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Tag: Odubu

  • Violence: Edo North monarchs apologise to Odubu

    Violence: Edo North monarchs apologise to Odubu

    The Otaru of Auchi kingdom, Alhaji Aliru Momoh Ikelebe III, has led other prominent traditional rulers in Edo North to apologise to Edo State Deputy Governor Pius Odubu for the attack on him in Auchi. He called for reconciliation between Governor Adams Oshiomhole and Odubu.

    The monarch extolled the cordial relationship between Oshiomhole and Odubu in the past seven and a half years. He said that at a time like this, the friendship should not turn sour.

    He said that the development of the state is tied to the oneness of purpose. The monarch prayed Almighty Allah that nothing should separate the governor and his deputy.

    The traditional ruler urged the deputy governor not to be distracted by mischief makers, who want to trivialise the attack across ethnic and senatorial divides. He assured the aspirant that the traditional institution recognised his ambition.

    Otaru thanked the Almighty Allah that no lives were lost during the unfortunate incident and prayed for quick recovery of those presently receiving treatment.

    The traditional rulers in the senatorial district had earlier resolved to investigate the matter, even as the Otaru said youths in his kingdom where the incident happened are not known to own guns.

    Oturu promised that the royal fathers will mediate in the dispute  and the rancour in the House of Assembly.

    The relationship between Oshiomhole and Odubu was strain when the later declared his intention to contest the governorship election.

    The Otaru said: “We want to see the governor and hear from him what is happening.”

    He said the issues are germane and as traditional rulers they have resolved to look for a way to addressing them, adding that this informed their decision to go into the matter and try to settle them.

    “I can assure you that we have disciplined youth in this community and they don’t have the gun to go and be shooting at people and we don’t have guns in Auchi. It is a case of internal political conflicts and those conflicts are exclusive to them. I am not aware that any Auchi youth has taken part in that crisis. The incident that happened in Auchi was one that nobody expected to happen and we as a community are very sympathetic with the deputy governor, but we are investigating who and who would have been responsible.”

    The traditional rulers also visited the governor, and heir apparent to the Benin throne Crown Prince, Eheneden Erediauwa, to commiserate with him over the death of his father Oba Erediauwa.

    Odubu escaped death in Auchi as gunmen shot at him inside the APC Secretariat, Auchi as he was being received by the delegates of Etsako West Local Government Area, the governor’s hometown.

  • Can Oyinlola reconcile Oshiomhole, Odubu?

    Can Oyinlola reconcile Oshiomhole, Odubu?

    The succession battle in the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has degenerated into a crisis between Governor Adams Oshiomhole and his deputy, Dr Pius Odubu. Can the Oyinlola Committee restore peace to the troubled chapter? OSAGIE OTABOR writes on the burden of reconciliation.

    Was there really a crisis in the Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC) that warranted the setting up of the Fact Finding and Reconciliation Committee headed by the former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola? To Governor Adams Oshiomhole, the crisis was blown out of proportion by those he described as fifth columnists. Some chieftains also saw the setting up of the committee as an attempt to blackmail him and withdraw his support for a governorship aspirant, Godwin Obaseki.

    It appears the visit of the reconciliation committee has doused tension among the aspirants. What heightened the tension was the friction between Oshiomhole and his deputy, Dr. Pius Odubu as both of them are not on the same page on who will succeed Oshiomhole. The removal of Hon Victor Edoror as the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, the bias of some executives of the APC and threats that the party would lose the election to the PDP, if a popular candidate does not win the primary also aggravated the tension.

    The crisis worsened when the convoy of Dr. Odubu was attacked at Auchi, the headquarters of Estako West Local Government. Oshiomhole hails from the local government. Oshiomhole alleged that his deputy wanted to use diabolical means to eliminate him. There was also shooting at Sobe community at a time Obaseki was in the area to campaign.

    What the Oyinlola committee gathered, according to sources, was different from the picture painted about the APC in Edo, especially as regards the removal of Hon. Edoror as the Speaker. When the committee met with the aspirants at the APC secretariat, it was an opportunity for them to speak out their minds about the proposed primary.

