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Tag: Obaseki

  • APC, Obaseki file Cross Appeal against Edo tribunal ruling

    APC, Obaseki file Cross Appeal against Edo tribunal ruling

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and the All Progressives Congress (APC), have filed a four-ground of Cross Appeal against part of the judgment of the tribunal that upheld the result of the gubernatorial election in the state.

    The APC and Obaseki are the 2nd and 3rd Respondents in the appeal filed by Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the Court of Appeal.

    Obaseki and the APC are challenging the ruling of Justice Ahmed Badamasi refusing to strike out the offensive paragraphs and or the petition based on the two applications.

    In its four grounds of cross appeal, Governor Obaseki and the APC contended that the trial tribunal erred in law when it held that “the whole essence of the application is to defeat the intendment of the petition through technical process, it is premature at this stage to consider striking out paragraph 17 – 753 and we so hold ”

    Among the reliefs sought by the Cross Appellants are an order of the appellate court to allow the cross appeal, an order granting their motion on notice dated and filed on ,30th November 2016 by striking out paragraph 16(1) of the petition touching on corrupt practices and all other paragraphs of the petition; in which allegations of corrupt practices are pleaded including paragraphs 17 – 753.

    They are contending that the tribunal breached the Cross Appellants’ constitutional right to fair hearing when it failed to adequately consider all the issues raised and submitted before it.

    The Cross Appellants also said that the trial tribunal erred in law when it held at page 35 of the judgement as follows: “A careful perusal of paragraph 4 – 501 of the 3rd Respondent’s reply to the petition, one will see new issues raised by the 3rd respondent which are not contained in the petition”

    They also submitted that the trial tribunal erred in law and breached the Cross Appellants’ right to fair hearing when it held on page, 36 of the judgement as follows “There is no law prohibiting the petitioners from filing additional statement on oath of the Petitioners in response to the 3rd respondent’s reply to the petition”.

  • Obaseki orders NDDC contractors to stop work

    Obaseki orders NDDC contractors to stop work

    Few days after the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) asked its contractors to return to projects’ sites, Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has ordered them to stop work.

    The governor, in March, said his administration would not allow NDDC to execute any project in the state without meeting its specifications and designs.

    A statement by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Osarodion Ogie, said the NDDC contractors were given seven days to submit the design drawings, Bill of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation of their respective projects to the Ministry of Works.

    The statement said: “No NDDC contractor is allowed by the state government to resume work until their designs and documents are scrutinised and certified by the Technical Committee set up by the government in this regard.”

    NDDC’s Commissioner in Edo, Saturday Uwulekhue, said the directive was to change the narrative, the negative postures of the Federal Government intervention agency to avoid doing shoddy and substandard jobs.

    Uwulekhue noted that part of the Act establishing the NDDC was that it should implement measures put in place by member-states.

    The SSG said any contractor, whose designs and specifications did not meet the state’s requirement, would go back and redesign them to align  with the state’s masterplan.

    He said: “We are poised to ensure that proper things are done. We want everything to be done as specified in the Bill of Quantity. It is not for a contractor to come to Edo and do shoddy jobs, like they did on Erediauwa, Amagba roads and others. If the state is putting measures in place to correct the ills of NDDC, I am not against it.

    “We have over 300 projects in the state and few have been completed. NDDC has a problem with implementation and execution. The contractors usually play smart during execution of projects.”

  • Obaseki: I’ll build Edo to work for all

    Obaseki: I’ll build Edo to work for all

    Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has said his administration will build a state to work for all residents and improve their standard of living.

    The governor spoke in Benin, the state capital, when he hosted executive members of Conference of Non-Governmental Organisations (CONGOS).

    He said: “We are not afraid; we are transparent and have nothing to hide from the people. My focus is to use available resources to pursue my administration’s programme and improve the lives of Edo people who trusted us and elected us to power.”

    Obaseki urged CONGOS to be exemplary because total independence, which would enable the group to positively check the government, was the hallmark of credibility.

  • When will Obaseki appoint commissioners?

    When will Obaseki appoint commissioners?

    The Prof. Agbonlahor-led committee has completed their work and the list ready for submission to the House of Assembly. Those who made the list are unknown, but the commissioners to be appointed will have to key into Obaseki’s style of adequate data gathering, careful planning, enforcement, implementation and execution.

    SIx months after Godwin Obaseki was elected as governor of Edo State, he is yet to appoint his commissioners. Also yet to be named are Special Advisers, although lawmakers in the House of Assembly has given Obaseki the nod to appoint 12 Special Advisers.

