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Tag: Obaseki

  • Will Obaseki revamp The Observer?

    SIR: On December 15, The Observer newspaper held its annual forum of togetherness. My being there was like a second homecoming of sorts. In 1989 or thereabouts after reading a piece by Anthony Enahoro, I resolved to try to write as he did, being an undergraduate then. But I had no idea how to get my articles published. The breakthrough came however after I read another piece by a senior who asked me to write and send him anything I fancied. I did so and the next time I saw him, he was all smiles, telling me that he had enjoyed my piece and that I was good to go. Therefore, for the four years I spent as an undergraduate, I was one of those who contributed regularly to the ACADA GIST column, together with opinion pieces every now and then for The Observer.

    Even though I was always paid for my writing then, there was something special about a by-line which money cannot buy.

    But coming to The Observer Forum was a mixed bag of emotions. This was where my writing and training as a journalist was nurtured. But indeed, it was not just me; most persons who are big today in the practice of journalism and from this part of the country certainly would have cut their teeth and honed their skills here. Yet, as I walked into the library of this esteemed newspaper house, I was to get the feeling of walking into the year 1990 in 2016. It was an awkward feeling. Yes, here I was in a library which appeared to be frozen in time, no different from the one in 1990, without air conditioners, dusty and rotting away, but I was to be excited as well to have the privilege of going through some of the work which I had done then. It was this awkward rush of emotions that made me leave as soon as the keynote address began.

    I will not be the one who will tell you that all the machines for production today in The Observer will not qualify for a place in a modern museum. I will not be the one to tell you as well that every attempt at ‘bringing back the lost glory of this great centre of robust journalism has been frustrating. I will not be one to tell you that The Observer is a state government paper, and criticism of government policies and programmes has always been tempered by civil service considerations. Those things already have been said by the man who should say them. But what I would tell you is that I will not support bringing The Observer back to its ‘lost glory’, especially if that lost glory will consign The Observer to the past.

    The present governor, Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki should realize that a newspaper like The Observer should not just be a mouthpiece of state to be used as a gramophone to orchestrate or amplify government achievements. It should be more than that, because as we progress along the millennium, what we find painfully pertinent is that the greatest threat to innovation in governance today is not the journalist or writer or critic who lampoons government. The greatest threats are the yes-men – those who deliberately refuse to interrogate and lampoon government because of the anticipated risks. The way it is now, that is what this esteemed paper has been reduced to over the years. If Mr Godwin Obaseki decides the revamp The Observer, history will look more kindly on him than on his predecessors.

     

    • Bob MajiriOghene Etemiku

    Benin City.