    Issues raised by the aspirants included financial inducement of delegates, increased use of thugs by some aspirants, the need to separate party activities from the aprons of the government and easy access to delegates  by aspirants. Some aspirants also accused the Chairman of the party, Anselm Ojezua and the Secretary, Chief Osaro Idah of being political appointees of Governor Oshiomhole. They said the APC would do well in the state if it was well-funded.

    The Chairman and the Secretary denied the allegations.

    The youngest aspirant, 37 year-old Blessing Agbomhere, said all the aspirants pledged their loyalty to the party and demanded for a free and fair primary.

    He said they also demanded access to the delegates and requested that Ojezua should take charge of the party and separate governance from party politics.

    He said: “I told them the governor should see every aspirant as a brother because we made the party what it is today.”

    “I spoke my mind and I was straight to the point. I condemned the Odubu attack and I reported that my bill board was removed at the party secretariat because they said I was criticizing the governor.

    An aspirant, Ogiemwonyi, said only a strong party structure would bring  peace to the Edo APC.

    “The aspirants spoke their mind. You cannot reconcile without talking about the issues underneat. We went as far as talking about the need of separation of powers between the government and the party. We want to have a strong party. We equally addressed inducement of delegates with money, it should be reduced”

    “I believe in due process. I believe in the spirit of good governance. We are looking for somebody that has experience.

    “My panacea for what will bring peace is we need a strong party that is well funded. A situation where the party can summon the governor like in the days of Awolowo.”

    Oshiomhole expressed reservation about the attitude of the national leadership towards the supposed crisis in the state chapter. He said the party leadership has not asked him about problems in the party in the state and noted that informal approach to issues works better than formalised approach.

    Oshiomhole, who spoke at a meeting with the committee, wondered why the official language should be ‘reconcile everybody,’ when the most uncouth and vulgar language have been used to describe his person.

    He said those beating the drum of war in the APC were defectors from the PDP who want to discredit the APC in Edo.

    He said: “The secretariat should check carefully because those making statements always end up with statement that unless the Comrade want to return the state to the PDP. This state cannot return to the PDP.

    “We can distinguished between Fifth columnist and genuine APC members. Those fomenting  trouble in APC now could not deliver their wards. I deliver my unit, ward, local government and senatorial district.”

    “I hope that you are able to tell everybody, assure Abuja that there is no cause for alarm. I will finish stronger than I started.”

    “Be assured of my commitment to the party. Be assured of my commitment to democratic values and I will fight this election as if I were a candidate, regardless of who wins.”

    The committee also met with the leadership of the House of Assembly behind close doors and the committee was told in clear terms that the change in the house leadership has no connection with the power play between Oshiomhole and his deputy.

    The Speaker, Ativie Elisabeth, and other lawmakers narrated how the plan to remove Edoror was plotted and executed without the knowledge of Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

    The Speaker said there was no plot to impeach the deputy governor and that the change in the house leadership would further strengthened the party.

    At an enlarged stakeholders meeting, Oyinlola warned party members not to work towards finding themselves in opposition political party after the elections

    He urged the leadership to resolve their differences.

    The former Osun governor noted that the APC won last year’s election because a transparent party primary that saw the emergence of Mohammadu Buhari as the party’s flag bearer.

    His words: “My belief until I came was that nobody has done anything that will surpass the achievement of Dr. Ogbemudia. We have a performing governor who has done so much credit to our party, why then do we not want to continue with this trend of achievement by going into the election united and deliver Edo State.”

    “It is the only state that is under our control in the Southsouth zone. It is an open secret that governors in the Southsouth have gone to do meeting on how to take Edo. God will not allow that to happen. We have interacted with the aspirants. They came out with what they believe is needed to be done for us to move successfully. All of them are talking about a level-playing ground.”

