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Tag: Obaseki

  • Obaseki’s proactive steps to prevent crisis in Okpella

    Obaseki’s proactive steps to prevent crisis in Okpella

    From Kaduna to Rivers and Benue states as well as other parts of the country, the stories of woe over the senseless killing of Nigerians abound.

    While the issues are not exactly the same, there is however a common narrative about the alleged failure of the governors of the affected states in arresting the issues at their early stage before they snowballed into full-blown crises.

    Crisis management experts contend that the best strategy to preventing crisis, irrespective of the scale, is the proactive approach. It is cost effective and less likely to lead to the loss of lives and property.

    The brewing tension in the quiet town of Okpella, in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, a solid minerals bearing community could become the hot bed for killings and counter killings if urgent steps are not taken.

    Newspaper men have had their share of the ‘fight’ with the advertorials and counter advertorials on the ownership of the Obu mine site located in Okpella, that have dominated the pages of newspapers in the past weeks, sponsored by both Dangote and BUA, both cement manufacturing companies.

    The lingering legal tussle between Dangote and BUA International Limited, is being followed keenly by stakeholders in the solid minerals sector and other stakeholders.

    Beyond the court hall where the Obu case is being adjudicated upon, the growing tension in Okpella could claim several lives.

    Worried by the failure of BUA to abide by a simple Stop Work Order and the likely consequences, the Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki, with officials and personnel of various security agencies effected the arrest of staff of BUA Cement after shutting down the mine site, to prevent any crisis.

    Followers of the BUA-Dangote case commend governor Obaseki’s action, more so considering security intelligence that BUA is raising a militia as part of a grand plan to adopt extra-judicial means to continue mining activity on the Obu mine site.

    However, a few hired commentators on the issue have blamed Governor Obaseki’s action. Understandably, the commentators are paid and do not appreciate the bigger picture and the obligation of a state governor to his people in a matter that could throw the community into a theatre of war.

    In Benue State, Governor Samuel Ortom is in the eye of the storm as Benue people protest the alleged killing of their people by suspected Fulani Herdsmen.

    No excuse or defence is acceptable to the people who have lost their relatives to the mayhem. Ortom is now being called all sorts of names over the issue. Some have even asked for his resignation. They say he is not proactive and cannot protect his people. Perhaps Ortom may have taken some proactive steps which were rebuffed by his detractors.

    All his efforts to prevent anarchy, whatever those efforts may have been, which might have been resisted and ridiculed are now completely drowned in the cries of distress that followed the killing of several Benue people.

    In Edo State, Governor Obaseki is now taking proactive steps to protect his people and prevent the state from becoming another killing field and people are coming up with various conspiracy theories and wild guesses and are ignoring the real issue, which is the sanctity and safety of human life.

    To cast aspersions on Obaseki for his proactive efforts to protect the lives of his people in Okpella is senseless to say the least.

    Governor Obaseki is resolute about fulfilling his obligation to protect Edo people and will not be swayed by the cacophony of voices, knowing that he is the one that will be blamed should there be mayhem in Okpella tomorrow.

    So the governor is not listening to side talks, as he has said times without number that no amount of money is worth the life of any Edo man or woman.

    Many Benue and Rivers State people blame their governors who are the chief security officers of their respective states and no matter how long the blame game lasts, the dead are gone. No amount of blame trade will bring them back.

    Obaseki has resolved to ensure that this is not the fate of Edo people in Okpella or elsewhere in Edo State.

    Very likely, if the issues that led to the various crises mentioned above were tackled by the governor and all the people without prejudice, at the early stage, the senseless killings might have been avoided.

    Osagie is the Special Adviser to Edo State Governor on Media and Communication Strategy

  • Gelegele Seaport: Obaseki insists on project

    Gelegele Seaport: Obaseki insists on project

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said there was no going back on the Gelegele Seaport project in the state, assuring that the rule of law, peace and order will be maintained in the state as government pursues its programmes and policies.