  • Obaseki: New agenda for a better Edo

    Obaseki: New agenda for a better Edo

    For three days –Thursday December 8 to Saturday, December 10, Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, gathered stakeholders – administrators, permanent secretaries, politicians, policy makers, members of the civil society organizations, traditional rulers, religious leaders and former and serving officials of the state government to a strategy dialogue with the theme “Setting the Agenda for the new administration”.
    Stuck in the middle of the hall at the Randekhi Hotel venue of the dialogue, the event chaired by a former Supreme Court Judge, Justice Samson Uwaifo, was designed to highlight the challenges facing Edo State, pinpoint ways to tackle them and fashion out policy direction. A high-profile affair, the attendees included deputy governor Phillip Shaibu, Secretary to the Edo State government Osarodion Ogie, the Chief of Staff, Taiwo Akerele, and the immediate past Secretary to the State Government, Professor Julius Ihonvbere.
    Some former commissioners in the immediate past administration including those of environment, Clem Agba; Education, Gideon Obakhan and Housing and Urban Development, Francis Evbuomwan, were present.
    In his welcome address, Justice Uwaifo charged the participants to engage in serious deliberation and proffer ideas to move the state forward. On the second day, the participants went into the technical sessions, focusing on six areas – economic revolution, culture and tourism, environmental sustainability, welfare enhancement; infrastructure development and institutional reform. By the time the sessions came to a close that night, participants had deliberated upon and addressed the key governance issues in the state, giving the current administration a bank full of ideas.
    On the third and final day, the participants presented their different ideas with virtually every sector of the state’s economy benefiting. From health to agriculture, education and sports, infrastructures and security to other issues critical to the state’s progress, all were highlighted. With the governor in attendance, listening and taking notes as resource persons including Justice Uwaifo, Emeritus Prof Dennis Agbonlahor, Dr Phillip Ugbodaga and others shared their thoughts; he could not but acknowledge the concentration of human capital in the state.
    “Edo State easily ranks among one of the few states in Nigeria that can boast of the largest concentration of brain-power and this brain-power span the whole diverse area of governance through to the professionals, academia, and in every aspect of our economy,” said Obaseki.
    “Therefore, I am very pleased to bring those of you who are not Edo citizens to join in this worthy task of building a legacy for our people.”
    He explained that in spite of the various challenges, the state had “over the last eight years been able to build a strong foundation for the take-off of the Edo project which is what I campaigned on and it is time to build on that foundation and that is exactly what we are trying to do now”.
    He said, ”Eight years ago, we had a vision of what we called the Edo Project and I’m happy that some of you here today were part of that project. It was clear from the beginning that we wanted to be at the index of functioning states in Nigeria to reclaim the position and rank we have always occupied since we became a region and a state. We now want to engage the great minds of our state in this country to help us build an inclusive and enduring state. We need institutions that will help us unlock the ingenuity of our people, our land and location in creating an economically prosperous and socially stable Edo State”.
    Reflecting on the dialogue, he said, “I am fortunate to have the distinct pleasure of listening to most of the submissions. I must say that I am gratified to have the privilege of your wisdom, your commitment and support of our ideal. I know that many of you continue to wonder what would happen to our deliberations. Some of you might even feel that this may be another talk-shop. I want to assure you that what we are doing now is very deliberate and that under my leadership, I would not indulge in frivolities nor will I play to the gallery. I want to assure you that all the reports would be comprehensively looked into and studied with actionable programmes and implementation plan.
    “In fact, our promise from the beginning was that we were going to stop and desist from the situation where contractors and service providers were the ones who were defining government agenda and policies”.
    Obaseki spoke on the need for careful planning, enforcement of laws and implementation of policies, saying the expectations of commissioners and other political appointees will be determined before appointment. And knowing he will be evaluated after his first term to inform any chance at re-election, Obaseki stressed that meaningful data must be available.
    “We’ll have to invest significantly in gathering data across all spectrums of the themes we have talked about because without data we cannot determine the size and extent of the issues neither can we then proffer solutions for resolving the issues,” he said.
    The governor said that he has noticed within the month he has been in office that “our biggest problem is wastefulness” and he promised to eliminate it. Obaseki also promised to intensify revenue collection without imposing burden on the people, asserting that he intends to make the process of revenue collection “a lot more efficient.”
    Earlier, the chairman of the dialogue, Justice Uwaifo, described the workshop as revolutionary approach to governance and stated that effective leadership required good decision making. He urged the people not to misunderstand or abuse the dialogue platform as it was a sign that the governor was ready to serve with the best of intentions.
    “I think the move to set the agenda for the new administration in Edo State is well conceived,” Justice Uwaifo said.
    “No doubt it is the first of its kind and the essence of it is revealed in the vision and mission set out. The vision for the thematic pillars so systematically analysed is quite attractive and demonstrates a revolutionary approach to change in the art of governance. This is a practical exhibition of this administration plan to ensure inclusive government. Let me sound an admonition that this new era of governance should neither be misunderstood nor abused by any one in whatever sense. Let it be taken with gratitude that it is a sign that the governor has offered to serve the people with the best of intention.”

    •Mayaki is interim Chief Press Secretary to Governor Obaseki.

  • Obaseki seeks Assembly approval for budget presentation

    Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, will on Friday present the 2017 appropriation bill subject to approval by the state House of Assembly.

    This was contained in a letter sent to the Assembly seeking approval to present the budget.

    The letter dated December 14 was signed by the Secretary to State Government, Mr. Osarodion Ogie.

    The letter reads, “I write to inform the House that governor Godwin  Obaseki proposes to present the year 2017 appropriation bill on Friday, December 16, 2016. “

    The speaker, Justin Oknonboh, in his reaction, said the House will meet to consider the governor’s request.

