Edo State Governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, has condemned calls for the sacking of the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, describing those behind the calls as “Facebook manipulators and palm wine drinkers.”
Oshiomhole
The governor explained that the people spearheading the agitation were people “who have been feeding fat on our common patrimony and manipulating the exchange rate, moving money across borders and taking advantage of electronic money transfer”.
Oshiomhole spoke with journalists on Wednesday evening in Abuja during a visit to the National Universities Commission to obtain license for the second newly established Edo State University, located in his village, Iyamho.
He advised proponents of the calls to stop wasting their time because President Muhammadu Buhari would not be deceived.
He added the hiring and firing of CBN governor might not be a political decision because institutions must be respected.
Oshiomhole said, “If a CBN governor is doing fine, the hiring and firing is not a matter that should be discussed by Facebook manipulators and by the time you unmasked the people behind it, they are palm wine drinkers.
“President Buhari is not going to be fooled by people who want to have a regime where government is just an onlooker and allow the naira to become worthless and people are making money from speculations; so, those guys are wasting their time.
“We have a new Federal Government that has won election on the basis on a mantra of change and there are all kinds of people who have made a lot of money from the economy without contributing anything by just playing on exchange rates.”
The governor explained there were many challenges in running the economy, especially when there is limited inflow of forex.
“And you do not want to trigger a process that will lead to endless devaluation that ultimately will reduce Nigerian naira to Zimbabwe dollar,” he added.
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has approved the conduct of Congresses for the Edo State Chapter of the party.
This was contained in a communique signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh
In the schedule approved by the NWC, Ward Congress in the state holds on Saturday, March 5, 2016; Local Government Congress holds on Thursday, March 10, 2016 while the State Congress is scheduled for Monday, March 14, 2016.
The Congresses will be conducted by Congress Committees sent from the National Secretariat, Abuja, as the State Executive of the party in the state has since expired.
PDP call all members of the party in Edo State are to be guided by this accordingly.
The commission said that while governorship election would hold on September 10 in Edo State, it said that Ondo would take its turn on November 26, 2016.
INEC’s Deputy Director in charge of Voter Education and Publicity, Mr. Nick Dazang, made the dates known to our correspondent in a telephone interview.
No fewer than 222 cultists have publicly renounced cultism in Edo and Delta State.
While 43 were reported to have renounced at the Ambrose Alli University (AAU) Epkoma, while 179 others renounced at Ozoro Polytechnic, Ogwashi Uku, Asaba, Delta State
Two suspected cultists were also on Thursday arrested by the police at the University town Ekpoma for allegedly recruiting some students into their cult group.
A senior police officer attached to Ekpoma police division who did not want his name in the print, confirmed that the suspects were arrested after a tip off and with the help of a vigilante group. He added that they would be charged to court on completion of investigation.
Speaking to our correspondent on telephone, the dean of students affairs of the University, Prof. Isaac Aigbedion, said that the renunciation marks the beginning of a new dawn in the University.
“The Devil has been put to shame and good things will continue in their lives,” he said.
In Delta, Investigation revealed that the repentant cultists were members of the dreaded cult group, Vikings Confraternity where members are allegedly subjected to drinking human blood.
WIFE of Edo State governor, Mrs. Iara Oshiomhole, has visited four orphanages in Benin City as part of her efforts at identifying with the needy and less privileged in the society with a view to offering assistance.
According to Mrs Oshiomhole, identifying with the needy and less privileged in the society was a fulfilment of her personal dreams.
In a statement by Executive Director, Media Affairs, Governor’s Office, Mr. John Mayaki, she said, “Taking time out of office schedule to access the living conditions at the orphanages will provide a first-hand information of their needs and set the tone for the advancement of the Edo Task Force on Orphanages.”
She expressed confidence that the team would do its best to improve the standard of living at the orphanages.
Education in Uhonmora-Ora community in Owan East Council Area of Edo State has received a boost when an indigene of the community, Captain Victor Iriobe donated a block of fully equipped classroom block. It was to commemorate his and his wife’s investiture as Knight of Anglican Communion by the Anglican Diocese of Sabon-Gida Ora.
GCE students being screened
The classroom block is made of fully equipped three classrooms and a modern office for the head teacher. This is in addition to 30 KVA generator the donor had earlier handed over to the primary school.
