Tag: Obaseki

The Edo state chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Jarret Tenebe, has urged the federal government to place Governor Godwin Obaseki under security watch due to an alleged threat to burn down Nigeria.

He also notified security agencies about a supposed collaboration between Obaseki, a section of the civil society group from Edo state, and cultists from neighbouring states to recruit them for potential upcoming protests.

Tenebe said: “The aim of Obaseki’s plan is to create anarchy in Edo State, and the five other Southsouth States, and blame the APC for the destructions that will follow the protest.

“It is embarrassing and worrisome that the Edo State House of Assembly has turned blind eyes to the danger Obaseki has become, as the Speaker, Blessing Agbebaku, and members of Edo House of Assembly have refused to condemn the serious security breach the governor has committed.

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“The prevailing circumstance is worrisome and demands urgent action that will frustrate the plan Obaseki has made with Edo State Security Network (ESSN), POWOV, and thugs from the five other Southsouth States of Rivers, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, and Bayelsa.”

Edo chairman of APC also passionately pleaded with the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to carry out an urgent and comprehensive investigation on the recent meetings that were held by Obaseki, within and outside Edo state.

He called for the withdrawal or change of the Edo governor’s security details, as the day for the planned protest draws nearer, while his movements are restricted before the planned protest, especially on the protest day.

Tenebe said: “Worried by the open partisan role Edo Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye, has played in recent times, we request that he should emulate his counterpart, Kimberly Cheatle, the United States of America Secret Service Chief, who resigned for failing to prevent Donald Trump’s assassination attempt.

“In the event, that Adegboye fails to take the honourable path, he should be transferred out of Edo State because his actions are capable of bringing the force to disrepute.”

Edo chairman of APC also stated that the consequences of the state’s commissioner of police ignoring the timely resignation call was capable of leading to subsequent breakdown of law and order in Edo and other states of Nigeria.

Governor Godwin Obaseki has declared that Godwins Omobayo remains the deputy governor of the Edo state.

Obaseki was reacting to Wednesday morning’s judgment of Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja, which set aside Philip Shaibu’s impeachment of the state’s deputy governor and reinstated him.

Edo governor, a chieftain of the governing Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the south-south state, spoke through his commissioner for communication and orientation, Chris Nehikhare.

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He said: “Following the Federal High Court, Abuja judgment that faulted the impeachment of the erstwhile Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, the Edo State government has filed a stay of execution of the judgment.

“Pending the hearing of the appeal of the judgment, the incumbent Deputy Governor, His Excellency, Godwins Marvellous Omobayo, remains and continues to serve as the valid Deputy Governor of Edo State. He will continue to serve in this capacity, and will be recognised as such.”

Obaseki also called on Edo residents to remain calm and go about their lawful businesses.

Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has sacked Health Commissioner Dr. Samuel Alli.

Obaseki, yesterday, according to the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Osarodion Ogie, a lawyer, who is also the deputy governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo, equally announced the appointment of Dr. Roland Igbinoba as his Special Adviser on Special Projects.

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Ogie said: “Governor Obaseki has approved the disengagement of the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Alli, with immediate effect.

“He is to hand over government documents and items in his possession to the most senior civil servant in the Ministry of Health.

“The government thanks him for his services and wishes him well in his future endeavours.”

Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki, has sacked the state’s commissioner for health, Dr. Samuel Alli, with immediate effect.

Obaseki, according to the Secretary to Edo State Government (SSG), Osarodion Ogie, who is also the deputy governorship candidate of the governing Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo, also announced the appointment of Dr. Roland Igbinoba as his special adviser on special projects.

Ogie: “The Edo state governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has approved the disengagement of the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Samuel Alli, with immediate effect.

“He is to hand over all government documents and resources in his possession to the most senior civil servant within the Ministry of Health.

“The government thanks him for his services and wishes him well in his future endeavours.”

The running mate to Dr. Asue Ighodalo, a Lagos-based lawyer, also assured that Obaseki would finish well and strong.

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He said: “Edo governor is resolute on his finishing strong objective and will remove any obstacles that may hinder optimal service delivery to the people in the remaining four months of his administration.

“The governor has also approved the appointment of Dr. Roland Igbinoba as Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Projects, who will support the government in fast-tracking the conclusion of developmental projects across the state.”

It will be recalled that Governor Obaseki faces significant pressure to fulfill his second-term electoral promises.

This pressure is heightened by criticisms from leaders of the 15 other political parties involved in the September 21 governorship election, especially from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Labour Party (LP), who have accused him of being ineffective and underperforming.

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki and  Acting Chair of All Progressives Congress (APC), Jarret Tenebe, are bickering over cluelessness, transparency and accountability in government.

Tenebe, at a briefing, accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governor of lack of transparency and accountability,  saying Edo owes over N600 billion.

The acting chair  noted that the party’s  governorship candidate, Monday Okpebholo,  would win the September poll.

Tenebe maintained that Edo electorate would never vote for the PDP standard bearer, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, a Lagos-based lawyer. He called on Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate Obaseki’s   tenure.

“How much has Obaseki wasted on the failed Gelegele Seaport? Billions have been sunk into it through Benin Port Project Office,’’ he queried?

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“The contract for a poorly-conceived Radisson Hotel in GRA, Benin, ballooned from N19.4 billion to over N23 billion in 12 months. Who owns Radisson Hotel?  We are raising the alarm on high-level  mismanagement of Edo State’s resources .

