The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Philip Shaibu

  • ‘APC is gaining more grounds with defections’

    Edo State Deputy Governor, Hon Philip Shaibu, has argued that the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) is gaining more grounds despite the defections of many chieftains from the party.

    Hon Shaibu who predicted that the APC would win more states in next year’s general election said President Muhammadu Buhari has more relevance than the defections in many of their home states.

    Shaibu who spoke to newsmen in Bénin City stated that the APC is now very strong in the South South and in the South East regions.

    He said the APC would come out stronger and united after the party primaries.

    The Edo Deputy Governor noted that any political party like the APC that is determined to get the grassroots involved in its primaries has won the election “because it is the grassroots that will vote after the primaries.’

    Read Also: Chairman urges support of girl child education in Katsina

    His words, “We are going to win more states in 2019. Opposition will always see danger whenever the ruling party wants to do something. During our congresses, they said we will scatter but we came out strong.

    “National convention came, they said that is where it will end but we were dancing and celebrating at the end. We came out stronger. Our primaries will make us stronger than when we went for the convention because we are democratic.

    “Every state and organ will take decision on what mode to use as the National body has directed in line with the party’s constitution on direct, indirect and consensus.

    “The preference of the party is direct primaries. Bringing the grassroots to participate and take ownership of their party. We want to completely democratize our party.“

  • Edo engages communities on intra-state boundary dispute resolution

     …urges community leaders to embrace peace

    Following an earlier meeting between the governments of Edo and her sister state, Delta, Chairman of the Edo State Boundary Committee and Deputy Governor of the state, Rt. Hon Philip Shaibu, has held a meeting with representatives of some Edo communities to resolve the lingering disputes over boundaries.

    According to Shaibu, the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration is committed to resolving all disputes in Edo communities to ensure peaceful coexistence and pave way for investments.

    In his welcome address at the intra-state boundary meeting with leaders of the communities with boundary disputes in Government House, Benin City, the Deputy Governor explained that the state government has done a lot in enthroning and maintaining law and order across the state, and urged the various community representatives to give peace a chance in their respective communities.

    He assured that the Obaseki administration has the willpower to resolve all boundary-related disputes within the state, and stressed that peace is an essential ingredient for development.

    Read Also: Flood kills two pupils in Edo

    He said: “We have a governor with private sector orientation and who has been attracting foreign investment from all over the world to take advantage of the positive economic outlook of Edo State.

    “We need peace in the state and I urge all the leaders of the various communities to embrace peace in your domain as there can’t be development without peace. I urge you all to activate love that would bring peace in your areas of influence.”

    He told the community leaders that the state government would give them three options in resolving lingering dispute over land, and explained that the first option is that the communities have a one month window which will expire on August 18, 2018, to resolve their differences and call on the government to sign, demarcate and gazette the agreed upon outcomes.

    The second option is for the parties that refuse to agree, to formally write to the government to wade into the issues and will have no option than to agree with the decisions of the state government. He added that such communities have two weeks after the expiration of the one-month period, that is, till September 1, 2018, to communicate their position to government.

    Shaibu further said that the third option will allow the state government to take over the land in dispute if the communities fail to agree on a solution, and the land will become the property of the state government.

    He urged the communities to embrace the first option and settle their disputes amicably before inviting the government to sign the document and gazette their positions.

    High Priest Nomuovbiekpen Uwague Idehen, the Ohen Obaro of Iyanomo Community, in Uhunmwode Local Government Area, and Eshiefaotsa Sylvanus of Ayogwuri Community in Etsako West Local Government Area, both in Edo State, thanked the deputy governor and the boundary dispute resolution committee for ensuring peace in the state.

    They assured that they would embrace the first option to resolve their issues themselves and invite the government thereafter.

     

  • Why Edo APC congresses were peaceful – Deputy Governor

    Edo State Deputy Governor, Mr. Philip Shaibu, has said that the state had peaceful Ward congresses because former Governor Adams Oshiomhole returned democracy to the people.

     

    Shaibu who spoke to reporter in Benin City members of the APC had been imbibed with the spirit of carrying out consultations before going into any contest.

     

    The deputy Governor said the journey to the conduct of peaceful congresses started in 2008 when Oshiomhole took over governance in the state. 

     

    According to him, “Oshiomhole was able to take the party to a level where everything became organized and peaceful and where respect was observed across the state. 

    Read Also: Police nab suspected attackers of Edo journalist

     “Democracy was returned to the people and the party members understand that u don’t do things without consultation with the people. The idea of relating with the people and let the people make their input is what we have consolidated and it was shown in the congresses. 

     

    “Everybody has to make input and if you say you want to go into full Congress; people have to come out to contest. If you want to go into consensus, it means all stakeholders must agree on one person. That ability must be seen to be free without any bias. That is what we have done.”

     

    He said the APC will win the governorship in Ekiti State.

