidenojie II.

    He said he received a positive report on the Uromi monarch.

    Aidenojie II was deposed in November by ex-Governor Adams Oshiomhole following Section 28 (i & ii) of the Traditional Rulers & Chiefs Law, 1979, after serving seven days suspension.

    The Uromi monarch was first suspended in October, for allegedly assaulting Betty Okoebor during the September 28 governorship election.

    He was also alleged to have travelled without permission, and ‘’disregarded’’ constituted authorities by refusing to answer a query.

    Obaseki, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said, “Consequent upon his apology to the Edo State government and a plea for leniency from well meaning residents, the Executive Council approved the reversal of his deposition.”

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

    Special Adviser to Obaseki on Agriculture, Prince Joe Okojie, noted that the people of Uromi will hail the reinstatement of their king.

    Prince Okojie said the customs and tradition of the people have suffered a setback since November 6, when the monarch was deposed.

    “We thank Governor Obaseki for his magnanimity to forgive. We have been waiting for the return of our king.

    “Uromi town will be agog when they hear the news.”

  • Better days ahead, Obaseki tells Edo pensioners

    AGGRIEVED pensioners in Edo State and Governor Godwin Obaseki yesterday traded words over payment of pensions and gratuity.

    But the governor assured the pensioners of better days ahead, promising to keep to his words to start paying them.

    The pensioners, who wore black to the May Day rally at the Sports Complex of the University of Benin, interrupted Obaseki’s speech as he made effort to explain efforts he had made to settle pension arrears.

    They became more annoyed when Obaseki told them to stop collecting money from the opposition party to fight his administration.

    Obaseki informed the pensioners that the opposition party was responsible for their plight because pension and gratuity were not paid as far back as 1997.

    He said he had instructed the local government councils to pay outstanding pensions and salaries before the end of the year after releasing N1.5 billion from the Paris Club Refund.

    He noted that by next year, all local government employees would be converted to the contributory pension scheme.

    According to him, “I am not happy that some people are wearing black. I promise you will not wear black next year.

    “My predecessor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole had an option to pay only those that retired in his time but he went back to start paying pension from 1997. I made a promise and I will keep my promise.”

    Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Emmanuel Ademokun urged the governor to employ people into the State Public Service to address depleting workforce.

     

  • Better days ahead, Obaseki tells Edo pensioners

    AGGRIEVED pensioners in Edo State and Governor Godwin Obaseki yesterday traded words over payment of pensions and gratuity.

    But the governor assured the pensioners of better days ahead, promising to keep to his words to start paying them.

    The pensioners, who wore black to the May Day rally at the Sports Complex of the University of Benin, interrupted Obaseki’s speech as he made effort to explain efforts he had made to settle pension arrears.

    They became more annoyed when Obaseki told them to stop collecting money from the opposition party to fight his administration.

    Obaseki informed the pensioners that the opposition party was responsible for their plight because pension and gratuity were not paid as far back as 1997.

    He said he had instructed the local government councils to pay outstanding pensions and salaries before the end of the year after releasing N1.5 billion from the Paris Club Refund.

    He noted that by next year, all local government employees would be converted to the contributory pension scheme.

    According to him, “I am not happy that some people are wearing black. I promise you will not wear black next year.

    “My predecessor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole had an option to pay only those that retired in his time but he went back to start paying pension from 1997. I made a promise and I will keep my promise.”

    Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Emmanuel Ademokun urged the governor to employ people into the State Public Service to address depleting workforce.

     

  • PDP, Obaseki bicker over N500m maize farm

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki yesterday traded words over allegation that the N500 million Sobe maize farm was a conduit pipe to loot state’s finances.

    Obaseki, in April last year, inaugurated 1000 hectares of farmland at the Sobe Farm settlement for cultivation of maize and to empower 200 agripreneurs.

    The maize farm was cultivated in partnership with Saro Agrisciences.

    Edo PDP Chairman Chief Dan Orbih, who spoke at a news conference in Benin City, said no agripreneurs were given farm land as promised by Obaseki.

    Orbih challenged Obaseki to show how many tonnes of maize were realised from the farm or how much the state made from the project.

    He noted that the N500 million paid to Saro Agrisciences was diverted as nobody benefited from the farm proceed.

    He cautioned Obaseki against further sale of state’s assets.

    The Edo PDP chairman listed assets sold by Obaseki to include the Oil Palm Mill, Ubiaja Rice Mill and the Rubber Processing Mill.

