Tag: Okpebholo

Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo may set up a commission of inquiry to look into alleged abuse of land allocations by former Governor Godwin Obaseki.

The Okpebholo administration had accused Obaseki of gifting land to companies to ‘further their pecuniary interest.’

Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Kassim Afegbua, gave the indication while responding to accusations by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that Governor Okpebholo was weaponising land administration against perceived opponents.

Edo PDP said such action was a danger to democracy, jobs, stability and investment.

Spokesman for Edo PDP, Dan Osa-Ogbegie, in a statement, called for inquiry into the Presco land revocation notice, including forensic verification of the governor’s signature.

The statement called for reform of land administrative processes to stop the governor from using the Land Use Act for political vendetta.

It said: “Edo cannot be entrusted to a man who does not understand the power of his own pen. Edo cannot continue under a government that signs away its destiny carelessly and lies about it shamelessly.

“This is a sad moment in our history, but Edo people will rise above the incompetence of one man.”

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But Afegbua said: “The real commission of inquiry will be devoted to the several abuses on land allocations that dominated the previous government, as they freely gifted land to companies to further their pecuniary interest.’’

He said Presco was not beyond the extant rules governing land allocation and use in Edo State.

He said the state government would act accordingly when there were existing infractions.

“It is within our rights and powers to administer land to the best interest of the people. The SSG has given indication of what obtains, and every rational mind should be guided accordingly by that resolution, and not this deliberate act of infamy that the failed PDP is trying to push.

“We stand by our position as well captured by the Secretary to the State Government, and this position should suffice until anything contrary comes to the fore.”

With a charge to ensure that criminals do not turn Edo to a safe haven, Governor Monday Okpebholo, yesterday met with heads of security services in the state.

The meeting followed a viral video in which a self-acclaimed terrorist threatened to attack Edo Central Senatorial district.

In the video, the individual claimed presence around Ekpoma and adjoining communities, issuing threats.

Confirming the meeting in a statement, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor, Fred Itua, said the security chiefs briefed the governor on the issue.

Itua assured Edo residents that security was top-tier priority for the Governor, adding that emerging threats were being confronted.

He said the security architecture was designed to ensure early detection, swift response, and sustained pressure against criminal networks.

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“Following the Governor’s latest directive, the Department of State Service (DSS), the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), local vigilante formations, and the Edo State Special Security Squad, have commenced intensified operations across forests, boundary communities, and known flashpoints.

“Search-and-comb missions are ongoing, backed by enhanced intelligence gathering and coordinated patrols to deny criminal elements safe haven anywhere within the State.

“Already, significant breakthroughs have been recorded. Arrests have been made in connection with recent security breaches, and several leads are currently being pursued.

“The Government reiterates that these operations are continuous and will not cease until every inch of Edo land, urban centres, rural communities, and transit corridors are fully secured and safe for residents, commuters, and investors,” he stated.

Itua urged the people to shun misinformation, panic-driven narratives, and unverified videos.

With a charge to ensure that criminals do not turn Edo to a safe haven, Governor Monday Okpebholo, yesterday met with heads of security services in the state.

The meeting followed a viral video in which a self-acclaimed terrorist threatened to attack Edo Central Senatorial district.

In the video, the individual claimed presence around Ekpoma and adjoining communities, issuing threats.

Confirming the meeting in a statement, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor, Fred Itua, said the security chiefs briefed the governor on the issue.

Itua assured Edo residents that security was top-tier priority for the Governor, adding that emerging threats were being confronted.

Read Also: Okpebholo inherited a comatose Edo, says Oshiomhole 

He said the security architecture was designed to ensure early detection, swift response, and sustained pressure against criminal networks.

“Following the Governor’s latest directive, the Department of State Service (DSS), the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), local vigilante formations, and the Edo State Special Security Squad, have commenced intensified operations across forests, boundary communities, and known flashpoints.