    Obaseki said this when elders and leaders of thought from the five Ijaw clans in the state under the aegis of the Ijaw National Congress, Edo State, paid a courtesy call to the governor at the Government House, in Benin City.

    Obaseki maintained that there is nothing greater than peace in any community, as it is under such condition that developmental goals of any society, state or nation are attained.

    Noting that he was committed to the Gelegele Seaport project, he said his administration will ensure peace in the state to attract development to the people, especially the most disadvantaged in the state.

    “Without the rule of law, peace and order in the state, none of us will have progress; none of us will realize our vision. We all should embrace peace to move the state forward in terms of development,” he said.

    He noted that though disagreements are expected as one makes progress in life, the role of leadership or government is to resolve the issues that cause disagreement or differences in an amicable way and avert chaos.

    “If we as a people have built structures to foster development, most of the issues that have led to the agitation of the past few months will not have occurred in the first place. The core issue is that of development, access to good quality life,” he stressed.

    Obaseki said the focus of his administration is to create an enabling environment for development that will make life meaningful for the Edo people, adding, “my priority is to move development to every part of Edo State, make life meaningful and worth living for the citizens of the state. I am determined to ensure that I increase the pace of development in the most disadvantaged areas in the state.”

    Earlier, the leader of the Ijaw group, Rev. Christopher Dime, whose speech was delivered by Mr. Edmund Doyah-Tiemo, complained of their marginalization and oppression over the years. He stressed that the Ijaws are in three local government council in the state and this has hampered their progress as a people.

    He expressed appreciation to Governor Obaseki and lauded his efforts to open up the area inhabited by the Ijaws, especially through the proposed Gelegele seaport and assured of their full support.

  • Obaseki: Gains of transformational leadership in Edo

    Obaseki: Gains of transformational leadership in Edo

    In this pieces, ISAAC AMIURIE examines the achievements of Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki and contends that he is building on the legacies of his predecessor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

    In just over a year, Godwin Obaseki, governor, Edo State, has redefined governance in a manner never thought of before now. His ideas on public policy are radically different from the norm and so are his policy drives, putting his state far ahead of its peers in development parameters.

    There is a common story making the rounds in political circles in Benin, the Edo State capital, these days. It is about how conversations at party gatherings of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have taken on a new texture. It is neither about who gets into what position, nor what amount will be shared at such political gatherings. “More and more, it is either about how one massive road construction would link community A to Community B; or how Governor Godwin Obaseki has attracted another new business corporation into Edo State or one new law or policy meant to address critical deficit in governance,” explained a leader of one of the fringe opposition political parties in Edo state, recently.

    There is no reason to doubt this observation, at least going by the spate of defection from opposition parties to APC between October and November this year, after Governor Obaseki undertook a statewide tour, tagged Thank-you- tour to APC voters who put him in power. The visits ended up to be a new political reorientation strategy meant to wean the teaming Edo populace off the non-progressive politics of old.

    Rather than making the tour a money-sharing jamboree and an occasion for the outpouring of unctuous stream of unrealisable promises, Obaseki preached a new politics of purpose. For instance, at Ubiaja, Esan South East local government area, Obaseki promised an agricultural processing zone at Ilushin in addition to a vocational centre that will provide the necessary skills for the youths of the area. The skill acquisition center is meant to prepare them for the jobs his administration will provide. This is in addition to the cash rewards to the wards that performed well at the last election.

    The governor assured them, too, that roads in the council area will not be forgotten, adding, “I have stationed a contractor in Edo Central Senatorial District to ensure that a number of roads are constructed, we are only waiting for the dry season to commence work.” Putting a perspective to the governor’s approach in politics and governance, APC chairman in Igueben, Sunday Iredia, said Obaseki’s administration in the last one year has been more of reforming the way things are done in Edo State. “These are the things that have stimulated the public about Obaseki,” said Iredia.

    But this reform is not peculiar to politics alone in Edo State. Indeed, Obaseki’s style of administration has witnessed sweeping reforms in governance architecture. Like he has done in politics, Obaseki’s style of introducing institutional reforms is through the engagement of critical stakeholders; laws and policy enactment; reworking of weakened governance architecture; creation of enforcement agencies; improvement in living standards especially in health and education. In the last one year of his administration, Obaseki has introduced an entirely different approach to governance.