    Orbih said plans were on to sell assets of Edo Line.

    His words: “Government business cannot be managed like a private business. Bringing Saro Agrisciences to come and preside over siphoning of the state fund is unfortunate.

    “The Sobe demonstration farm is a drain pipe to loot the state. No single graduate was engaged in the farm. The state government should show us who benefitted from the scheme.”

    Obaseki, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said his administration did not have any project that drains the resources of the state.

    The governor said he added value to several investments, such as the Edo Fertiliser and Chemical plant, development of Benin Industrial Park, Gelegele Seaport, training of Edo teachers, reconstruction of Benin Science and Technical College and many others.

    His words: “As a responsible government, it is our duty to keep Edo people abreast of developments in the state. Every item mentioned in the recent address by the Edo PDP, is completely false and has no foundation what so ever in truth.

    “The Governor Godwin Obaseki administration is moving so smoothly and delivering all the promises it made to the people. The smooth sail causes the Edo PDP a great deal of unease, discomfiture and discomposure and instead of joining  the moving train, they seem resolute about disrupting the process of progress by fabricating lies.

    “The Edo PDP see the world as they are. They know themselves to be untrustworthy with heavybaggage of graft and so they believe everyone else must be like them.

    “We know Edo people are too sophisticated to be deceived by these feeble lies. They research, verify and compare claims before reaching a conclusion. But as for the Edo PDP, we are not surprised that they cannot prove their claims because they are lies.”

     

     

  • ‘No friction between Obaseki and Oshiomhole’

    Former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Edo State Hon Lucky James spoke with OSAGIE OTABOR on the alleged friction between Governor Godwin Obaseki and his predecessor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the preparations for next year’s elections by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other partisan issues.

    How prepared is the Edo State APC for next year’s general elections?

    Preparation for the election are in different stages because we started preparation right from the day we won the election. We knew what the people need. In Edo, you can see that we are preparing for the election because whatever the former governor Oshiomhole like a bulldozer did Obaseki is consolidating like a grader. The bulldozer will make more noise in pulling down structures but all the structures are now being made to work. We earlier concentrated on dual carriage ways but now we are doing interior roads and people are appreciating it. The projects are quietly done. That is preparation. At the national level, it was the same thing when Oshiomhole was planning here, people thought he was doing nothing. The federal government is looking at areas being neglected like agriculture. The president is putting things right.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo said it is waiting for the presidential election. The APC is aware of the default of the PDP and that is what they will avoid. Things like internal democracy and imposition would be avoided. Look at how quietly the local government election was done and you can see that the APC is avoiding all the pitfalls of the PDP. Though, all is not well in the APC, but marginally, we are moving on. Senator Owie said he is waiting to harvest APC members into the ADP because of Governor Obaseki style

    There will be nobody to harvest to other parties from the APC. APC in Edo is intact. If he is talking about taking care of party leaders, Obaseki got a job to do. He has a lot of infrastructure to smoothen out as the grader after Oshiomhole. The party, people will be taken care of because they will be part of the process. The governor is looking at areas, where he can empower the people. He has studied the process very well and I am sure in the next few months, you will see the actual results. I am aware it is not possible to satisfy everybody. Whether you give people the whole treasury in government house, they will still complain.

    The APC government has not resolve herdsmen attack. Will it not affect it success in 2019 election?

    Herdsmen killing is not a new thing. It has continue from previous administrations except that the scale has widened. Government should put in more measures to check the killings.

    There are complaints by the APC leaders that Obaseki is yet to release appointments into boards and committees.

    I was a local government chairman. It is better to explain to them than to appoint people and not be able to pay. If Obaseki put all the numerous boards in place, the same people will come and complain that the boards are not being serviced. Let the man take it pace by pace. This is not the issue of boards appointment, it is about being able to service them. You can see that more schools are built, roads are in place and the peaceful business environment in the state is on course. I am sure Obaseki has a plan for those who were previously in one service or the other. The business people will tell you the environment is now okay. Obaseki is here not to satisfy party members alone, but the state. We know we are in the party that is in power. Again, election day will show the  records if the PDP has harvest anybody.

    Is it true there is a friction between Obaseki and Oshiomhole?

