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Tag: Oshiomhole

  • ‘I ‘ll build on Oshiomhole’s legacies’

    ‘I ‘ll build on Oshiomhole’s legacies’

    Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant Ilenre Austin Emuan has promisd to build on the progressive legacies of Governor Adams Oshiomhole, if elected as governor.

    He said it is important that the governor should hand over to a competent person, who will continue to implement the manifestos of the ruling party. The aspirant spoke with our correspondent in Lagos.

    Emuan, an architect, said the industrialisation of the state will be the priority of his administration, adding that it is the panacea to unemployment.

    Praising the governor for laying a solid foundation for the future of Edo, he said his successor should be able to keep the flag flying in the post-Oshiomhole period.

    The aspirant said he will make Edo a technological haven and harness the abundant human and material resources to fuel development.

    He said: “The world of today runs on the pivot of technology. Also, the future of the world depends and shall continuously depend on technology. How to clean up the polluted world, reforest, build up depleting biodiversity and other ecological resources and what means to be used lies with technology. The shape of life on earth and things to come also depend on technology. This is why we will quickly make Edo the technological heartbeat of Nigeria.”

    Emuam added: “To make Edo the technological and socio-economic heartbeat, we will promote intense inter-state trade and increase interaction between local researchers, innovators, designers, fabricators, assemblers and research and development professionals in all spheres.”

    The aspirant promised to run what he described as a neo-welfarist state. He said: “By neo-structural wlfariam, I mean a new way of thinkig. The old structure is like the old economy. But this is a new way of doing things. This is tapping into the knowledge of the new economy. The political economy of the world today is distraught in economic disparity, resulting into economic maladjustment, giving room for poverty, deepened insecurity and terrorism. This is the old order.

    “ If we continue on this path, we are obviously heading for Amargedom. This is the reason why neo-structural welfarism is concerned with restructuring capitalism, which is the pivotal of greed. The best way to go is not to destroy capitalism, but to re-define it. In other words, there has to be a balance between capitalism and some paradigm of socialism so that wealth can be evenly distributed.”

    “I carried out a research early in the year and discovered that in 1820, the ratio of rich to poor was one to three. But, as at 2013, it has gone to one to 88. That means that the wealth of this world is in the hand of few people. For me as a neo-structural scholar, this is what I stand to correct in Edo State and Nigeria, using Edo as an economic model.”

  • Oshiomhole cautioned against imposing candidate

    Oshiomhole cautioned against imposing candidate

    •Group roots for credible governorship candidate 

    A group, Ikpoba Okha Grassroots Mobilisation Network (IGMN), has cautioned Governor Adams Oshiomhole against imposing any candidate on the people ahead of this year’s governorship election.

    The group noted that such move could cause confusion and derail the electoral process.

    IGMN was reacting to speculation that the governor was planning to endorse the Chairman of Edo State Economic Team, Chief Godwin Obaseki.

    The group urged All Progressive Congress (APC) national leadership to ensure a free, fair and credible conduct of primaries in Edo State to choose its candidate.

    In a statement at the weekend in Benin, the state capital, by its Coordinator, Osakpamwan Osa-Uto, IGMN

    said it was imperative for it to speak on the election to avoid a crisis within APC.

    The statement reads: “We strongly condemn this attitude of the Comrade Governor and we are using this medium to advise him to desist from such behaviour. We can still recall when Comrade Oshiomhole was coming to power and his slogan was: ‘No godfatherism and let the people lead’. But the reverse is the case as the Comrade governor has put himself as the godfather of APC politics in Edo State…”

    Also, a social-political group, Edo Accord Initiative (EAI), has pledged to support a competent and credible candidate as Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s successor.

    EAI’s President Dennis Idahosa, who spoke after receiving an award as the Grassroots Mobiliser of the Year from the Edo Football Association, noted that the residents would continue to benefit from the political process, only if the right person was voted into power.

    He said: “If there is a projected candidate for the governorship election, we would sit down and discuss it within our organisation and see if the person is competent, if the person has the interest of the people of Edo State at heart. After all the deliberation, we will be able to know if the person is a suitable candidate for the people of Edo State. Then, we will support him aggressively.

    “So, we will look at the competence of that person, and if the person is well established to make sure his work is being felt among the people, then we will support him. This is because Edo Accord is a bridge between the people and the government.”