“Search-and-comb missions are ongoing, backed by enhanced intelligence gathering and coordinated patrols to deny criminal elements safe haven anywhere within the State.

Edo Governor Monday Okpebholo has asked the Federal Government to begin the processes of repatriating his predecessor Godwin Obaseki to answer critical questions concerning Museum of West African Art (MOWAA).

The Governor said his administration has resolved to ensure clarity and responsibility in the management of public funds.

Okpebholo spoke in Benin City at the unveiling of 30 new tractors, five bulldozers, 150 implements, and a low bed truck.

The Governor said the machinery would expand Edo’s agricultural capacity, enhance productivity, and accelerate rural development.

He said the acquisition was designed to open thousands of hectares of new farmlands, attract agribusiness investments, reduce post-harvest losses, and create sustainable employment opportunities for youths and women.

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He said it was a shift from subsistence agriculture to full mechanisation as well as ensuring the state became a reliable contributor to national food reserves while reducing the state’s vulnerability to economic shocks.

“This is a strategic investment that will change the trajectory of Edo’s economy. We are laying the foundation for food sufficiency, commercial-scale farming, and long-term prosperity for our people.”

Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, who commissioned the tractors, said the Federal Government would review the Okpebholo’s submissions and assured that due process would guide all further actions.

Former Edo State Governor and current Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has expressed confidence that Governor Monday Okpebholo has the political will to take the right steps regarding the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA).

Oshiomhole, who also chairs the committee set up by Governor Okpebholo to determine the legal and operational status of MOWAA, said the body will clarify the roles, rights, and stake of the Benin Royal Palace and Traditional Institution in the project.

In an interview in Benin City, Oshiomhole assured that the committee would work strictly within its terms of reference to uncover the facts and determine whether the project is MOWAA or EMOWAA. He expressed optimism that the committee would provide clear guidance on the next steps.

On constituency projects, Oshiomhole noted that he was entitled to N2 billion and ensured that projects worth that amount were distributed across Edo North’s six local government areas.

Read Also: MOWAA controversy: Okpebholo vows to prosecute parties involved in shady deals

He clarified that items such as grinding machines, tricycles, motorcycles, and refrigerators recently distributed to constituents were personally funded, while markets, schools, and boreholes he inaugurated were executed by the Federal Government.

According to him, “I believe that constituency projects should not be abolished but provision of constituency projects is not at the heart of my mandate. The tricycles, motorcycles, and grinding machines are not in the federal government budget. They were my personal hand-outs. It was from my pocket.

“I don’t have to be a Senator to do all those things. I have always shown that empathy before I became a Senator. When I was in the Textile industry, I used to give out wrappers and do other things for the people. Those things I gave out are not from the federal government budget. The Uchi market, for example, was from the federal government.

“It is not my money. Will the federal government ordinarily know about Uchi market? We rebuilt a new school and put in furniture. There is no way Abuja will remember Ojah. We have provision for schools in Owan West and Owan East. Those are tangible things. They are from federal government money. Those villagers would not have benefitted even though they voted for Mr. President.

“The whole thing is acting in good faith. The federal government is so far from the ordinary people but the Senator cannot be far from those that elected him. They are the proverbial okro. We cannot grow taller than them. After blowing all the grammar, I come back home to see things are ok for the people.”

“I am not against constituency projects but it has to do with the individual. I told the contractor to let the people know that it is a federal government funded project. The funding is not coming to Oshiomhole’s pocket. I am only entitled to N2bn. I have to try to ensure it spreads. The money is not given to the Senator but my influence in it is that I decide what I want to put in my constituency and that determines the agency that executes it. The federal government awards it and they pay directly to the contractor.”

• I did not scam Oba of Benin on museum, says Obaseki

The Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has reiterated his administration’s uncompromising commitment to transparency, accountability, and institutional integrity in the ongoing controversy surrounding the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA), stressing that the state is not at war with investors but will not hesitate to prosecute any wrongdoing uncovered in the project.