    On laws, policy enactment and enforcement agency creation, for instance, not a few policy wonks would be amazed at the ease with which a new property protection law has been driving investments into Edo State. Before his coming as governor, landed property transactions were mostly  mired in skirmishes on account of traditional land holding and tenure system. Even more, land grabbers took advantage of the system to reap off prospective investors under the guise of community development associations (CDAs). But upon assumption of office, Obaseki constituted an anti-CDA task force headed by a wizened crime fighter, Solomon Arase, for Inspector General of Police (IGP).

    Apart from creating the Task Force, the governor sponsored a bill into law regulating land acquisition in the state. “The overall result of this has been a marked decrease in land related crimes, land tussles and more investor confidence in setting up in Edo State,” explained Arase.

    Another enforcement agency revamped by Obaseki is the Edo State Traffic Management Agency (ESTMA). Before his coming traffic snarl in the city capital of Edo was nightmarish. But with the creation of the traffic management corps made up of highly trained officers, traffic jam has rapidly begun to ebb. To ensure the continuity and acceptance of the corps, its operation in the state is backed by law, and constant reorientation is still ongoing for drivers on Edo roads. Still on traffic management, the Edo state government has begun a gradual phase out of mini buses and vans as means of commercial transport in the state.

    Rather, the state is introducing full air conditioned luxury buses to be given to private sector players on loan scheme basis.

    No better place has institutional reforms in Edo taken root than in the areas of Education and health. In Education for instance, Obaseki believes that building an enduring education system must start from the basis. This view aptly summarizes the new thinking in Edo, where investment in any segment of education whether, primary, secondary or tertiary will be geared towards putting the state in sustainable development pathway.

    The State Government commenced schools census exercise, recently, geared towards providing credible and reliable data for planning while the inspectorate department is being revamped. Special Adviser to the Governor on Basic Education and Sole Administrator, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Joan Oviawe, said Governor Obaseki is keen on teacher professional development and data-driven decision-making.

    “We don’t just do things randomly. We have started taking a census of schools. We want to know the number of schools, pupils, and teachers in the state. After this, we will then know which subject area to focus our recruitment efforts,” explained the aide on the exercise.

    She also noted that Governor Obaseki has brought accountability to the system, stressing, “We have a 48-hour deadline to respond to files here. And this happens across different ministries in the state. So, we are being held accountable when things don’t go well,” added Oviawe. Furthermore, the plan, for Obaseki, is to make education in Edo more hands on. “Success is what the individuals can do with their hands,” said the governor, adding that the future would be defined by knowledge and technical expertise. “Edo State cannot be left behind,” he said.

    The governor’s insight is in sync with recent trends in education, curriculum and man power development strategy. For far too long, stakeholders in the educational system in the country readily put the root of crises in the education sector at the foot of poor funding, inadequate remuneration and learning environment, broken infrastructures in schools and so on.

    While all these might be part of the problem findings by Profound Learning Institute (PLI), an American think tank on education and manpower development sees the matter differently. “Rather than throw money at any perceived problem in the education system or fix what is perceived broken in the learning sector, stakeholders must first determine what it wants education to accomplish for them,” explained Tom Rudmik, CEO and co-founder, PLI.

    On health, the Edo state governor has doubled down on primary health delivery. Going by plans, policies and investments in this critical human development sector, Edo and Obaseki stand apart.

    For instance, immunisation exercise in Edo has been largely successful because Obaseki leads the campaign. Stories are still rife in Benin, the state capital, of how the governor promised and delivered on financial rewards to communities with the largest turnout for immunisation.

    Until recently when Obaseki unveiled his plans for Edo, development experts at first wondered why the state governor made a decision to pay more than the usual attention to primary health care delivery in the state. Admittedly, state chief executives often make meaningful investments in hospital constructions, purchase of state-of-the-art clinical equipment or wholesale employment of medical personnel. But Obaseki’s approach is profoundly different.

