Tag: Oshiomhole
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Oshiomhole re-affirms asphalt track construction, calls for partnership
EDO State governor, Adams Oshiomhole has reaffirmed the construction of asphalt tracks for motor bike (sport) race at Evbobanosa Community near Benin City, Edo State.
The governor represented by his deputy, Dr. Pius Odubu, made the statement at the weekend during the “Easter (Motor bike) Race” organised by Motocross Naija at the race circuit in Evbonosa
Speaking during the occasion that was well attended by people from all walks of life, the deputy governor reiterated that, “I want to assure the organisers of this bike race that the Comrade Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has maintained that the construction of an asphalt track he promised will be fulfilled.
“You know the Comrade is an action man who keeps to his words. Thank God, the asphalt track construction is already in the budget; when we start implementing the budget the construction will definitely commence in earnest,” Odubu told journalists.
The governor also used the opportunity to call on individuals and corporate organisations to take advantage of the tourism potential that abound to invest in Edo State with a view to developing sports.
This development, the governor said, will also help to appreciate the efforts of the initiator of the motor bike sport, Comrade Oduagbon Okao, who is also the president of Motocross Naija.
In the event of the day, however, Jerry Omigie of D-Brown Racing Club snatched the first position in a time of 0:25:08m as John Obasogie of Sniper Racing Club came second in a time of 0:25:18m.
Sadly, Omoruyi Onyeka of Metallic Horse Racing Club could not maintain the first position he won in December’s Race as he settled for the third spot in a time 0:25:44m.
A total of 15 riders from five racing clubs – D-Brown, Sniper, Metallic Horse, Core and Pathways Racing had contested for the 10 laps meandering race which now comes up on quarterly bases as against the monthly race.
Other dignitaries at the occasion include the Enogie of Evbobanosa dukedom, Prince (Prof) G. Iduorobo Akenzua, former Nigeria Premier League (NPL) Board Chairman, Oyuki Jackson Obaseki among others.
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Oshiomhole preaches sacrifice, righteousness
GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State says Nigeria will attain her full potentials when citizens resolve to live a life of sacrifice and righteousness.
In his Easter message by his chief press secretary, Mr. Peter Okhiria, Oshiomhole said: “As we commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who gave his life as a sacrifice for mankind, I enjoin the Christian faithful to toe the footsteps of their progenitor and emulate his spirit of peace, love, sacrifice and righteousness.
“The Bible teaches that ‘righteousness exalts a nation’. We must therefore be ready to wear the garment of righteousness in our dealings with one another; we must imbibe the spirit of love for one another and forgiveness to heal the wounds of the nation.”
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Oshiomhole, Adoke exchange hot words over Olaitan’s murder
THERE was tension yesterday at the State House, Abuja, prior to the beginning of the National Council of State (NCS) meeting.
Two Council members – Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke and Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole were locked in verbal war.
It was on the investigation and prosecution of those held in connection with the murder of Oshiomhole’s Principal Private Secretary, Mr. Olaitan Oyerinde.
Oshiomhole got angry when Adoke asked questions on the matter. It took the intervention of his colleagues to calm him down before President Goodluck Jonathan arrived at the Executive Council Chamber for the meeting.
Fielding questions from reporters shortly after the meeting on what informed his reaction, Oshiomhole said that it was an issue that he would not want to talk about.
But he accused the Attorney-General of trivialising the murder case of his former aide and insisted that Adoke ought to know where to direct his questions, particularly to the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in Edo State, who, he said, referred the case that ought to be handled in the state to Abuja.
He said: “I don’t think it is an issue I want to talk about. This issue is that he was saying my Attorney General should have known what to do, that he has nothing to do with the matter and I simply asked him who referred the matter to him. Was it my Attorney General?”
“The matter was referred to him by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police and I asked him who should know better? If the Deputy Inspector-General of Police referred a matter that he ought to have referred to the state, to the Federal Attorney-General, who is the one dragging him into the matter, who is the one politicising the matter.”
He said the Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) who knew that the murder was committed in Edo State should also have known that the issue ought to be handled by the State Attorney-General for prosecution.
The Governor stressed that even if someone does not like his person, his office should be respected as an elected governor of Edo State.
He went on: “Should we assume that the DIG did not know that murder is a state offence? And if he knows it’s a state offence, why did he refer it to the federal Attorney-General, so, if there are complains, he should be to the DIG who referred the case to him. The rest you witness.
“The point is that, I am an elected governor, he has to respect my office even if he doesn’t respect my person. In any event, we are dealing with factual issues. If a case was wrongfully referred to the federal Attorney General by the Police, who is to blame? We also complained that this matter ought to have been referred to the Edo State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) not the federal’s, because it is a state offence committed in Edo state.
