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Tag: Oshiomhole

  • Oshiomhole names pro-chancellor

    Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has appointed Rt. Hon Thomas Okosun as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of Tayo Akpata University of Education, Ekiadolor.

    Okosun was a member of Edo State House of Assembly 1992-1993 and 1999-2003.

    He was Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly (1999-2000) during which time he was elected Chairman, Conference of Speakers in Nigeria, in 1999.

    The new Pro-Chancellor was also Chairman of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) 2010-2013.

    A legal practitioner, Okosun is married with children.

     

  • Oshiomhole backs military action in Niger Delta

    Oshiomhole backs military action in Niger Delta

    Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole on Wednesday threw his weight behind President Muhammadu Buhari’s handling of the crisis engulfing the Niger Delta region.

    In recent weeks there have been upsurge in bombing of oil and power pipelines and installations by the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).

    While the government on one hand has deployed troops to the region to forestall further attacks, it is also reaching out for dialogue with the militants to ensure a lasting solution to the crisis.

    The government is also making moves to clean up the Ogoniland.

    Speaking with State House correspondents after meeting with President Buhari, Oshiomhole noted that the steps being taken by the President is commendable.

    While stressing that the unity of Nigeria is non-negotiable, the governor said the destruction of installations by NDA is scaring away investors to the detriment of the region.

    He said: “So if somebody for whatever reasons decide to destroy pipelines and thereby compounding the problem of pollution, ‎the cost of cleaning up that area making it attractive either for fishing, farming or other business is a huge cost. Cost not just naira and kobo, but in terms of time and human lives.

    “So it doesn’t bring us closer, I think all of us ought to converge around a common idea and fashion out how we should ensure ‎this natural endowment to be truly a blessing. And that if there are environmental issues arising from certain negligence on the part of certain key players, that as the President has shown for the first time a commitment to clean up Ogoni land and any other area. These are the things we all ought to work together and encourage the President and the federal government to continue to do.

    “But to compound those problems by breaking pipelines, stealing crude oil and destroying farmlands and water ways, I don’t see anybody benefiting from that.”

  • 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.

     

  • Oshiomhole not responsible for my impeachment, says ex Speaker

    Former Edo Speaker Victor Edoror has described assertions that Governor Adams Oshiomhole orchestrated his removal as untrue.

    Edoror was impeached on May 3rd by 16 lawmakers over alleged corruption, financial recklessness, dictatorial tendencies, high handedness and short changing of members.

    He was replaced by the only female lawmaker, Hon Elisabeth Ativie.

    The former Speaker said what happened at the Assembly was between him and his colleagues.

    He however, stated that external influence that led to his removal should be blamed on his kinsmen who he termed “mischievous Esan leaders who have been pursuing Esan Agenda.”

    Edoror explained that his kinsmen felt his removal from office would make them achieve their objective.

    According to him: “I was therefore amused to see the same mischievous Esan leaders addressing a press conference to ‘lament’ my removal and blaming the Governor for something they have so relentlessly fought for.

    “I consider this as an attempt to take undue advantage of an unfortunate situation in a most shameless and reprehensible manner and I condemned it in totality with all the emphasis at my command.

    “It was the governor who reminded members of the House of the imperative to satisfy the traditional tripod in which the political equilibrium of Edo State is situated. He set the stage for my election in the first place.”

  • 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.

  • Oshiomhole has not scored pass mark, says Ize-Iyamu

    Oshiomhole has not scored pass mark, says Ize-Iyamu

    Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu is a governorship aspirant in Edo State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The former Secretary to the Government spoke with Osagie Otabor on his ambition, his chances at the primary and other issues.

    How do you see the preparation for the PDP primay?

    The party leadership must be commended for the matured and neutral manner they have handled all the stages so far, thereby giving confidence to all the aspirants that there will be no imposition. I believe that the PDP is determined to deliver a free and fair primary that will be devoid of violence, rancour or bitterness. All the actions have demonstrated that. They went round the 18 local governments. All they emphasised was the need to be united as one family and not to malign ourselves. Whoever gets the ticket should be supported by other aspirants. We are working along that direction.

    What is your relationship with other aspirants?

    It is very cordial, although outsiders might think we are not on good terms. I must tell you that we relate very well. Some days ago, Hon. Matthew Iduoriyekemwen celebrated his 50th birthday. We were there to celebrate with him. It is a cordial relationship. Myself and Solomon Edebiri, we relate very well. He visits me and I visit him. We need to continue to manage our supporters who might think that the lose of their principal will be a tragedy. Because of that, they might go the extra mile to see how they can promote the candidates of their principal and thereby create problems. We are also talking to them to be careful in their language and their conduct so that they do not break the accord of unity we are currently enjoying.

