The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Oshiomhole

  • PDP has run out of lies against Buhari, says Oshiomhole

    PDP has run out of lies against Buhari, says Oshiomhole

    EDO State Governor Adams Oshiomhole believes the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has run out of lies and is fishing for new ones, “having failed with the school certificate lie they tried to pin on the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari”.

    Oshiomhole, who spoke during an inspection of road projects which culminated in a campaign at the Egor market in Upper Siluko area of the state capital, said: “I’m happy that you people are following what is happening and one young man said even Buhari doesn’t have a school certificate, if it’s just a NEPA bill he presents as certificate, it’s enough and the people will vote for him.

    “Another said the other man has a doctorate in Zoology, but we can’t even get fish on our table. The truth is that everybody is tired.

    “Today in this market, I’m sure you don’t have light. We have provided the electric poles and the transformer, but they will not give us light.

    “So, the only solution is, after 16 years of PDP, they have exhausted their lies. We have to bring General Buhari because we want a leader with courage. When he says, ‘I will do’. He will do it. He is not a leader that will promise during campaigns, but will disappear after the campaigns.

    “Today in Edo, they have enriched a few individuals, and they are telling us they are going to bring a lot of money to buy our votes. When they bring the money, collect it. It’s the money they stole from you. But we will not vote for them.”

    The governor urged the people, who have not collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) to do so by going to the nearest INEC office at the local government area so as to be able to vote for APC candidates at all levels.

    Spokesman of Egor Market, Mr. Egbon Edowonyi, said: “When PDP was in power, they could not fix this road. They referred to it as waterside and blamed it on what they called mermaid. But you came; we do not know how you removed the mermaid and got the road fixed.”

    On his part, Mr. Elvis Osamede said: “What the PDP is trying to do at the Federal level in relation to Buhari certificate, if at the end of the day, it is only NEPA bill that General Buhari has, Egor people are ready to vote for APC. All we are clamouring for is change.

    “The people of Egor want to restate their commitment to vote for APC because since you came, we have been able to know the difference between light and darkness. We do not need to be told; it is quite obvious that those people that need change will support change in the political space of Nigeria.”

    Oshiomhole then said: “The truth is that PDP never wanted to work. So, they find excuse to take the money without doing the job and today, you have seen by yourselves what is happening. And very soon, the road will be asphalted with streetlights. This will enable those who want to trade at night to carry out their trading activities”.

  • Oshiomhole: Fed Govt’s N2.4b project fraudulent

    Oshiomhole: Fed Govt’s N2.4b project fraudulent

    Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has described the Federal Government’s N2.4 billion water project as a fraud.

    Speaking at Uromi during the campaign of the All Progressives Congress in Edo Central on Wednesday, Oshiomhole said: “The problem we have today is that in the books of Abuja, PDP says they have brought water to Esanland. If you ask the Onojie of Ugboha, the Onojie of Uromi and all the other Onojies in Esanland, they will tell you that there is no water in Esanland. They came to my office and said they are not going to allow the vice-president to come.”

    Oshiomhole queried the  completion of a N2.4 billion Esan Water Project, saying no such project was executed in the area.

    “For 16 years, year after year, PDP keeps promising they will give us power, yet no power. APC State government gave you transformers but you still don’t have light because transmission and generation, required for the transformers to produce light, have been sold by PDP Federal Government to their relatives.

    “PDP has failed the nation. Instead of light, they produce darkness. They couldn’t produce jobs, hence millions of Nigerians are unemployed and there is no light, industries cannot function. Are we going to allow them remain?

    “PDP brought kidnapping to Nigeria. Are we going to fold our arms till they kidnap us all? Today, we are told that part of Nigeria is occupied by insurgents. What is insurgent? Were they sleeping? They took one local government, two local governments, three local governments and they couldn’t respond to the extent they took the village of the chief of defence staff,” the governor said.

    Oshiomhole said the Edo State government would make available N20 million for the reconstruction of the Uromi Market, which was razed by fire.

    He said, “I am on my way from Ubiaja for the APC rally and I felt the need to see for myself the extent of damage by the fire outbreak in this market recently. We do not know those responsible for this devilish act but God is on his throne watching every one of us.

    “Just to say that government is aware of the huge financial loss by the traders. The essence of governance is the provision of welfare and ameliorating the sufferings of the people, hence Edo State Government will assist the victims with N20 million. This money will be given to the local government chairman before next Monday”, he assured.