  • Edo poll: Tribunal dismisses petition against Obaseki

    Edo poll: Tribunal dismisses petition against Obaseki

    The Election Petition Tribunal has dismissed the petition filed by the the Young Democratic Party (YDP) against the Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The Tribunal described it as an “abandoned petition”.
    The YDP candidate, Nurudeen Inwanfero, had asked the tribunal to cancel the September 28 election, because the party’s logo was not included in the ballot papers used for the election.
    The Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Ahmed Badamasi, in his ruling yesterday said the petitioners failed to abide by paragraph 18 of the First Scheduled of the Electoral Act.
    Justice Badamasi delivered ruling on the oral application by Counsel to the petitioners, Ugo Nwofor, asking for adjournment to enable him put his ‘house in order’.
    Nwofor requested for the adjournment after the tribunal threw away petitioner number 3 filed by YDP to replace petition number one.
    Counsel to Obaseki Wole Olanipekun kicked against the requested adjournment, based on the fact that the petitioners failed to apply for pre-hearing notice.
    Justice Badamasi said the three-man panel has checked the records and did not find w here the petitioners or respondents applied for pre-hearing notices.
    The Judge held that paragraph 18 of the First Schedule of the Electoral Act empowers the tribunal to dismiss a petition as abandoned where it failed to abide by contents of the paragraph.
    The petition was therefore struck out.
    Speaking to newsmen after the ruling, Nurudeen said the party would appeal the ruling. He said petition number three that was earlier struck out was what the party relied on to secure victory.

  • Obaseki to reporters: criticise me with facts

    Obaseki to reporters: criticise me with facts

    Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has said reporters can criticise his administration with facts, if they avoid sentiments or hearsay.

    The governor said he would welcome constructive criticisms but would not allow such criticisms to derail him from delivering on his campaign promises.

    Obaseki spoke in Benin, the state capital, when he opened this year’s Press Week of the state Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

    Represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Osarodion Ogie, the governor called for continued cordial relationship with the media.

    He said: “We are open to criticisms. But make sure you get your facts correct before you criticise us.

    “It (journalism) is one profession that I have come to respect. But I respect journalists the more, if they know what they are doing.”

    Chairman of the event and Iyase of Benin Kingdom, Chief Sam Igbe, hailed the state council for finding a common ground between the government and the Oba of Benin.

    He said: “At all times, imbibe that spirit of unionism, respect the government of the day and participate in all state affairs. In whatever you are doing, be very sure that you put it above your self-interest.

    “Investigate whatever you are publishing; do not publish what will bring you to your knees for an apology?”

  • Obaseki, APC urge tribunal to throw out YDP’s petition

    Obaseki, APC urge tribunal to throw out YDP’s petition

    Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki and All Progressives Congress (APC) have urged the state’s Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Benin, the state capital, to throw out the petition filed by the Young Democratic Party (YDP) and its governorship candidate, Nurudeen Inwanfero, for lack of merit.

    Inwanfero is praying the tribunal to cancel the September 28 governorship election on the grounds that YDP’s logo was not on the ballot papers used for the election.

    At the resumed pre-hearing session, lead counsel to APC, Lateef Fagbemi, urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition and “give it a decent burial” because there was no reasonable cause of action.

    The lawyer averred that the petitioners filed two petitions at the tribunal as well as a notice of discontinuance on one of the petitions without complying with the Electoral Act.

    He said the issues were pre-election matters, which were not within the purview of the tribunal to decide – whether Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was right or wrong.

    Fagbemi argued that the petitioner was wrong to use the words “lawfully excluded and corrupt practices” in the petition when he did not participate in the election.

    He said: “Having regard to the electoral laws, has the petition complied with the Electoral Act? All decisions referred to are not relevant and do not apply to election matters. The law has prescribed what is to be done. Withdrawal is not automatic.

    “This tribunal is not to deal with pre-election matters. Whether INEC is wrong or right not to recognise the petitioner’s logo is not within the purview of the tribunal. I urged your lordship to give the petition a decent burial. It is dead on arrival.”

    INEC’s lead counsel Onyebuchi Ikpeazu said there was no reason to oppose Fagbemi’s application because he found no justification for the petition.

    Obaseki’s lead counsel Wole Olanipekun said it would be hypocritical to oppose the application.

    YDP’s lawyer Ugo Nwofor opposed the application, describing it as an abuse of court process.

    Nwofor noted that the arguments in the application were already dealing with the substantive matter.

    Chairman of the three-man panel, Justice Ahmed Badamasi, adjourned till December 8 for ruling on the application.

  • Fraud: Obaseki suspends Edo SUBEB Chairman

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has approved the suspension of Chief Steve Alao as Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education (SUBEB).

    Alao is currently being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over alleged fraud.

