Tag: Obaseki

The governor of Edo state, Godwin Obaseki; his deputy, Chief Marvellous Omobayo; and other political, traditional, and religious leaders in the state attended the first anniversary of the passing of media mogul Chief Raymond Dokpesi over the weekend in his hometown of Agenebode, Etsako East Local Government Area.

Obaseki praised Dokpesi as a national leader and father figure who dedicated his life to serving humanity. 

He highlighted Dokpesi’s unmatched contributions to building a better and just society with commendable wisdom.

He said: “Regardless of his social status, Dokpesi had always shown humility by being willing to hear the concerns of the average persons. His influence as a father-figure transcended political, religious, and ethnic boundaries, and he gave voice to the voiceless.”

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Represented by the Chairman of Etsako East Local Government Council, Princess Benedicta Attoh, the Edo governor, attended the unveiling of the late Chief Raymond Dokpesi’s mausoleum at his Agenebode residence. 

He praised Dokpesi as a development-minded national leader who brought honor and dignity to Nigeria and Africa by founding Africa Independent Television (AIT) and Raypower FM, which have employed thousands of Nigerians.

The Edo deputy governor, Chief Marvellous Omobayo, attended the grand finale of the week-long first memorial football tournament in honor of Dokpesi. 

Represented by his Chief of Staff, Abeni Aziz, Omobayo lauded the chairman of Etsako East LG council for organizing the tournament. He described Dokpesi as a unifier and great patriot.

In her remarks, Attoh noted that the tournament bridged the gap in community reunion by bringing together under-18 girls and boys from the state’s 18 local governments to Dokpesi’s hometown for a week at the playground of St. Peter’s Grammar School, Agenebode. 

The chairman of Etsako East LG council highlighted that Dokpesi’s death unified the people, emphasizing that football transcends political and religious divides, reflecting the ideals of unity and togetherness that Dokpesi championed in both words and actions.

Ahead of the September Edo governorship election, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has cried out to the Senate and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) over alleged intimidation of its members by Governor Godwin Obaseki.

The party in a petition to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun and copied the Senate Committee Chairman on Police Affairs, Abdulhamid Madori and Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Hashimu Argungu, alleged that the governor was using the Commissioner of Police to threaten its members with arrest.

The petition written by Edo APC Chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, accused the Governor of using security apparatus in the state to harass its members as part of moves to allegedly weaken opposition parties and create an atmosphere of fear ahead of the poll.

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The petition reads: “I am the chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Edo state chapter and have the honour and privilege to bring to your attention the high level of intimidation and harassment being orchestrated by the Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki. While it is safe under the Freedom of Information Act that anyone who feels dissatisfied with any policy implementation of the government at any level can ask questions about same, the governor does not see to the effectiveness of any opposition to his government policies.

“To make good his threat of strangulating any opposition, he deploys all forms of security apparatus within the state both conventional and self created, to carry out his vindictiveness. He has promised to deal mercilessly with any person who dares him particularly at this time of our electioneering in the state.

“Against the backdrop of the aforesaid, he has deployed the office of the Commissioner of Police to cause my arrest just for political reasons. I have been informed at my party secretariat that in my absence, police brought an invitation for me to be interviewed by the Commissioner of Police over a petition written against me by the governor.

“Information at my disposal is that the governor has ordered the police to lay siege to my party secretariat where we are to perform the inauguration of our campaign council tomorrow with a view to arresting me just to score a political point. 

“I thereby solicit your timely intervention by transferring the said case if any to your office for a discreet investigation. 

“I count on your esteemed office in doing justice to this unwarranted harassment.”

• No going back on ban on youth leaders, cultism- Govt insists

Edo State Government has brawn a battle line with the Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, by declaring that there will be no going back on the ban on Okaigheles (youth leaders) in Benin Kingdom’s seven local government areas of Edo South Senatorial District, and cultism across the 18 LGAs of the state.

The Commissioner for Communication and Orientation in the state, Chris Nehikhare, yesterday in a statement, stated that the ban on the activities of Okaigheles and cultists was due to the alarming rise in cult-related activities, and the resulting homicide, which, according to him, was made in the interest of public safety and to curb the growing violence that had plagued Edo communities.

