Tag: Obaseki

Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has initiated a peace-building process between the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, and the suspended Dukes (Enigies).

The governor hinted this yesterday after a meeting with some dukes in Edo South held at the residence of the Enogie of Evbo-Obanosa, Prof. Gregory Akenzua.

According to him, the meeting was to understand the issues at stake, with a view to brokering peace and reconcile the aggrieved parties.

Obaseki condemned the action of some politicians who he accused of attempting to hijack and distort the matter. He urged them to be careful, stressing that the Benin royalty was a unique inheritance, which Edo people must preserve.

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He said: “Recall that there was an incident in the court, where there was almost a breakdown of law and order, because some people tried to stop a court hearing relating to a case between some Enigies and the palace.

“Government issued a statement that we will intervene and seek amicable reconciliation. I came back from a trip about two days ago, and decided to begin that process by meeting with the aggrieved Enigies who went to court. The intention is to see what the issues are and resolve them.

“Every Enogie in Edo South has a blood relationship with the palace; they are an extension of the Benin royal family. We are here to meet with a cross-section of them to understand what the issues are. We want to know what it takes to broker peace and reconcile them, with the hope that the case is withdrawn from court. They have assured me that they are anxious to promote peace and acknowledge the Oba of Benin as their royal father, but have concerns that bother them and would like them to be resolved. The process has started. We will also visit the Iyase after which we will visit our royal father, and see how these issues will be resolved.”

Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki, has initiated a peace-building process to resolve the issue between the Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolopkolo, Oba Ewuare II, and the suspended Dukes (Enigie).

Obaseki disclosed this on Wednesday, May 15, after a meeting with some Enigie in Edo South Senatorial District, held at the residence of the Enogie of Evbo-Obanosa, Prof. Gregory Akenzua.

Edo governor revealed that the meeting was aimed at understanding the issues at stake, to broker peace, and to ensure reconciliation of the aggrieved parties.

He noted that the move was intended to facilitate the withdrawal of the suit at the Edo state high court, Benin, to promote peace in Edo South senatorial district.

Obaseki condemned the action of some politicians, whom he accused of attempting to hijack and distort the matter, urging them to be careful, stressing that the Benin royalty was a unique inheritance, which Edo people must preserve.

He said: “You will recall that a few days ago, there was an incident in the court in Benin City, where there was almost a breakdown of law and order because some people tried to stop a court hearing relating to a case between some Enigie in Benin Kingdom and the palace.

“The government stated that we are going to look into the matter and seek amicable reconciliation over the matter in court. I came back from a trip about two days ago and decided to commence that process by meeting with the aggrieved Enigie who went to court. The intention is to see what the issues are and amicably ensure that they are resolved.

“Every Enogie in Edo South has a blood relationship with the palace; they are an extension of the Benin royal family. We are here to meet with a cross-section of them to understand what the issues are. We want to know what it takes to broker peace and reconcile them, with the hope that the case is withdrawn from the court.

“They have assured me that they are anxious to promote peace and acknowledge the Oba of Benin as their royal father, but have concerns that bother them and would like them to be resolved. The process has started. We will also visit the lyase of Benin Kingdom and after that, we will visit our royal father, and see how these issues will be resolved.”

Edo governor also stated that the sacred heritage of the Benin royalty must be preserved.

He said: “We all should be careful, as our royalty is a unique inheritance. We must try to preserve it and never allow the corrosive influence of politicians to afflict our heritage. You can see from the display in Benin City last week that politicians are attempting to hijack and distort the issue at stake.

“There are real and fundamental issues which will be resolved by all means. But we use this medium to appeal to politicians from different sides of the divide to desist from playing politics with the royal family and the palace.”

Read Also: How we grew Edo’s economy to over $26b, by Obaseki

The Enogie of Evbo-Obanosa hailed Obaseki for attempting to wade into the matter and broker peace.

Prof. Akenzua exonerated the Edo governor of the allegation that he asked the Enigie to take the Oba of Benin to court.

He said: “We have not only taken His Majesty to court but also taken Edo State government to court.

“I have listened to the governor, who is making appeals to us to resolve the issues we have amicably. We welcome the idea, but the fact must be stated that contrary to what I am reading in the press that the governor is the one who asked us to go to court, the truth is that we have issues with His Majesty who is the head of the traditional institution. Those issues have to be resolved, if that settlement has to be made, and we welcome any intervention from any source.

“As a point of correction, we have not only taken His Majesty to court but also taken the Edo State government to court. The issue of people saying that it is the governor who is using us to fight the traditional institution is completely incorrect. We will address a full press conference on the issues; we have many issues to be resolved before we agree to settle out of court.”

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, and the Minister of Works and Housing, Dave Umahi, have expressed determination to end the groaning of motorists and commuters on the deplorable Ekpoma-Abuja federal highway.

Obaseki formally informed Umahi of the deplorable state of the strategic road, during yesterday’s meeting at the Government House, Benin, in the course of the minister’s inspection of ongoing federal road projects in Edo state.