    Idahosa, a former Commissioner for Foreign Investment, said ‘Edo Accord’ was a God-driven pressure group which stood for the right things.

    He said: “All we are after is a competent candidate who will deliver dividends of democracy.”

  • Establish labour unemployment centres, Oshiomhole advises govt

    The Federal Government has been urged to establish labour unemployment centres across the country.

    Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole  made the call in Abuja when he visited the Minister of Labour and Employment,  Dr Chris Ngige.

    He said the call was necessary to enable the ministry have comprehensive database of qualified but unemployed Nigerian youths.

    The governor noted that the administration of President Muhamadu Buhari made it clear that its primary purpose was to improve the welfare of the people. He said that only way to achieve this objective was through job creation.

    Oshiomhole said he benefited from the services provided by labour unemployment centres when he was in his early 20s. “The re-introduction of labour unemployment centres for the unemployed will create opportunity for employers of labour to contact and recruit people who registered.

    “It will also provide opportunity to those who registered to acquire training and also enroll in one form of apprenticeship or the other.

    The centres will also give employers the opportunity to carry out regular trade test, do proper grading of skilled and semi-skilled test among others,” he explained.

    Oshiomhole stated that this is one area the country has neglected over the years and that given the present circumstance, there is need to re-establish these centres.’

    He called on employers to inform the Ministry of Labour and Employment whenever they employ, dismiss and retrench members of staff in their various establishments.

    He also called for the review of expatriate quota for firms and industries operating in Nigeria.

    In his response, the minister told the governor that under his leadership, the ministry would experience turn around.

    He said the ministry would ensure that the aspirations of unemployed youths were met.

    James Ocholi, the Minister of State in the ministry, who praised the governor for his instructive suggestion, promising that the ministry would heed the advice.

  • Edo 2016: Scramble for Oshiomhole’s seat

    Edo 2016: Scramble for Oshiomhole’s seat

    Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, reports that as we enter the governorship election year in Edo State, the scramble for Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s seat is gathering more steam. He presents the issues that will determine who would fly the parties’ flags, plus a brief profile of some of the leading aspirants so far

    Although Comrade Adams Oshiomhole still has eleven months to the expiration of his tenure as the governor of Edo State, the race for his plum seat is already hot with about 10 visible aspirants already showing interest for the ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) alone. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which governed the state for 10 years before Oshiomhole’s emergence and has sworn to take back the state from him and his party, is also not left out in the scramble for Oshiomhole’s seat.

    As a result, the political atmosphere is as if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has already flagged off the electioneering campaign. The Nation’s checks confirmed that the political structures of some of the powerful aspirants have been fully oiled and are therefore actively involved in the behind-the-scene sensitization of the common party men and women and more importantly in the consultation of major stakeholders.

    In the PDP, the outgoing governor Oshiomhole, who has been described by his supporters as “a grassroots politician and an unbelievable mobilizer,” is seen by many as the central determinant factor that must be convinced by the aspirants. As would be expected, the comrade governor is yet to name his choice successor.

    This fact has however not discouraged aspirants in the party from making their interests known. In fact, as at this week, the names of aspirants believed to have commenced serious preparations include the current Deputy Governor of the state, Pius Odubu, a former governor, Prof. Osarhemhen Osunbor, retired Major-General Charles Airhiavbere, Kenneth Imasuagbon, Godwin Obaseki, a former minister of state for works, Chris Ogiemwonyi and Osarodion Ogie.

    From the opposition PDP, we have aspirants like Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Chief Solomon Edebiri, a former candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, a former member of the state house of assembly and former state commissioner on NDDC board and Senator Ehigie Uzamere, among many others.

    What may influence the parties’ choices?

    Preliminary investigations into the current sentiment of both the political leaderships in Edo State and amongst the common people show that the issue of who would succeed Oshiomhole may be determined not only by the calibre of the aspirant but also by ethnic and or zonal considerations. We gathered that the two leading political parties in the state are conscious of the sentiment of the people and may be forced to weigh all options and likely effects before zeroing in on their candidates.

    Also, considering the widespread belief that APC-led government of Adams Oshiomhole performed far above average, some bookmakers are of the opinion today that an APC candidate will be on a better footing than other candidates during the governorship election likely to take place sometime around June or July of 2016. The advantage accruing from the governor’s performance is further strengthened by the many defections of top political leaders in the state from PDP to APC.