    The state governor plans future intervention in his state’s health sector as part of what he calls, Social Welfare Investment (SWI) package; and it is just one out of the interdependent thematic pillars of Edo’s development, namely Institutional Reforms; Economic Development; Environment; Social Welfare; Arts Culture and Tourism apart from SWI. Taken his interest in primary health further, recently, the governor approved health centers in markets. This reaffirmed Obaseki’s commitment to not only curb Neonatal deaths, but also work on revamping primary health sector.

    Under the new policy, the governor approved the establishment of primary health care centers in major markets in the state. “We are prioritising reforms in primary healthcare to address the burden of neonatal mortality. Part of our plans is to rehabilitate and reconstruct at least one Primary Healthcare Centre in each ward across the state by next year. I have also instructed that at least a Primary Health Care centre be sited in every major market, particularly those in the urban centers,” the governor said.

    • Amiurie writes from Benin City, capital of Edo State.
  • Obaseki leading agriculture revolution in Edo

    Obaseki leading agriculture revolution in Edo

    Governor Godwin Obaseki is leveraging on agriculture, as against relying solely on federal allocations to drive the fortunes of Edo State, and the result is showing, reports Francis Amadi.

    With 1.1 million hectares of cultivable land and a teeming young population, Edo State is undoubtedly one of the few states in the country with huge potential for agriculture. Also, the state has a landmass of about 19,187Km2 of which about 70 percent is cultivatable.

    There is thus no doubt why the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration has taken keen interest in harnessing the vast agro potential of the state. Data showed that the agriculture accounts for about 40 per cent of the state’s revenue.

    Contending with the vagaries of unstable oil prices in the global market as with other states, the Edo  State government is latching onto agriculture to diversify the local economy, attain food sufficiency and drive its job creation plans.

    This grand plan includes calculated and far-reaching reforms that will attract and protect investments to boost production of oil palm, cassava, maize, yam, rubber, cocoa, rice, vegetables, aquaculture and livestock. A striking feature of Obaseki’s plan for agriculture is the partnership he is facilitating among private investors, government agencies and other stakeholders in the agricultural value chain.

    Chairman, PRESCO Plc., Felix Nwabuko, whose company is a major investor in agriculture in Edo State, believes that Edo provides a conducive investment for agriculture. He notes that in Nigeria, agriculture is still bedeviled by myriad of challenges, such as lack of access to finance, land acquisition, infrastructure, community clashes amongst others.

    Speaking during the recent Alaghodaro Investment Summit, he said: “All of these have serious impact on agribusiness. Some of the issues that exist include climatic variations, which Edo State is thankfully not susceptible to.”

    These stakeholders include but not limited to, the Tolaram Group and DUFIL Plc, as off-takers for produce, the Agricultural Development Project, as trainers and extension workers; the Edo Fertiliser Plant and Chemical Company Limited operated on Public-Private partnership by WACOT Limited for supply of inputs such as fertiliser; Benin-Owena River Basin Authority for irrigation; farmers’ groups, and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for guarantees to de-risk investment.

    The arrangement is primed to run on a value-chain model that will ensure every stakeholder gets needed support to invest in the state and earn competitive returns on their investment.

    Aside assuring a financially robust state, the agricultural tsunami sweeping across the state will provide employment to the ever-booming youthful Edo population. It would also drive up the state’s self-sufficiency in food production, even as the state already has robust base for producing cash crops, especially oil palm.

    And with the return of Libyan returnees to the state, the government is channeling their energy towards agriculture. The state governor has provided them with 100 hectares of land for agriculture and a N150 million seed fund to fast track their mainstreaming into the agricultural value chain in the state.

    Preparing the ground and de-risking investment

    And putting his words to action, Governor Godwin Obaseki on August 10, inaugurated a 15-man Governor’s Council on Agriculture.

    The decision to draw up the team is to ensure the state produces top-notch human resources to power the agricultural revolution of the present administration.