Governor Okpebholo gave the assurance yesterday while receiving the Honourable Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, during a courtesy visit to the Government House, Benin City.

Addressing the issues that have trailed the project, the governor expressed concern that his administration was deliberately excluded from crucial information and developments, including the arrival of foreign delegates for what he described as a questionable commissioning ceremony.

“I didn’t want to speak publicly on this again, but the time has come to state the facts,” he said. “At the end of the day, there will be criminal prosecution on this matter. We are not fighting investors. Our duty is to protect Edo State and, by extension, Nigeria. There will be no hiding place for criminals in our land.”

In her remarks, Minister Hannatu Musa Musawa commended Edo State for its historic and ongoing contributions to Nigeria’s cultural identity, praising the intellectual heritage of the Edo people and the global significance of Benin’s cultural legacy.

The minister acknowledged the federal government’s awareness of the MOWAA issues and pledged a collaborative approach to resolving what she termed “an original sin” that must be addressed to restore dignity to traditional institutions and safeguard Nigeria’s international cultural reputation.”

In a related development, the immediate past Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki has denied scamming the Benin Monarch, Oba Ewuare II, on the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA).

Read Also: Beyond Rhetoric: Okpebholo’s one year of possibilities, moving Edo towards safety, development

Obaseki said he was never a Trustee of MOWAA nor did he accompany MOWAA to solicit for funds.

Speaking in an interview monitored by our correspondent, Obaseki said the Benin Royal Museum was part of the plan to build a cultural district including the MOWAA Institute.

He said the quality of people who gave MOWAA’s money were not stupid but people who control billions of dollars and knew why they were giving out money and for what purposes.

According to him, “You mean the donors will not read about who they want to give money to or they will not understand the purpose. I cannot speak for MOWAA because I didn’t go with them to raise money. When they asked for our support, we gave them.

“There is a plan for a cultural district for the Benin Masterplan. There was supposed to be a plan that would redefine the city centre. You had the MOWAA Institute, the Rain Forest Gallery, the 1897 memorial, the National Museum, and the Royal Museum. All these things have been planned for. The Oba told me he has acquired land for the purpose and we said we will support the project and any activity that promotes Edo as a cultural hub.”

Edo Governor Monday Okpebholo has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to stop further drilling of crude in the disputed oil wells between Edo and Delta states.

Okpebholo said the drilling should stop until the matter has been resolved.

The Edo Governor spoke through his Deputy, Dennis Idahosa, when members of the National Boundary Commission (NBC) led by its Director General, Adamu Adaji, visited the state.

Okpebholo called for the freezing of the accounts of the Delta-state based oil firms.

He urged the NBC to critically examine all the documents relating to the disputed oil wells to ascertain true ownership of the oil wells.

“I want to use this opportunity to appeal to the President to stop or instruct the regulatory agencies to also stop all the benefits accruing to Delta State pending when this matter is resolved.

“It is clear that Delta State is playing games with us and also the National Boundary Commission. 

“It is clear that they don’t want this matter to be resolved, knowing fully well that those assets belong to Edo State,” he stated. 

“A lot of communities are affected – the Orogho and Urhonigbe Communities.

“We told the NBC Director General that we will no longer wait, as the documents required have since been provided to them as far back as July. We also understand that Delta state is yet to submit same to the commission.

“Our people are suffering from things they are supposed to be benefitting from. 

“God has given them all these opportunities for them to use to develop their community and their state, instead, the NBC is allowing these opportunities to go to Delta State.

“This issue has to be resolved and within a specific timeline. That is my plea.”

Adaji said the commission would urgently resolve the matter.

“We cannot allow a party to delay the process. There must be an end to it. 

“We have come to an extent, perhaps, where we will personally interface with the two sides, on individual bases, where we need clarity and identification to make sure this issue is resolved once and for all.

“This will be done in accordance with available delineation documents and other ground rule methods to identify and make recommendations to the federal government for adoption.”