    The Governor Rally Train was at Ubiaja, Esan South East Local Government Area, Uromi in Esan North East Local Government Area and Ugbegun-Ebudin in Esan Central Local Government Local Government where he presented the various candidates, including Mr Francis Inegbeneki for Senate, Comrade Onikolease Irabor and Gideon Obhakhan for House of Representatives, Henry Okpamen and Anselm Adima and Victor Edoror for House of Assembly.

  • Oshiomhole: PDP has reduced Nigeria to laughing stock

    Oshiomhole: PDP has reduced Nigeria to laughing stock

    The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the federal level has reduced Nigeria to a laughing stock in the comity of nations, Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole said at the weekend.

    Oshiomhole, who spoke at two mega rallies of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at Auchi in Edo North and Irrua in Edo Central, hinged his claim on the PDP’s alleged ineptitude to provide basic amenities and fight insurgency.

    The governor noted that when the PDP took over governance in 1999, the country had 774 local government areas.

    But, he added that close to 30 of those local government areas were being controlled by insurgents.

    He said: “It is time to ask yourselves: in 16 years of PDP leadership, what has PDP government produced? For 16 years, they gave us darkness. No light; yet they keep bringing bills.

    “They produced unemployment; our companies have all closed down. If the Federal Government does not have good industrial policy, unemployment will continue to be here. So, PDP brought unemployment and kidnapping to our country. There was no single case of kidnapping before 1999; PDP brought kidnapping.

    “The most worrisome of them all is that in 1999, PDP government was handed 774 local government areas and as we speak now, Boko Haram controls about 30 local government areas and if they continue to rule, they will get here.

    “We have the best soldiers in the world. They go to other countries for peacekeeping.

    “How come they now say our soldiers are now running from common insurgents? For 16 years, they have not equipped our military.”

    Urging the people to vote en masse for the APC, Oshiomhole said: “I can give you 100 reasons why we must vote Buhari. It is for our own survival. It goes beyond tribal sentiments.

    “PDP has failed Nigeria. They have reduced Nigeria to a joke. They have shared our companies to themselves. They extorted our unemployed graduates all in the name of scam recruitment exercise.

    “You cannot continue to vote for a party that has lost every sense of responsibility and reduced our country to a huge joke, even within the African continent.

    “This coming election will be a decisive one. We have a presidential candidate that has courage; a presidential candidate that will fight corruption and you will be counting the casualties. He will not be like those who say they are fighting corruption and nobody is falling.

    “General Buhari was a military governor and later served as minister of Petroleum before becoming the military head of state. Despite having held all these positions, he never amassed public funds to himself to become rich. He is the kind of man Nigerians needs; a man that will fight corruption, instill discipline and ensure that the poor are not cheated.”

    He added: “Buhari built Kaduna and Warri refineries. How can they say all our refineries are good and yet we are importing products? And because we are importing, that is why petrol and kerosene prices have refused to reduce.

    “If our refineries are not working, where will those our children studying electrical, petroleum, chemical and mechanical engineering work after graduation? If PDP could not do refinery in 16 years, do you want to give them another chance to fail? That is why Nigeria needs General Buhari.”

    The governor, who presented the candidates of the APC vying for elective positions in the  state, said: “We need the very best. And come day, come night, I can vouch that with them, the development of this area will be sustained.

    “These are tested men. With these men, we will bring more development to Edo State. They have experience and with the little opportunity they have had to serve, they reproduced eye-mark projects that can be seen by all. I can assure you that with these candidates, we are in very safe hands.”

    Taking a swipe at politicians who defect from one political party to the other when they can’t get nominations, Oshiomhole said politics should not be about the individual alone.

    He urged the people not to be deceived into experimenting with such inconsistent characters, but rather with the party that has been tested and has brought so much development to Edo State.

  • Igbinedion TV apologies to Oshiomhole

    Igbinedion TV apologies to Oshiomhole

    A privately-owned television station in Edo State, the Independent Television, has apologised to Governor Adams Oshiomhole for airing a false report that his aides beat up a Catholic Priest, Rev. Father Peter Udo.

    The television station is owned by Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin Kingdom.

    Father Udo, according to ITV report, was beaten at Ujogba for not leaving the road for the governor’s convoy to pass.

    Oshiomhole said he was not at Ujogba in Esan West on that day but was at Esan North East in company of Governor Babtunde Fashola where the Amedokhain-Ugboha was inaugurated.

    In a retraction and apology aired at the weekend, the management of ITV said: “We hereby tender our unreserved apology for the embarrassment the broadcast must have caused the governor and government of Edo State. We want to reassure the government and the people of our commitment to the peace and stability of our dear state.”