    The state has shown commitment to this by leveraging a number of initiatives that change the way agriculture is perceived by investors, youths and women, who, according to the World Bank, are a critical stakeholder in agriculture in Nigeria, as they contribute to the bulk of the farming workforce.

    To ensure investments flow into agriculture in the state is secured,  Obaseki recently earmarked N500 million Commercial Agricultural Credit Scheme (CACS) to de-risk investments. The state is in partnership with the CBN on the management of the fund. This will ensure that those investing in Edo access finance easily as the structure is already in place to support their investments.

     

    Fertiliser for higher yields and the wonder at Sobe

    As one of his initial steps to ensure that farmers get the needed inputs for farming, Obaseki revamped the moribund Edo Fertiliser Plant and Chemical Company Limited in Auchi and set up a private public partnership with WACOT Limited to manage the facility.

    The move, aside the obvious benefit of providing fertilisers, speaks of the governor’s commitment to ensure that the right structures are in place to guarantee farmers of inputs.

    Speaking at the commissioning of the plant, the governor said: “The aim of revitalising this plant is to make the state self-sufficient in food production and enable farmers get fertiliser at affordable prices. We in Edo State are determined to make food available in the country.”

    He noted that the facility will feed neighbouring states such as Kogi, Delta, Ondo and Anambra among others, with its products, as it was the only blending plant in the region.

    The state government also has a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement with Saro Agro Sciences Limited to run a 450-hectare maize farm to accelerate the mainstream-ing of agriculture in the state’s economy. This is a part of a larger plan to cultivate 5000 hectares of farmland across the state, with youths leading the drive as agriprenuers.

    The governor said that his administration adopted the PPP business model so that the youths for whom the programme was created can leverage on the expertise of major players in the agricultural sector and grow into big players themselves.

    Rasheed Sarumi of SARO Agro Services said his company was working to actualise the state government’s vision to create jobs and engage youths through agriculture, adding, “We are using market-led approach to agriculture in Edo State. The arrangement is that we would buy what the people produce and we are to provide them with inputs and training.

    “Each of the youth outgrowers, will own a five-hectare farm and employ 50 others. We intend to process maize into feeds in Edo State. Though we are starting with maize, we are moving to other crops.”

     

    Agriculture: Key to  job creation, economic diversification agenda

    Governor Obaseki’s promise of creating 200, 000 jobs in the state will be largely hinged on optimal exploitation of the  state’s huge agricultural resources.

    “Today is the first step towards actualising the 200,000 jobs promised by my administration,” the governor said while inaugurating the 1,000 hectares of cleared field for maize production in Sobe Farm Settlement of Owan West Local Government of the state in April.

    “If we invest in agriculture, we can do more than 200,000 jobs in Edo and Nigeria as a whole.”

    Access to arable land is one of the primary determinants of a thriving agricultural sector.

    The Obaseki administration is watering the ground already to ease access to lands across the state. In October, the Edo Governor said his administration was targeting at least of 250,000 hectares of land for cultivation in the next two years.

    “The importance of embracing agriculture as an administration via focusing on food security, large scale farming, and access to land, information and improved seedlings cannot be over emphasised. Agriculture is now scientific and mechanisation will help us compete in the agricultural market,” the governor said at the 13th Esan Economic Empowerment Workshop organised by the Association of Esan Professionals at Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of the state.

     

    The Gelegele Seaport exportation takes new turn

    Transportation is one key area that can sway the economy to the right direction if well managed.

    That’s why the Edo State Government is putting the right measures to build the Gegegele Seaport. According to the governor, the seaport will serve as a point where “goods can be efficiently moved to various states and distributed across the country.”

    The state is undertaking the right legal framework that will see the dream become reality. Obaseki had also set up and received a report from a committee drafted to design modalities for the project expected to stimulate exportation of agricultural produce.

     

    Plucking the low-hanging fruits first

    Edo State is blessed with agriculture research institutes and one of such is the Nigeria Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) close to Benin City.