    But our findings show that performance of the outgoing governor and the current popularity of his party, APC, will not be the only considerations that would come into play when the chips are down. There is also the people’s sentiment on the need for what they described as fair zoning. This is a major challenge, especially for APC. Edo South Senatorial Zone for example, which has more than 50 percent voting population, has been most outspoken on the need to produce Oshiomhole’s successor. Edo Central Senatorial District is also not keeping quiet. For example, Dr. Francis Inegbeniki, the APC senatorial candidate for Edo Central in the March 28 general election, is of the opinion that the agitation by the people of Edo Central to produce the next governor of the state in 2016 “is non-negotiable,” arguing that the agitation is “for the purpose of justice, equity and fair play.”

    He also said, “Edo Central had only occupied the governor’s office for just 18 months, adding that “The people of Edo Central are demanding to produce the next governor to take over from Oshiomhole in 2016. Honestly, I think the people of Edo South, which had occupied the position for over nine years and Edo North presently completing its eight years in that office in the person of Oshiomhole should not argue about it.”

    Given this contention, insiders said the parties must take the people’s sentiment into consideration before determining who will fly their gubernatorial flags. A source hinted that as a result, each of the leading parties may not be in a hurry to pick its candidate as they may strategically wait for each other to declare their candidate first.

    Chief Eric Obaseki, a retired civil servant in Benin, explains the situation and the sentiment when he told The Nation that “although other parties may field candidates, the battle would most likely be between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). So, the major task before these two parties is the task of picking the right candidate from the right zone. From what I have seen so far, zoning may be the major consideration here,” he said, adding, “From the calibre of aspirants so far, there is no doubt that we have qualified people vying to succeed the comrade governor. But fair is fair, any of the parties that fails to consider where its candidate comes from may pay dearly for it.”

    As at today, three days into the election year, some of the visible aspirants for the Oshiomhole’s job from his party, the APC, include:

    Pius Egberanmwen Odubu

    Considered by many as one of the frontline aspirants on the platform of the ruling APC is Hon. Pius Egberanmwen Odubu, from Urhomehe in Urhonigbe North Ward, Orhionmwon Local Governrnent Area of Edo State. Odubu, who served two terms at the House of Representatives, is currently the Deputy Governor of Edo State. A lawyer, he studied at Southern University School of Law, Baton Rouge Louisiana and Georgetown University Law Centre, Washington D.C. before he was called to bar in Nigeria in 1986. Odubu’s strongest advantage over others is that he is seen as a loyal deputy who may easily get the support of the governor.

    Oserheimen Osunbor

    Another APC aspirant whose supporters may have commenced serious consultations is the former governor of the state, Professor Oserheimen Osunbor. He was elected Senator for the Edo Central Constituency of Edo State, Nigeria at the start of the Nigerian Fourth Republic, on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). He served at the red chamber between 29 May 1999 and 2003 and was re-elected into the plum office. In April 2007 he was elected Governor of Edo State also on the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) platform but only spent 18 months on the seat before he lost at the tribunal and the Appeal Court to Oshiomhole.

    Now in the same party with Oshiomhole, who once described him as ‘a good man in a wrong party,’ and coming from Edo Central, who are demanding for fairness, Osunbor’s supporters are hopeful.

    Chris Osa Ogiemwonyi

    Even before his defection from PDP to APC, early December 2014, his interest to govern Edo State was well known. So since he formalised his cross-over at the Urhokpota Ground, Oba O Vonramwen Square, Benin City that day, assuring Governor Oshiomhole that “On Behalf of over 2,000 people declaring for APC today, I declare to work with you to take our party to greater heights,” speculation that he would be one of the frontline aspirants for the governor’s seat had been popular.

    An engineer with over 30 years of work experience in the oil and gas industry, who retired as Executive Director (Exploration and Production), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), before his appointment as Minister of State for Works, Ogiemwonyi has consistently harped on his desire to render service to the people. But his critics have said that he cannot boast of the kind of solid political structure that would enable him win the APC governorship primaries.

    His response to this is however instructive. He had said, “I hear that and I laugh when I hear it; structure, what is structure, these are human beings. What is going to play out now and tomorrow in Nigeria is not how deep you are in politics, but people are going to respect the character of the person

    Charles Airhiavbere

    Major-General Charles Airhiavbere (retired) was Commander, Corps of Army Finance and Accounts at the Army Headquarters. An accountant, he was the PDP candidate at the 2012 Edo State Governorship Election. Now in APC, he is seen as one of the aspirants whose supporters are already deeply involved in consultations. There are many other visible aspirants in APC like Kenneth Imasuagbon, Godwin Obaseki, a former minister of state for works, Chris Ogiemwonyi and Osarodion Ogie. among others.