Captain Iriobe, who retired from ExxonMobil PLC, said he decided to build and equip the classrooms block just to give back to the community. According to him, his attendance of the school laid a solid foundation for his doggedness, determination and burning desire to excel in life. “It is partly to instill these virtues on these young minds that we are doing this today. So, that in future, they would remember this day, fight to excel, and be in position to come and make this type donation here.
Going back memory lane, Captain Iriobe said the school was founded by his grand father, Pa. Egunare Iriobevbudu, who was a clergy man, in 1944. He said his father, the late Mr. Herbert Iriobevbudu was to later become the headmaster of the school in 1956 after retiring from Hope Wadell Institute, Calabar.
The chairman of Owan East, Edo State, Mr. Reginald Okun, while receiving the donation, thanked the donor for the kind gesture. He said: “When the donor was talking, he mentioned how his family has been donating things to the community. having said that, I actually think, if we have more people who are successful, who would come back to give back to the community, I think Owan West would be improve tremendously.”
On how the gesture would impact on education in the community, the council chairman, He said: “Like we all know, education is never too much. As a council, we are trying as much as possible to provide facilities to the pupil, but this is obviously not enough. So, this will make a very great impact on the life of the younger ones. You can see how happy they look. It is going to boost their moral in terms of learning. Those are the issues and I wish we could have more like this and education of Owan West would actually go up.”
Earlier in the day, Captain Iriobe and his wife, Dr. Cahrity Iriobe, a lecturer in the University of Lagos and former publicity secretary of the National AQssociation of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA), were knighted by the Anglican Bishop of Sabon-gida Ora, Rev. J.O.Akao.
The Edo Government has pledged support for the Rural Finance Institution Building programme to ensure availability of funds for rural dwellers in the state.
Mr Joe Okojie, the state Commissioner for Agriculture, made the promise in Benin on Tuesday when RUFIN’s Leader of 11th Supervision Mission, Mr Swandip Sahin, visited the state.
The commissioner said the government was mapping out strategies to take ownership of the programme when the project was over.
According to him, Edo is an agrarian society where more than 67 per cent of the residents had something to do with agricultural activities.
According to him, the state government is putting in place measures that would boost agricultural production, especially in the rural areas.
He said, “RUFIN is a programme through which help and relief can be given to people at the grassroots.
“That is why when I took over office, I took interest in the project and I made it my project.
“I am doing my best so that, we as a government will fulfill our own end of the project.
“I promise you that we will do the needful and will do more to take ownership of the programme when RUFIN is gone.
“My hope is that, going forward, we will have better synergy so that we are able to deliver on our promises.”
Earlier, RUFIN’s Deputy National Project Coordinator, Mrs Unekwu Ufaruna, said the programme was targeted at building informal rural financial institutions, and linking them to formal micro finance institutions to access loans without collateral.
She said RUFIN had formed 700 village savings and credit groups also known as ‘Esusu’ mainly made up of women.
Ufaruna said the programme was working with seven Micro Finance Institutions in the state, through which N1.2bn had been disbursed as loans to rural farmers, since its inception.
She said at the beginning of RUFIN Edo Government was regular at paying counterpart financing.
The Special Adviser to the President/Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brig-General Paul Boroh (rtd), says the Office has concluded plans to establish an extension office in Edo state.
He said, the move was part of measures by the Amnesty to improve security, geared towards sustainable reintegration of the ex-Niger Delta agitators in Edo State.
Boroh disclosed this when he paid a courtesy visit to the governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole at the Government House, Benin, adding that the proposed office would serve as a command and control post which enable the Presidential Amnesty Office in Abuja to have a firm control of the beneficiaries at the grassroots.
The project which he described as a collaborative effort between the Amnesty office with the governor of Edo State, was meant to sensitize key stakeholders in the Presidential Amnesty Programme, informing that the state offices comprise representatives from the state government, the military and para-military, representative of the Presidential Amnesty Office, representative of the ex-agitators in the state and other relevant key stakeholders.
He further stated that the focus of the Presidential Amnesty Programme under his charge is to provide sustainable livelihood opportunities for the 30, 000 ex-agitators enlisted on the programme, with a view to properly reintegrating them into the society.
On the delay in the payment of stipends and in-training allowances to beneficiaries, particularly offshore students, the presidential aide maintained that while his office was saddled with the verification of names and accounts of beneficiaries, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) processes and effects the transfer of the funds to individual accounts of the beneficiaries in line with the federal government’s directive on the Treasury Single Accounts (TSA).