    On assumption of office in November last year, the governor had while reeling out his policies asked politicians in the state to give him six weeks to work with Permanent Secretaries in the various ministries to enable him understand the structure of governance and the system, to meet the high expectations of the people. Another reasons he adduced for the six weeks was the need to restructure, make government more efficient and reduce the cost of governance.

    Before the expiration of the six weeks, Obaseki set up a strategic dialogue team led by Professor Julius Ihonvbere, and 149 others to raise implementable plans for his administration. Ihonvbere outlined six thematic areas, namely: Economic Revolution, Culture and Tourism, Environmental Sustainabilty, Welfare Enhancement, Infrastructure Development and Institutional Reform, which Obaseki should focus on.

    However, Obaseki said he would need another six weeks  to drill down on the six areas before political appointments would be made. This, he said, was to enable political appointees have ideas on the specifics of what his administration set out to achieve.  He vowed to evaluate those he would pick as his cabinet members.

    The additional six weeks have since elapsed and several workshops on judiciary, housing, environment, sports, and other sectors have been held where experts brainstormed on which area Obaseki should focus on and what those expected to work with him are to achieve.

    However, in line with his resolve to take governance to the grassroots, Obaseki asked the All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders across the 192 wards to recommend competent people for appointments. Some criteria were spelt out by the governor as he opted to pick one Special Assistant from each ward, a commissioner from each local government, three Senior Special Assistants from each local government and two Special Advisers from each senatorial district.

    What was supposed to be a simple process of nomination by party leaders have turned to muscle flexing in some local government areas over who should make the list. In many of the local government areas, it was gathered that party leaders decided to pick their preferred choice against the governor’s directives. A top government official said Obaseki was disappointed that some leaders nominated their children and loyalists that have no working experience or expertise.

    To further review the nomination process, Obaseki raised a committee headed by Professor Dennis Agbonlahor, a former Vice Chancellor of the Abmrose Alli University. The committee was to, among other things, look into areas where two different lists were submitted and to ensure that those picked meet the criteria.

    It was learnt that, unlike in the past when some political appointees lurked about government house without offices or specific duties, the Special Assistants and Senior Special Assistants to be appointed by Obaseki, would not have any offices around the government house. Sources said they are to have offices in their various wards and local governments. The purpose, according to the source, is to take governance to the people and serve as a link between the government and the party at the ward levels.

    Government sources said the Prof. Agbonlahor-led committee has completed their work and the list ready for submission to the House of Assembly. Those who made the list are unknown, but the commissioners to be appointed will have to key into Obaseki’s style of adequate data gathering, careful planning, enforcement, implementation and execution.

  • Obaseki gives father of quintuplets N1m

    Obaseki gives father of quintuplets N1m

    Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has visited Mr. and Mrs. Imudia Uduehi, who were blessed with quintuplets at the National Hospital, Abuja.

    The husband, from Ekpoma in Esan West Local Government of Edo State, expressed surprise and joy at having five children once.

    He said he only asked God for twins.

    A statement by the Chief Press Secretary, Mr. John Mayaki, said: “Governor Obaseki, on hearing the news, visited the family through a representative and supported them with N1 million. He promised them additional support by footing medical bills, among others.”

    The delegation representing the governor was from the Edo State Abuja Liaison Office, led by Mr. Festus Osagie Osaigbovo. He said: “We are here at the instance of Governor Obaseki. When he heard of the quintuplets delivered at the National Hospital, Abuja, he constituted this team from the liaison office to bring warm greetings to you (the family) and this hospital.”

    Osaigbovo went on: “The governor has promised to settle bills that may arise from the care of these children. He will visit the family and the quintuplets.”

    Mr and Mrs Uduehi, based in Abuja, named their children Ainose, Esose, Osejade, Obehi and Omose.

  • ‘Why Obaseki can’t seperate politics from governance’

    ‘Why Obaseki can’t seperate politics from governance’

    Hon Samson Osagie is a former Minority Whip of the House of Representatives. The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain spoke with Osagie Otabor on the face-off between the Presidency and the National Assembly and the crisis rocking the ruling party in Edo State.

    What is your opinion on the face-off between the National Assembly and the Executive?