    From the PDP, some of the frontline aspirants so far include:

    Mike Onolememen

    Mike Oziegbe Onolememen, a Chartered Architect is the immediate Minister, Federal Ministry of Works. He served previously as Minister of State, in the Ministry of Defense, and as Head of the Directorate of Project Management of Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF).

    Osagie Ize-Iyamu

    Another visible PDP aspirant today in Edo State is Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, a lawyer. He was Chief of Staff in Edo State Government from 1999 to 2003 and Secretary to the State Government from 2003 to 2007.

    Solomon Iyobosa Edebiri

    There is also Solomon Iyobosa Edebiri. Haven contested as ANPP governorship candidate in 2012, Edebiri is not a new comer to Edo State politics. He has Edo South background.

    Matthew Iduoriyekemwen

    Also, Mathew Iduoriyekemwen, who was Edo State Representative on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is also considered a frontline aspirant on the platform of PDP. Called ‘Major,’ by his admirers, Iduoriyekemwen, who represented Kpoba-Okha Local Government Area in the Edo State House of Assembly between May 1999 and May 2007, is touted as a grassroots politician.

    In all the parties, the list is growing by the day, a sign that Edo governorship primaries will be very intriguing.

  • Oshiomhole to Edo people: let’s build on our successes at polls

    Oshiomhole to Edo people: let’s build on our successes at polls

    EDO State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has said next year presents the people with the opportunity to elect a credible candidate, who will build on the successes recorded by his administration in the past seven years.

    Oshiomhole, in a message issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Peter Okhiria, said: “As a government, we are proud of the remarkable achievements we recorded in the past seven years and we remain thankful to the people for the trust and confidence reposed in us to conduct the affairs of the state.

    “As we enter into another election year in the state, I enjoin our people to work assiduously to ensure the success of the elections and ensure that only the candidate who has the interest of the state and the people at heart emerges to ensure the continuation of the remarkable successes recorded by this administration  on schools, roads, hospitals, water and energy, security  and indeed the provision of a conducive environment which has attracted multi-billion naira investments in different parts of the state.

    “Of course, in the election year, there will be tension, there will be acrimony, there will be rumours and counter rumours, but I assure you that we will remain focused on the job and in all we do, we will put the interest of our state above any other consideration.

    “On my part, I assure that this administration will finish strong and continue to work hard till its last day. To this end, all projects started by this administration will be followed up with all due diligence and vigour to ensure their timely completion. We will deliver more schools with red roofs in each of the 18 local government areas; complete ongoing road projects across the state; complete, equip and put the 200-bed Central Hospital to use and even initiate new projects which we find critical to the development of the state.”

  • Edo 2016: Aspirant faults Oshiomhole’s support for Obaseki

    An aspirant of the All Progressive Congress in next year’s governorship election in Edo State, Blessing Agbomhere, has said it would be a mistake for Governor Adams Oshiomhole to support the Chairman of the state Economic Team, Dr. Godwin Obaseki, to pick the party ticket for the poll.

    There had been apprehension among leaders of the APC in the state since Governor Oshiomhole reportedly asked his trusted loyalists to start marketing Obaseki as his preferred successor.

    Among those the governor asked to support Obaseki is the state Commissioner for Works, Osarodion Ogie, who is also eyeing the governorship seat.

    Agbomhere, who described himself as the youngest aspirant in the race, said Oshiomhole was “only testing the waters” with the alleged support for Obaseki.

    He spoke at a maiden town hall meeting with youths in Edo where he unveiled his blueprint for developing the state.

    Agbomhere noted that the people of Edo and not an individual would decide who emerged the next governor of the state.

    He said his team was carefully studying the APC constitution to ensure that the supremacy of the constitution is ensured during the party primaries.

    He said, “Governor Oshiomhole is an individual. He can decide to support whomever he chooses. Remember in politics, there is deceit.”

    “A time will come when people will analyze the history, successes and failures of these aspirants. Obaseki is the biggest mistake Oshiomhole can make in Edo State.