    Some PDP members said they want a candidate that has no stain…

    Everybody has a right to say something. The only stain one can talk about is to say that the persons is not qualified. If the person is not qualified, then he would not be allowed to contest.  But, anybody who is able to contest must has been cleared by their parties. To that extent, he becomes clean enough to contest. All of us have what it takes to contest, unless the INEC thinks otherwise. At the end of the day, it will be the party members that will determine the contest. I believe that most of us have  impeccable record. I have been in the public office and active in the political scene. I believe that my records are clean. It is normal for allegations to be made.

    Why do you think the PDP will win?

    The PDP is very organised. They are working as a family and constructive in their role as an opposition political party. They have been at the fore front of crying out when government is not doing the right thing. To that extent, they have endeared themselves to the people. If you go to the PDP secretariat, sometimes, you see people coming there to report the activities and atrocities of the government. A lot of government documents the chairman brings out during his press briefings are brought by people voluntary. They believe that the PDP is a credible opposition. I think the poor performance of the comrade-governor, especially in the second term, made the PDP popular. If the government in power was doing very well, it would have been an uphill task for the opposition. The growing tendency now is that the votes must count. When people are disenchanted, it is difficult for the government to win. The incumbency factor becomes negative. One of the advantages that the PDP has is that there is mass discontent with the government. In the spirit of the change slogan, the forth coming election is an opportunity to vote out the APC.

    Won’t your role in the administration of Lucky Igbinedion be a set back?

    I don’t think so. That is blackmail. People are now enlightened. How can anybody be criticizing the secretary for the alleged non-performance of the government. Who can blame his own secretary for not performing his duty as a musician. Who will hold Professor Ihonvbere, Imuekheme or Pally Iriase responsible for the non performance of Adams Oshiomhole.  The Chief Executive is the Chief Executive. People served with him and the SSG is one among the people he appointed and whatever they tell him, he is not bound to take it. Which ministry does the secretary supervise? What did he steal? What are they accusing him of? All they can say is that the man has been in government before. Even, if the government didn’t do well, but, the man has experience now to provide a better government. Is it not a plus that the man went there and you cannot accuse him of anything? He was in the government and you say the government was corrupt. yet you cannot accuse him of any wrong doing. then, he was a very good person. You will be surprised at the ordinary man’s reasoning about the matter. For them, Ize-Iyamu is a good man. He has not been a governor, let us give him a chance and see if he will do well. If you sample opinion round the state, you will find out that form of attack will not work at all. People are very enlightened. They see me as somebody who is very experienced and courageous enough to bring the kind of changes they want in the state.

    You praised Oshiomhole to high heavens before? what went wrong?

    In his first term, he did very well. Schools were being commissioned almost on a daily basis. Caterpillars were everywhere. Roads were built. The hospital he is planning to commission now was started in his first term. Oshiomhole was in a hurry and a lot of things were being done. In the second term, government has gone to sleep. The second term is when you take a holistic view. He is supposed to develop the whole state. If in the first term, he did only a part and in the second term, you expect he did other areas and complete things he has not done. You cannot compare what happened in the first term to second. You also begin to look at other critical areas like housing, sports, agriculture and others. It is very difficult to give the government a pass mark even with all the money he has. That is why it is not proper to make comparisons between Oshiomhole and Lucky Igbinedion. You cannot expect me to keep quiet because I praised him in his first term. It will be wrong. He has not done well in his second term. Oshiomhole has to be careful about this election because his popularity rating has dropped for non-performance. Our prayer in Benin is this our evening should be better than our morning. Which means a man has to finish well.

    What will you do differently, if you become the governor?

    The need to diversify the economy. I am happy the Federal Government is doing something in that direction. we cannot continue to rely on allocation. Oil revenue has dropped. If we want to be able to meet basic responsibility, we need to be looking at other areas. Agriculture is one area. If our state is industrialised, we will get more money because the companies will pay tax. Tourism is one area that can bring revenue to Edo, but Calabar is now taking the position of being the tourism destination of the country. There are many areas which can earn revenue in Edo and I will explore them.

  • 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.

     

  • Oshiomhole has not scored pass mark, says Ize-Iyamu

    Oshiomhole has not scored pass mark, says Ize-Iyamu

    Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu is a governorship aspirant in Edo State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The former Secretary to the Government spoke with Osagie Otabor on his ambition, his chances at the primary and other issues.

    How do you see the preparation for the PDP primay?

    The party leadership must be commended for the very matured and neutral manner they have handled all the stages so far thereby giving confidence to all the aspirants that there will be no imposition. I believe that PDP is determined to deliver a free and fair primaries that will be devoid of violence, rancour or bitterness. All the actions so far have demonstrated that. They went round the 18 local governments and all the aspirants. All they emphasised was the need to be united as one family and not to malign ourselves. Whoever gets the ticket should be supported by other aspirants. We are working along that direction.

    What is your relationship with other aspirants?

    It is very cordial even though outsiders might think we are not on good terms. I must tell you that we relate very well. Some days ago, Hon Matthew Iduoriyekemwen celebrated his 50th birthday. We were there to celebrate with him. It is a cordial relationship. Myself and Solomon Edebiri, we relate very well. He visits me and I visit him. We need to continue to manage our supporters who might think that the lost of their principal will be a tragedy. Because of that they might go the extra mile to see how they can promote the candidates of their principal and thereby create problems. We are also talking to them to be careful in their language and their conduct so that they do not break the accord of unity we are currently enjoying.

