The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Taiwo Akerele

  • CSO commends Obaseki, others for domesticating open governance partnership

    A civil liberty organisation, African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD), has commended Edo State Government for demonstrating commitment to the Open Government Partnership (OGP), tailored towards promoting transparency and accountability in governance.

    In a media briefing to commemorate the 2019 OGP week in Abuja, programme coordinator, Centre LSD, Uchenna Arisukwu, commended Edo, Kaduna, Kano, Anambra, Ebonyi, Abia, Enugu, Niger, and Adamawa for signing up to and domesticating the OGP and developing a state-level action plan.

    Arisukwu explained that as OGP will “ensure transparency is adhered to in procurement systems.”

    Recall that the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) decorated Governor Godwin Obaseki, with the Open Government Champions Award, for implementing policy actions to promote fiscal transparency, anti-corruption, access to information, citizen engagement, accountability in governance and for leading the OGP campaign in the South-South region.

    Other members of the Obaseki-led administration decorated by ANEEJ for advancing principles of OGP, include Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Taiwo Akerele, and Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of the state, Prof. Yinka Omorogbe.

    Checks showed that Edo State Government signed and deployed open government portal in partnership with the World Bank eight years ago.

    In addition, the state government is deploying energy and resources to improve the ease of doing business in the state, embracing Information Communication Technology (ICT) to make government processes stress-free.

     

     

  • Obaseki inspects road projects in Amagba Community

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on Tuesday, inspected ongoing road projects in Amagba Community, Oredo Local Government Area of the state, with an assurance to provide more infrastructural projects in the area.

    Obaseki, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Taiwo Akerele, expressed satisfaction with the progress of work, noting that the state government was fulfilling its promise of infrastructural development of the state.

    “I am impressed with the work. When we came to inspect the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) Computer-Based-Test Centre in this community, the governor promised to support the host community with road projects to give easy access to the center.

    “This is a government that does not fail in keeping to its promise; in the next two years, the quality of life of people in this area will have improved.”

    The governor urged people of the community to cast a vote of confidence on his administration by voting for Osaro Obaze and Chris Okaeben, both candidates of the APC in the March 9 election in the area.

    Enogie of Amagba Community, Chief Frank Igbinenikaro, noted that the community had been deprived of good roads in the past, and commended the Governor Obaseki-led administration for putting smiles on their faces with the construction of link roads in the locality.

    Read Also: Obaseki threatens to deal with APC leaders

    “We are seeing the handwork of Governor Obaseki in our community. We are pledging continued support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and we will vote the party’s candidates in the March 9, House of Assembly election.

    Meanwhile, the Site Engineer for the WAEC CBT Road, Paul Nwankolo, said about 10 inter-connecting roads measuring 5km were being constructed. He said the WAEC CBT Road would be delivered in April.

    The entourage visited the Odionwere of Amagba and held a meeting with different communities in Amagba, Ugbor, Irhirhi, Aruogba, where assurance was given on the timely completion of road projects in the communities.

  • Road construction: Obaseki inspects Obakhavbaye, Irhirhi roads, others

    …as Edo gets road maintenance agency

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has expressed his commitment to bridging infrastructure gap in Benin City as well as other parts of the state, noting that urban renewal projects will ensure adequate infrastructure is provided to open up different parts of the state.

    The governor said this when he inspected ongoing road projects in Obakhavbaye, Basimi, Arala, Okunbor, Asemota and Burmar streets as well as the construction of Irhirhi Road in Benin City.

    Meanwhile, the governor has set aside N42.719 billion for infrastructural development in the proposed 2019 budget. He has also set modalities to set up a road maintenance agency in the state to ensure prompt intervention when roads go bad.

    During the road inspection, Obaseki was accompanied by the Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq, Chief of Staff to the governor, Taiwo Akerele, Special Adviser on Political and Community Affairs Chief Osaro Idah, Commissioner for Infrastructure, Hon. Osahon Amiolemen and other top government functionaries.