    “We must allow a level-playing ground. That is what is going to happen. God forbid we should not loose election in Edo State. It is not a pleasant thing to be in opposition. That is why I want to plead with our leadership that we must be able to resolve our differences.

    “Reports from the state chapter of the party in the last few weeks were not edifying and that the party at the national level was alarmed at the steady erosion of the stability  and cohesion earlier seen in Edo.”

    “We are here because our party believes darkness must not fall on this state once again. When you came, you gave every man a reason to believe once again in participatory democracy as the best form of government.”

    But, an aspirant, Casely Omon-Irabor, told our reporter on phone that the committee came to fan the embers of disunity by praising the achievements of Oshiomhole.

    Omon-Irabor said that some stakeholders at the meeting were invited to insult some aspirants present at the meeting.

    He said: “The committee came here to sell Oshiomhole. They were praising Oshiomhole. Some people were brought in to insult everybody.”

    Ojezua, said the committee found out that things were not as bad in the party as it was being reported in the press.

    He said what they found were symptoms of electioneering campaigns.

    His words: “We cannot afford to loose this election. The governor has done very well and the party will rely on the governor’s achievements during campaigns. People must be very careful with the way they speak about the governor”.

    A close ally of Dr. Odubu said the committee was able to calm some nerve and peaceful atmosphere within the party.

  • ‘APC ‘ll resolve rift between Oshiomhole, Odubu’

    ‘APC ‘ll resolve rift between Oshiomhole, Odubu’

    Prince Halliard Etta is the National Vice Chairman (Southsouth) of the All Progressives Congress (Apc). In this interview with Tony Akowe, he speaks about the crisis in Edo State chapter, the deregulation of the down stream sector of the petroleum industry and other issues.

    How is the APC resolving the rift between Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole and his deputy, Dr. Pius Odubu?

    Many people are fighting for the ticket in Edo State.  Everybody will like to have that ticket. On the other side of the divide, you have about three or four people looking for the ticket of the PDP. You have about 22 people looking for the ticket of the APC. It tells the story that everybody will like to have the ticket of the APC. In any human contest such as we have in Edo, you are likely to have some acrimony. I will not sweep the issues under the carpet. The party is conscious of the heightened tension and it has set up a small committee to go to Edo to try and reconcile the various tendencies. I am sure that by the time they are done with their responsibility, we will have peace in the party.

    Why did the APC fail to win Akwa Ibom State governorship election?

    You are aware of the reports of the international observers with regard the Rivers and Akwa Ibom elections. Everybody alive and well today must have read report. The Supreme Court judgment is an antithesis to the report of the international observers and the APC will like to align with the report of the international observers that there was  no election in Rivers and Akwa Ibom. You have read Prof. Itse Sagay’s writing on the judgment of the Supreme Court. Suffice to say that he spoke our mind. We will not bear the burden of peace alone in Edo. We will share it with those who have come for the contest for the soul of Edo state. We will either share the burden of peace or share the strife of war.

     What is your advice to Federal Government on the deregulation?

    I have always clamoured for the deregulation of the down stream sector of the petroleum industry. The truth is that I was a little bit taken aback when there was a cap of N145. If you deregulate a market, you should not put a cap. I believe in complete deregulation because it will bring down the price of our petroleum products. It will go down even below N86 because it will now depend on the vagaries of the market. Whenever you have international oil price come down, the imported products will also come down in price. Nobody has bought fuel at controlled price for the past one year. It just a simple economics of demand and supply. If the market is open, the market will be flooded with the product and when that happens, we will be having the same situation we are having in the communication industry right now. When GSM came into being in Nigeria, they told us that to buy a SIM card was going to cost us several thousands of naira. But today, GSM companies beg you to take their SIM cards. This must be allowed to happen in the oil industry. There is simply no reason why we should collectively fund the corruption in the oil industry through subsidy. Imagine that in 2014, this country spent N1.3 trillion and we can’t even verify whether these things are real or not. We just pumped out N1.3 trillion to these middle men.