He however, advised the beneficiaries in the programme to exercise patience with the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration on its anti-corruption stance, pointing out that TSA policy is meant to block most, if not all leakages which have been the bane of the growth of the nation’s economy in the past.
EDO, is what you can describe as the “generic name given to a group of people who have a common ancestor and have a common language, with some different variants, depending on the distance between the group and the ” tap root, ” resident in and around the present day Benin City. In short, the land, the political state, the people, tribe, language and the principal city -Benin City is called EDO. At a point in the history of these people, another name called BENIN came into use. These Edo-speaking people are divided into the following clans today:
Map of Edo State
a) ” BINI ” derived from the word Benin for people living in and around Benin City, in Edo State. People living in and around Benin City, are gradually accepting the word BINI, as descriptive of their clan. Otherwise, they prefer to be simply called EDO.
b) ESAN/Ishan-for the immediate neighbor to the north are people living in around Irrua, Orhodua, Uromi, Ubiaja, Ewu, Ewatto, Igueben and the almighty Evbohimwin (Ewohimi))” the city by the big river ” or ” the city of Ikhimwin trees ” etc.
c) The Afemais known as IVBIOSAKON by those living in and around Benin City to the north of Ishan/Esan clan.
d) Akoko-Edos based in Igarra, Ibillo and its environs to the north of Afemais.
e) The Owans-ORAS occupying Eme, Sabogida-Ora, Afuze, etc. Uhobe (SOBE) and Ifon in Ondo State.
f) Ekas-to East of Benin. A sizeable chunk of the Edo speaking people flow across River Niger and ending at ONITSHA.
g) Isoko, Urhobo, Itsekiris and about 70% percent of western Izon (Ijaws) in Ndegeni and its environs
h) A sizeable chunk of the Edos is found in River States and Balyesa States e.g. Ogba land and Diobu, Port Harcourt.
i) A sizeable chunk has been ” Yorubanised in Ondo, Ekiti, Lagos and Ogun States. The descendants of Edo soldiers stationed in Akure are referred to today as ADO-AKURE (Edo ne ’kue) There are many Edos in Ekiti land, Idoani, Idanre etc going through life in Nigeria with Yoruba names. Acculturation has taken place. You are either a Yoruba man or you go nowhere.
j) The ILAJE community at OKITIPUPA and its environs.
k) The Edos who conquered and settled far way land like Dahomey, Togo and Ghana.
The Edo language is part of the Kwa-Niger group of languages according to Linguist. These people have lived were they are now for ” Thousands of years.” The monarchy centered in Benin City is about 6000 years old, including pre-ogiso and Ogiso era of history. All the clans had various functions, which they perform at the palace. For example, the Ishans/Esans were principally the medicine men and warriors of the ancient empire. They were the medical practitioners. The chieftancy groups responsible for the Oba’s well being are dominated by Ishan/Esan descendants. The Ivbiosakon (Afemais) were the dental surgeon of the palace. That is the origin of the name IVBIOSAKON. Oba Esigie assigned that function to them in the c1500’s.
The Owan/Ora people were the propitiators of the physical earth for the Oba of Benin. It was their responsibility to prevent things like earthquake, hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanoes and anything associated with geological disturbance to occur in Benin. In short, they were the geologists and weathermen of their day, forecasting and preventing physical calamities. Those we call BINIS today, were the traditional bureaucratic administrators and military generals. The Izons (Ijaws) were the ” OZIGUE” -SAILORS The Ekas were farmers. They were in charge of the royal farms.
The Ibos across the Niger call the Edos, IDU, the name of the progenitor of Edo race, the Yorubas call us ADO, which is a corruption of the word EDO. However, the Itsekiris, another sub group in the Edo clans call us UBINI. Tradition asserts that it is derived from ILE-IBINU, which is descriptive of the exasperation and frustration encountered in Benin City, by Prince Oranmiyan of ILE-IFE. A further research may prove that, it was the Itsekiris who gave that name, to the people living in and around Benin City. The Itsekiris told the white man of the powerful overlord living in Igodomigodo. It was the Itsekiris who told the Whiteman that the name of the tribe of this powerful king was UBINI- a term which Whiteman corruptly wrote down as Benin. For example, the name of the eldest daughter of Oba Osewende, the mother of the OSULAS and the AIWERIOGHENES is today known as AGHAYUBINI. A closer examination of that name would reveal that the name is an Itsekhiri phrase-” The Ubini Lady or woman ” i.e. the woman from Benin. Aghayubini was a very wealthy trader among the Itsekiris, from whence she got the money she used, is getting the throne for her brother, who became Oba ADOLO. An Itsekhiri descriptive phrase has simply over powered her original Edo name, to the extent that nobody knows anything about it now.