    Years back, the state was renowned for its  palm oil production and the Obaseki government has taken steps since inauguration to rejig the sub-sector and make palm oil the new crude in the state. And he is building strategic partnership with relevant stakeholders to tap into that.

    In September, Governor Obaseki travelled to far-away Indonesia where he met with officials of the Indonesian Oil Palm Research Institute in Medan.

    The governor’s visit was to deepen strategic agricultural ties with the Asian nation. Indonesia which was said to have gotten palm seedlings from NIFOR is the world’s largest exporter of palm oil with the agricultural sector the country’s most valuable export sector.

    In 2014, Indonesia’s palm oil production was 33.5 million tonnes. The product also makes up 11 per cent of export earnings of $5.7billion in the country.

    These, among others, were what prompted Obaseki to visit the nation and as he rightly captured then, “ with the present pace of research in the agricultural sector, oil palm can replace crude oil as a major source of food, industrial materials and energy.”

    But Indonesia was just one of the three countries that the governor visited. In fact, the first fruits of one of the visits – to Singapore – resulted in a $50 million investment windfall for the state.

    The money which will be plucked into the state’s oil palm and cassava production , an initiative that is expected to create about 50,000 jobs, is in partnership with Tolaram Group

    Aside the financial gains, the governor also liaised with a group of industrialists.There,he sold agribusiness investment opportunities in the state.

  • Libya returnees: Edo commences payment of stipends

    Libya returnees: Edo commences payment of stipends

    The Edo State Government, on Friday, commenced the payment of N20,000 monthly stipend to four sets of Libya returnees in the state.

    Speaking at Idia College, in Benin City, where the returnees converged to receive the stipends, Chairman, Edo State Taskforce Against Human Trafficking, Prof. Yinka Omorogbe, said the stipend would be paid for three months.

    Prof. Omorogbe said “When the first set of returnees arrived the state, the governor promised to pay them monthly stipend. This is the first of the payment and it will be for three months.”

    She added that the payment commenced after the state government completed the processing of the data of those captured in the first phase.

    Some of the returnees expressed their appreciation to the government for the gesture, noting that the move to rescue and reintegrate them into society was laudable as it afforded them another chance at life.

    Other recipients of the stipend appealed to the state government to increase the amount, noting that they were ready to participate in the vocational training programme.

    Recall that the state government swiftly swung into action to reintegrate its indigenes in the wake of global outrage against the alarming trend of human trafficking, after a CNN report revealed that Black Africans were being sold into slavery in Libya for $400.

    The state had earlier set up the Taskforce Against Human Trafficking to fast-track action against the ugly trend.

    The taskforce has tendered a bill for passage at the State House of Assembly to give bite to the campaign and set effective punitive measures against those fuelling the illegal trade in the state.

  • Obaseki to train teachers for children with special needs

    Obaseki to train teachers for children with special needs

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has announced plans by his administration to train teachers for children with special needs at the state-owned Tayo Akpata University of Education in partnership with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) focused on social services.

    Obaseki disclosed this when he played host to the founder and Coordinator-General, Project Charilove, Christopher Omusi, and the organisation’s other board members, who were on a courtesy visit to the Government House, Benin City.

    He added that the state government appreciates the group’s work in providing social services to physically challenged women in the society.

    Noting that his administration is ready to collaborate with Project Charilove assist physically challenged persons in the state, he tasked the group on a partnership model to create facilities at the state University of Education to train teachers for children with special needs.

    “I would want us to work out arrangement with the State University of Education for training of teachers for children with special needs. My administration is ready to collaborate with you to create these facilities to enable us train teachers for these children in the state,” he said.

    According to the governor, “When these teachers are trained, the state government and other NGOs that require their services can employ them.”

    Founder and Coordinator-General, Project Charilove, Omusi, commended the state government for its continued support, adding that the partnership “has led to its “One-meal-a-day” campaign for the needy, which has benefited 300 people.”

    He added that the support has helped cushion the suffering of physically challenged persons in society, calling for coordinated action to ensure that persons with special needs get the needed support they require to fulfill their potentials.

