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Tag: OSUNBOR

  • Give education more money, says Osunbor

    Give education more money, says Osunbor

    Former Edo State Governor Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor has urged the Federal Government to increase budgetary allocation to the education sector.

    Osunbor said it was sad that Nigeria was yet to emulate developed countries of world, which he said, has highest budgetary priority on education.

    He spoke yesterday at the 2015 World Teachers’ Day in Benin, Edo State.

    The former governor said: “It is very important for government at all levels to improve their budgeting for education. If you look at developed countries, you will find out that their budget for education is always the highest.”

    Governor Adams Oshiomhole said his administration had continued to demonstrate its support for quality education, through the payment of teachers’ salaries and provision of a conducive learning environment.

    “We cannot boast that we have conquered all problems. But you can also understand that what matters in governance is the statement of your intention and the credible steps to solve the problems as the come, put them behind you and march on.

    State Chairman of the NUT, Mr. Mike Uhunmwangho, said Nigeria failed to meet the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) target for education because it failed to put its educational system right.

  • Group seeks support for Osunbor’s governorship bid

    Group seeks support for Osunbor’s governorship bid

    Ahead of the 2016 governorship election in Edo state, a socio-Political group in the state, the Edo Visionary Network, Tuesday charged the leaders and people of Edo Central senatorial district to realize their dream of producing the next governor of the state after the expiration of Governor Adams Oshiomhole by backing the governorship ambition of Prof.Osarhiemen Osunbor.

    The group described Prof.Osunbor as a man with great vision and potentials and regretted that the internal politics of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which culminated to the Appeal Court ruling in 2008, led to his short stay in office.

    The former governor had earlier this year dumped the PDP for the APC.

    The group led by Comrade Innocent Ebhotemen, which had in November 2014, urged the former governor to declare his ambition to run for the 2016 governorship election under the All progressives Congress (APC), commended him for his recent declaration for the 2016 governorship election and urged all Esan sons and daughters to unite behind him.

    According to the statement, “the record of Prof.Osunbor as a two-time senator and a governor speaks volume of his capacity and excellent inclination.

    “At this maternal time in the history of the state we believe he possesses a credential no other aspirant would be able to match.

    “Senator Osunbor holds the promise of superlative continuity that Edo people desire after Governor Oshiomhole must have creditably discharged himself and retired from the stage. Osunbor holds the hope for the entire Edo people.

    “He also represents the hope of the entire indigenes of Edo Central senatorial district who legitimately yearn for their zone on the principle of equitable rotation of power to occupy the office of the governor of Edo state and have full tenure of service to the fatherland.

    “We want to especially plead with the leaders and members of the APC to which Osunbor now belongs to in the fullness of time to entrust Osunbor with the mandate to represent the party and subsequently to serve the state,” it stated.

     

  • Why I dumped PDP, ex-Gov Osunbor

    Why I dumped PDP, ex-Gov Osunbor

    A former Governor of Edo State, Prof Oserheimen Osunbor said he decided to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC) because the PDP does not have the interest of the people at heart.

    Speaking at a rally where he formally decamped to the APC, Tuesday, Osunbor said: “sometimes in February 2012, I reflected on my journey in politics and realized that the people in my party at that time (PDP) did not have the interest of the people of Edo State in mind and that was why during that election I cast my vote in favor of the re-election of the Comrade Governor. I told all my supporters across Edo State to give their votes to him and what did we see? 18 over 18.

    “I did that because I was convinced that the Comrade Governor has the interest of the ordinary people at heart but the people in my former party, the PDP, didn’t have the interest of the common man at heart.”

    The former Governor said, “In the local government elections, I supported the ACN as it were then but and all the while I have been supporting the APC and the election of 2 weeks ago, I cast my vote for the candidate of APC and I told my supporters to vote for APC candidates. I also reflected and saw that within APC are my friends. Why should I be in exile while my friends are in APC, so I decided to come home from political exile to realign with the Comrade Governor and APC in Edo State. The government at the Federal is APC and the Government at the State is APC, what will you benefit if you vote for PDP? He asked.