  • Avail your children of immunisation, Obaseki urges parents, guardians

    Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo has called on parents and guardians to ensure their children will participate in this year’s National Immunisation Plus Days ( NIPDs ) Africa Vaccination Week.

    Obaseki, represented by his deputy, Mr Philip Shaibu, made the call in Benin on Friday during the flag-off of the 2018 First Round National Immunisation Week.

    He said that the flag-off ceremony was meant to sensitise the people of the state on the importance of immunising the children against child-killer diseases that were preventable with vaccines.

    The governor said that his government placed high premium on Primary Health Care, saying that it was regrettable to see future leaders suffering from preventable diseases which often led to death.

    Obaseki said that the state had not recorded any case of Polio since 2009.

    He said that he would continue to implement strategies and activities that would ensure that “every child is vaccinated and immunised’’.

    The governor said that his administration would continue to strengthen immunisation activities and would provide a holistic approach to prevention of vaccine-preventable diseases, thereby reducing infant and child morbidity and mortality.

    Earlier, the Edo National Facilitator with World Health Organisation ( WHO ), Mrs Kate Ogiugo, gave an assurance to the state government that no child would be left out.

    She said that every eligible child in the state would be vaccinated.

    Ogiugo appealed to all parents to bring their children for the vaccination, saying that the vaccines were effective and safe for children.

    NAN

  • Edo clamps down on illegal revenue collectors

    The Edo Deputy Governor, Mr Philip Shaibu, on Thursday arrested some illegal revenue collectors in Egor Local Government Area of the state.

    Shaibu who is also the Chairman of Committee on Local Government Harmonised Levies, effected the arrest, in company of the Chairman of the local government, Mrs Eghe Ogbemudia.

    He said the illegal collectors were issuing fake tickets to tax payers, adding that their nefarious activities would have negative impact on the local government’s coffers.

    Read Also: NDLEA arrests 45 in Edo, 89 in Bayelsa

    The deputy governor said that projects on roads and other infrastructure could not be executed and if taxes were not prudently collected and utilised.

    Shaibu, however, charged the people to endeavor to pay their taxes to the genuine officials and report any sharp practice by revenue collectors to the appropriate quarters.

    He charged tax payers in the state to collaborate with government to fight illegal tax collection across the state, adding that government could not do it alone.

    NAN

  • Edo tasks LG chairmen, Councillors on child immunization

    Edo Government has tasked the newly sworn-in council chairmen and councilors to join in sensitising rural dwellers on the need to make their children available for immunisation.

    It said this would assist the Obaseki’s administration in actualisng its 100 per cent coverage of the exercise.

    The State Deputy Gov. Philip Shaibu gave the charge on Thursday in Benin while addressing chairmen and councilors on the need for effective Primary Health Care Delivery at the local government level.

    Shaibu informed them that the government had been able to raise the rating of immunisation coverage to over 80 per cent, while their support was needed to reach the state’s target of 100 per cent coverage.

    Read Also:  NMA threatens to go on strike in Edo

    He advised them to personally take charge of the immunisation process in their domain and reach out to stakeholders in areas identified as non complaint.

    Mrs Faith Iyere, the State Coordinator of Word Health Organisation ( WHO ), urged the chairmen to ensure quick release of counterpart funds and ensure areas of non compliance were strictly monitored.

    Mr Patrick Agunede, the Council Chairman of Esan West Local Government, promised to address peculiarities in the area to ensure every child in the state was fully immunised.

    Agunede said that he had met with traditional rulers, religious leaders and village heads on the need to make their children available for immunisation.

    NAN

  • Protest as two factions present candidates for Edo LG polls

    Protest as two factions present candidates for Edo LG polls

    -APC to disqualify candidates

    There was massive protest at the Edo State secretariat of the All Progressive Congress ( APC ) on Thursday following the conduct of parallel primaries in Owan East local government for the March 3rd local government elections.

    Delegates from 10 wards led by the APC chairman in the locality, Mr. Roland Edeki, stormed the secretariat to demand for justice.

    The APC had on Wednesday conducted party primaries to elect its candidate for the local elections.

    But in Owan East, two candidates, Victor Ohiosumuan and Andrew Osigbe emerged at the two different primaries held at Afuze and Warrake communities respectively.

    The protesters said the party primaries held at Warrake was illegal.

    Mr. Edeki who spoke on behalf of the protesters said the party’s designated venue was the mini stadium at Afuze.

    He said the party must accept the candidacy of Barr. Ohiosumuan because they followed the directives and as such the party cannot reverse the exercise. 

    His words, “We are here to protest against the illegal primaries that was conducted by the Edo State Deputy Governor, Mr. Philip Shaibu in Owan East local government. The primaries was to be conducted at a designated venue. What happened at the mini stadium in Afuze is the correct primaries but some people went to a private residence in Warrake to hold an illegal primaries.