    Don’t you think there should have been some palliative measures before the deregulation because Nigerians are bearing the brunt…

    I think that the palliative has been given a wrong meaning by the former government. If you look at the budget of 2016, you will discover that embedded in that budget is all manner of palliatives, social safety gaps. You talk about intervention, in terms of employment 500,000 teachers, feeding of primary school pupils and many others. These are all palliatives. We must not always link palliatives to anytime we want to increase prices of petroleum product. The last providing palliatives. So, palliative must he consistent in the provision of social welfare and social services  for the people.

    What has the Federal Government achieved in the last one year?

    Our President campaigned on the basis of a tripod, which include security, corruption and the economy. We all know how much this government has achieved in curbing insurgency in the Northeast and even the international community has accepted the fact that this government has done so much in the area of dealing with the Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast and security generally. In the area of corruption, except one is blind, his government has been sincere, not just by mouthing the war against corruption, but actually doing what is actually necessary to curb corruption. First, by living by example because the saying goes that when a fish is getting bad, it start from the head. So, living by example and making sure that whoever is caught to have dipped his hands in the treasury has questions to answer. For change to take place, there has to be a gestation period while miracle is instant. I know that Nigerians are impatient. Even, if you want to build a beautiful edifice, you must first lay the foundation. This government has laid the foundation for the take off of the economic boom.

    Has the government’s approach to militancy in the Niger Delta resolving the problem?

    Let me tell you the story of two governors in the Niger Delta. The former governor of Rivers State did not negotiate with any militant and he did not offer any palliative to any militant. He fought them on the streets and on the creeks and won peace for the people of Rivers State. Go and check your records. You cannot negotiate with criminals. These persons that are blowing up our oil installations now, I can tell you, are linked to Tompolo. They want to sabotage the country. There is absolutely nothing they are fighting for. I am from the Southsouth. What is Asari Dokubo fighting for? Who told you that he was fighting for the people of the Southsouth? Who ever told you that Ateke Tom was fighting for the people of Rivers state? They were fighting for their pocket.

    Does that include the Avengers?

    You see, when you are fighting for your people like Ken Saro-Wiwa did, when he died, he died almost kobo less. Go and look at the houses these people are living in. Go to the airport and see their private jets. They have never fought for the people of the Niger Delta. These are criminals. So, you are saying we should engage them and begin a new process of amnesty. My brother, if you give a mouse biscuit, it will ask for milk. You cannot negotiate with criminals. Avengers or whatever they call their name, all criminals.

    But, the Federal Government is willing to negotiate with the criminals in the North…

    The truth of the matter is that we now want to democratise criminality. We now have our own criminals and their own criminals. These people are fighting a religious war, while these ones are fighting with our resources. We cannot compare apples and oranges. Insurgency is criminal. blowing up of pipeline is criminal.

     Do you think this government can reposition the economy?

    This government is giving us the best economic paradigm to bring us away from our import dependent economic system that we have been practicing for decades now. Before impunity overwhelmed us, people who used to sell dollar that was different from the value used to sell it discreetly. But today, it is an open business. Impunity over whelmed us and so, our value system has changed to the extent that we cannot make a distinction between what is illegal and legal. If we have inflation today, it is simply because inflation is imported into Nigeria by the share fact that we cannot control the prices of these goods that we buy from other countries. So, if the government says we don’t have foreign exchange for the importation of toothpick, I think Nigerians should key into that. So, we must begin the gradual transformation of an import dependent economy to a productive economy.

     There is the allegation that the list of delegates in Edo State APC is being substituted. Who actually qualifies as a delegate?

