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Tag: Osagie Otabor

  • Any N/Delta meeting without Tompolo will fail – activist 

    Any N/Delta meeting without Tompolo will fail – activist 

    A Niger Delta activist, Comrade Paul Bebenimibo, has said that any meeting of Niger Delta leaders with President Muhammadu Buhari without the former militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo (popularly known as Tompolo), will fail to achieve the desired results.

    Comrade Bebenimibo said those parading themselves as Niger Delta leaders are not in touch with the people or are abreast with the issues of the region.

    Bebenimibo in a press statement issued in Benin City urged the Federal Government to make effort to identify the true stakeholders in the Niger Delta to achieve peace in the region.

    He stated that the commencement of the Maritime University at Okerenkoko and the private sector driven $16 billion EPZ project, would guarantee a conducive atmosphere for dialogue.

    According to him, “We are happy that our leaders at talking with the Federal Government but the truth is that from the information from the grass root, the Federal government should also identify true stakeholders like High Chief Government Ekpemupolo. Government should identify such people to work with because he understands the terrain, he has the capacity to check militancy and above all, his humanitarian gesture has brought him closer to the people.

    “And when he speaks, the youths listens, so they need him. Majority of us are expressing this view because some of the leaders the Federal government is speaking with are not in touch with our people, as a result they cannot change anything. And if they go on with such people nothing will be achieved I can tell you.

    “For us to guarantee immediate peace and commence talks for the development of the Niger delta, the Federal government should kick off the Maritime university at Okerenkoko. Secondly, the private sector driven sixteen billion dollars EPZ project should start immediately to provide employment and business opportunities for our people.

    “These are the two projects that will guarantee immediate peace in the Niger Delta and conducive atmosphere in the region for government to implement other programmes and to also have hitch free crude oil business” he stated.

  • We rescued Emefiele’s wife, says vigilante group

    We rescued Emefiele’s wife, says vigilante group

    • Accuses the Police, Emefiele of abandoning slain colleague

    Members of the Vigilante Group in Emuhun Community in Uhunmwode local government have accused the Nigeria Police and Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele of abandoning one of their colleague who was killed during the rescue of Emefiele’s wife, Margaret, from kidnappers den.

    The Vigilante group said they were responsible for the rescue of Margaret and not the Police or the Nigerian Army.

    They claimed that they shot and held two of the suspected kidnappers whose confessions led to the arrest of five others.

    Speaking at a news conference in Benin City, Secretary of Emuhun Community, Deacon Samson Osagie, gave the name of the slain Vigilante member as Gabriel Okorare aged 64.

    Deacon Osagie said the late Gabriel joined other Vigilante members to mobilise into the bush to apprehend the kidnappers after the police from Okhuaihe Police Division called on them for emergency help.

    Osagie said the police described the kidnapping of Emefiele’s wife as an embarrassment to the state police command and Nigeria in general.

    He stated that Gabriel was shot dead in the rescue attempt and his cross was recovered by the police who deposited it at the Abudu Hospital Mortuary.

    His words, “It may interest Nigerians to know that late Gabriel was the bread winner of his family and left behind two wives and 11 children.

    “Since Gabriel’s death, feeding of the family has been a major challenge particularly at this harsh economic recession in the country. A situation that has forced his children out of school.”

    Osagie further said the State Commissioner of Police, Haliru Gwand, promised to convey the matter to appropriate authorities but failed to pay a condolence visit to the late Vigilante family.

    One of the Vigilante who said he was in the forest with late Gabriel when he was killed, Wilson Igbinosun, said they knew the kidnappers were in the area because women returning from the farm claimed they were harassed.

    Wilson narrated that when they fired the first shot, the kidnappers responded with torrents of gunshots during which Gabriel was hit.

    He said policemen and soldiers did not enter the forest during the encounter.

    His words, “Gabriel died instantly and the kidnappers took away his gun while  I lay down flat without making a noise. They shot more than 180 times.

    “We were surprised that the police did not give us credit. If the police were in the bush, they would have killed all of them but we shot two who were later handed over to the police.

    “We saw two bags of money which the police took away. The police and Emefiele should visit the family because his wife was rescued alive. Three other women and one man were also rescued.”

  • Prince Erediauwa crowned 39th Oba of Benin

    Prince Erediauwa crowned 39th Oba of Benin

    Crown Prince of Benin Kingdom, Prince Eheneden Erediauwa has been crowned the 39th Oba of Benin Kingdom.

    Prince Erediauwa was crowned at about 2am on Thursday by the Usama N’ Ihiron also known as the Edion led by Chief Oliha.