  • Between Oshiomhole and Igbinedion

    The relationship between Governor Adams Oshiomhole and Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin Kingdom, is no longer a healthy one. No one knows how the recent face-off will end as the state government appears to have declared war on the Esama.

    The recent quarrel was over a news report by the Independent Television (ITV) in which Oshiomhole’s aides were alleged to have beaten up Reverend Father Peter Udo at Ujogba in Esan Central Local Government Area.

    Oshiomhole’s responses to what he termed offensive reportage were that the termination of the MOU the state government signed with the Igbinedion University for the training of the institution’s medical students , de-accreditation of ITV Correspondent to the Government House  and the expelling of Igbinedion varsity’s nursing students from using government facilities.

    Before then, there have been altercations between the duo. Igbinedion, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) , is one of the most powerful, influential and perhaps the richest chief in Benin Kingdom. He owns chains of businesses and several landed properties across the state. He single-handedly made his son, Lucky, governor between 1999 and 2007.

    As at inception of the Oshiomhole administration, Igbinedion’s relationship with the governor was cordial and robust because Chief Igbinedion and his son Lucky, who was deregistered from the PDP, reportedly financed the activities of the defunct Action Congress (AC), the political platform under which Oshiomhole emerged governor.

    Their relationship turned sour after Oshiomhole introduced a new tax regime, which many government officials said affected Chief Igbinedion and many other rich individuals in the state who were previously paying negotiated taxes to the government. What further worsened the relationship were reports and commentary by the Independent Television and Radio about the state government. Both stations are owned by Chief Igbinedion.

    The ITV was in 2011 sealed up over accumulated Pay As You Earn Tax. It was the Court of Appeal that ruled in favour of the Edo State government over the matter. In 2011, some landed properties of Chief Igbinedion were sealed over alleged non-payment of Ground Rent.

    In 2013,  Oshiomhole stopped farmers farming in government reserves forest at Okada in Ovia North East Local Government Area  from paying N40m annual royalty to Chief Igbinedion. The land was leased to Chief Igbinedion who later sublet the land to farmers for some fees.

    Oshiomhole told the farmers that custodians of land in state was vested on the state government and the Oba of Benin.

    He said: “As far as I know, government policy across the country is that Nigerians cannot be tenant farmers particularly on government-owned lands, because the land in question is government-owned that was reserved for an individual for the purpose of farming by himself, not to sublet to actual farmers who then pay royalties to him. The only person who can collect royalties in Edo State is the Oba of Benin.”

    After the local government elections in 2013, Oshiomhole threatened to curtail the excesses of Chief Igbinedion if the latter did not desist from contravening the laws.

    The governor said: “There is evidence that he (Igbinedion) has undermined the prosperity of the state for a very long time. Those who live in glass houses do not throw stones.

    “I want to send a warning to Chief Igbinedion that he should take it easy. He has acquired a lot of government land that the people have not engaged him on. He walks as if he is above the law, he was a chief tax collector in this state, pocketing twenty five to thirty per cent of every kobo that accrued while his son was the governor. I have not looked back because my mandate is to look forward.

    “If he continues with elderly rascality, I will bring him to justice. He must never underestimate the fact that I have the will and I have the capacity to deploy that will. If he crosses the law, he will be cut to size.”

    Igbinedion has kept mute. But the Vice-Chancellor of the university says the school was shocked by the government’s actions. Oshiomhole has obviously gone beyond being swayed by such reactions. For him, it appears it is fight to the finish!

  • Oshiomhole to NLC: query Fed Govt for oil theft

    Oshiomhole to NLC: query Fed Govt for oil theft

    Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has urged the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to ask questions from the Federal Government on how hundreds of barrels of crude oil are stolen without check on a daily basis.

    Oshiomhole, who said this at the groundbreaking of the Labour House in Benin City, said Nigeria was being run in a directionless manner.

    The labour movement, he said, must show more interest in the national discourse so that the ship of state could be steered in the right direction.

    According to him, “issues of the management of the treasury and oil theft are not the preserve of the political class. Oil is being stolen. Nigeria has a capacity for 2.5 million barrels a day.  We have oil performing on an average of $108 a barrel over the past few years. It hovered on that average. Sometimes, it went to $111 and at a time, it dropped to $106 per barrel.

    “Oil performance has been stable and we budget at $98, with the difference over a period of three years. We ought to have huge reserves now, so that when occasion as this comes, we will live as if there is no fluctuation.