    The delegates of the party, not just in Edo, but in all our primaries, is specifically mentioned in our constitution. We have about 12 officers from each ward and they are specially mentioned. We don’t have ad hoc delegates and so, everyone in Edo should know who the delegates are. Fortunately for the Edo people, it is one of their distinguished sons who is the national chairman of the party. So, if he was able to conduct a free, fair and credible primary in places like Kogi and even our presidential primary, I think they should be rest assured that under the watch of Chief Odigie-Oyegun, we are going to deliver to the Edo people, a free, fair and credible primary. We cannot do anything less because it is in our celebration and deepening of internal democratic process that we intend to be distinguished. One of the areas that we intend Nigerians to distinguish between us and the PDP is our acceptance and our celebration of internal democracy. In Kogi State, we had 28 aspirants and after the conduct of the primary that brought late Chief Audu as our candidate, we did not have one singe protest at the national secretariat because it was free, fair and transparent. That is what we intend to do in Edo. There has never been and there will never be substitution of the list.

  • Group condemns Benin chiefs’ comment on Odubu, Obaseki

    A group, the Organisation for Greater Edo Project (OGEP), has faulted the call for the disqualification of Edo State Deputy Governor Pius Odubu and Leader of the Economic Team Godwin Obaseki from the governorship race by some Benin chiefs.

    Other stakeholders who condemned the call said it was offensive and barbaric, urging the traditional chiefs to refrain from nefarious comments.

    Odubu and Obaseki have formally declared their intentions to contest for the governorship. They are mobilising delegates for the primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The shadow poll holds on September 10.

    The resolution of the dispute arising from the primary will be done between June 2 and July 4.

    Some chiefs have allegedly urged the APC to ban the two aspirants from taking part in the exercise, following  violence allegedly involving their campaign organisations.

    However, OGEP, in a statement signed by Coordinator, Mr. Godwin Osakwe, described the move by the chiefs as “misplaced, ridiculous, dubious and misleading.”

    It added: “More importantly, we insist that the most revered traditional institution in Africa must not (be) smeared with mud by inordinately ambitious individuals.

    “This must be resisted by well-meaning and peace-loving citizens of Edo State, all genuine members of the teeming population of our great the All Progressives Congress and highly respected members of the Benin Traditional Council.”

  • Odubu: I have requisite experience to become governor

    Odubu: I have requisite experience to become governor

    Edo State Deputy Governor Pius Odubu has said he has garnered sufficient experiences in various sectors and all arms of government to become the next governor.

    Odubu, who is also an All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant, spoke yesterday at a meeting with the party’s delegates in Esan West, Igueben and Uhunmwonde local government areas, ahead of the June 18 primary.

    The deputy governor noted that the experiences he had garnered over the years had put him several steps ahead of other aspirants.

    Odubu told the delegates that he was the only aspirant with sufficient experiences in the three arms of government: being a lawyer (Judiciary), a former Federal lawmaker (Legislature) and currently a deputy governor (Executive).

    He deputy governor noted that with the huge resources the Adams Oshiomhole administration had invested in various sectors of the economy, including infrastructure and human development, it was necessary for the APC to present a formidable candidate with the requisite experience, someone who would hit the ground running immediately after election.

    Addressing the delegates at various local government areas, Odubu said: “I am that person; I have prepared myself all these years for the task ahead. I have over the years garnered experience as legislator, a political scientist, a lawyer and at the moment the deputy governor of our state. I am in the race by my own volition. I am prepared and ready to serve.

    “We need the man who will hit the ground running; we need a man with the requisite experience. That man is Dr. Odubu.

  • Odubu: IGP raises special probe team

    Odubu: IGP raises special probe team

    The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Solomon Arase, has set up a special team to investigate the alleged assassination attempt on Edo State Deputy Governor Pius Odubu.

    Dr. Odubu’s campaign team was attacked in Auchi, headquarters of Etsako West Local Government, during his ward-to-ward campaign ahead of the primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Seven persons, including a policeman and an operative of the Department of State Sevices (DSS), were injured in the incident.

    Police Commissioner Chris Ezike, who spoke on the investigative team yesterday in Benin, the state capital, said it was meant to ensure justice.

    The high-powered team from the Force Criminal and Investigative Department (FCID) would unravel the circumstances surrounding the attack.