    Other members of the Edion are Edohen, Ezomo, Ero, Eholo N’ Ire, Oloton and Edaiken.

    The crowning was done at a private ceremony inside the Usama Palace, a temporary building erected for the coronation ceremony.

    However, the name of the new Oba is still being kept from the public until the Oba is presented to the public at Urhokpota hall.

    Sources said that after the coronation ceremony was performed in the inner chambers, the new Oba was presented to the people outside.

    Unlike before when the Crown Prince move about without covering his mouth, the source said he wore the crown and used a white handkerchief to cover his mouth.

    It was gathered that there was huge jubilation around the Usama palace and great fireworks.

    Meanwhile, a large crowd has gathered at the Usama Palace to accompany the new Oba to Urhokpota.

    Among those present is Chief Omohor of Benin Kingdom, bearer of the ancient sword carried by the Oba, the Ikpakohen group ( royal drummers) from Ikpema responsible for beating the royal drum, Ekassa dance group, Isienmwenro guild amongst others.

    A bridge has been constructed at the now dried up Omi River and Chief Omoruyi Isekhere is waiting to take the Oba across the bridge.

    On his way to Urhokpota, the Oba will pass through Isekhere, performed some ceremony at Iwehen street under the watch of Ewaise N’ Iwehen  and proceeded to cross the bridge.

    Details later…

  • Man bags three years for stealing motorcycle

    A 20-year old man identified as Ogie Junior has been sentenced to three years imprisonment for stealing a white Simba motorcycle.

    Ogie was jailed by an Evbouriaria Magistrate Court after he was found guilty of the two count charges preferred against him.

    Police Prosecutor, Inspector Olatoye Oluwaseun, informed the Court that the accused with others (now at large) committed the offence on August 28 at about 4:30AM at Prince Johnson Estate in Ikpoba-Okha local government area.

    Oluwaseun alleged that the accused stole the motor bike marked Auc-506-QB, with Engine No. 156FMI C1136322, Cahassis No. LAA-CAKLC5301056 valued at N150,000.

    He said the bike belonged to one Ogedengbe Ameize.

    He said the offence contravened section 516 and 390 (9) of the criminal Code.

    Presiding Magistrate, Mrs C.E Oghuma, sentenced the accused to 18 months in Count one with option of N10,000 fine and sentenced him to two years in Count two or an option of N20,000 fine.

  • Photo: Voting commences in Edo

    Photo: Voting commences in Edo

    The APC governorship candidate in Edo, Godwin Obaseki, surrounded by supporters after arriving at his polling unit on Wednesday. Photo: Osagie Otabor
    The APC governorship candidate in Edo, Godwin Obaseki, surrounded by supporters after arriving at his polling unit on Wednesday. Photo: Osagie Otabor

     

    Obaseki and his wife, Besty, waiting for accreditation on Wednesday. Photo: Osagie Otabor
    Obaseki and his wife, Besty, waiting for accreditation on Wednesday. Photo: Osagie Otabor

     

    Voters waiting for accreditation in Edo State on Wednesday. Photo: Osagie Otabor
    Voters waiting for accreditation in Edo State on Wednesday. Photo: Osagie Otabor

     

    Voters waiting for accreditation in Edo State on Wednesday. Photo: Osagie Otabor
    Voters waiting for accreditation in Edo State on Wednesday. Photo: Osagie Otabor
  • Edo poll: APC wants to distribute special pen – PDP

    Edo poll: APC wants to distribute special pen – PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raised alarms that the ruling All Progressive Congress planned to distribute special pen to members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

    It said the purpose was to ask the NYSC members to use the pen to write the election results on the result sheets.

    State Vice Chairman of the PDP, Emmanuel Ogbomo, stated this at a stakeholders meeting in Benin City.

    However, Ogbomo did not state what effect the special pen will perform on the result sheets.

    He urged officials of the NYSC to warn corps members not to collect the special pen from APC agents.

  • Edo poll: ‘They want to attack my convoy’

    Edo poll: ‘They want to attack my convoy’

    Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on Thursday raised alarm that intelligence report has uncovered plots by the opposition party to attack his campaign convoy.

    According to the Governorship candidate, security operatives have been responsive and disclosed that some militants who disguised in two buses were arrested in Benin.

    Obaseki opined that opinion polls from across the state showed the APC will win the September 28 governorship election by 75 percent.

    Speaking while fielding questions from journalists in Benin City, Obaseki described as propaganda by the PDP that fifth columnist within the APC will work against the part’y chances.

    Obaseki noted that the amount of defection from the PDP has crumbled the opposition party in Edo central.