The ancient Edo/Benin Empire covered the whole of Bendel, parts of Bayelsa State and I repeat Balyesa State. The second son of the Enogie of Brass, popularly known as IYASE NE OHENMWEN became the Iyase of Benin under Oba Osewende. Iyase Ohenmwen is the ancestor of the OTOKITIS, THE OKEAYA-INNEH AND THE AIWERIOGHENES of Benin today. It also covers the IGBO-speaking areas of Delta State stretching to Onitsha. People hardly know that the actual title of the Obi of Onitsha is AIGBOGHIDI. The historical Chief Agho Obaseki of Oba Ovoranmwen era and later the Iyase of Benin under Oba Eweka II, was a descendant of the second son of Enogie of NSUKWA now in Delta State. It extended to the whole of Ondo State, parts of Ekiti and Ogun State and the whole of Lagos State including BADAGRY. It stretched to southern Dahomey (Republic of Benin) and on to the coast of Togo and Ghana.
THE OWANS /ORAS:
Oba Ozolua is traditionally regarded as the ancestor of the Owans/Ora. He was known as Prince Okpame before he became known as Oba Ozolua. He had sought refuge in Uwokha in Ivbiosakon areas in c1473. From Uwokha, Oba Ozolua founded Ora and other villages. Oba Ozolua was a warlord. He beat the people of Uzea near Uromi to a pulp when there was a revolt. He extended his carnage to Uromi when the Enogie was reported to have been rude to his messengers. He went up through Akoko land, wandering into Nupe lands where he acquired a lot of sophisticated weaponry then. He attacked the Igallas and Igbirras in the present Kogi and Kwarra states. After spending the greater part of his life in ORA, he left behind his son UGUAN and returned to Benin City.
But before he left, he proclaimed everybody free men and free women, entitled to enjoy the privileges of Edo princes and Princesses, for all the services they had rendered in his military campaigns. That is why the Oras call themselves today, the CHILDREN OF OZOLUA. Besides being in charge of propitiating the physical earth, they are responsible for ritually exorcising any harm that might come upon the EDO NATION-the land due to violation of sexual or other taboos. Their GUILD, quartered at EVBORHAN quarter in OGBELAKA in Benin City by Oba Esigie, demands steep fines from the culprits for their services.
A few years ago, the Oba of Benin created an Ogie-Duke-traditional rulership for the Oras because of popular demand.
Business activities at the headquarters of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) were on Thursday paralyzed as three communities protested epileptic power supply.
Power electricity
Workers of BEDC were denied access into the building premises as the protesters blocked the two entrance gates.
The protesters who were from Ogbenogbo, Ogbegbuya and Goodwill/Trade Fair communities in Oredo local government area of the state slaughtered two goats with which they prepared yam porridge and jollof rice in front of BEDC office.
Two large pots were used for the cooking, while the protesters danced round the BEDC office.
Spokesman for the community, Aduku Monday, said they were annoyed because they have not enjoyed electricity supply since the BEDC took over from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).
He said, “We have not enjoyed power supply ever since BEDC took over from PHCN. The best we have is very epileptic. All forms of business activities in the two communities that depend on electricity have all been paralysed.
“Formally, we were supplied electricity from the feeder pillar in the GRA. But when BEDC took over, they transferred us to Evbuotubu, because, as we heard, an Indian company gave them money to retain the transformers. Secondly, Evbotubu is already overloaded,” he said.
The Nation gathered that there are 2,688 houses in the three communities.
A resident – Curtis Obaghiagbon – said he has been using generator since he returned from Austria last month.
“Ever since I arrived, I’ve been buying petrol to run my generator every day. If I can afford it, not everybody can afford it. This is not sustainable. It has to stop,” Mr. Obaghiagbon said.
“We will come here tomorrow, all of us in black dresses to complete the burial ceremony of BEDC and Osibodu.”
The General Manager, Public Affairs Division in BEDC, Curtis Nwadei, said the communities are indebted to the company to the tune of N28, 140, 962.26k.
ASABA—Ravaging flood has claimed the lives of an 11-year-old girl and two others at Okpai, in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State.