The management of BUA Group, a cement producing company, with plant at Okpella in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo state, which is leveraging on the gains of the conducive business environment made possible by Obaseki’s administration’s ease of doing business policies, mobilised its workforce to the failed portion of the Ekpoma-Abuja highway, in order to make the road motorable.

Umahi, while addressing reporters in Benin, after the closed-door meeting with Obaseki, hailed Edo governor for the high quality of some projects he saw that Obaseki’s administration was executing, while declaring that he was not cutting corners, so as to ensure that the best and most desirable was what was available for Edo residents.

Read Also: Parts of Edo, Delta to experience outage for 13 days, says TCN

Edo Commissioner for Roads and Bridges, Ethan Uzamere, while with the works and housing minister to monitor the situation of the road at Ekpoma, stated that immediate remedial actions were set for the Benin-Auchi road by Dangote and BUA cement companies.

Uzamere noted that the long-term plan would involve road concessioning for sustainable infrastructure, beyond the current administration.

He disclosed that a comprehensive plan had been proposed to alleviate the ongoing challenges, stressing that a phased approach would be implemented, with one session dedicated to essential palliative measures, including the application of durable materials such as concrete.

Edo commissioner for roads and bridges noted that efforts would be directed towards engaging relevant authorities and community stakeholders to ensure uninterrupted execution of the proposed improvements, with the collaborative approach aimed to address the long-standing issues on Ekpoma road and enhance the overall infrastructure, for the benefit of the communities.

Edo Governor Godwin Obaseki has expressed confidence that the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 21 poll, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, will win with 80 per cent of the votes. 

He insisted that PDP had the best governorship candidate that would continue from where he would stop.

Obaseki spoke during the inauguration of the campaign council of Edo PDP in Benin on Saturday. 

He noted the structure of the PDP’s campaign council was rooted in all the 192 wards of the 18 local government areas with every organ of the party captured.

The Edo Governor said: “We are here to inaugurate the campaign council that will lead PDP to victory in the September 21 governorship election. The campaign is going to be based on what we have achieved, and the lives that we have touched. The campaign will also be based on the future, not the past.

“We see the suffering the people are going through. So, the campaign will be based on the hope PDP will give our people.

“Those fighting PDP have collected money from the other political parties and I want you all present to join me to flush them out. Let them stay out, since they have collected money.”

Edo PDP chairman, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, imformed the campaign council comprised 363 members, excluding the women and youth wings.

The Director-General of the campaign council, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, thanked Edo Governor governor and PDP members for the opportunity to serve the party.

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Iduoriyekemwen promised to lead the PDP to victory in September.

Ighodalo thanked PDP’s leaders and others for the confidence reposed in him, stating that Obaseki had laid a functional foundation in every sector, which he would build upon.

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator Monday Okpebholo has kicked against Friday’s inauguration of five out of the eight Edo High Court judges eleven months recommendation by the National Judicial Council (NJC).

The newly-inaugurated judges are Justices Obayuwana Osarenren Mathias, Ehinon Anthony Okoh, Ovenseri Otamere, Bright Eraze Oniha, and Osayande Ikwuemosi Awawu.

They were inaugurated on Friday by Governor Godwin Obaseki. 

But the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) condemned Obaseki’s delay in inaugurating the judges, describing it as an abuse of power and disregard for constitutional provisions.

NBA’s Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) specifically highlighted the constitutional obligation of the Governor to promptly inaugurate the recommended judicial officers.

SPIDEL declared that the unnecessary and ridiculous delay in inaugurating the recommended judges hindered the functioning of the justice delivery system and greatly affected the hardworking and committed judicial officers.

The Judges were recommended in June 2023 by the NJC. 

Obaseki, while inaugurating the judges at the New Festival Hall of Government House, Benin, urged them to do justice to all cases brought before them.

He stated when complaints or petitions were received, it was important to take a step back and re-examine them critically, in order to make informed decisions.

“We are currently waiting on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to let us know the outcome of its decision on the other judges we have received petitions for and we will comply with the decision of NJC.

“We congratulate the judges being sworn in today. They are lucky as they are likely to spend more time in the service because of the extension in the retirement age. We wish you well and hope you will always do right to all cases brought before you,” he said. 

Speaking on behalf of the new judges, Osayende Ikwuemosi Awawu, said: “We are going to do our jobs and perform our duties to the best of our ability.”

But Okpebholo, in a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Prince John Mayaki, declared that inaugurating five of the eight judges was similar to Obaseki’s polarisation of Edo Assembly between 2019 and 2023. 

Obaseki stopped 14 APC members in the 24-member Assembly from being inaugurated or sitting for four years until expiration of their tenure.

Okphebholo recalled Obaseki’s administration plunged Edo into political turmoil in 2023 with the Assembly fiasco and was bent on doing the same with the judiciary by exempting three of the judges from inaguaration. 

He said: “Senator Monday Okpebholo Campaign Organisation called out Edo governor during the celebration of Workers’ Day in Benin City, over his refusal to swear in the eight judges-designate, after the National Judicial Council recommended them for appointment to the Edo State High Court in June 2023. Today (yesterday), Obaseki ate the humble pie, but not fully. 