    It was gathered that Alao and SUBEB Director of Finance, Mr. Adams Osabuohien, were arrested by the EFCC for allegedly misappropriating N1.5 billion.

    A petition sent to the EFCC alleged that the suspended SUBEB chairman inflated contracts, approved bogus weekly Duty Tour Allowances for non-existence conferences, used fictitious companies to defraud the board and sold government properties without remitting same to government account.

    The suspension of Alao was contained in a press statement signed by Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Osarodion Ogie.

    It said the suspension was with immediate effect.

    According to the statement, “Governor Godwin Obaseki has approved the appointment of Mallam Ali Sulayman as the interim Board Chairman and this appointment takes immediate effect.”

  • First steps of Obaseki and his lieutenants

    If the Athenians of the First Century A.D were around today, they would surely be heading for Edo State in Nigeria to observe at close quarters the uncommon mode of populist Governance so far initiated by the administration of Edo State Governor Obasaki and his lieutenants.

    Shortly after the swearing in of SSG, Edo Governor, Godwin Obasaki, Honorable Phillip Shaibu his deputy, Barrister Osarodion Ogie, Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and Taiwo Akerele, chief of staff to the Governor visited the Benin Technical College Ugbowo, to inspect the facilities there. This just shows that the Governor Campaign promise of creating 200, 000 jobs in four years are not just going to be a campaign slogan. The Benin Technical College was built 40years ago and the idea was train our youths in different skills.

    On Tuesday, the Governor and his lieutenants went on a four of the Palm House and the state Secretariat along Sapele Road where he expressed shock about the filthy state of the environment. He stressed the need for civil servant to keep a clean environment, saying that “it will be difficult for them to perform optimally in an adverse working environment.

    His charge to the civil servants is already yielding fruits as all the ministries have been cleaned up by the workers. The Governor Lieutenants have all been involved in the proceeding Administration. Hon Phillip Shaibu was two – term member of the State House of Assembly. Barrister Osarodion Ogie was first appointed as Chief of Staff (COS) to the immediate past Governor, and later as commissioner for Works. Taiwo Akerele is a long term friend of the Governor and also a member of Edo State Economic Team and Strategy.

    In this capacity, they evolved a guiding philosophy critical to the welfarist mission and vision of APC, namely the empowerment of Women, Children, the disadvantaged and the reduction of poverty in Edo. Hear the Governor himself “Our vision is a modern and progressive state where our citizens is empowered with opportunity to live life in its fullness”

    It is obvious that these great sons of Edo and the Governor have many things in common. They are friends of the masses, and the counselors of the helpless, true politicians and selfless individuals. They gave hope for the helpless youths who would have been dead or miserable and now have hope. They are now becoming hopeful, responsible, reliable and economically empowered through their laudable programs.

    The new thinking is about qualitative representation in administration of politics the economy, sport that cuts across the strata of our society. It is a new thinking we must embrace and support if Governor Obaseki and his lieutenants must move our state to new heights of advancement in the 21st Century. We must all identify with Obaseki as he steps on higher ground in Edo State.

    The infrastructure transformation that has taken place in Edo state in the past eight years has attracted both local and international attention. It has equally made Edo State a reference point for other states in the country, in terms of development. The journey of new Edo State started in 2008 to date, which rose from infrastructural decay to become the envy of other states which has free itself from the clutches of financial dependence to take its own destiny in his hands and chart the course towards it own development.

  • Obaseki sacks perm sec

    Obaseki sacks perm sec

    EDO  State Governor Godwin Obaseki has sacked Major Lawrence Loye (retd), permanent secretary in the state public service.

    The state’s workers condemned Loye’s appointment as a permanent secretary by former Governor Adams Oshiomhole because he was not a career civil servant.

    A letter by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Osarodion Ogie, announcing Loye’s sack did not give reasons.

    But government sources said Obaseki was not happy that Loye was not present at the first meeting he had with permanent secretaries when he assumed office.

    The letter reads: “I write to inform you that the governor of Edo State has approved your removal from office as permanent secretary in the public service of the state.

    “You are required to hand over government property in your possession to the most senior director in your ministry.’’