    “The party directed that the party should be conducted at the mini stadium. The only candidate that emerge from the primaries is Barr. Victor Ohiosuma, any other person purported to have been elected is illegal. We did not see Barr. Emmanuel Agbale. They hijacked him and took him to Warrake. Instead of coming to conduct primaries at Afuze, they went to Warrake. We are asking for justice.”

    State Chairman of the party, Barr. Anselm Ojezua, said the party was yet to look into the report submitted by the committee sent to conduct the primaries in Owan East.

    Ojezua said the some candidates would be disqualified over alleged discrepancies in their educational qualifications.

    He dismissed that protesters as thugs and not delegates that voted at the party primaries. 

    “All those people, are they party executives? We have internal mechanism to deal with issues. We have room for appeals. What I saw outside is not one of the mechanism. If the LG chairman want to protest, he should do a letter to me. Bringing a bunch of thugs to my office representing them as delegates is irresponsible on his part. 

    “We constituted committees to go and conduct primaries across the state. The venues were decided by us. No LG chairman was authorized to conduct primaries anywhere. The committee went to Owan East and they have submitted their report.”

    Spokesman for the Deputy Governor, Mr. Musa Ebhomiana, said the primaries at Warrake was the genuine one recognized by the party.

    Musa said his boss was present at the parallel primaries as the deputy governor and leader of the party in Edo North.

    He said the deputy does not determined venue for primaries but to ensure peace across the state.

  • Obaseki restates commitment to fight human trafficking

    Obaseki restates commitment to fight human trafficking

    Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo says his administration is willing to support any initiative that will curb human trafficking.

    Obaseki, represented by his Deputy, Philip Shaibu, stated this on Tuesday when he hosted the executives of the African Youth Commission at Government House, Benin.

    He said the way youths travel out of the country to be used as slaves in their host countries is unacceptable.

    Obaseki, who described human trafficking as “modern day slavery’’, noted that one of the goals of his administration was to build the capacity of youths to enable them to compete favourable with their counterparts across the world.

    “For us as a government, we believe we should reduce unemployment and also help to reduce illegal migration.

    “For us, human trafficking is not acceptable, that is why we are trying to gather not only national, but international support to check this menace,” he said.

    Obaseki said the government was investing massively in technical vocation and skills acquisition to ensure that the younger generation are adequately empowered to provide for themselves.

    Earlier, the Secretary of the African Youth Commission, Dr Carl Oshodin, said the aim of the commission was to fight against illegal migration.

    Oshodin said that the motive was to support government at all levels and make poverty history in Edo.

    NAN

  • Edo cuts traders tax by 180%

    Edo cuts traders tax by 180%

    Edo Government has granted traders in Oredo Local Government Area a 180 per cent reduction in the annual rates as tax waiver following several appeals from the traders.

    The Deputy Governor, Mr Philip Shaibu, disclosed this on Monday in Benin during a meeting with executives of the traders at Government House, Benin.

    Shaibu said that those in half shops would now pay N8,000 as against N25,000 previously, while those in full shops would pay N12, 000 as against N40,000.

    He said that the implementation of the new tax regime would commence by Nov. 27, adding that all tax payers would be notified before then.

    Shaibu said that Gov. Godwin Obaseki had directed that taxes must be collected with “human face” and urged tax payers to comply with tax collectors by paying promptly.

    The Chairman of the traders, Mr Collins Ohizu, commended the state government for the tax reduction and appealed for further reduction.

    Read Also:  Ijaw warns Obaseki against arresting Edo monarch

  • Edo traders protest excessive taxation

    Edo traders protest excessive taxation

    Some traders under the aegis of Coalition of Traders and Artisans in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo, on Wednesday marched to Edo Government House, Benin to protest alleged excessive taxation by Oredo Local Government Council.

    The protesters carried placards with different inscriptions such as: “APC why,” “Don’t imposed levies on us,” “Oredo tax from N3, 000 to N50, 000,” and “We no go pay.’’

    The spokesman of the group, Mr Sunday Ogbonnaya, said that they were variously paying N3, 000, N4, 000 and N5, 000 annually before now.

    According to him, “Officials of Oredo Council with a demand notice to us that henceforth we shall be paying our yearly levy of between N50, 000 and N100, 000 as against N3, 000, N4, 000 and N5, 000 respectively.

    “We are appealing to you to make use of your good office to prevail on the local government to as a matter of urgency withdraw the outrageous levies given to us.

    “We are law abiding citizens, as we always cooperate with the government in terms of paying our taxes regularly,” he said.

    Addressing the aggrieved traders, Gov. Godwin Obaseki, who was represented by his deputy, Mr Philip Shaibu, said that he was happy the peaceful way and manner they composed themselves.

    Obaseki, however, said that the leadership of the traders and that of the council would have a meeting with him on Monday to resolve the issues they raised