“We want to congratulate the judges, who are lucky to escape the edge of Obaseki’s dangerous sword. We call on Edo governor to immediately resolve whatever issues that led to the exemption of the three judges, and do the needful.”

• Governor names Labour House after Oshiomhole

Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki yesterday increased the salary of the state’s workers from N40,000 to N70,000.
The governor announced the salary increase while inaugurating the state’s Labour House named after his predecessor and senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole.
He said: “As a government, we feel your pains and know your take-home pay can barely take you home. We will continue to try. I am one of those governors who believe that we cannot run away from the fact that we must adjust the minimum wage in Nigeria.
“It would have been nice for there to be a central and cohesive and common approach. We would have expected that by now, there should have been a direction as to what minimum wage will be for workers in Nigeria. We do not know when that will happen. If it happens, fine; and if not, as a state, we would need to do what we need to do.

Read Also: ‘Why Obaseki named Labour House in Edo after Oshiomhole’

“For us in Edo State, we have decided to move the minimum wage from N40,000 to N70,000, effective from May 1, 2024. I think like a capitalist and not a comrade. In my May Day speech, I will give more details on our new minimum wage. If the Federal Government imposes something higher, we would make the necessary adjustments.”
Obaseki further gave reasons for the salary increase when he appeared last night on Channels Television programme, “Politics Today”.
He said: “Let us understand this new minimum wage calculation. In 2011, when the minimum wage was N18,000, the exchange rate was N160/$. So, effectively, workers in Edo State were taking home about $120 as minimum wage. When we increased the minimum wage to N40,000 in 2022, the exchange rate at that time was N450/$. So, effectively, workers were getting about $96.”

“Today in 2024 with the N70,000 minimum wage at the current exchange rate of N1,257/$, what they (workers) are taking home is $55, which is less than 50 per cent of what they were earning about a year ago.
“For us in Edo State, we believe that the issue is about productivity: paying people well so that they can produce more and not pretending that you are paying them some salary when you know that the salary cannot motivate them to produce the goods and services that you require.”

Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has explained why the Federal Government nominated him to lead the Nigerian delegation to this year’s Biennale Arte in Veneto region of Italy.

Obaseki will serve as the Commissioner of the Nigerian Pavilion at the 60th International Art Exhibition (Biennale Arte) organised by La Biennale di Venezia, which will start today and last till Thursday, April 18.

A letter forwarded to the organisers and the Italian Government announcing Obaseki as the Commissioner of the Nigerian Pavilion and Leader of the country’s delegation to the art festival reads: “We would like to propose Edo State government as the Commissioner for the Nigerian Pavilion, and would like to respectfully put forward Governor Godwin Obaseki from the Edo State government to be the Commissioner of the Nigerian Pavilion at the Biennale Arte 2024.”

Read Also: Obaseki: Why FG nominated me to lead Nigeria’s delegation to Biennale Arte 2024

Africa will be represented by 10 countries, including Nigeria, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.

Nigeria had previously participated in the 2017 edition.

Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki, has disclosed that he was nominated by the federal government to lead the Nigerian delegation to the Biennale Arte 2024 due to his government’s landmark successes in promoting the state’s rich cultural assets, arts, and heritage and advancing the economic potential of tourism in Edo state and Nigeria.

In a letter to the organisers and the Italian government to nominate Obaseki as the commissioner of the Nigerian pavilion and leader of the country’s delegation to the art festival, which is one of the world’s most prestigious cultural art exhibitions, the federal government said Obaseki’s bold and transformative reforms in Edo’s arts and culture sector were in line with its quest to revitalise the cultural sector as the main revenue generator for the country.

Edo governor is expected to be in the Veneto region of Italy from 16th to 18th April 2024 and will be serving as the commissioner of the Nigerian Pavilion at the 60th International Art Exhibition (Biennale Arte) organised by La Biennale di Venezia.

The letter reads: “We would like to propose Edo State Government as the Commissioner for the Nigerian Pavilion, and would like to respectfully put forward Governor Godwin Obaseki from the Edo State Government to be the Commissioner of the Nigerian Pavilion at the Biennale Arte 2024.

“Edo State and its capital city, Benin City, have been a main heritage, cultural artistic hub in Nigeria for centuries, and Governor Obaseki has a strong desire to support arts and culture.

“In support of this centuries-old arts and culture tradition, the government of Edo State is planning to develop a cultural district in the centre of Benin City. The Cultural Hub is intended to span a large expanse of land that will bring in new structures and also accommodate existing ones such as the National Museum, Benin City.

“The development of the Cultural District is intended to expand the cultural and creative industries, to attract tourists to the country.

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“This giant move is in tandem with the Federal Government’s quest to revitalise the cultural sector as the main revenue generator for the country. These plans are also being supported by other stakeholders and partners.”

Obaseki will, as part of activities lined up for the event, sign an agreement with the Italian Government to foster a socio-cultural and economic relationship that will be beneficial to the improved growth, development, and productivity of Edo state and Italy.

The partnership, according to the organisers, will further facilitate cooperation in technical and vocational training, advance opportunities in the agricultural sector, enhance information technology capacity, promote tourism, increase economic opportunities in the textile industry and promote social and cultural relationships between both countries.