Obaseki, on June 3, disclosed that over 150 residents of Edo State had been lost to cult-related activities and homicide in less than six months (from January 2024), as he declared war on cultism in the state.

The governor also banned the activities of Okaigheles in Edo South senatorial district’s seven LGAs of Oredo, Ikpoba-Okha, Egor, Ovia Northeast, Ovia Southwest, Orhionmwon, and Uhunmwonde.

Obaseki, while speaking with Government House reporters in Benin, after a closed-door meeting with security chiefs in the state, disclosed that his ban on Okaigheles was part of the renewed efforts to tackle cultism in Edo.

The palace of Oba of Benin on Friday, however, maintained that the activities of the youth leaders had not been banned in Benin kingdom, while insisting that the Okaigheles represented a segment of the age-long Benin traditional administrative structure.

The Obazelu of Benin, Chief Osaro Idah, spoke while addressing the protesting Edo South Okaigheles, who sought the palace’s intervention.

Idah assured that the palace of the first-class monarch would dialogue with Edo state government on the contentious issue, and charged the Okaigheles to maintain peace and order in their domains.

The Obazelu of Benin, who was accompanied by the Oyeoba of Benin, Chief Oghafua Oyeoba, and the Ogua of Benin, Chief Uyi Okungbowa, stated that the palace of Oba of Benin would not shield any individual caught in nefarious activities.

Nehikhare, however, said: “The Edo State Security Council’s data has shown that these two groups: Okaigheles and cultists, pose the most severe threat to the security and stability of the state, resulting in the decision of the council to place a total ban on the criminal groups.

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“While we respect the tradition and customs of our communities, it is important to note that the safety and security of the residents must always come first. Chief Osaro Idah, the Obazalu of Benin’s contradictory statement does not change the gravity of the situation at hand, and we stand by our decision to enforce this ban on okaigheles, to protect the lives and property of our people.

“The Edo State government notes that statements like the ones made by Chief Idah would embolden the criminals to take up arms against ordinary residents, military personnel, policemen, and other constitutional security agencies.

“On Friday, June 7, 2024, some so-called youths opened fire on three men of the Nigerian Army, attached to Okomu Oil Palm Plc., in Ovia Southwest Local Government Area of Edo State, injuring them and throwing the community into pandemonium. In the coming weeks, Edo State government will proceed on a full-scale operation to disarm the criminal elements and neutralise their threats against public peace.”

The Edo commissioner for communication and orientation also declared that the state government warned, in the strongest terms, that it would not allow any individual or organisation, no matter how highly placed, to undermine the efforts of the state security council to protect the lives and property of the residents.

Nehikhare declared that the activities of cultists, okaigheles and their unnamed sponsors remained banned in Edo, and that the state government would spare no effort to ensure that the people who would flout the ban were made to face the full weight of the law.

Says activities of youth leaders not banned in Edo South

The palace of the Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, yesterday clashed again with Governor Godwin Obaseki, as it declared that activities of Okaigheles (youth leaders) have not been banned in Benin Kingdom’s seven local government areas of Edo South Senatorial District.

Oba of Benin’s palace noted that the Okaigheles represented a segment of the age-long Benin traditional administrative structure.

The Obazelu of Benin, Chief Osaro Idah, spoke while addressing the protesting Edo South Okaigheles who sought the palace’s intervention.

Obaseki, on June 3, disclosed that over 150 residents of Edo State had been lost to cult-related activities and homicide in less than six months (from January 2024), as he declared war on cultism in the state.

The governor also banned the activities of Okaigheles in Edo South senatorial district’s seven LGAs of Oredo, Ikpoba-Okha, Egor, Ovia Northeast, Ovia Southwest, Orhionmwon, and Uhunmwonde.

Obaseki, while speaking with Government House reporters in Benin, after a closed-door meeting with security chiefs in the state, disclosed that his ban on Okaigheles was part of the renewed efforts to tackle cultism.