    The governor said he was impressed with the work done so far on the roads inspected, especially the Irhirhi Road, noting “I have been told that the first 4km of the Irhirhi Road construction will be completed before Christmas which means that people living on this portion of the road will enjoy the road as the area will be accessible.”

    He added that with the huge population expected in the area, there is the possibility of expanding the road at the entrance, while alternative routes may be constructed to accommodate the influx of people.

    “We have embarked on massive reconstruction of roads across the city in the last two weeks. We have mobilised contractors across the larger Benin Metropolitan area as we are rehabilitating over 100 roads. Work is also ongoing in Edo Central and Edo North senatorial districts.”

    Read Also: Operators hail Obaseki’s sand mining reforms

    Obaseki said the key challenge in road construction in the city is that of the environment as the area, a rainforest zone,  used  to hold water better with trees and other features that cover the soil. He noted that due to the massive deforestation, the soil barely holds water anymore.

    “We will build more drainages as new roads being constructed now have drainages to take out all the water. But for the populated areas, we will look for innovative solutions”.

    Senior Residence Engineer at the site, Fate Oneavbiene, said the road construction will go through Irhirhi, Aruogba, Obazagbon, Obagie-N’Evbuosa, Ogheghe.

    He explained that the road is a link road between Benin – Sapele Road and Airport Road. “The take-off point is by Airport Road by ADP junction while the project will terminate at Benin – Sapele Road. The project is 18.5km long.”

    The governor who announced the creation of a road agency during the 2019 budget proposal presentation at the state House of Assembly, said, “Much as we are intensifying effort to complete reconstruction of roads across the state, we are also ready to commence new ones to close the infrastructure gap in the state. Work on the roads will be ramped up during the dry season. Other necessary infrastructure to complement our investment drive will also be catered for. As a result, N42.719 billion has been earmarked for infrastructure development to drive economic activities.

    “One area of emphasis will be maintenance. A road maintenance agency will be set up and properly funded to ensure prompt intervention and save the huge cost of repair and damage.

  • Obaseki to electorates: Demand transparency from political leaders

    The Edo State governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has challenged Nigerian electorates to demand transparency from persons holding leadership positions.

    Obaseki threw the challenge during the launch of Open Niger Delta (OPENED) Campaign project in collaboration with the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

    He commended ANEEJ for the OPENED initiative, which the governor said is in line with the state’s open government policy, and assured of his administration’s readiness to drive the campaign in the Niger Delta region.

    The governor, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr Taiwo Akerele, said the state has put in place institutional framework to ensure due process is followed in the execution of projects, adding that the state government publishes all contracts above N10 million as well as her annual financial statements.

    Read Also: Osun victory shows APC is preferred party – Obaseki

    Obaseki noted that behavioural change amongst citizens was essential in the fight against corruption in the country and advised the electorates to vote only leaders who are transparent and ready to deliver good governance in the country.

    Rev David Ugolor, executive director of ANEEJ, said OPENED project is supported by Bread for the World Protestant Development Service with the goal of mainstreaming Open Government Partnership (OGP) principles in the Niger Delta states.

    Ugolor explained that OPENED was designed to encourage states within the Niger Delta region to adopt measures that will improve transparency, accountability and good governance in the region.

    “Edo State has joined the OGP which requires that participating governments enter into a co-creation process with civil society to develop commitment in the fight against corruption, public participation in governance and empowerment of citizens,” he said.

     

  • Obaseki urges behavourial change in anti-corruption fight

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has called on Nigerians to have a change of attitude by demanding probity from their leaders if the country is ever going to record meaningful progress in the fight against corruption.

    Obaseki made the submission at the one-day Round table on Behavioural Insights and Policy Making in Nigeria towards the Fight Against Corruption, organised by the African Network for Environmental and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), in conjunction with the UKAID and ActionAid Nigeria, in Abuja.