    Ezike said: “I have said we will do the investigation. At the end of the investigation, we are going to have the courage to tell the world the result of our investigation. I want to ask for caution: when we deal with sensitive matters, we should not jump to conclusion before the matter is investigated.

    “The correct situation is that the IGP, this afternoon (Thursday), has directed that a high-powered team from the Force CID should come and take over that matter. It will be in the interest of justice that we allow that team to do its work and come out with the result of the investigation.”

    On whether or not any suspect had been arrested in the fracas at the Edo State House of Assembly, Ezike said: “Something happened in the hallowed chambers, which belong to the members.

    “So, I doubt if it will be fair to ask the commissioner about an incident that took place in the hallowed chambers. My job is to ensure the security of the House of Assembly. That’s what I did.”

    Also, activists, under the aegis of Civil Society Organisations of Nigeria (CSON), yesterday urged Ezike to arrest and prosecute those who attacked Odubu last weekend in Auchi.

    Odubu was said to be in the town to lobby supporters APC on his intention to contest this year’s governorship election.

    They said the incident was a danger signal to the nation’s nascent democracy.

    In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Marxism Kola Edokpayi, the group said suspected thugs invaded Oredo Local Government’s secretariat a few weeks ago, and the police had not arrested anybody.

    It recalled that the suspected thugs attacked a car belonging to deputy commissioner of Police (DCP) when they took over the council secretariat.

    CSON, led by Abraham Oviawe, condemned what it called the malicious attack on the deputy governor’s convoy.

    The statement said: “It beats imagination that in an era of civilisation people don’t appreciate the ethics and ethos of universal democracy, which gives the deputy governor the right to aspire or vie for any position in Nigeria and beyond, as long as he is qualified’’.

  • Odubu’s assassination theory false, says Edo govt

    Odubu’s assassination theory false, says Edo govt

    The government of Edo State yesterday reacted to the reported attack on Deputy Governor Pius Odubu.

    In a statement signed by Hon. Commissioner for Information and Orientation Kassim Afegbua, the government said: “Our attention has been drawn to newspaper reports and subsequent Press statement by the Odubu Campaign Organisation on the alleged assassination attempt on Dr Pius Odubu, the Deputy Governor of Edo State and a gubernatorial aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

    “While we condemn in very strong terms the ugly incident at Auchi, we note, however, that the conclusion of the Odubu Campaign Organisation on alleged assassination attempt appears hasty as preliminary reports suggest that the fracas at Auchi was caused by thugs loyal to the Odubu campaign imported in two truck-loads to Auchi who attacked other party loyalists not sold to the Deputy Governor’s aspiration.

    “It is instructive to note that the Deputy Governor was inside the secretariat building of the APC in the company of the Party Chairman in  the Local Government, Alhaji Umoru Akokhia, addressing the delegates while  thugs loyal to him who had become unruly fired gunshots at other APC loyalists who were outside protesting against his visit.

    “We gathered authoritatively that the first shots were, in fact, fired by Odubu’s security detail in an attempt to scare away the party faithful who were against the hoodlums imported to their domain by the Odubu Campaign Organisation, before thugs loyal to him fired at the party’s loyalists.

    It should be noted that among those who sustained injuries are APC loyalists who are presently receiving medical attention in the hospital. It is laughable that the Odubu Campaign Organisation will allege that the Deputy Governor, with full compliments of security details, was shot at, yet no casualty was recorded on the other side and nobody apprehended.

    “Given the above scenario, we find it lousy for anyone to impute assassination theory as propounded by the Odubu Campaign Organisation, especially when investigations are still ongoing and the police are yet to submit their findings on the fracas. A responsible campaign organisation should have waited for investigation reports before jumping into reckless conclusions.

    “The Governor has already directed the Commissioner of Police to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the incident and whoever that is found culpable will be made to face the full wrath of the law, no matter how highly placed. It should be understood that democracy is all about inclusive participation and contestation of ideas, and not rule of the gun. Every gubernatorial aspirant who truly wants to govern the state must live by the rules of the game and not the size of his guns and political thugs. Campaigns are generally a very interesting aspect of democracy, hence, it must not be reduced to bloodletting.”