    His words: “And even in their strongholds, we are beginning to see them very jittery and in Edo North apart from few units in Akoko-Edo and one unit in Owan East, it is essentially on locked down for us.

    “So from what we can see today, barring any unforeseen circumstances, barring violence that will scare people from the poll and barring any attempt by the opposition party to cause disruptions in some highly populated voting units so that the results from those units will be inconclusive, we believe that we are very comfortable.

    “As a people even though we are facing severe challenges at this point in time, the opportunities ahead of us are enormous and mind boggling and that there is hope for Edo State and hope for Nigeria and that to realise this hope, we have to hug and hold democracy tight and ensure that we do not, no matter the provocation do things or take steps that will threaten our democracy in any way and that our hope and our redemption lies in us and in us sustaining democracy.”

  • Edo: PDP chieftain, INEC officer remanded for kidnapping

    Edo: PDP chieftain, INEC officer remanded for kidnapping

    A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Nakowa Suleiman and an official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Mr. Effong Akpan, have been remanded at the Auchi prison for allegedly abducting two members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) during the recent conduct of Voters Registration Exercise.

    The court was informed that Alhaji Suleiman and Akpan confiscated the registration machine to the residence of Suleiman where the Corps members, Matthew Omaji and Grace Adah were coerced to register people illegally.

    The three-count charge preferred against the suspects reads, “..that on the 25th of June, 2016, at Ofukpo, in the Fugar Magistrate District did abduct one Mathew Omaji and compelled him against his will to carry out unlawful activities and thereby committed an offence contrary to to section 1 And punishable under section 3 (2) of the Edo state kidnapping prohibition law 2009 as amended in 2013.

    “That you compelled Mathew Omaji to carry out unlawful activities and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1 and punishable under section 3 (2) of the Edo state kidnapping law 2009 as amended in 2013.

    “That you Effong Akpan on or before 25th June, 2016 at Ofukpo in Fugar Magistrate District did aid and abet Alhaji Nakowa to abduct Mathew Omaji and Grace Adah and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 4 (1) of the Edo state kidnapping (prohibition) law 2009 as amended in 2013.”

    The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges and the presiding Magistrate, Abibor Emmanuel, remanded them to Auchi prison pending when a new date will be fixed to hear the their bail application.

  • Edo polls: ‘Why election cannot hold on September 28’

    Edo polls: ‘Why election cannot hold on September 28’

    The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) has said he would petition the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on why the governorship election fixed for September 28 must be postponed again.

    It said the governorship polls must be organized to accommodate candidates in the 2016 November/December West African Senior School Certificate Examinations in the state.

    Governorship candidate of APGA, Mr. Osaro Onaiwu, said the September 28 date was not feasible because some students were expected to write Physics practical, Food Nutrition 1 and 2 papers and two other papers on that day.

    Onaiwu noted that the clash of dates would disenfranchise the students and also prevent them from voting for his party.

    He said that there “nothing wrong” in shifting the election further to October 1.

    The former Director General of the Governors Forum‎ said the earlier postponed election was necessary in order to secure the future of the youth and promote education.

    Onaiwu said: “On Wednesday 28, there is Physics. After the holidays, I think I am going to do a letter to WAEC and INEC, alerting them that (September) 28 is not convenient. We must accommodate those people writing exams.

    “They should take it (exam) to October 1. There is nothing wrong if we do the election on Independence Day, as long as we must have a governor that would be sworn in on November 12.”

  • Edo: INEC must not allow inconclusive election-LP

    Edo: INEC must not allow inconclusive election-LP

    The Labour Party in Edo State has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to work hard to not to allow inconclusive election in the September 10, governorship elections.

    It said INEC under Professor Mahmood Yakubu has set a bad example to emulate in various inconclusive elections in Bayelsa, Rivers and Kogi States.

    A press statement signed by the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Comrade Uroupa Samson, said the warning was because of alleged plans by some political science to compromise the electoral process.

    The statement reads in parts, “This note of warning become so imperative owing to information at our disposals, that some desperate political actors have perfected plans to work through the INEC and security agents to compromise the process and when there is a resistance to the evil plot, it will now be declared inconclusive.

    “INEC should not give room for any form of rigging, both sensitive and none sensitive material and personnel should be dispatched to appropriate locations without delay for any reason including the remotest part where the exercise is to take place.

    “As a party whose ideology is hinged on social democratic values, justice and fairness, we are ready to play by the rules of the game and accept whatever is the outcome provided the process is adjudged free fair and credible of international best practices. But if otherwise, we will challenge it”.