    Some PDP members said they want a candidate that has no stain…

    Everybody has a right to say something. The only stain one can talk about is to say that the persons is not qualify. If the person is not qualified then he would not be allowed to contest but anybody who is able to contest certainly must has been cleared by their parties. To that extent, he becomes clean enough to contest. All of us have what it takes to contest unless INEC thinks otherwise. At the end of the day, it will be the party members that will determine who contest. I believe that most of us have  impeccable record. I have been in the public office and active in the political scene. I believe that my records are clean. It is normal for allegations to be made.

    Why do you think the PDP will win?

    The PDP is very organized. They are working as a family and constructive in their role as an opposition political party. They have been in the fore front of crying out when government is not doing the right thing. To that extent, they have endeared themselves to the people. If you go to the PDP secretariat, some times you see people coming there to report the activities and atrocities of the government. A lot of the government documents the chairman brings out during his press briefings are brought by people voluntary. They believe that PDP is a credible opposition. I think the poor performance of the comrade governor especially in the second term made the PDP popular. If the government in power was doing very well, it would have been an uphill task for the opposition. The growing tendency now is that the votes must count. When people are disenchanted, it is difficult for the government to win. The incumbency factor becomes negative. One of the advantages that the PDP has is that there is a mass discontent with the government. In the spirit of the change slogan, the forth coming election is an opportunity to vote out the APC.

    Won’t your role in the administration of Lucky Igbinedion be a set back?

    I don’t think so. That is blackmail. People are now enlightened. How can anybody be criticizing the secretary for the alleged non performance of the government. Who can blame his own secretary for not performing his duty as a musician. Who will hold Professor Ihonvbere, Imuekheme or Pally Iriase responsible for the non performance of Adams Oshiomhole.  The Chief Executive is the Chief Executive. People served with him and the SSG is one among the people he appointed and whatever they tell him, he is not bound to take it. Which ministry does the secretary supervise? What did he steal? What are they accusing him of? All they can say is that the man has been in government before. Even if the government didn’t do well but the man has experience now to provide a better government. Is it not a plus that the man went there and you cannot accuse him of anything. He was in the government and you say the government was corrupt yet you cannot accuse him of any wrong doing then he was a very good person. You will be surprised at the ordinary man reasoning about the matter. For them, Ize-Iyamu is a good man. He has not been a governor, let us give him a chance and see if he will do well. If you sample opinion round the state, you will find out that form of attack will not work at all. People are very enlightened. They see me as somebody who is very experienced and courageous enough to bring the kind of changes they want in the state.

    You praised Oshiomhole to high heavens before what went wrong?

    In his first term, he did very well. Schools were being commissioned almost on a daily basis. Caterpillars were everywhere. Roads were built. The hospital we are about was started in his first term. Oshiomhole was in a hurry and a lot of things were being done. But In the second term, government has gone to sleep. In the second term is when you take a holistic view. He is supposed to develop the whole state. If in the first term, he did only a part and in the second term, you expect he did other areas and complete things he has not done. You cannot compere what happened in the first term to second. You also begin to look at other critical areas like housing, sports, agriculture and others. It is very difficult to give the government a pass mark even with all the money he has. That is why it is not proper to make comparisons between Oshiomhole and Lucky Igbinedion. You cannot expect me to keep quiet because I praised him in his first term. It will be wrong. He has not done well in his second term. Oshiomhole has to be careful about this election because his popularity rating has dropped for non performance. Our prayer in Benin is this our evening should be better than our morning. Which means a man has to finish well.

    What will you do differently, if you become the governor?

    The need to diversify the economy. I am happy the Federal Government is doing something in that direction we cannot continue to rely on allocation. Oil revenue has dropped. If we want to be able to meet basic responsibility, we need to be looking at other areas. Agriculture is one area. If our state is industrialize, we will get more money because the companies will pay tax. Tourism is one area that can bring revenue to Edo but Calabar is now taking the position of being the tourism destination of the country. There are many areas which can earn revenue in Edo and I will explore them.

     

  • ‘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.

  • Oshiomhole drops commissioner

    Oshiomhole drops commissioner

    Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhokle has dropped the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Abdul Oroh.

    No reason was given for his removal.

    But a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor said Oroh was “dropped in the public interest”.

    The statement added that Oshiomhole had approved the appointment of Mr. Kerry Emokpare as a commissioner-designate.

    It said Oshiomhole thanked Oroh for his invaluable services to the state and wished him well in his future endeavours.

    But Oroh said he longed to return to private practice, adding that his sack would enable him to live as a private citizen.

    He said: “I have done seven years as a commissioner. I was in the House of Representatives. I have been longing to have a private life. The governor is my friend. We have achieved a lot in Edo.”