  • Shun monetary inducements, Odubu urges electorate

    Shun monetary inducements, Odubu urges electorate

    As political parties perfect strategies for success in the forthcoming April 11 polls in Orhionmwon Local Government Area, Edo State Deputy Governor, (Dr.) Pius  Egberanmwen Odubu has appealed to the electorate to shun monetary inducements to lure them to vote the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Dr. Pius Odubu made the appeal at Urhonigbe South and North, Igbanke East and West as well as Ugbeka and Iyoba Wards respectively while addressing All  Progressives Congress (APC) supporters ahead of the National Assembly and state House of Assembly elections.

    Party supporters from Urhonigbe South and North and other wards trooped out for the last minute strategizing for victory at the elections which comes up on Saturday.

    The deputy governor who urged the electorate to vote for the performing APC said the duo of Hon. Samson Osagie and Patrick Aisowieren would fast-track the development of the locality if given the mandate to represent the people at the National Assembly.

    Dr. Odubu also pointed out that without the approval of the State House of Assembly, the governor finds it impossible to initiate projects hence the need to support Roland Asoro and Nosayaba Okunbor for Orhionmwon South and East Constituencies seats respectively.

    Former Minister of State for Works, Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi emphasized that the National Assembly and House of Assembly polls would go a long way to determine whether the state would be in opposition or not.

    Orhionmwon APC Chairman, Chief Matthew Ehigie thanked the people for their support which led to the emergence of Gen. Mohammadu Buhari as president-elect.

    The rally witnessed the defection of PDP members to APC in Urhonigbe South and North as well as Igbanke West ward respectively.

    Spokespersons for the defectors, Mrs. Margaret Uwuoroya Iyen Osarodion and Austine Isede said they were moved to join the train of change by the excellent performance of APC in the area.

    The party chairman, Chief Matthew Ehigie received them into the fold of the APC.

     

  • APC’ll fulfil electoral promises, says Odubu

    APC’ll fulfil electoral promises, says Odubu

    Over 100 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Urhonigbe, Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State.

    Deputy Governor Pius Odubu and the APC Chairman in the local government, Chief Matthew Ehigie, received the defectors at a rally in Urhonigbe.

    APC held rallies at Idunmweka and Idunmwunehen, in Urhonigbe South Ward, and Idunmwungo and Urhomehe, in Urhonigbe North.

    Ehigie said the March 28 and April 11 general elections were not about tribes or religions but about who can fix Nigeria.

    He said the cardinal objectives of APC included tackling corruption, creating jobs and reducing the high cost of living in Nigeria.

    The chairman noted that the PDP government at the centre had failed Nigerians, adding that the calls for and the choice of General Muhammadu Buhari, the APC presidential flag bearer, were resonant among most Nigerians.

    Ehigie presented Samson Osagie as APC candidate for Edo South Senatorial District; Patrick Aisowieren, for the House of Representatives and Roland Asoro, for House of Assembly.

    The chairman urged the electorate to vote for APC candidates to fast-track the development of Urhonigbe.

    The spokesmen for the defectors, Monday Osazuwa and Sunday Nowamagbe, said they joined APC as the winning party in the state.

    Ehigie assured the defectors of equal treatment with other members and gave them the broom, APC’s symbol.

    After the campaign visit to Idunmwungo in Urhomgbe North Ward, Dr. Odubu also stopped at the residence of the Okaevbo of Urhonigbe, Pa Julius Aimuyo and his Urhomehe counterpart, Chief Manson Umweni Odubu where he obtained their support and blessing for the candidates.

    Also, Edo State Deputy Governor Right Hon. (Dr.) Pius Egberanmwen Odubu said all the candidates for the forth coming general elections on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have the requisite ability to deliver.

    Dr. Pius Odubu was speaking on behalf of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole at Usen, Iguobazuwa and Udo communities when he led the APC campaign team to Ovia South West Local Government Area.