    That is a figment of their imagination. They are saying many things. At a time, they said I have fallen out with Oshiomhole. They had wished a friction between Obaseki and Oshiomhole but, it is not there. Obaseki is a perfect follower. I am close to Oshiomhole and he has never complain. He told me he will leave governance to Obaseki and anywhere he needs him, he will give advice and move on. For the party, he will provide the leadership. People expected him to have an office in government house but, that he will not do. They expect that everything Obaseki is doing should be determined by Oshiomhole. If you call Oshiomhole for anything, he will not give answer but, insisted on hearing from the governor.

    How was it like working with Oshiomhole?

    Oshiomhole is a very nice person. He opens argument. He will listen and argue with you. He is not somebody who will take your advice as you say it. He will have to examine it. Once he found you fit and proper, he does not have problem with you. He is not a one man leader. He listen to various shades of opinion. Somebody almost abuse it. He was open to everybody. Where he makes mistakes, he will admit. Because of his background, he puts himself at the level of the downtrodden. He is from the smallest village in Etsako. He is not from a too rich family and always sympathic to people.

    Are you still interested in contesting elections?

    Anywhere the people wish me to go, I am not sure I will have any objection because it is the people you are going to serve. If they call me, I have to look at it, if there will be no clashes and the leadership agrees I will go for it. I have never on my own said I want this, it is the people that always yearn for me. From when I was a teacher to a council chairman. I am not the one that will push. It is the people that will say it is my turn. That is what inform my political decision. The right thing must be done. Some people know that it is not their turn but they will insist. When Oshiomhole was in power for eight years, I ensure I did not push beyond my bounds because Oshiomhole and I are from the same ward. What will I do that the governor will not be able to do? If there is any particularly calling and it agrees with the leadership that I should be there, I go for it.

     

  • Only PDP can defraud donors , says Obaseki

    Edo State government has said only Chief Dan Orbih and members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) defrauds donor agencies, such as the European Union (EU).

    It said the Godwin Obaseki administration abide by rules guiding execution of projects with agencies such as European Union.

    The government was reacting to claims by Orbih that the N4 billion water and sanitation project in partnership with EU was meant to defraud the agency.

    Special Adviser to Governor Obaseki on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, in a statement, noted that the PDP is envious as the state breaks newer grounds by the day.

    Osagie said Edo people would not be swayed by the lies of Edo PDP.

    He explains: “To set the records straight, Edo State government paid N389 million to attract N700 million from the EU for water drilling and reticulation in Ovia South West and Etsako West local government areas.

    ‘’In Ovia South West, the projects are on course and are sighted at Iguatakpa, Omorodion, Okoro II, Agbontaen, Okponha, Oriakhi Waterside, Obobaifo, Ikoha, Oke-Abata, Oyunmwenyi, Iguobazuwa, Ojo Kassim, Udo, Obaretin, Ofumwengbe, Usen, and Obazumwen.”

    Osagie added: “In Etsako West, the projects are located in Elele, Omhemi, Egbogio I, Egbogio II & III, Amob, Joseph Camp, Afowa, Ayogwiri, Ibienafe, Iyerekhu, Ughiole and Auchi Headworks.

    “In Edo Central, the government attracted N700 million from the EU with N300 million counterpart fund to reticulate water from the dam built by the Federal Government, to Uromi and its environs.

    ‘’A meeting with the Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning will hold in Abuja later this month on the project.”

    The governor’s aide further said: “Two months ago, the governor released N600 million to attract N1.4 billion for water, sanitation and artisanal training in Orhionmwon, Uhunmwode and Owan West under Niger Delta Support Programme of EU.

    “The N2 billion project covers water drilling, reticulation, sanitation in markets, public schools as well as training for 250 artisans to maintain water projects, some of who will be absorbed by the councils.

    “The wisdom behind the training is to ensure that these water projects that billed to come on stream soon, will not be abandoned by lack of capacity to maintain them.

    “The baseline survey for the N2 billion Orhionmwon, Uhunmwode and Owan West projects will be done on April 18 to verify suitability of locations for the projects. These are facts that can be verified at the office of the EU and the respective Federal Government agencies.”

  • Obaseki: arrest pastor’s killers

    Edo State Governor  Godwin Obaseki has urged the Commissioner of Police, Babatunde Kokumo, to fish out killers of  Pastor Pius Eromosele.

    The late Eromosele was abducted with two of his workers from his farm at Odighi in Ovia North East.

    He was killed by his abductors after his workers escaped.

    His mangled decomposing body was found three days later by hired local hunters.

    Residents of Odighi have been at loggerheads with Fulani herdsmen in the locality.