Bad Road in Edo State
This came at a time flood also rendered homeless at least 50,000 people from about eight communities in Etsako Federal Constituency of Edo State.
In the Delta State episode, the house of the state chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Edwin Uzor, at Oko axis was also reportedly affected by the flood which swept through the coastal areas.
A visually impaired graduate, Mr. Odigie Osagie, who was trapped by the flood around Infant Jesus area in Asaba metropolis, lamented that he was practically swimming in the flood that had taken over his house.
He said: “More than what words can state in the negative direction. The volume of water you see here is as a result of flooding.
“In 2012, the flood completely submerged my house and I lost all my property. Government came and even televised my house, with a promise to do something but as I stand with you now, not even one kobo was given to me till date.”
Local government areas so far affected in the state include Ughelli North, Ndokwa East, Oshimili South, Burutu, Ughelli South, Patani and Bomadi.
In the incident in Edo State, at least 50,000 persons from about eight communities in Etsako Federal Constituency have been reportedly rendered homeless by flood.
This was revealed by the member representing Etsako Federal Constituency on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Philip Shaibu.
The revelation came on the heels of the motion of urgent public importance sponsored by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Leo Ogor, on the devastating flooding of Ozoro and its environs in Isoko Norh Local Government Area of Delta State.
The House, presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Yussuf Lasun, noted that flood had become a serious problem ravaging many communities not only in the country, but globally.
The Edo State House of Assembly has approved the suspension of four local government chairmen in the state.
Those affected and their respective councils are Osaro Obazee, Oredo; Victor Enobakhare, Egor; Roland Ibierutomwen, Orhiomwon and Emmanuel Momoh, Estako Central.
The suspension, which was announced on Friday, followed a request by Governor Adams Oshiomhole in letter seeking legislative backing for the suspension of the LG bosses.
Edo State Tribunal
The lawmakers approved the letter and suspended the chairmen in the first instance, while instructing the respective Vice Chairmen to take over the affairs of the affected councils.
According to the letter, Oshiomhole listed non-payment of salaries without proper explanation; illegal employment, diversion of funds, lack of due process in the award of contracts and inability to account for internally generated revenue, as the reasons behind the suspension of the four council chairmen.
The letter, which was signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, read, “Their suspension, which is for two months, is to pave the way for unhindered investigation into several allegations against the chairmen, which includes non-payment of staff salaries without satisfactory explanations, inability to account for internally generated revenue, diversion of funds, failure to follow due process in the award of contracts as well as illegal employment of senior officers without going through Local Government Service Commission, which is a violation of laid-down provisions.”
The governor noted that his letter was in line with relevant sections of the local government laws, as amended.
He stated that the suspension was necessary to enable a panel of inquiry to investigate the allegations levelled against the council chiefs.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps on Saturday arrested five suspected pipeline vandals in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.
Boko Haram fuel dump
The corps also recovered two tankers containing 33,000 litres of crude oil each from the suspects on the Benin-Warri expressway.
The State Commandant, Mr. Chuka Akubuiroh, who confirmed the arrest, identified the suspects as Yahaya Ibrahim, Ibrahim Yusuf, Yusuf Mohammed, Andrew Iyesu and Usman Alli.
Akubuiroh said the command got wind of the plan of the suspects to convey the petroleum product, following a tip off.
He also said the tankers with number plates ABH 264 XA and ABS 186 XA, respectively, had been impounded, while the suspects would be charged to court at the end of investigations.
“These tankers contain what we suspected to be crude oil and they may have tampered with a pipeline somewhere.
“When we got wind of this movement sometime last week, we mounted a 36-hour surveillance and it yielded result; only this morning, our men were able to trap them,” Akubuiroh said.
“They are in our custody now and further investigation is ongoing to ascertain where and how they got the product before they face prosecution in court.
“You know these suspects always put up a strong defence. They tell lies just to cover up but we are investigating,” he added.
The people of Uwessan, a community that comprises of eight villages, are not happy. What pained them is that they see communities around them enjoy basic amenities such as good road network, electricity and water but they are still yearning for government to come to their aid.
Bad Road in Edo State
Uwessan is located in Esan Central local government. It is a boundary community between Estako West and Esan North East local government areas in Edo State. Indigenous of Uwessan are mainly farmers but they find it difficult to convey their farm produce to where they could sell for profits because the main road connecting the community to other communities is an eye sore.