Idah, however, assured that the palace of Oba of Benin would dialogue with Edo State government on the contentious issue, according to a statement yesterday evening by the first-class monarch’s Chief Press Secretary, Osaigbovo Iguobaro.

It charged the okaigheles to maintain peace and order in their domains.

The Obazelu of Benin, who was accompanied by the Oyeoba of Benin, Chief Oghafua Oyeoba, and the Ogua of Benin, Chief Uyi Okungbowa, stated that the palace of Oba of Benin would not shield any individual caught in nefarious activities.

Idah said: “Okaighele is not a new thing in Benin Kingdom. It did not start in this century. As you have age grades and senior sons, so we have them. When Odionwere (village head) is appointed by the Oba of Benin, Okaighele assists the Odionwere in the daily administration of the domain.

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“It is not something that can be banned by fiat, because Okaighele belongs to the Benin ancestors. We shall inform the appropriate authorities about your concerns.

“You have not been banned, but the palace will not support any form of violence or attack on anyone or group of persons in the communities. If anyone is caught, the palace will support the government to prosecute such person.”

Spokesman of aggrieved youths and Odionweres (village heads) in Edo South senatorial district, Comrade Rowland Ogbomo, had earlier stated that Okaighele was a creation of the palace of Oba of Benin.

He said they were surprised over the ban announcement by Edo governor, and pleaded with the foremost traditional ruler to urgently intervene.

Ogbomo stated that the Okaigheles were not cultists, but responsible for the maintenance of law and order in their communities, in line with Benin’s native laws and customs.

• Says activities of youth leaders not banned in Edo South

The palace of the Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, yesterday clashed again with Governor Godwin Obaseki, as it declared that activities of Okaigheles (youth leaders) have not been banned in Benin Kingdom’s seven local government areas of Edo South Senatorial District.

Oba of Benin’s palace noted that the Okaigheles represented a segment of the age-long Benin traditional administrative structure.

The Obazelu of Benin, Chief Osaro Idah, spoke while addressing the protesting Edo South Okaigheles who sought the palace’s intervention.

Obaseki, on June 3, disclosed that over 150 residents of Edo State had been lost to cult-related activities and homicide in less than six months (from January 2024), as he declared war on cultism in the state.

The governor also banned the activities of Okaigheles in Edo South senatorial district’s seven LGAs of Oredo, Ikpoba-Okha, Egor, Ovia Northeast, Ovia Southwest, Orhionmwon, and Uhunmwonde.

Obaseki, while speaking with Government House reporters in Benin, after a closed-door meeting with security chiefs in the state, disclosed that his ban on Okaigheles was part of the renewed efforts to tackle cultism.

Idah, however, assured that the palace of Oba of Benin would dialogue with Edo State government on the contentious issue, according to a statement yesterday evening by the first-class monarch’s Chief Press Secretary, Osaigbovo Iguobaro.

It charged the okaigheles to maintain peace and order in their domains.

The Obazelu of Benin, who was accompanied by the Oyeoba of Benin, Chief Oghafua Oyeoba, and the Ogua of Benin, Chief Uyi Okungbowa, stated that the palace of Oba of Benin would not shield any individual caught in nefarious activities.

Idah said: “Okaighele is not a new thing in Benin Kingdom. It did not start in this century. As you have age grades and senior sons, so we have them. When Odionwere (village head) is appointed by the Oba of Benin, Okaighele assists the Odionwere in the daily administration of the domain.

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“It is not something that can be banned by fiat, because Okaighele belongs to the Benin ancestors. We shall inform the appropriate authorities about your concerns.

“You have not been banned, but the palace will not support any form of violence or attack on anyone or group of persons in the communities. If anyone is caught, the palace will support the government to prosecute such person.”

Spokesman of aggrieved youths and Odionweres (village heads) in Edo South senatorial district, Comrade Rowland Ogbomo, had earlier stated that Okaighele was a creation of the palace of Oba of Benin.

He said they were surprised over the ban announcement by Edo governor, and pleaded with the foremost traditional ruler to urgently intervene.

Ogbomo stated that the Okaigheles were not cultists, but responsible for the maintenance of law and order in their communities, in line with Benin’s native laws and customs.