    The face-off between the National Assembly and the Presidency is not unusual. The public and the media will like to call it a face-off, but we regard it as the normal intercourse that has come to characterise our young democratic experience as a nation where, first and foremost, each organ of government tries to assume power and over step its boundary and the other organ tries to do same. At the end of the day, in the ensuing muscle flexing, you now have open confrontation, open disagreement between the legislature and the executive. Curiously, these two organs of government cannot do without each other. I think it is the media that gives so much hype to those disagreement because behind close doors, there are constant meetings, consultations on issues, deliberations on issues of governance between the two organs of government. Unfortunately, some official of both sides tend not to understand that this relationship must be symbiotic and not a one sided affair. I like President Buhari’s approach to the issue by asking the Vice president to look at the issues involved. That underscores the that fact he recognises the importance of the organ of government for smooth operations as the driver of the governance of the country. It is not abnormal. In Nigeria, everybody wants to take sides with the executive against the legislature. The president has the power of appointment, but out of mutual respect, the president may say let me stop this circus of rejection and look for another person. But, I am not aware there is any law stopping the nomination of the same person.

    Was Prof. Itsey Sagay right to say he will not honour the summons of the Senate?

    Those are part of the issues I am talking about. It is a clear lack of appreciation and respect for the National Assembly because the constitution gives power to the National Assembly to invite anybody and get evidence from anybody for the purpose of enabling it to make law, even though that should not extend inviting every dick and harry over any issue. I believe once you get an invitation from the parliament, if you have nothing to lose, you stand every opportunity of explaining to them what the issues are. It is part of the way to heat up the polity by unnecessary flexing of muscles to say I will not heed the call of an institution of government.

    Some persons are of the opinion that the problems persisted because President Buhari is not playing politics….

    I do not know if that is correct because governance of any society in a presidential democracy involves politics. What politics will he play? Is it the politics of trying to pocket the National Assembly? Since 1999, the National Assembly has demonstrated a lot of independence. He cannot be seen to be meddling in the affairs of the legislature. He will create more problem for the system.

    Do you think your party is leading the country in the right direction?

    I believe the party has very laudable programmes for this country to be resuscitated economically. The challenges facing the government and the party at the moment probably are far more than what was contemplated. The revelations we are now getting, it is unlikely that the solutions that are being applied will yield the immediate and fast results that are required in the short run. To say that the party has no clear cut policies to take the nation beyond where it was so that Nigerians can begin to live a realistic lifestyle and not the false lifestyle that we used to live. Because we depend on one source of revenue, you can seal those revenue at will at the detriment of the people, it is an unfortunate assumption. Given the mindboggling pilfering of public treasury that we have seen in the last administration from which this government is trying to buckle up, coupled with the fall in price of oil prices and, of course, lack of adequate revenue, this government inherited a problem it didn’t bargain for. You cannot question the integrity of this government compared to the last administration. That is why I believe that in spite, of the gloomy economic situation in the country, the APC stands a greater chance of removing the nation from the clutches of corruption, indiscipline and the free for all way that this country used to be run in the past.

    Reports indicate that the APC is broke….

    Those are speculation. It is true that the recession is affecting every organ of government, including the party. That is not to say it cannot hold national convention because of lack of fund. It is not possible.

    Governor Obaseki wants to separate governance from politics. Will it grow the APC in Edo?

    I see a challenge there. There can be no difference between the government of a state and the party that brought the government to power. If there exist a gulf, strictly speaking, it can create a political problem for the governor and I pray that he does not allow that to happen. What will happen is that some persons will use that opportunity to use the party as an instrument for fighting political opponents, for personal aggrandizement, whether or not those persons are capable of holding the state together politically. A governor cannot ride on the platform of a party to governance and totally neglect or run away in the running of the affairs of the party. There are dire political consequences for that action because those he will leave it to will create political problem for him. They will use the party to take political decision that can create instability for his government. Governance that is party based cannot be separated midway. It will be my advice for him not to allow people to create confusion for his government because that can affect the performance of his administration.

    Will you say Obaseki has performed in the last four months?

    You can see that the government has a clear cut focus on delivery on the promises he made during the campaign. Not because the previous government did not performed but you will notice difference in approach in the way and manner he is delivery. Even without much advertisement, people know he is working. He is interested in so many areas, creating job opportunities, industrializing the state and of course continuing with infrastructure development of the state. We are not in doubt he is going to do a lot more.

    You and others were recently suspended from the APC. What can you say about that?