    “Oshiomhole is only testing the waters. He is not supporting Obaseki and he will not support Obaseki. Obaseki does not have the quality and qualifications to govern Edo State. Dangote cannot produce the governor of Edo State.”

    “As the chairman of Edo Economic team, Obaseki was given the resources and the finances to bring investment to Edo State. He said he worked for Dangote and brought him to Edo State. They were given land and spent billions on it only to abandon it to the detriment of Edo people.”

  • ‘Oshiomhole can’t impose candidate on Edo APC’

    ‘Oshiomhole can’t impose candidate on Edo APC’

    Chris Ogiemwonyi, an engineer, is a former Minister of State for Works  and governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State. He spoke with BEN OGBEMUDIA  on his ambition, conditions for credible programmes and preparations for next year’s poll.

    What motivated you to join the governorship race in Edo State?

    I am motivated to render service, and don’t forget, I did this successfyully for 34 years at the central government, 34 years. I worked for the NNPC and having done that to the satisfaction of my people, I think the remaining part, when I am still strong, I should equally come to render that same service to my people.

    What do you have to offer differently?

    Because of who I am, I have my characters. One thin g I market today is my name, which is a brand, in terms of integrity and accountability, good governance. These are things I cherish seriously and I market them as a brand then my experience, exposure for 34 years in a key sector of our economy, which oil and gas, my pedigree as a hard working person, everybody knows that; so if you look at these attributes, by the time you accumulate these things, you will see a fine gentleman coming out for this course.

    There is this insinuation that you didn’t have the structure in the party to win the primaries. What will you say about this?

    I hear that and I laugh when I hear it; structure, what is structure, these are human beings. What is going to play out now and tomorrow in Nigeria is not how deep you are in politics, but people are going to respect the character of the person. As things are evolving, it will get to a point where even the party is not going to be the determinant, but the person when you talk about this issue of structure, the delegates in their quite moments at home, they are human beings, they will keep on analysing who is the best among us, people will on their own make up their minds who to vote for based on the charcter of that person I promise you the parties we belong to now is not going to be too serious  about those considerations, people will be looking at the persons and whatever structure that is ground, because they are human beings, they will be very analytical in reaching their decision.

    We have an outgoing governor, who will be leaving a big shoe behind. Do you think you have that character to step into those shoes?

    I wish you will have time to ask about me when I was in the NNPC. If it is possible, you interrogate the people I worked with in my last three to four years in the NNPC, you will get a better judgment if you do that. Why was this man so highly respected by everybody in the oil companies, in the NNPC. Let me save time by not saying who I am but I expect you should go out and find who Chris Ogiemwonyi is, my name is synonymous with courage to do what is right, that is my name.

    What are your plans for the state, in terms of job creation, considering the number of unemployed youths and graduates?

    On the average today in Edo state just like in other states, in every house, we have a minimum of two to three unemployed graduates, the situation is like that in all homes, not only in Edo state so the issue of job creation is something every incoming government need to think through in Nigeria. My take on this is that I must commend Comrade Oshiomhole for what he has been able to do but I think it is an area we should look deeper to find out how we should address this. I must commend the state government for rebranding the Okpella Cement factory. I was in NNPC, I was part of those that worked in Obajana because the gas pipeline to Obajana was done when I was the CEO of NGC. The first day I went to Obajana, when I saw the number of people working in that Cement Company, we can re-create more of Obajana here. But why I will not talk too much on this is like me reeling out my manifesto but believe you me,  think the in-coming government should do a feasibility of all mineral resources in Edo state and me coming from the oil and gas, it is one thing that I will do, to put a strong team to quickly do the feasibility.  Do a feasibility of the whole and quickly identify these resources and then pursue foreign investors and I already have some. Some people have told me, Chris if you come in, we need some amount of land for car assembly, they want to come to Edo state for that, I have some friends from China they have told me already, that plant can employ about 3,000 youths, all they need from me is to provide the land. This state will be a place for industry destination i this part of the country. People believe me, they trust and that there will be sanctity of agreement, I will respect the content of that agreement and I will not go round to ask for favour in terms of equity interest, they know me already, I have established my name, my name as a brand.

    What is your reaction to the allegation that the APC government is fithing a selective and corruption battle?