    In his response, Governor Adams Oshiomhole said, “today for me is historic for several reasons. This is the first formal public display of the bond of unity, friendship and comradeship between Prof. Osunbor and Comrade Oshiomhole. I am sure you all know that I took over from Prof. Osunbor under very hostile condition and today it is to his credit, his large heart and my own purity of heart that whereas governors who smoothly change power today are at war against each other in many parts of Nigeria, in Edo State, the immediate past and the present are bonded together by the broom in a common commitment to work and sustain positive changes in our state and indeed in our great country.”

    Oshiomhole added, “Prof. Osunbor, I want to thank you for your courage and for putting the bigger issue before the smaller issue and like you said demonstrating publicly what you have always done with us privately. May God bless your decision and all those who have come with you in their renewed hope in our mission of change.

    “For me, it is a fulfillment of a long dream. Like he said, Prof. has shown a large heart. For many people, once you have a little quarrel they never forgive and politicians are worse for that and like he recalled, before my second reelection, Prof. Osunbor was there for me not secretly, he told everybody to vote for me and he made a statement that will be recorded in our history.

    “There are many who will say, ‘I will never forgive him’ but that is not Prof.  For me, your coming has not just completely healed wounds, it has strengthened us and it will make a very important mark in the heart of many of our young people who should learn the spirit of forgiveness, the spirit of downplaying personal issues and supporting the bigger question.

    He continued: “The election that took place last week has already settled one major problem that we have had in this state, the problem of political godfatherism. That is now buried forever and history will record it in our favor that together we buried godfatherism in our state and in the country. We now have a state that will be led by younger generation of leaders whose actions and interest in politics is about development. We have radically moved away from politics of exclusion to politics of inclusion. From politics of who do you know to politics of everybody matters.”

    While admitting the Professor into the APC family, Oshiomhole assured that a bigger ceremony will be held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium to receive him.

  • Gbemi Saraki, Osunbor, Onoja, others join APC

    THE wave of defections from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continued yesterday with more prominent members of the party joining the All Progressives Congress (APC), along with thousands of their supporters.

    Leading the group was a former governorship aspirant of the PDP in Kwara State, Senator Gbemisola Saraki, who announced her decision in Ilorin.

    The party’s youth leader, Chief Segun Olawoyin, also joined the APC at a colourful ceremony in Offa Local Government Area.

    Saraki said she left the PDP because of animosity and personal humiliation she suffered because of her identity as a Saraki offspring.

    Also yesterday, the Vice President-elect, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, received over 5,000 defectors in Southern Kaduna area.  Receiving the new members, Osinbajo flayed the PDP for  harming the Nigerian nation, using religion and playing divisive politics.

    The vice president-elect told the  leadership of churches in Southern Kaduna Senatorial District that  only righteousness would redeem Nigeria and not manipulation of religion for political power.

    According to him, if Nigerians didn’t stand up to kill corruption, the menace would kill the country and collapse its weak institutions.

    Osinbajo: “The PDP has done more harm for Nigeria using religion and playing the religious card to just consolidate power. It is dangerous and more deadly for this nation. I am here to say that only righteousness exalts a nation. The people of Southern Kaduna must rise up  to ensure that manipulators of religion are defeated.

    “What Nigerians need is nothing but a government that will make necessary sacrifice for peace and development of the country.”

    The state APC governorship candidate, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, said: “I am pleased with the people of Southern Kaduna because we did well during the presidential election. The results clearly shows that PDP is being wiped out of Southern Kaduna and the entire state.

    ”Before, they used to write results. But this time around, the people insisted for change. We got one House of Representatives seat, it was almost three but for some deliberate diversion. And we will go to court.”

    Prominent among the defectors are Maj-Gen. S.B.S. Biliyock (rtd); a former member of House of Representatives, Ruth Jummai Ango; former Commissioner and Attorney General Zakari A. Sogfa; and 114 immediate past councillors from eight local government areas.

    From Niger State, former Secretary to the State Government Adams Erena also pulled out with 5,000 critical stakeholders in the PDP to the APC.

    The new APC members include a member of the state House of Assembly, former commissioners, local government chairmen and former PDP grassroots leaders. They were received at a mega rally in Minna, the state capital.

    The state Deputy Governor, Ahmed Musa Ibeto, who dumped the PDP in January, received the defectors and urged them to work for the success of the party in the governorship and state House of Assembly elections on Saturday.

    In Edo State, a former governor, Prof. Osarhiemen Osunbor, announced his defection to the APC.