    It is unfortunate. It looks like Governor Obaseki does not seem to be interested in the running of the affairs of the party and that can have political consequence. It is a clear display of arrogance. If you suspend all these persons, who are you recruiting to replace them? Can you even replace them? I think the suspension was not a healthy thing to do. The PDP went this way in the past when it deregister a retinue of people from the party because it wants to secure power in 2007. At the end of the day, the APC took power from. I do not think anything that happens in the party, the first step to take is suspension. That should be the last resort after thorough investigation has been conducted and it is clear that the person or persons involved actually committed the offence as spelt out in article 21 of the party’s constitution. A situation where crude method are used track down political opponents, hurt their feelings rather than building the party, you are dismembering it. To dismember a body is easier than to build. It is quite unfortunate that it is happening at this stage. Thank God Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is the Leader of the State Caucus of the party. He will be able to intervene and halt the gale of suspension across board because you can imagine that in the last six months, we are witnessing the gale of suspension that was never witnessed as at the time Oshiomhole held sway. It is because these persons are capitalizing on the policy of the governor to concentrate on governance rather than partisan politics. They are exploiting what looks like a gap. If you go down the records, the people behind this are almost political liabilities who cannot produce results during election periods. In order to sustain their hold on party politics and party position, they have resorted to suspending people they believed are threat to their local positions. What is my business being a leader of a local government. Is that the position I want to aspire to? Leaders evolved. You don’t appoint leaders in a community, you don’t appoint leaders in an organizations. People come around to say you are their leader. At less than 50, I have had the rare privilege of being an officer in the National Assembly.

     

    With age on my side, my ambition cannot be to be a local government leader. It is tantamount to be a chairman of a local council. People are feeling threatened by my stand on certain issues before now. They are calling me various names because they believe I am a threat to their position. There is nothing they can do about that unless they kill me that is when I cannot continue to show interest in politics. A man who has been elected five times to represent his people, do you want to say he is a nobody? If you go through the local government, I have projects tied to my name. Some of these leaders do not have such legacies. They are holding on to the little positions which they believe is their last bus stop. I think the governor should watch out for them so that they don’t create unnecessary crisis for his government.

    Obaseki said he plans to take party politics to the grassroots which was why he asked the party to nominate political appointees?

    In conception yes but in practice, these same leaders who have become lords in their respective areas did not follow the rules. They still hijack the system. The conception and idea is good from the governor but these people who have constituted themselves did not follow the procedure. If the governor were to screen all the nominations that came except in a few areas, those procedures were not followed. They were done and written in the bedroom of one of two leaders. That is why Obaseki needs carefully do an understudy and take positions on these issues in order not to allow people close to him create serious political upheaval within the polity.

  • Obaseki seeks viable arts sector

    Obaseki seeks viable arts sector

    Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has called for concerted efforts to develop the local arts industry into a more inclusive and sustainable economy.
    Obaseki, who as Commissioner of the Nigerian pavilion at the Venice Art Biennale 2017, is leading efforts towards the country’s first showing on the world’s biggest art stage, made the call during a stakeholders event in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
    According to him, “Nigeria is blessed with an abundance of creative talent. By leveraging our rich human capital and cultural resources in arts and crafts, we can generate job opportunities for our youths and create a more robust and viable economy.”
    Obaseki said: “As a progressive government, we recognise the immense potential that a developed art sector holds for the state, and we are already exploring avenues for collaboration with the private sector in arts and crafts training, as well as financing opportunities, that will foster increased, better quality artistic output and a thriving market for trade in art, both locally and globally.
    “Our ultimate aim is to restore Edo’s pride in the arts by developing the state’s cultural capital, including the building of a world-class museum of the arts in Benin City. Besides creating jobs for our people, and the economic gain from increased tourist activities, a vibrant art space contributes to social cohesion and nation-building through the promotion of intercultural dialogue and collaboration.”
    Venice Art Biennale is a defining platform where nations of the world showcase their art stars and seek to exert some level of socio-cultural influence. The platform offers Nigeria a great opportunity to develop a positive narrative for the country and to reestablish our national pride by showcasing our unique art and rich cultural heritage to the world.
    Edo-born painter, Victor Ehikhamenor, is one of the three contemporary artists representing Nigeria as the country makes her debut at the 122-year-old biennale. Others are sculptor Peju Alatise and choreographer Qudus Onikeku, and each artist will showcase a unique work on the theme ‘How About NOW?’
    The Nigeria in Venice team explains: “How About NOW? places a poignant emphasis on the passage of time: time long gone, time that shapes the contemporary scene and time that the hopes and faith of a people are hinged on. The question of NOW and Nowness asks us to reflect not only on our myths, history and heritage but more so, on how we chose to champion contemporary narratives in a fragmented, interconnected, and distributed present.”
    Ehikhamenor presents a large-scale work fusing abstract shapes with traditional sculpture, informed by an investment in classical Benin art and the effect of colonialism on cultural heritage.
    Alatise presents an installation of eight- wing life-size girls, based on the story of a 10-year-old girl who works as a housemaid in Lagos while dreaming of a realm where she is free, who belongs to no one but herself, and can fly. The installation is a concise meditation on the nature of survival, here connoting a defiant journey into the imagination.
    Onikeku showcases a trilogy of dance films, presented as an investigation through dance of the workings of body memory and its connection to national consciousness.
    The Nigerian pavilion at the 57th Venice Biennale is curated by Adenrele Sonariwo and Emmanuel Iduma. The exhibition, which previews on May 10, will be opened to the public on May 13 and runs till the end of November.