The road which connects from Utako in Esan North East through Ujabhole to other communities in Uwessan is about 21 kilometers. It is supposed to reduce travel to Abuja from the Eastern part of the country without motorist getting to Ewu along the Benin-Auchi express road. The road however cuts off at Utako and has been overtaken by weeds. Residents who live opposite each other along the road cannot walk through to the other side.
Side drains constructed on the road and was abandoned have collapsed. The drainage was said to have been constructed in 2005 by the then Chairman of Esan Central, Okhai Enegbo but was stopped because of funding.
Residents in the area blamed former Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen for the collapsed side drains because flood water from Uromi was channelled to the drains. Besides, they said the former Minister focused on building roads within Uromi and environs without extending same to other local government.
Apart from the inaccessible road to Uwessan, the residents said access to portable water has remained a mirage to them since the days of Awolowo. Water tap erected in the community many years ago still stand but no water.
Charles Akhere, a businessman, said his house used to be a like a fighting spot during the dry season as people struggle to get free water.
According to him, “This road is appalling when you are going from Utako to all the villages. We have no business following another long route. Uwessan as a whole, there is no road. We go through another road.”
“When it is time for campaign, you see politicians here. It has affected development of Uwessan. Good road network is vital to development. If the road were good, those places where you find bushes, people would have built houses. A journey of five minutes would take you longer hours. It has affected business and our farmers are mainly affected.”
“We don’t have a single borehole dug by either the state or local government in the whole of Uwessan. During dry season, you see my house like a war front because people are looking for water. There are no teachers in the secondary school here. Oshiomhole has renovated the primary school but our grammar school is appalling. I built house for female corpers here. It is at Uwessan you find the worst road in Esanland”.
Vice Chairman of Uwessan Youth Movement, Henshaw Oligbi, described the situation as pathetic. He said vehicles stopped playing the road for the past 16 years.
His words, “That is the original road to access Uwessan Community. It was the original road connecting Southern and Northern part of the country via Auchi before it was diverted to Ekpoma-Ewu-Auchi road. For the past 16 years, the road has been abandoned. Successive government has promised to construct the road for us but after election, we will not see them again.”
“During the days of Action Group, we were told politicians used the road to campaign but nothing was done. We are farmers but no road to move our products to the market. Uwessan is made up of eight communities but the road is our headache. We have been neglected for so long that we don’t have government presence in our communities. All the developmental structures were through self help or through our sons who excelled in their chosen careers.”
“The electricity was brought by late Sunday Okoduwa. Uwessan has the highest population in Esan land. Oshiomhole promised to construct the road during his second term electioneering campaign. We need govern-ment to construct the road so that we would stop passing through long distance.”
Paul Iyoha, Ujabhole community youth president, said, “This is the only access road we have that lead to the eight villages in Uwessan. We have not been passing that road for many years now.”
The road has been in a deplorable condition. There is no accessible road in the whole of Uwessan. You see lorries falling off the road. We have paid our taxes and it is government time to help us. We have been trying through self help. Flood water from Uromi destroyed the whole drainage that was constructed. There is no pipe borne water. The last time we had water was during the days of Awolowo. Since the water scheme broke down, we have not had water. We get water from wells.”
Retired Commissioner of Police, Young Emmanuel Arebamen, said it was bad politics that caused the situation of the road linking Uwessan to other communities.
Arebamen said the Auchi expressed road was diverted to pass through Agbede by powerful politicians even when the colonial masters saw that the stretch of road between Ewu-Agebde and Auchi was swampy and not suitable for road construction.
According to him, “The only solid road in that axis is through my village. I am surprised that what politicians promised my forefathers, they are promising my children in my presence.”
“Our people are suffering. Nobody can go there and buy anything. The schools were built by our collective effort. What is the essence of government? We want Oshiomhole to come and work in our community.”
The Commissioner of Police in Edo, Chris Ezike, who confirmed the arrest to newsmen, said it was part of the efforts by the command to maintain law and order in the state.
Cultists in Edo State
According to the police, the suspects were arrested during a raid in Ekpoma, following recent cult clashes recorded in the town, which also hosts the Ambrose Alli University.
Ezike noted that the suspects were being screened by intelligence officers from the command.
He recalled that the command had vowed to make Edo uncomfortable for criminals when he read the riot act to senior officers and the rank and file of the command on Sept. 14.
He said, “Cultists are criminals; I will not allow them to operate in Edo. You know there was a cult war in Ekpoma recently. So, I directed that the situation must be brought under control.