  • Obaseki’s agenda for the common good

    Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki in Benin recently set the tone for the next four years by declaring that the state can no lonegr afford a government that is unable to create value across board. Assuring the people that he would be a listening governor, who discharges his responsibilities firmly and professionally, no sooner than he assumed the reins of government that he set the machinery in motion to propel his vision. He appointed Osarodion Ogie as Secretary to the State Government, Taiwo Akerele as Chief of Staff and John Mayaki as Chief Press Secretary. Ogie, a chip of the old block has been part of the immediate past Oshiomhole era, first as Chief of Staff and later Commissioner for Works. Akerele was Co-ordinator of EDO SEEFOR while Mayaki was Executive Director, Media under Oshiomhole.

    Before the announcement, Obaseki met with the state Head of Service and Permanent Secretaries and asked them to take full charge of the affairs of their ministries, pending the appointment of commissioners. He solicited for maximum cooperation from the civil service to enable him discharge his mandate effectively even as he expressed confidence in the civil service. He pledged that his administration would build a stronger, vibrant, trusted, competent and reliable workforce to meet the challenges ahead.

    That the new governor would rely heavily on the state public service to oil the wheel of his administration became evident when he announced plans to re-evaluate the recruitment process into the service to ensure that merit and objectivity were not compromised. He promised to study the report of his transition committee alongside that submitted by the permanent secretaries, before setting up a policy group to outline specific programmes for the administration.

    “I have no doubt about the capacity of the civil service, but we will also need to clear the clog on the wheel of progress”, he said.

    In another forum, Governor Obaseki reaffirmed that job creation for the teeming population of youths is a task he must carry out.  On this he said: “First, we must recover our society. We are likely to lose our society if we do not begin to emphasise those key issues of human development and economic empowerment. We have too many young men and women – in our own estimates – between half a million to three-quarter of a million, between the ages of 15 to 30, who have nothing doing.”

    The solution, according to him, is to begin the task of immediately creating jobs: “We promised a minimum of 200,000 jobs and to do that, we first have to understand our direction and the challenges we face in terms of unemployment…We went to Benin Technical College which was established 40 years ago to champion technical and vocational training for young men and women. The challenges are enormous because what we saw was pitiable and even though we have an obvious task, we are not daunted at all”.

    On his immediate plan, he said, “We will, using this institution to quickly understand what we need to do and the investments we need to make. To create the platform, put a lot of our young people through training so that they can be employed in the businesses that we are attracting to this state.”  The new thrust aside focusing on technical and vocational education will also make broadband penetration a top priority in the state’s infrastructure development process.

    “We need to strengthen and expand the infrastructure that has been established so that we have a solid foundation on which to build the New Edo State of our passionate dream. By infrastructure I refer not only to the physical infrastructure, namely the roads, utilities and facilities, but infrastructure in its widest sense. We also need to build and sustain a robust human, intellectual, philosophical and even metaphysical infrastructure for without them it is virtually impossible to attain significant progress and derive the extraordinary value that we desire from our efforts so as to build the Great Edo State we all yearn for”.

    With dwindling revenue from oil exports and concomitant decline in revenue from the federation account, Obaseki says that, agriculture will continue to constitute a major focus in the state’s socio-economic programme because of its strategic importance in many areas, from rural development, economic development and job creation to critical revenue generation and job creation. This time, the emphasis is on agriculture and agribusiness value chain, entrepreneurship, investments in industries and technical and vocational skills.

    “Edo people” he entused “will generate wealth by keying into our value chain development of oil palm, cassava, cocoa, grains, rubber, fruits and vegetables. We will create over 150,000 jobs within the next four years under a farm ownership and management model built around our out-growers’ scheme. We will support the growth of over 20,000 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with the further creation of over 50,000 associated jobs in the nest four years through access to low interest financing”.

    On industrial development he says, “We will utilize the advantage which we have in generating electricity and our location as the heartbeat of the nation to attract industries to Edo State. This will come by helping local businesses particularly SMEs with the enabling environment to thrive”. He also promised that his government will establish a one-stop-shop to provide incentives and support to make it easier for the people to produce goods and services.

    The governor also promised to focus on improving the ease of doing business and provide credit enhancements for businesses operating within the state with special attention on the productive industries. This is in addition to consolidating the gains of the last eight years by continuing the infrastructure revolution and urban renewal initiatives.

    While not unmindful of the enormity of the challenges ahead, the governor nonetheless says that “The honour that this fortuitous coincidence bestows on me will always be a constant reminder of the enormity of the task which is to guide the pursuit of the good and well-being of the people of Edo State with relentless vigour, uncompromising commitment and diligence”.

     

    • Odalo, a journalist wrote from Benin City.