  • My energy rekindled to serve Edo more – Obaseki

    My energy rekindled to serve Edo more – Obaseki

    Surrounded by friends and supporters outside the Edo State High Court, Governor Godwin Obaseki yesterday declared that his energy had been rejuvenated to work for the people of Edo State.

    Reacting to the judgment of the Edo State Governorship Election Tribunal at the Edo State High Court in Benin City, he described the petition filed by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate against his election on September 28 last year, Obaseki described the petition as petty.

    Commending the judgment, Obaseki said: “It was a very well-researched judgement and it was clear that the opposition had no grounds or merit in their petition.

    “This judgement has now rekindled my energy to work for the people of Edo State.

    “We hope that this will be the last time we will have petty petitions challenging the will of our people.”

    He said the judgement was proof that the All Progressives Congress (APC) won the election free and fair and that the people of Edo State were strongly behind the party and his government.

    “I thank God. I thank the judges for the amazing job they have done. And we want all of you to go back and have yourselves a wonderful Easter holiday,” he said.

  • Jubilation as tribunal affirms Obaseki’s election victory

    Youths and elders in Edo State took to the streets of Benin City on Friday to celebrate the ruling of the Edo State Election Petitions Tribunal which affirmed the victory of Governor Godwin Obaseki in the September 28, 2016 governorship election in the state.

    The youths, who joined the victory rally at various junction, sang solidarity songs to celebrate the tribunal’s ruling.

    Governor Obaseki joined the victory walk and music was provided.

    Delivering ruling in the petition filed by Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Ahmed Badamasi, upheld the election of Governor Obaseki.

    The petitioners had in the petition asked the tribunal to rule that Governor Obaseki was not duly elected by lawful votes cast and to declare Pastor Ize-Iyamu as winner of the election for scoring the highest number of lawful votes cast.

    In the alternative, the petitioners sought an order that the governorship election be nullified and a fresh election ordered.

    Pastor Ize-Iyamu, in the petition, challenged results in 2, 627 polling units in 16 out 18 local government areas in the state.

    Issues outlined by the tribunal for determination were, “whether having regard to Section 31(1) of the Electoral Act, 2010 as amended and paragraph 4 (1) of the First Schedule thereto, the person who purports to be the 1st petitioner along with the 2nd petitioner in the instant petition is different in law from the person sponsored as candidate of the 2nd petitioner at the Edo State governorship election held on 28, September 2016, thereby rendering the petition incompetent and liable to be dismissed/struck out as prayed in the 2nd respondent/applicant’s motion dated 29, November 2016.

    “Whether paragraph 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29 and 30 of the petitioners’ reply to the 3rd respondent’s reply as well as the witness statements on oath attached thereto are not incompetent and liable to be struck out?

    “Whether not having claimed any relief based on corrupt practices, the petitioners had not abandoned all allegations of corrupt practices made in the petition.

    “Whether the election of the 2nd respondent was invalid by reason of corrupt practices in some units and wards being challenged in the petition where the issue (s)  of corrupt practices made in the petition was/were specifically pleaded in the petition and if so, whether the votes credited to the 2nd respondent in such units and wards are not liable to be invalidated and discounted?

    “Whether on the state of the pleadings and evidence led, the petitioners have established  that there was substantial non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act which has substantially affected the Edo State Governorship Election held on 28, September 2016 to warrant an order nullifying the election and for a fresh election to be considered?”

    However, before considering ruling on each of the issues for determination, Justice Ahmed dismissed all the motions filed by both the petitioners and the respondents which sought to strike out certain paragraphs in the petition and various replies.

    On the motion filed by the third respondents on the deletion of some paragraphs in the petition, the panel said it was premature to consider removing the paragraphs based on technicalities.

     

  • Photo: Obaseki, Oshiomhole celebrating tribunal judgment

    Photo: Obaseki, Oshiomhole celebrating tribunal judgment