    “But while this was going on, we suddenly heard of crude oil theft. Sometimes, about 700 barrels per day are allegedly stolen. Seven hundred barrels per day, these are big vessels.”

    Oshiomhole added: “I think the NLC needs to show more interest in this politics of oil theft. Who are the people stealing this oil? Since when? What has changed about the territorial boundaries of Nigeria? In good times, we were told this thing is being stolen and in bad times, we are told to fasten our belt. I feel strongly about those things.

    “We have always been hearing about illegal bunkering, but we have never heard of this level of massive oil theft.

    “Someone has a duty to explain that and NLC has a duty to ask. In Edo, we are clear we are deepening our taxes and we need the NLC to support us. The state had been held hostage by few unaccountable godfathers in the name of politics which people can see. Government property was sold for as low as one million naira in GRA land with house on it.”

    Emphasising the need to sustain the struggle for the good of the nation, the governor said: “We cannot have a country where people just feast on others and they think it is their birthright to continue to feast.”

    On the rationale for the Labour House, Oshiomhole said: “I offered to build this house for the labour movement in Edo State because no man is free if he does not live in his own house. I believe it is more valid for a trade union movement because of the kind of work it does.

    “You hire a house and it turns out that house belongs to a politician, whose party is government and you are issuing ultimatum against that party. The first thing they will do is to ask you to vacate the property. I believe that God has a purpose that at this time of our history, he chooses to make me the governor of this state against all odds.”

    On his part, the NLC National President, who was represented by the Deputy President, Comrade Sidi Mohammed, said Oshiomhole had done the NLC proud as a former president and as governor.

    “We cannot forget the sacrifice you made in the labour movement. And for those who accuse you today, they should have known that without the labour force, there would not have been democracy today. You led us in the struggle; we slept in the bush and we were beaten. And today, they are reaping what we built. Yet, they call us names,” he said.

    The National President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Bobbol Kaigama, expressed delight that trade union movement opened  2015 on a progressive note.

    He said the groundbreaking ceremony for the twin buildings as the councils’ state secretariat was laudable.

    Kaigama said: “For now, we commend your foresight in charting a progressive people-oriented course for comrades involved in politics. Indeed, yours has been a success story worthy of emulation.”

  • Oshiomhole has done well, says Ehioge-Idahosa

    Oshiomhole has done well, says Ehioge-Idahosa

    A FORMER House of Representatives member and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, West Ehioge-Idahosa, has said Governor Adams Oshiomhole has given the state a new look in the last six years.

    He urged the governor to ensure that a credible candidate succeeded him to avoid drawing the state backward.

    The three-term lawmaker, who was among PDP’s senatorial aspirants in Edo South in the party’s primary, spoke yesterday with our reporter.

    He said: “There is no question of whether or not the governor has performed. Even though I want to deny the governor of some credit because he is in the All Progressives Congress (APC) while I am in the PDP, but my conscience will not allow me to completely deny him the credit.

    “When you fly into Benin, for example, and take an aerial look of the city, you will see that things have changed. They are no longer what they used to be.”

     

  • Oshiomhole congratulates Emir, Tambuwal

    Oshiomhole congratulates Emir, Tambuwal

    Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has congratulated the Emir of Zaria, Alhaji Shehu Idris, on his 40th coronation anniversary.

    He also felicitated with House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal on his 49th birthday.

    In a letter to the emir, Oshiomhole said: “I heartily write on behalf of the Government and the good people of Edo State to pay tribute and celebrate with Your Royal Highness on this momentous occasion of your landmark 40th coronation anniversary, as Emir of Zazzau.

    “Under Your Royal Highness’s glorious reign, the Zazzau Emirate witnessed phenomenal socio-economic, political, educational and cultural advancement and, more than at any time in its history affirmed its status, as a world-renowned Emirate, centre of learning and scholarship, and a home for all Nigerians.

    “Despite the fast-changing Nigeria’s developmental trajectory, it is significant that Your Royal Highness has remained a veritable bridge builder and a stabilizing force across the generational, religious, regional and inter-continental divides, which further affirmed your enduring relevance and the respect you command amongst your subjects and non-subjects alike…”

    To Tambuwal, the governor said: “It is significant that at such a young age, you have chosen the path less travelled and accordingly re-defined the Nigerian political landscape by your uncommon courage, discipline, selflessness and patriotism.  “This is evident in your unequivocal identification with the hopes and aspiration of Nigerian people, in our quest to build a more just, fair and democratic nation. It is no longer in contention that by dint of hard work, honesty and humility you have raised the bar in political representation and parliamentary governance.