    You see, every process when it is starting, people hold different opinion, I hate to generalise. He is selective, but I haven’t seen him do that. What I have seen is that this is a regime preaching change and so far, being led by somebody who is an apostle of change. With what we are seeing with mr president and because of who he is I am 100 per cent sure that this philosophy will come down gradually. Don’t forget there may be one or two Judases but it is the generality that we should look at in the various sectors that he is doing and don’t that some of the people who are in APC today came from the PDP so we will expect some of these things, but with time, I see perfection.

    There are insinuations that the governor may anointed one or two aspirants and the issue of people actually voting may not arise. How do feel about this?

    When you hear things like this, many people prepare to discuss things they don’t know. Oshiomhole preached one man one vote four five years ago and we saw what happened in this state, things have changed to that philosophy, as a person like to commend people; this guy destroyed godfatherism that in our state here before now, we have about  three people deciding how things are shared but today, godfatherism is buried and our prayer is that it will never rise again in Edo state so when I hear about that governor has anointed somebody, all APC is going to do is that we are going to the field, there will be an open primary. It is the people that decides. He has promised that there will be a free and fair primaries. How will anointing come into that? If he is anointing, it is the people you should blame because the only way you can exibit democracy is through open ballot and that is what the man is preaching. I have left my base in Abuja so that I can participate in the process and since I joined the APC last year, I have been following the process by process. I have not seen where this man has defaulted. I hate to join people to just condemn people, he has done well. But, don’t forget that I am an apostle of transparency and what you are saying, if I sense it, I will go to the streets, I will protest. I don’t want to join people to say that, who was there when he did the anointing? Let us try and destroy rumour mongering, that thing has destroyed so much in Nigeria.

    What is your reaction to the controversial land use charge?

    These people complaining, how many of them have seen the government gazette on the charge? People are just doing this bandwagon effect. My friends are crying and you want to join the cry. By my training, I prefer to go to the Ministry of Justice, get a copy and study it. Is not for the whole state, it is not for the whole city. It is for the low density area that they are talking about and the question you will ask yourself is it new, does it exist in other parts of the world. Byt the time you answer this questions, it is not new. Those that have flats in New York as compact as the city is, they still pay. I think we should commend him for being creative in the IGR and I think what people should ask is the usage of the money.

    What is the way out of the perennial fuel crisis in Nigeria?  

    I will advice Mr President to take a serious look at that price. My question is, what constitutes that landing price of the PMS?  I want a proper check on this.

    During my period in the NNPC, we tried to look into the issue, the structure in the supply chain. I must tell you one thing. Until Nigerians are prepared to do things courageously, we may never see an end to this. Several governments have tried to see what the major problems were. One area they want to identify is that decision will be based on the landing cost of the product in Nigeria. What is the landing cost? We must check that thing seriously. Are there inefficiencies? Are there corruption practices. I will expect again, President Buhari should get those that knows the business to study the process line. The product arriving at Apapa, what is the actual landing cost? My take on that is that there are issues, some wastage. We have heard of demurrage being paid for some ships just at the Wharf and they will all account for this landing price.

    They can do that. The NPA charges for example, we must do a serious review of these charges in order to arrive at the actual landing cost of the product.

    On a global scale, my take on this is to deregulate. Let us pay for the proper price of this product. Open the market, let there be more participant, more players.

    If we deregulate, the subsidy we are doing now for our neighbours, Ghana, Benin, Toko, Mali Chad and others will see us paying less price for the product. Because of the porous nature of the Nigeria borders, most of the product that have been heavily subsidized by the Nigeria government, find their ways into these countries.

    Our borders are very porous. We are subsidising the products for our neighbouring countries. When I was Minister, go to our borders and you see trucks crossing over with products.

  • 2016 will be tough – Oshiomhole

    2016 will be tough – Oshiomhole

    Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, on Wednesday said the Year 2016 will be tough going by the crisis in the economy triggered by a sharp decline in the national revenue by more than 55 per cent.

    He, however, expressed optimism that his government will finish strong despite the negative economic indicators.

    Speaking during a meeting with traditional rulers from Edo Central Senatorial district on Wednesday, the Governor said “it is clear from all indicators that the coming year is likely to be very tough with the continued decline in revenue and rising expectation on the part of our people and with many state governments, local governments, and perhaps, even some federal agencies defaulting in the payment of salaries and allowances.

    “The level of strike activities in the economy is going to be very high and of course, the level of unemployment is already unacceptably high and it could get even higher if we are not careful.