  • Obaseki, Edo-Ijaws commit to peaceful coexistence

    Obaseki, Edo-Ijaws commit to peaceful coexistence

    Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki and leaders of Edo-Ijaws have agreed to live in peace. They agreed to work together for the economic development of the state.

    According to them, the recent agitation by groups to set the Edo-Ijaws against their Benin brothers and sisters are the machinations of interest groups out to frustrate the state’s growth.

    At the meeting, the Ijaw leaders said they had been living peacefully with their Benin brothers for centuries, and were ready to deepen the relationship, more so with the planned development of their area by the Godwin Obaseki-led administration.

    The governor said: “There has been some angry publications in the newspapers, and as a government, we decided to meet with our Ijaw brothers and sisters to understand what is really wrong. From our findings, the publications were sponsored by outsiders.

    “The Edo-Ijaws have lived here for many years, and so understand the customs and traditions of the land.

    “I guess some other fellows from outside perceived some threats; having seen the pace at which we are developing the area – to build an ultra-modern port in Gelegele and others – and this suddenly led to the agitations.”

    Obaseki said the government and the Ijaw community have taken a stand that law and order must be maintained to allow for meaningful development.

    He said his administration is determined to develop every part of the state and the Gelegele area would not be excluded.

    “They have agreed and accepted to work with government and that they will talk to their kinsmen,” he added.

    The governor also promised to build one of the main roads leading to the community, which was abandoned by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), about five years ago.

    A leader from Gelegele Community, Prince Barbs Pawuru, hailed the governor for the meeting, and expressed satisfaction with the outcome. Pawuru said the Ijaws are peacful people and are ready to work with the Edo State government to ensure law and order in the community.

    “We highlighted the issues and the governor understood them, we are so satisfied with the outcome of the meeting and we are going home to tell our people to embrace peace. The Ijaws are peaceful people, we want peace, but there cannot be peace with injustice,” he said.

  • Obaseki begins revamp of Sickle Cell Center

    Obaseki begins revamp of Sickle Cell Center

    The Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has pledged N25 million as intervention fund for the Edo State Sickle Cell Center, as part of efforts to reposition the facility for better service delivery.

    The governor also ordered the arrest of one Dr. Peter Iyawe, who the hospital management has accused of unethical practices by indulging some patients at the center in the abuse of drugs and thereby creating an army of addicts from the pool of patients he was supposed to care for. Iyawe is also accused of vandalism of hospital assets, insubordination to superior authority, among others.

    Worried by the harm that may have been done to the patients by the alleged unethical practices of the doctor, Obaseki directed that a petition be sent to the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), to investigate the allegations against Dr. Iyawe and, if there is any basis for prosecution, he should be charged to court.

    He gave the directives when parents and guardians of members of Concerned Sickle Cell Sufferers Club paid him a courtesy call at the Government House, Benin City, Edo State.

    Noting that the state government was sympathetic to the plight of the sickle cell sufferers in the state, he said his intervention efforts will also include the upgrade of facilities at the center and engagement of adequate staff to run the facility professionally.

    According to Obaseki, “government is very sympathetic to the wellbeing of the sufferers and this is why we have released N25 million intervention fund to revamp the facility. This is the first part of our intervention efforts. We will also equip the center and engage qualified hands to ensure better service delivery.”

    Commissioner for Health, Hon. Dr. David Osifo, hailed the governor for stepping into the matter concerning Dr. Iyawe, noting that allegations of unethical practices against him have long plagued the facility and deprived sickle cell sufferers of access to the facility.

    He said allegations are rife that Dr. Iyawe has been administering Pentazocin (fortwin), which eases severe pain but is also addictive, adding “the sufferers have become addictive to this drug and Dr. Iyawe has been exploiting them. This army of sufferers that have been exposed to this drug are the ones fighting for Dr. Iyawe. There are alternatives to this drug in managing their condition. I have tried to meet with them, but they have been hostile because they feel that we are depriving them of medication.