    The governor, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Chief Taiwo Akerele, said, “The greatest threat to the elimination of corruption is the weak demand for accountability by the citizens. If the demand is weak, the supply will even be weaker.”

    He called for a change in mechanisms for the elimination of corruption and corrupt practices in Sub-Saharan Africa and noted that his administration has continued to make appreciable progress in the fight against corruption, by strengthening the state’s public procurement institutions.

    Read Also: Obaseki finalises investment with Chinese firms

    He added that the state government has embraced open data and open governance since 2013, and has domesticated the Fiscal Responsibility and the Public Finance Management laws.

    Obaseki said the state publishes contracts worth N10m and above through various media channels and has developed a performance evaluation metrics to ensure value for money in all contracts. He added that Edo State audited financial statement is published within the first quarter after the end of every financial year.

    Obaseki told participants that having the enabling laws and institutions are good and encouraging, but stressed that their objectives would only be realised if citizens work towards changing their behaviour towards corrupt people and embracing only those who are honest and hardworking.

    Participants at the event include civil society groups, members of the academia, development partners, representatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), office of the Vice President, Rule of Law Advisor, the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), and the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), among others.

     

  • Obaseki visits APC leader, Amegor over son’s death

    The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has paid a condolence visit to the Edo South Senatorial leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Gentleman Amegor, over the death of his son, Uyi Amegor.

    The late Uyi Amegor, was the Vice Chairman of Egor Local Government Area, until his death.

    Obaseki was accompanied on the visit by his Chief of Staff, Chief Taiwo Akerele, and the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Hon. Paul Ohonbamu.

    The visibly shaken governor, who could not speak to journalists, spent some time condoling with the Amegor family at their Siluko Road residence, in Benin City, the state capital.

    Read Also: Police arrest suspected attackers of Obaseki

    Recall that when news of Uyi Amegor’s death broke earlier in the week, the governor expressed rude shock at the news and said he was taken aback by the passing of Hon. Uyi Amegor.

    “I commiserate with his family, Edo South Leader of our party, Gentleman Amegor and the people of Egor local council. We lost Mr. Uyi Amegor at a critical moment of our development as a state, when he was working with the team at the local government to re-position local government administration. It is indeed a great loss to the people of Egor local council and the entire state,” Obaseki said.

    He pledged that the Edo State Government and the entire APC family will stand by the Amegor family through their trying moments and prayed that God grants the family the fortitude to bear the huge loss.

  • Fayose’s fall is a signal to Wike, says Edo APC

    The All Progressive Congress in Edo State has said that the failure of Ayodele Fayose in last Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State was a signal to Governor Nyesom Wike and other PDP governors in the South South region.

    It said it would take the lead in next year’s general elections for all the South South states come under the APC.

    State Secretary of the APC, Mr. Lawrence Okah, who stated this in a chat with newsmen urged Nigerians to stop believing what he termed rumors and lies the PDP posted on the social media during the conduct of Ekiti governorship polls.

    Okah stated that the victory of the APC in Ekiti was a signal that the party is ready to win other states in the South South region.

    According to him, “The APC is the party to beat in any election. We went to Ekiti to defect an incumbent. With Ekiti victory, we have taken over the South West. Our next journey is the South South.

    “All those things you hear from the social media will not stop the APC to ensuring that the right thing is done.

    Read Also: Fayose a street-type thug, says Presidency

    “Only a mental person could do what Fayose has done to announce election results. Any sane pêrson knows that only INEC has the powers to announce election result. The FG should send Fayose to a psychiatrist.”

    Chief of Staff to Governor Godwin Obaseki, Mr. Taiwo Akerele, said the people of Ekiti have demonstrated that they were deceived by Fayose’s stomach infrastructure.

    “You recall that four years ago, this same man was cheated by the ruling PDP out of power and he didn’t complain, he accepted and he moved on but today, the people of Ekiti state have realised that they were cheated and deceived by stomach infrastructure and they have come back and re-elected the man because they have confidence in him.”