    Osunbor, who was governor from May 2007 to November 2008, declared for APC with his supporters at Iruekpen, Esan West Local Government Area.

    The defection came a few hours after a former Provost Marshal of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier-General Idada Ikponmwen also defected to the APC.

    Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole, who received the former governor and others, attributed the defection to God’s will and the performance of the party..

    He said: “ I will be working with a respected professor of Law like you and many of your supporters. We thank God for what he has used us to achieve. I appeal to our people to vote for our APC House of Assembly candidates because they will help me to develop the state rapidly. And with the APC government at the top, the sky is our limit.”

    In Benue State, former Katsina State Military Administrator Gen. Lawrence Onoja; a former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant, Dr. Mathias Oyigeya, and other chieftains were yesterday received into the APC.

    The reception took place at the playground of Jesus College, Otukpo in Benue South.

    Chief Agbo Oga, former Chief of Staff to Senate President David Mark, Chief Mike Iduma, and Major Lawrence Ugbo (rtd), former PDP state chairmen and Mr. Peter Ochijele, a former member of the Benue State Executive Council were also received into APC.

    Others were Chief John Ochoga, former Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Mr. Mike Inalegwu and Mrs. Theresa Ikwue, former Agatu and Okpokwu chairmen, as well as Chief Inalegwu Ode, former Chief Press Secretary to the governor.

    General Onoja explained that the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, was his senior at a military institution in the United Kingdom and that having also served as Military Administrator of his home Katsina State, military tradition required that he lined up behind him.

    He said he also decided to end what he described as his political sabbatical to collaborate with other progressives to emancipate people of Benue South Senatorial District.

    He assured that incoming APC government would not disappoint Nigerians and urged the people to deliver block votes to the APC in Saturday’s governorship and state assembly elections.

    Iduma stated that they took the decision to deepen democracy, join the battle against corruption and to support the election of Dr. Samuel Ortom and his running mate, Mr. Benson Abounu.

    APC leader in Benue State Senator George Akume said they took the right decision by leaving “a sinking ship”.

    Senator Akume was represented by his wife, Chief Regina Akume.

    In Warri, Itsekiri youth leader and former PDP mobiliser Chief Ayiri Emami confirmed his move from the PDP to the APC.

    Emami, a Warri palace chief and an ally of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, said he was leaving the PDP in the interest of the  Itsekiri nation, adding that he would be working to deliver the Emerhor candidature in the gubernatorial election.

    Emami said: “I am urging my Ijaw brothers to abandon this PDP ship because it is sinking in Delta State due to the overbearing attitude of one man. Their interest in the PDP is not protected. Instead, it is the interest of one individual, who sees his family and personality as greater than the others.”

  • Osunbor sues NHRC for indictment over electoral offences

    Former Edo State Governor Professor Oserheimen Osunbor has sued the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) over its recent recommendation to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) that the ex-governor and other individuals be prosecuted for alleged violation of electoral laws.

    Osunbor, in the suit initiated via originating summons, marked; FHC/ABJ/CS/374/2014 filed before the Federal High Court, Abuja, queried the powers of the NHRC to make such recommendations to the AGF and accused  the commission of denying him fair hearing in the proceedings leading to the production of its report of February this year.

    But the NHRC has insisted that it acted within its powers. The commission had, after reviewing the various judgments by courts and election tribunals, suggested to the AGF that some 41 people, including Osunbor, allegedly indicted in the judgments, be prosecuted for election related offences.

    Osunbor, who is seeking N500million in damages “for the mental agony, torture, pain and psychological trauma” allegedly caused him by the report by the NHRC, raised four questions for the court’s determination and and sought seven reliefs.

    He wants an injunction restraining the NHRC and its agents from taking any step or action to circulate the report or produce any other one or a final report in furtherance of the earlier published initial report and a declaration that, by the combined provisions sections 5 and 6 of NHRC Act, Section 214 of the Constitution and Section 4 of the Police Act, the defendant lacks the powers to investigate electoral offences as stipulated in sections 124 and 139 of Electoral Act 2006.

    The plaintiff also seeks a declaration that the defendant, in exercise of its powers under sections 5 and 6 of the NHRC Act, the commission is bound to follow the extant provisions of Section 36 of the Constitution and the rules of natural justice. He wants the court to declare that the recommendation contained in its initial report of February 2014, as it relates to the plaintiff, are ultra vires, null and void.