“It is like the case of a he goat. When the family is happy, its members sacrifice the he goat to celebrate, when the child is sick, the native doctor says sacrifice the he goat so that the child will be well; so head or tail, the he goat is in trouble.”
Oshiomhole said he was disturbed that a senior official was trivialising the murder of his private secretary when the essence of governance should be to protect peoples’ lives and properties.
He said: “My private secretary was killed and nobody seems to bother, I am doing my best to raise the issue because that is the least I owe to someone who gave his life; and someone else who does not think life is important, it is a matter to trivalise and joke about.
“When it comes to life and death, I don’t joke. You don’t joke with life and death. The essence of governance is to protect life and property. That is fundamental. Even in poverty, people need to feel safe and secured. Nobody has a right under our constitution to take the life of another, except if it has been confirmed by a court of competent jurisdiction.
“I was surprised that for the Attorney-General, it is something he can afford to joke with, telling me that my Attorney-General didn’t know what to do.
On the way forward, he said: “I always tell the people that all of us are in power today, none of us will be in power tomorrow. If we leave Nigeria worse off, we will wallow in a hopeless situation. If you build it and make it safe, we will walk in freedom. But let us all know that all of us today, your next position is ex this and ex that.
“I am always conscious of that. And therefore, let that guide our conscience and actions. Left for me, the issue of the death of any Nigerian and in particular, someone who has worked with me is not something I can compromise. Those who think they can compromise it, we leave them in the hands of God.”
But when confronted yesterday, Adoke said: “I will not disregard his office, he is my personal friend: I have the highest respect for him, he is a governor of a state in this country but I will not join issues with him.
“I did not trivialise his office and I have no reason to trivialise his office. He is at liberty as a governor to say whatever he wants to say but I will accord his office the highest respect and I will not join issues with him.”
The NCS comprise the President, all former Heads of State, all former Chief Justices , President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, all governors and the Attorney-General of the federation.
The body advises the President on the prerogative of mercy, awards of national honours, appointment of members of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the National Judicial Council (NJC), the National Population Commission (NPC) and the National Population Census (NPC) issues.
Although the issues discussed at yesterday’s meeting were not disclosed, they must have ranged from state security, Police and the killing of the seven foreigners held hostage by Islamic fundamentalist group- Ansaru,, Boko Haram , among others.
In attendance were Governors Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Peter Obi (Anambra); Emmanuel Uduaghan(Delta); Murtala Nyako (Adamawa); Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe); Comrade Adams Oshimhole(Edo); Liyel Imoke (Cross River) and Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers).
Former Heads of States including Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Gen. Yakubu Gowon and Chief Ernest Shonekan also attended. Senate President David Mark and House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal were also at the meeting.
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Oshiomhole swears in 18 new commissioners
Eighteen commissioners have been inaugurated by Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, without assigning them any portfolio.
The governor charged them to brace up for the challenges that will drive the changes required to fast-track the development of the state.
Speaking shortly after administering the oath of office on the commissioners in Government House, Benin City yesterday, Oshiomhole said: “I expect you to do better as we are no longer learning the curves.
“Let me congratulate you on your appointment. You will notice for those who are coming back I say welcome.”
Oshiomhole said his victory in the eighteen local governments of the state was a testimony to the collective efforts of the last cabinet.
“Your re-appointment is simply to say we appreciated your contributions and with you, I will have old colleagues with whom we can have the necessary changes,” he stressed.
Commenting on the integrity of the cabinet, he said: “They are also men and women who I believe are no longer strangers to me having worked with them either within the party or outside the party.”
He charged them to justify the confidence reposed in them.
According to him: “Every local government expects that their vote will be rewarded with development. Every community must feel the presence of a government that works and a government that cares and one that appreciates that the people are the master and those in government are the stewards.”
Barrister Osarodion Ogie, who spoke on behalf of the new commissioners, thanked the governor for the appointment.
He said: “I want to assure you that we accept the challenge of bringing to fruition your electoral promises. We are prepared and fit to bring your electoral promises to fruition”.
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Magazine’s report damaged my reputation, Oshiomhole tells court
GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, on Friday, told a High Court sitting in Benin City how a soft-sell magazine, News of the People, published a story which damaged his reputation and plunged his family into agony.
Testifying in Suit No B/556/2011, against Dockland Communications Limited, publishers of News of the People magazine (1st defendant) and Amzat Loye, Publisher (2nd defendant), Oshiomhole told the court, presided over by Justice Efe Ikponmwonba, that the magazine deliberately published the fictitious story to impugn his character.
In a question and answer session with the counsel to the magazine Mr. Yinka Muyiwa, Oshiomhole, who is seeking N250 million damages against the magazine, said one of his brother governors even called him to know if the report was true.