    “So we have a lot of challenges ahead, but I am very confident that the President is determined and has the political will to do the needful and ensure the country remains stable and safe. The rest of us as state governments have responsibilities, working with the local governments and your good selves, the traditional rulers, to ensure that there is peace.

    “In Edo State, we have done our best, even as things are, to ensure that we pay salaries as and when due. I believe our civil servants, teachers, everybody have been paid and have got their alerts so they would have something to celebrate their Christmas, but it  not likely to be so in many other states, but we are the heartbeat of the nation. We must be positively different from the rest.

    “So, we are trying to ensure that we sustain this tradition of meeting our wage obligation, because if we do not, I am clear that the consequences are huge. But thank God, the year is ending on a happy note as in Edo State, we have paid our salaries before the Christmas.”

     

  • Dasukigate: Return your N260m share, Oshiomhole tells Anenih

    Dasukigate: Return your N260m share, Oshiomhole tells Anenih

    Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State yesterday fired a broadside at the former Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih.

    The governor talking about the revelations of sharing of money by top politicians during the Jonathan Administration asked Anenih to return the N260m allegedly given to him by the immediate past National Security Adviser (NSA), Col Dasuki Sambo (rtd) from the $2.1 billion Abacha loot earmarked for arms purchase.

    Speaking at a rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benin City where prominent PDP leaders and their followers including two former members of the Federal House of Representatives, Patrick Ikhariale and Abbas Braimoh, defected to the APC, Oshiomhole said: “We have seen even the godfather’s name being mentioned. Even at his old age, he collected N260m, and I want the godfather to deny or to confirm it. If he wants to refund the money, I will collect it from him and I will go to Abuja without deducting anything from it, and I will hand it over to President Muhammadu Buhari.”

    Anenih was generally referred to as the ‘political godfather’ in Edo State until the defeat of the PDP in the last elections.

    On Anenih’s tenure at Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), the Governor said, “And you can see, this is not yet an outcome of any investigation. I am sure by the time the NPA book is fully opened, more revelations will come out.”

    Making reference to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Governor Oshiomhole said, “By the time they open NIMASA, you will understand how these people helped themselves and their families, and deprived even the activists who helped to make them relevant. When it was time for help, they dealt quietly; when it was time to mobilize they used everybody. And I think if this is what President Buhari has done for Nigeria, helping us to understand how the old people were eating the grass cutter which the younger boys had gone to the bush to bring home.

    “Even without teeth, in their 90s, they never stop stealing. So you can see why new changes are necessary. Not just to build roads but to change the political system. They don’t allow the young to grow. We respect elders, but the elders must not prevent the younger ones from growing.”

    He lauded President Buhari for his fight against corruption and commitment to uninterrupted power supply, saying: “President Buhari has a huge task of rebuilding

    a country that has been so grossly mismanaged. I believe God loves Nigeria so much that he gave us President Buhari at the time he did. Now, when you read newspapers, you can imagine if Jonathan had continued in office, where we would have been today. You can only imagine that.

    “For the first time, big people are being asked to account. In the past, you only heard of governors; we only heard of local government chairmen, commissioners. But this time, we are seeing a Minister of Finance confessing like a witch.”

    One of the counts against Col Dasuki who is currently being prosecuted by the anti-graft agency before Justice H.Y. Baba and Justice P.O. Affen of the High Court of Justice of the Federal Capital Territory is “that you Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki whilst being National Security Adviser and Shaibu Salisu, whilst being the Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the National Security Adviser(ONSA)  on or about 28th November 2014  in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, and in such capacities  entrusted with dominion over certain properties to wit: the sum of N260million being part of the funds in the account of the ONSA with Skye Bank Plc committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property when you transferred same to the bank account of Tony Anenih with First Bank of Nigeria Plc and  you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol.4, LFN 2004.”

    Welcoming the defectors to the APC, Governor Oshiomhole assured them that they will be treated equally as other party members. He urged all APC leaders at local government and state levels to commence the process of integrating the new members into the APC fold.

    “Let me assure our leaders; they have come to reinforce our leadership, and they will be part of our leadership. When we harness all these people together, we have a more potent political party. We are one and the same. There is no discrimination. Each of these leaders that have decamped today has come to join forces with you to ensure victory,” he said.

    “Those who are left there should remain idle. That is where they belong. The house is now complete. We only need these generals to do the infantry work, to mop up the few people remaining. We should integrate fully because if we don’t integrate, we will not be able to harness the gains of this exercise.”