    He equally wants the court to declare that the NHRC “is not empowered by law to review the judgment of a competent court or tribunal and to arrive at a different conclusion from that of the court or tribunal for the purpose of indicting the plaintiff for criminal prosecution.”

    Last Tuesday, plaintiff’s lawyer, Udu Diegbe told the court that though the defendant was served with processes in relation to the suit, it is yet to file any response. NHRC was also not represented by any lawyer, forcing the trial judge, Justice Evoh Chukwu to adjourn to October 7 for mention.

    The NHRC had last year constituted a Technical Working Group (TWG) comprising of academics in the field of Law to carry out a general review of those indicted for electoral offences in judgments by the courts and election tribunals.

    The TWG submitted its initial report, where it found that some individuals and institutions indicted by the various election petition tribunals and courts of record were identified, but were not prosecuted as required under the Electoral Act.

    Relying on the provisions of sections 5 and 6 of the NHRC Act, the commission recommended the AGF, the prosecution of those the TWG found to have been indicted in the various judgments it reviewed. The commission said the recommendation was pursuant to its powers under Section 6 (1) of the NHRC Act 1995 as amended.

    One those recommended for prosecution is Prof Osunbor. His inclusion, the NHRC said, is in relation to the findings of the election tribunal in the petition by Governor Adams Oshiomhole, where the tribunal came out with criminal and administrative indictments against the respondents in the case.

    Also recommended for prosecution were former Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Clarence Olafemi; former Ekiti State Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs Ayoka Adebayo, and an Assistant Superintendent of Police, Christopher Oloyede.

    The case against Mrs Adebayo, according to the NHRC, was in relation to her role in the election in Ekiti State as captured in the tribunal’s finding in the judgment in the petition by Governor Kayode Fayemi against Mr.Olusegun Oni and others.

    The NHRC said on ASP Christopher Oloyede, the Court of Appeal held: “The evidence on record showed that a policeman, ASP Christopher Oloyede, signed an election result sheet as a party agent on behalf of the PDP. This is an illegality and violation of electoral rules both by INEC and the police.”

     

  • Oshiomhole, Osunbor for N150m school fund raiser

    Old students of Holy Trinity Grammar School, Sabongida Ora, Edo State will gather at their alma mater on Saturday to raise N150 million.

    First Vice-Chairman of the old students association (Lagos State chapter), Mr Godwin Dudu Orumen said at a briefing in Lagos that the funds will be used to improve facilities in the school that has produced many illustrious alumni. One of them, Prof Osareme Osunbor, will chair the occasion which will have Governor Adams Oshiomhole as Special Guest of Honour. Mr Tony Ezekiel, chairman of IFEX Furniture and a son of Sabongida Ora, is the chief launcher.

    Orumen said the funds realised will be used to purchase laboratory equipment, improve sports facilities; upgrade hostels, provide bore hole and generator, including remunerations for science teachers. He said the association is doing this all to complement the state government’s rehabilitation efforts and restore the school’s lost glory.

    He said: “The school is okay but not in the state we want it to be. The laboratory is practically non existent. The world today is science-oriented. So we want to leave an authentic legacy. There are no science teachers in the school; and if we have all the equipment without teachers, then there is still a problem. We will make representations to the government to provide science teachers, but if the funds, will be a problem, we plan to provide emolument for five years for the science teachers.

    “The hostels are dilapidated. We want to renovate a couple of hostels; put boreholes in place and make the system run like it used to.”

    Speaking on previous efforts by the school’s alumni, the second Vice-Chairman of the association, Mr Philip Eseile, said the Lagos State chapter recently raised N5 million which was used to provide furniture for the laboratory. He expressed confidence that Saturday’s programme would help the old students further improve the school.

    “We, on our own, were able to raise over N5 million which we used to put the furniture in the laboratory. The government renovated the building. That was the first phase of the project which was commissioned in February. This is the second phase,” he said.

    Remembering how Holy Trinity Grammar School was in his time, Orumen said: “The entire school was a community then. Many of our teachers were old boys. It was a tremendous atmosphere at the time.

    “We used to have American Peace Corps coming to teach us. Sports were very vibrant. We had two tennis courts; football pitch, and others. I made most of my best friends from that time.”