The session went thus:
Defendant’s counsel: Your Excellency, Mr Governor, presently you are not married.
Oshiomhole: Yes.
Defendant’s counsel: As an unmarried man, you are free to mingle,
Oshiomhole: I am a public officer, and as you have rightly pointed out as a governor, what I do or fail to do is important. My character is important and people’s opinion of my personal life is important. My children are still in agony. The magazine published this just a few months after my wife passed away and this publication coincided with my daughter’s wedding. A governor who I invited to the wedding asked me if I was the one going to wed or my daughter. Your image as a public officer is very important.”
The counsel who asked the governor to show how his character was damaged and if he was referred to as a drug addict in the publication caused the governor to read a portion of the publication thus ‘one wonders if he takes enhancement drugs’. The governor explained to the court that his conclusion and that of many people who called him was that he uses drugs.
The counsel told the governor that despite the publication he won the election, to which Oshiomhole said: “After this publication, I had very serious family crisis because my children were still in grief over the death of their mother. Yes, I won the election in spite of the publication. The votes could have been more if not for this publication.”
The magazine had in its report in one of its publications of 2011 used the headline on the front page and page 19, thus: “Oshiomhole’s sex power exposed: Impregnates young girl six months after death of wife”, which the governor found libellous.
Hearing in the case continues.
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Give us more commissioners, Akoko-Edo tells Oshiomhole
A group, Akoko Edo Renaissance’ has appealed to Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole to appoint the indigenes of Akoko-Edo as com-
missioners. The group said Akoko-Edo council is the oldest and largest local government in the state, adding that it deserves more that a slot in the ca binet.
In a letter to the governor signed by the group’s National Coordinator, Jude Obasanmi, National Secretary Peter Ogunubi and Publicity Secretary Damisa Ojegbai, the association also reminded the governor about his promise to make the council a centre of development.
The group noted that, since it was created in 1956, Akoko-Edo Council has remained one local government, adding that the indigenes have also been contributing to the growth and development of the state.
It added: “We use this opportunity to make a special appeal to you to use your good office and discretion in favour of Akoko Edo by appointing two commissioners from the local government. We have suffered marginalisation for decades. Akoko Edo is too vast a local government area to be represented by a single commissioner.
“Since the Midwestern Region was carved out of the Western Region of Nigeria by plebiscite in 1956, Akoko Edo area has remained a virtual desert outpost; a hilly landscape without the attention it deserves. In the 52 years of preaching federalism and three decade of minority rights activism, our local government area has remained stagnant while other councils have been divided into three or more councils.
“In actualizing your second term vision, you need a team of committed and dynamic people to complement your mass appeal, popularity and doggedness. Akoko Edo is blessed with many intelligent men and women who can adequately represent our interest in your cabinet”.
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Agba, Odion, Oroh on Edo Commissioner nominees list
The Edo State commissioner nominees list has been presented to the state House of Assembly on Wednesday.
Speaker of the House, Hon. Uyi Igbe announced the letter from Governor Adams Oshiomhole containing the commissioner nominees names which was read by the Clerk of the house.
Ten former commissioners in the first tenure of Comrade Oshiomhole made the eighteen-man list of the nominees.
The former commissioners are, Clem Agba, Louis Odion, Francis Evbuomwan, Inegbedion John, Ekpenisi Omorotiomwan, Chief Lucky James, Donald Osikhena, Abdul Oroh, Chris Ebare, and Jemitola AAnena.
The new ones are, Osarodion Ogie, Patrick Aguinede, Omorede Osifo, Lawrance Aghedo, Orobosa Omo—Ojo, Blessing Oghumu, Mald-donald Osememe
Governor Oshiomhole who solicited the cooperation of the house in screening the commissioner nominees, said he is in hurry to deliver the much need amenities to Edo people.
The Speaker however asked the commissioner nominees to submit thirty copies of their credentials to the committee on Business and Rules headed by the Majority Leader, Hon. Philip Shaibu.
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I won’t finance tour, says Oshiomhole
The Edo State Government has said it will not finance the Good Governance Tour programme of the Federal Ministry of Information.
Governor Adams Oshiomhole said this at an interactive session with the public on taxation.
The governor said the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, who asked him to provide accommodation and feeding for over 120 delegates on the tour.
He added that the government was also asked to rent a hall and organise a stakeholders meeting for the tour.
Oshiomhole insisted that he would not spend the state’s money on the tour.
The governor said he kicked against the suggestion that states should sponsor the tour when the matter was raised at the Governors’ Forum meeting.
He said members of the tour would be well received in the state but that he would not spend the state resources to show projects executed by the government, which according to him, the people have seen.
Oshiomhole said it was inappropriate for the state to finance any Federal Government programme because any official trip he made to Abuja was not financed by the Federal Government.