“Obaseki summoned an emergency State Executive Council meeting to discuss his plan to sell the uncompleted Radisson Hotel to his crony. We wish to inform you Obaseki, with backing of the State Executive Council, has started the process to transfer ownership of Radisson Hotel to a private company, just as he did to Edo State Modular Refinery.

“Three years ago, Obaseki brought down the only government library, on Sapele Road, and told the world of his plan to build Shoprite Shopping Mall in the same location. While the initial contract sum was N5.4 billion, the contract has escalated to N12 billion. The contract, initially awarded to A&K Construction Limited, was subdivided to Shapoorji Palloji Nigeria Limited.

“Edo State, according to documents, held 85 per cent equity in the Shoprite project, for the land and cost of construction…’’

Obaseki, through  Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, accompanied by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media Projects, Crusoe Osagie,  accused Tenebe and APC in Edo of being clueless and displaying ignorance.

The governor said Radisson was state’s investment, to support Protea, to attract more investors.

“APC in Edo has continued to gush out propaganda, hoping to hoodwink people and dampen their desire to break free from the stranglehold by which APC has shackled them for the past nine years at the federal level.

“It is a shame to see APC leaders in Edo wave worthless papers as evidence for non-existent fraud allegations against  the state that has enthroned transparency and accountability in administration of resources.

“The election is around the corner, and just the way they fooled the nation into bondage, they are hoping to replicate the same in Edo State, parading a hardly-literate candidate, who finds it difficult to express himself in public, and without the verve to share his vision for the people,” he said.

The criminal charges preferred against the Secretary of the Benin Traditional Council (BTC), Frank Irabor, and six other palace officials by the Edo State Government have been withdrawn ahead of the September 21 governorship election. 

The move, it was gathered, was to douse the tension between Governor Godwin Obaseki and Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II.

Suing Irabor and others followed the August 2022 demolition of illegal property at Ulegun village in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo.

Obaseki’s administration, in August 2022, slammed a 29-count charge against Irabor and the other officials of the palace of the first-class monarch over the demolition of the disputed property. 

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The defendants were subsequently remanded in the custody of the correctional centre in Benin by Justice Mary Itsueli of Edo High Court in the state capital.

Edo Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Orobosa Okunbor, at the resumed hearing of the suit, applied to withdraw the case. 

Okunbor told the presiding judge that discontinuing the suit was to ensure peace and reconciliation, an initiative of Edo Government, which he said had paid adequate compensation to the persons, whose livelihoods were impacted by the demolition.

Discontinuing the suit was after Irabor and other defendants in the suit, who were led in evidence by their counsel, Olawola Afolabi, SAN, and Okuns Aihie, had pleaded not guilty to the 29-count charge that were read to them in the court.

Irabor, in his reaction on behalf of the defendants, thanked Edo Government and Obaseki for deeming it fit to withdraw the case.

The secretary of BTC described Edo Governor’s intervention as a step in the right direction towards ensuring peace and reconciliation in Benin Kingdom’s Edo South Senatorial District, and other parts of the state.

Obaseki and Oba of Benin have been at loggerheads over the looted artefact returned from Europe to the palace of the foremost traditional ruler. 

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has expressed satisfaction with his tenure over the past seven and a half years, asserting that he harbours no regrets in his leadership role.

Speaking in Benin on Sunday, June 30, he emphasised that his administration has not only fulfilled but exceeded all promises made to the people of Edo.

According to Obaseki, every sector and area he committed to improving has seen tangible impacts.

He highlighted his administration’s achievements in laying a strong foundation for the state’s advancement, particularly in education.

He claimed credit for leading significant reforms and implementing programs that have set Edo on a trajectory towards prosperity.

Obaseki underlined his belief that history will remember him as the governor who transformed education and initiated critical reforms that have positively shaped Edo’s development landscape.

He said: “As Edo state governor in these last few years, I do not have any regrets. In fact, when I look at my manifesto, what I said I was going to do, I have surpassed everything.

“I have exceeded everything I said I will do, and there was not one area I mentioned, that I talked about that I did not have a kind of impact on.

“I am a realistic person. One administration or one governor cannot do it all. What I have done is to lay a foundation and by the grace of God, we have a successor who will continue to build on that, in the direction that I started with, and someone who shares the same values of service to the people.

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“Democracy is not a destination in itself, it is a process. It will always be better; things will always be better than when you met them.”

On his impact on various sectors of Edo state’s economy, Obaseki stated that he had changed the course of education in his state.

He said: “I have trained more than half a million children and given them sound, solid basic education, but that’s not all they need. Somebody needs to come and build on that.

“In terms of the health care system in Edo State, I have changed it totally, moved the primary health care system from the local government joined hands with the local government, and just refreshed it.

“I have dealt with the major issue pertaining to health in Nigeria, which is healthcare financing, how you pay out of pocket. I have a thriving healthcare insurance system in Edo today that has over 250,000 policies, but it needs to grow.”

Edo governor also stated that he thanked God that he had the opportunity to try, stressing that if he had to do it again, he would do it exactly like he was doing.

Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has said his administration’s investment in strengthening the state’s security architecture and overhauling the security system have transformed Edo as the safest state in the Southsouth, and one of the most secure in Nigeria.

Obaseki, yesterday in Benin, noted that the government gained the confidence of investors, which resulted in the influx of businesses, leading to enhanced economic activities and increased revenues for the state.

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The governor, while noting that security is local, listed some of the nuanced steps taken, to include the decentralisation and democratisation of the security system, to allow community participation in the state’s policing and security architecture.

He said Edo has over 15,000 vigilance operatives, policing communities across the 18 local governments, stressing that the initiative has improved safety and security in Edo.