“And since the raid which lasted for two days, Ekpoma is now calm. We arrested 46 suspects. Pump action and AK47 rifles and ammunition were recovered from them; we are screening them,’’ he said.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State in its pilot phase of the electronic registration exercise scheduled to commence in the state yesterday suffered a setback as some party members kicked against the proposed N1,000 to be levied on each member as the registration fee.
dan orbih
The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, had on August 23 announced that the party’s National Working Committee had approved the resuscitation of the online registration of its member, using Edo as a pilot for the project.
The party had also explained that the project, which would be handled by the PDP e-Membership Registration Committee and headed by Chief Raymond Dokpesi, was aimed at returning ownership of the party to its members and strengthening the various structures of the party.
Dokpesi, in a meeting held at the party’s state secretariat on Wednesday, explained that each member would be issued with a card containing their biometric information, including banking details, at the end of the registration.
He noted that as many as 250 machines would be deployed in Edo North, where the project would kick off, to ensure that the PDP registered as many members as are willing to join its fold, adding that the party would engage the services of the local government and ward chairman to make the project effective.
But this was greeted with resentment and murmuring from some of the members present, when he announced a fee of N1,000 to be paid by each member into a Skye Bank account, for the exercise.
“In the far north of Weppa-Wanno, I think we have been sensitising the people and, as of today, all the women that are on the register have been so sensitised and have actually been paying into Skye Bank for this e-registration.
“If you like, you can pay the N1,000 using your debit card. If you like, you can do it by transfer from which ever bank is based in Nigeria, details of which will be provided,” he said.
One of the party members in Oredo Local Government Area, who did not want his name mentioned, described the fee as expensive, adding that bulk of the party’s supporters resided in the rural areas.
“That fee is too much for many of us. I do not expect a market woman or farmer, who earns little, to pay that amount just to be a member,” he added.
Speaking with journalists at the end of the meeting, the acting National Chairman, Uche Secondus, said the party would work out details of the procedure for the exercise.
He also said the party had resolved to carry out a digital reform in order to re-position itself as a national political party.
He said: “The most important thing is that everybody has accepted, they have agreed that we must migrate from analogue to digital. In digital, we are able to access everybody. And the people at the local level, through their handsets, can access us on a two-way interaction and this is the way the world is today.
“INEC has been reformed; the political parties must be reformed; our party must be reformed. We must comply digitally and that is why we are here to interact with our members.
“The party will now belong to all. As long as you register, you are a member of the party and you have equal rights.”
BENIN CITY – GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state yesterday engaged in a war of words with the Brigade Commander of the 4th Brigade of the Nigerian Army Benin City, Brig.Gen.Olajide Laleye over the 14 Hilux vehicles donated to the men of the, allegedly by the Minister of Works, Arch.Mike Onolemenmen for the purpose of the elections.
Oshiomhole who addressed journalists shortly after holding security meeting with security chiefs in the state, told journalists of the alleged plot by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to rig the election in the state, using some military men on mufti.
He said: “We have intelligence and it has been confirmed that the Minister of Works, deployed 14 vehicles in the premises of RCC construction Company Benin. This Hilux vehicles about 13 of them, were transferred from RCC premises to the headquarters of the 4th Brigade of the Nigerian army. I have expressed my concern to the Commander of the 4th Brigade that I did not think it was appropriate for the 4th Brigade to collect vehicles from the Ministry of Works for the purpose of this election.
“The Commander of the 4th Brigade told me that the vehicles were donated by the RCC because he approached RCC for support. I told him even that is wrong. The Brigade Commander cannot approach Israelis to provide them with security when the Edo State government is here. He has not made such a request to me and I reminded him that Israeli people cannot be assumed to have greater interest in the peace and security of Nigeria than the government of Edo state.
“After all we set up Operaiton Thunder Storm which encourages the military to compliment the efforts of the police. I denounced the idea. Whether RCC or Minister of Works, this is clearly irregular.
I expect that the Ministry of Works if they have donations to make it should have been made transparently to the Nigerian police not the Nigerian Army because the conduct of this election is primarily the responsibility of the Nigerian police and not the Nigerian Army. That they prefer to donate to the Army rather than the police raises more questions than the answers that have been provided.