    Governor Obaseki, who commiserated with the Eromosele family, promised that justice will be served and the culprits brought to book.

    He said: “It is with heavy heart that we received news of the incident, which led to the death of Pastor Eromosele. The state government will ensure that relevant security agencies get to the bottom of this incident and arrest the culprits.”

    Kokumo, who described the killing as kidnapping and not a clash between farmers and herdsmen, said the police was would act on directives of Obaseki to track the suspects.

    He said a suspect was arrested in the area and a machete with blood stains found on him.

    “It was a case of kidnapping, not herdsmen/farmers’ clash. The deceased, who was a farmer, went to his farm with two labourers. They were subsequently kidnapped.

    ‘’Police was informed and we swung into action. We stormed the scene of the incident and mounted pressure on the kidnappers.

    ‘’This led to the escape of two of the victims. However, the owner of the farm died in the kidnappers’ den.”

    “The suspect claimed he was a hunter but couldn’t substantiate the claim when he was quizzed and no animal was found on him. We also found locally-made arm on him.”

  • Why Obaseki sacked commissioner

    Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki may have sacked the Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability, Reginald Okun, following his alleged inability to tackle challenges arising from his ministry.

    Sources hinted that this may also explain why the General Manager, Edo State Waste Management Board, Prince Aiyamenkhue Akonofua, was retired.

    It was learnt that Obaseki was peeved by the inability of the duo to keep Benin City clean and the incessant protest by street sweepers.

    The sweepers, on Tuesday, poured out on the streets to demand unpaid six-month salary.

    In November, they protested the non-payment of three-month salary of N18,000 per month.

    The sources said Obaseki discovered that the affected officials could not take care of the sweepers and contractors handling part of the ‘Clean Benin City Project’.

    Continuing, they said government was embarrassed by the protest as the contractors had been paid.

    It was learnt the affected officials were in a meeting when news of their removal filtered to them.

    A government source said Obaseki had warned political appointees and civil servants of dire consequences if they derailed his administration.

    Okun’s sack was contained in a statement by Secretary to the State Government Osarodion Ogie.

    It reads: “The state government directed the officials to handover their assignments to the most senior government official in their offices with immediate effect.

    ‘’They are also to handover all government property in their possession to the appropriate authorities.”

    When contacted for comments, Okun said: “I am just leaving the office. I have no comments on my removal.”

     

  • Obaseki greets Oshiomhole at 66

    Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has congratulated his predecessor, Adams Oshiomhole, who turns 66 today.

    The governor, in a statement, praised his predecessor for advancing modernisation.

    He said: “As you mark 66 years on April 4, 2018, we celebrate you and all that you have accomplished through your humble beginnings to your illustrious career as a labour leader, and as the immediate past formidable, progressive governor of our dear state.

    “Your leadership prowess has ushered in a new chapter in our quest for development and we celebrate your unforgettable contributions to advancing our march to modernisation. Your commitment to humanity, and how you have, at different times through various capacities, impacted the people you lead, cut you out as a light that cannot be hidden.

    “We appreciate you and all you have done and stand for to the people of Edo State and all Nigerians. We wish you many more years of fruitful service to humanity.”

     

  • Obaseki hails payment of Libya returnees by Benin monarch

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has commended the Benin Monarch, Oba Ewuare II, for offering tô place some deportees from Libya on a monthly salary for a period of three months.

    Governor Obaseki described the gesture as a landmark effort towards  rehabilitating the deportees.

    Obaseki commendation which was contained in a statement he personally signed Governor stated that the Oba has shown commitment to seeing that the deportees are catered for and protected from the vagaries of idleness.

    According to the statement, “I commend the Oba’s support for the returnees. This has shown that the Oba is not just committed to ensuring that our youths break loose from the grip of human trafficking, but that those who survived the hellish experience in Libya are catered for and do not have any reasons whatsoever to go back to their vomit.

    “This gesture came at the right time and will further complement the state government’s efforts to rehabilitate the returnees and reintegrate them into society. We are delighted and appreciate the Oba’s support since the onset of the recent campaign to stem the tide of illegal migration and human trafficking.

    “We, at this juncture, want to call on our illustrious sons and daughters to join in this campaign and help our brothers and sisters as they settle back into society. The Oba’s gesture is a clarion call to all. Much as the state government is committing resources to make this happen, we are certain that this cause could do with more hands. This will help build structures and institutions to stem the tide of the menace and restore our ethos and pride as a people,” Obaseki said.