    The defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progress Congress (APC) include Patrick Ikhariale, former member representing Esan West, Esan Central and Igueben Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives;  Abbas Braimah (aka Congress man), former member representing Etsako Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives; former State legislator representing Igueben constituency Sunday Ereghan, Emma Ehiabhi, Bisi Idaomi, Sule Asemokhai, Hajia Hauwa, and  Kelvin Aigbe. Among the APC leaders who received the defectors were the State APC Chairman Anslem Ojezua, former Governor, Prof Oserheimen Osunbor, Gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in 2012, Maj-Gen Charles Airhiavbere; member Federal House of Representatives representing Etsako Federal Constituency Philip Shuaibu, Secretary to Edo State Government Prof Julius Ihonvbere, among others.

     

  • Edo 2016: Who succeeds Oshiomhole

    In a few months, precisely November next year 2016 Governor Adams Oshiomhole will cease to be the occupant of the state house in Benin. Indeed, if the people of Edo state had their way, the distinguished labour leader of the radical mould would rule Edo State till the end of time. Such is the impact he has had on the state and the people. But the constitution only permits two terms of four years each.

    As such, his departure next year is certain as the sun rises from the east. It is against this background that as the comrade governor prepares to hand over the baton of leadership in Edo State next year, his successor should be properly screened to ascertain if by his antecedents, he can further lift Edo State  to the next level.

    What is, perhaps most interesting is that all the gladiators in Edo State politics have moved into the APC and are jostling for its 2016 gubernatorial ticket. The problem of Nigeria is poor leadership and corruption. The leadership is more interested in power and  authority for self benefit which gave rise to the saying “if you cannot beat them, join them”. This self-centeredness of the status seekers resulted in the present rush for self fulfillment against social responsibility and commitment to the general welfare of the public which has now become the bane of progress and public spiritedness.

    This has led to mass poverty and the very few rich most of whose wealth are due to “man no man” cult. If you are not part of them, you remain where you are. The truth of the matter, however, is that the phenomenon of “Man Know Man” is detrimental to national development.

    A few specific examples will explain the evils of this phenomenon.

    In 2006, former Oyo State Governor, Alhaji Rashidi Ladoja, was removed from office and his deputy Adebayo Alao-Akala was sworn in as the new governor through the influence of late Chief Lamidi Adedibu, using his supporters in the Oyo House of Assembly. Although the charges against the former governor were hardly proved, eight of the 24 legislators held a session in hotel which the supreme court condemned in his judgment.

    The said legislators adopted the report of a panel and passed a motion for Ladoja’s impeachment within 25 minutes. However, Chief Adedibu had another reason for the impeachment. Hear him, “I put him there. So, if I demand money will it be wrong? Do I need to ask for it before he gives it to me? I never demand money from him” (Adedibu in Tell, January 23, 2006 Pg 21.) Yet it was said he had received up to N100 million from Ladoja’s private account since he became governor in May 29, 2003.

    Before Ladoja, the first democratic governors of Anambra State after the return of democratic rule in the country in 1999, Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju and Dr. Chris Ngige. They had the same experience.  The issue of “Man Know Man” should not be allowed to raise its ugly head in Edo State.

    Indeed, there is need to address this evil of “Man Know Man” if Nigeria must develop politically, socially and economically. We must undertake a massive political enlightenment of our people to let them depart from following this philosophy of “Man Know Man”.

    From this standpoint, it would appear that gubernatorial aspirants with clean record in the past, who have not soiled their fingers as it were and have made tremendous success in  their chosen fields may as well find favour during APC primaries in Edo State. We are reminding the voters that Edo State wants credible persons that would consolidate the achievements of our dear comrade governor and conceive innovative ideas for the betterment of our people.

    This will perhaps explain why Paul Obazee acknowledges the fact that Engineer Chris Ogiemwonyi is a visionary leader, who has proved his mettle having rendered meritorious service to Nigerians in general and Edo indigenes in particular in his chosen field of endeavour. Chris is a man that genuinely has the passion to serve Edo people. He has the potential to transform Edo state in the area of human capital development, and infrastructure.

    As we move towards the 2016 governorship race in Edo State, all eyes are on the rising profile of Chris who is expected to hold the APC banner in the state after the primary to continue on the solid foundation laid by our comrade governor.

     Ikhueoya writes in from Benin