“Our investigation is that these Hilux vehicles provided by Onolemenmen or by RCC according to the Brigade Commander, are going to be used to carry soldiers who will not be wearing uniforms to disguise and our information is that they intend to use these people to intimidate the electorate. I have warned the Brigade Commander not to do the sort of thing that brigadier Momoh did not Ekiti State. In any case Edo people are Edo people and we cannot be intimidated. And the Nigerian Army has no business portraying itself as enemies of democracy.
“I know they are not if there are some overzealous officers who wants to do negative things I expect that haven raised the issue, frankly with the Brigade Commander this morning in the presence of other security chiefs, I believe it is clear that the Army must not be seen to be part of Nigerian problem, the world is watching. I have also told them that if anybody is killed by anybody in uniform in the course of trying to do what is unlawful, it is not my statement, the International Criminal Court agents are in Nigeria, if anybody can escape justice in Nigeria, you cannot escape justice from the International Criminal Court.
“The world has changed that anybody who misused his office cannot escape justice, this is said directly to the Brigade Commander and other security chiefs. I have also informed him of the Brigadier General Odidi who was earlier transferred from the Electrical Engineering Command of the Nigerian Army in Auchi but he was brought back. He is openly canvassing for PDP that soldiers are paid by PDP so they should work for PDP.
“ This I told the Brigade Commander. To draw the attention of Odidi that the responsibility of the Army is not to canvass votes of work against any particularly political party. I have voiced out the dangers of doing that, Brig.Odidi is from Agenebode because if he misbehaves I have told him the consequences. Yesterday they searched the residence of APC chairman at Orhiomwon, they have pencilled down the names of APC leaders to be arrested. I have told them that our people must vote freely” he stated.
The Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, on Monday said his administration would engage the services of only qualified teachers to improve standard of education in the state.
Governor Oshiomhole stated this when he received a committee report on the recruitment of teachers for the state ministry of education in Benin.
He explained that strength of the state’s teaching staff was inadequate as against the number of schools available, adding that those recommended by the committee, irrespective of their state of origin, would be engaged.
Oshiomhole stated that the state government had demonstrated, through its intervention and by the quality of schools built, that “education for us is at the heart of our future.”
He added, “Our future lies in producing the best of human capital, and where merit is required, our people would be a first choice.
“I know for a fact that we still need more teachers, we still have schools without enough teachers, and this is premised on the problem of posting and corruption in the section of the ministry of education.”
He, however, commended members of the committee for their helping the state government to overcome the challenge of selecting suitably qualified candidates for the various positions.
Earlier, the chairman of the committee, Professor Dennis Agbonlahor, explained that 21,195 persons applied for teaching positions in the state.
Agbonlahor said that the applicants were invited for a screening exercise, through a Short Message Service, which was, however, responded to by only 9,171 applicants.
The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has assured Nigerians that the country would remain united after the 2015 general elections, despite speculations that the nation would record a repeat of the 2011 post-election violence.
The State Chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih, disclosed this while delivering President Goodluck Jonathan’s message at the official flag off campaign to support the president’s re-election bid and the election of the national and state assembly candidates of the party, in Igarra and Auchi, headquarters of Akoko Edo and Etsako West local government areas of the state.
Orbih, who noted that the PDP under President Jonathan had remained a consistent party of choice for peace, unity, purposeful leadership and development across all the nation, described the speculation as lies peddled by “prophets of doom” whom should “let God’s will to prevail.”
While stressing the need for massive support from the South-South geo-political zone for the president’s re-election, Orbih added that doing otherwise would be detrimental to the oil rich zone.
“It is no longer news that the 2015 elections will bring about the election of Mr. President, the senate, house of representatives and members of the state house of assembly. For those who are prophets of doom who think there will be crisis, there will be no crisis. There is nothing new.
“Those who are waging war on the pages of newspapers, the message is simple – let God’s will prevail. It is not by accident that Mr. President and your son is from the South-South.
“We will support him because of his uncommon transformation. In the face of many challenges, he has been able to unite and promote peace. Nigeria will continue to enjoy peace and unity.”
Also speaking, the Otaru of Igarra, His Royal Majesty, Adeche Sairki 11, urged politicians in the state to shun politics of bitterness and desperation by allowing voters to freely express themselves at the polls.
“Let the will of God prevail because this is Nigeria; we don’t have have any other country. If anything happens to Nigeria, it will affect all of us.
“The election will come and go, it is usual that people who are interested ask the people to come and vote. Democracy means service to the people. We don’t have another country,” he said.
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