    “In fact, I was at the Sickle Cell Center recently and ordered the closure of a consulting room, after it was discovered that Dr. Iyawe had been attending to the sufferers in there, even after the hospital management didn’t approve such. But he threatened that no one can sack him except the governor or the Oba of Benin, and has written petitions and fought a lot of people, including the last governor, on this matter.”

    He described Dr. Iyawe’s actions and apparent exploitation of the sufferers as unethical, noting that the MDCN must wade into the matter.

    Director of Medical Services, Ministry of Health, Dr. Mrs. Helen Eboreime, said that the state has a sickle cell law, which regulates treatment of sickle cell sufferers. She added that due to the shortage of manpower, the Sickle Cell Center ran out-patient services, hence some of the patients were referred to the Central Hospital.

    “But when we made this known to the sufferers, they went on rampage, saying they didn’t want it. Due to Dr. Iyawe’s unprofessional conduct, he was sacked by the board that hired him but the army of addicts he has created, hired him and since then, he has been fighting everyone here. Dr. Iyawe has formed a cartel of addicts who now see those of us who want to help them as enemies. He has been queried many times, but has refused to respond. So, we are happy with the governor’s pronouncement.”

    Chairman of the State Sickle Cell Board, Prof. Caroline Omoti, said that members of the Sickle Cell Club have sent threat messages to board members, alleging that they have even attacked some staff of the facility.

  • NEC okays $1bn from ECA for anti-terror campaign

    NEC okays $1bn from ECA for anti-terror campaign

    The National Economic Council ( NEC ) on Thursday supported the Federal Government plan to spend $1 billion from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) to fight insurgency in the country.

    Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, briefed State House correspondents at the end of a NEC meeting chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He was with Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo and the Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, at the briefing.

    Obaseki said: “The NEC also resolved through the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to support the effort of the Federal Government in the area of security. Pleased with the achievement that had been recorded till date in the fight against insurgency particularly in the North East, the governors of Nigeria through their chairman announced at the NEC meeting that the governors have given permission to the federal government to spend the sum of $1billion in the fight of insurgency.

    “This money is supposed to be taken from the Excess Crude Account.”

    He disclosed that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), in order to have an alliance with states, would organise a retreat for secretaries to the state governments across the federation.

    “This retreat will hold from December 18 to 19 and he implored all governors to ensure that all SSGs attend this retreat,”Obaseki said.

    According to him, the Council also discussed the issue of fuel scarcity in the country.

    “The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources assured Council that within the next 48 hours fuel supply would be restored nationwide because there is enough fuel in our strategic reserves and the ministry has released fuel from these reserves and expects distribution would reach all part of the country within the next 48 hours,” the governor stated.

     

  • Obaseki meets pensioners, reduces arrears by N6bn

    Obaseki meets pensioners, reduces arrears by N6bn

    The Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said the state government has paid off N6billion of the N10 billion pension arrears that accumulated between 1996 and 2000.

    Obaseki, who met with pensioners in the state on Monday to commemorate the 16th Annual National Pensioners’ Day at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat, Benin City, said the N3.9billion arrears backlog would be cleared before December 2018.

    He said that the arrears accumulated between 1996 to 2000 and the state government has been clearing them in batches, adding, “For state pensioners, we set aside N100 million monthly to address the balance of about N3.9 billion. We will increase this amount as the state revenue profile increases.”

    He explained that when his administration came on board, local government councils were unable to pay pensions, hence the state put up measures to enable them generate revenue, which, he said, is gradually yielding positive results.

    “We didn’t want to have challenges in the payment of pension anymore. So, we moved from the old system to the contributory pension scheme. You have a governor who understands the pension problem and the only way to resolve this problem is for us to work together,” he said.

    On Paris Club refunds, the governor said the state and local government councils got the fund, which was used to pay salaries and pension arrears.

    The State Chairman of Nigeria Union Pensioners (NUP), Mr Pullen Noruwa, commended the governor for attending the event and setting up an 8-man committee to address pension matters in the state.

    Noruwa, however, appealed to the governor to increase the N100 million set aside for the payment of pension arrears on monthly basis to expedite action on the settlement of outstanding arrears.