    “It is also worthy of note that you have stood as a bright spot in the Nigerian political firmament, a beacon of hope and a symbol of what an ideal politician should be. All patriotic Nigerians appreciate the quality of leadership you have provided, as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, which no doubt will go down in Nigeria’s legislative history, as a watershed in entrenching democratic values and constitutionalism in the Nigerian polity.

    “As we all reflect on the significance of this day, it is quite apposite to say that everything points to a future of immense possibilities for your good self, the people of Sokoto State and the nation at large, as you get set to assume the mantle of leadership in a new capacity, as Governor of Sokoto State.”

     

  • Igbinedion is devil’s advocate, says Oshiomhole

    Igbinedion is devil’s advocate, says Oshiomhole

    Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has accused the Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, and his Independent Television (ITV), of being the devil’s advocates.

    The governor accused them of churning out falsehood to discredit his administration.

    Oshiomhole was reacting to a report by the station that his aides beat up a Catholic priest last weekend at Ujogba in Edo Central Senatorial District when Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola was inaugurating some projects.

    The report said Rev. Peter Udo was beaten to a state of coma for allegedly refusing to leave the road for the governor’s convoy to pass.

    It said Rev. Udo had been discharged from hospital and that an unnamed parish priest at the locality said the perpetrators were begging.

    In a statement yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Peter Okhiria, the governor said he was not at Ujogba last weekend, as the station reported.

    The statement reads: “We watched with great shock the concocted news that was reported by ITV, owned by a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, stating that the governor’s aides beat up a reverend father at Ujogba. The report is not only callous, malicious and wicked but also clearly portrays ITV and its proprietor as the devil’s advocates who churn out falsehood to denigrate the Oshiomhole administration.

    “The governor, as the father of everybody in the state, would never encourage anyone to beat up anybody, let alone directing that a priest of God, from whom he receives the Holy Communion, be beaten up.

    “If the purported incident as reported by ITV were correct, why has the church, which has unfettered access to the governor, not reported the incident?

    “We use this medium to call on ITV to retract the said offensive report and tender an unreserved apology to the Governor, through the same station for dragging the governor’s name into a matter totally unconnected to him.”

    Spokesman of the Catholic Diocese in Edo, Rev. Stephen said no report of any reverend father being beaten up had been made to the diocese.

    He said: “Allow me to do my holy work. I was with the Bishop this morning. He did not say anything like that. We are not aware of any such thing.”

  • Oshiomhole: UNIBEN got three-year quit notice on govt property

    Oshiomhole: UNIBEN got three-year quit notice on govt property

    Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has said the state government served authorities of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) a notice, three years ago, to vacate eighteen properties belonging to the Edo State Government, but rather than vacate, they took the government to court.

    The Governor said to fulfill all righteousness, the government waited for the court to deliver judgment, which it did on December 16, last year, ordering the university authorities to vacate the said properties “forthwith” ruling that the 18 properties belonged to the state government.

    According to him, having waited from December 16, 2014 for the illegal tenants to vacate the properties and they refused, the government took steps granted by the court to recover the properties in the interest of the people of the state.

    Fielding questions from journalists on the issue, Tuesday, Oshiomhole said as the Governor, he has a duty and responsibility to hold in trust and protect all assets belonging to the People of Edo State that are entrusted to the government of the State.

    He said, “As the Governor of this state, I have responsibility and duty to protect the interest and asset of Edo State and those properties are not in the names of any individual. They are in the names of Edo State Government and we cannot fold our hands and allow individuals to continue to occupy properties belonging to Edo State Government and paying rents to the wrong authority. I remain firm that if the interest of Edo State is involved, I must stand firm and execute it without fear or favor and that is exactly what we have done.”

    Giving a background on how the properties got to the university authorities, he said: “As I am sure you will recall, when UNIBEN was set up, the then Military Governor, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, in his wisdom, decided as a young institution to assist some of the officers and staff with accommodation and so, some houses were made available to accommodate some of the staff of UNIBEN.

    “However, they have occupied these properties without paying any rent to Edo State Government but a couple of years ago, just before I assumed office as governor, the Federal Government in line with the policy of monetization under which salaries of employees including other allowances were abolished so that rather than provide these for certain categories of public officers, they were to be paid in lieu of either official quarters or cars.

    “Subsequently, the Federal Government announced the policy under which they had put on sale all apartments and quarters occupied by public officers having monetized the allowances of such officers and so, in Edo State, Federal Government and some of its agencies had published their intention to sell off the houses that were previously occupied by Public officers.”