How Odubu went to native doctor to hurt me - Oshiomhole

•’Why I am not backing Odubu’s gov. bid’

‘By Simon Ebegbulem,

Benin-City Many people may not have understood why Governor Adams Oshiomhole is not backing the governorship aspiration of his deputy, Dr Pius Odubu. Apart from Odubu, the APC is parading aspirants like a former Minister of Works, Engr.Chris Ogienwonyi; a  former military tactician, Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (retd); a  former governor of the state, Prof. Osarhiemien Osunbor; the Chairman of the Edo State Economic Team, Mr Godwin Obaseki; Mr Kenneth Imasuagbon; Comrade Peter Esele; Prof. Frederick Ebegue Amadasun; and the only woman in the race, Mrs Tina Agbarha. The state Commissioner for Works, Osarodion Ogie, was initially in the race but  shelved the ambition after his boss informed him of his desire to support Obaseki

Meanwhile, the relationship between the governor and his deputy has broken down in the past seven months, creating factions in the Edo  APC ahead  of the governorship primary in the state. The crisis blew open  after Odubu’s coordinator, Barr.Humphrey Uanseoje, signed a letter with other governorship aspirants of the party such as Ogienwonyi, Imasuagbon and Barr. Omo Irabor, which they sent to the national leadership of the APC where they alleged plans by the state Chairman of the party, Anslem Ojezua, to doctor the delegates list for the gubernatorial primary with the backing of Oshiomhole. The publication shocked many  watchers of the politics of the state since it would be the first time the deputy governor will be openly accusing his boss of alleged plot to manipulate the forthcoming primary of the APC.

Odubu’s loyalists and those of the governor had been in the trenches following Oshiomhole’s apparent reluctance to back his deputy whom many perceived has been very loyal to his boss since they came into office. But worried by this development, Ogie, who is known as one of the generals in the Oshiomhole’s political family, took up the initiative to settle the rift between the governor and his deputy. Ogie, in collaboration with the member representing Etsako Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Philip Shuaibu, decided to make this move, given that Odubu has been part of Oshiomhole’s political machinery since 2007.

The intention was to stop the  animosity which they believed will help to keep the governor’s camp intact, ahead of the primary of the party. What Ogie did was to put  persons also close to Odubu  in the reconciliation committee so that the deputy governor will not lose confidence  in the committee. As a result, a  former Edo State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Chief Lucky James, and Chief Gabriel Oibo, who are key supporters of Odubu, were drafted into the committee. This committee held their first meeting on Sunday, April 10,  2016, where they agreed to meet with Odubu first to preach the gospel of peace  to  him.

When the committee met with Odubu, Ogie informed him of the need to restore peace between him and the governor, saying their visit was on a friendly note and had nothing to do with politics. Odubu was said to have expressed his grievances and informed them that he had nothing against the governor but that he was disappointed that some of his followers were being victimized due to their support for his governorship ambition. However, Odubu informed members of the committee that he was ready to hold the peace meeting with the governor whom he said he had enjoyed close relationship with until recently.

On Monday April 11, 2016, Oshiomhole came back to Benin from his village, Iyamho, where he met the peace committee waiting for him. Apart from the members of the committee, led by Ogie, the state Chairman of the APC, Anslem Ojezue; state Secretary, Chief Osaro Idah; Oshiomhole’s in-law, Victor Eboigbe and Chief of Staff to the Governor, Patrick Obahiagbon, were also at the meeting. Ogie, who opened the meeting, narrated how the group, including the deputy governor, had worked closely in the past ten years with Oshiomhole, saying it would be bad to allow bickering between the governor and his deputy to continue.

The Commissioner for Works offered the two leaders the opportunity to sort out their problem behind closed door while they excused them to do so. Philip, Oibo and James concurred with Ogie, stressing the need for the governor’s political family to be united in the run up to the party primary and the governorship election. Oshiomhole, Sunday Vanguard learnt, appreciated their concern but informed the meeting that he will prefer they were around so they could know the real issues and treat them. His deputy concurred and everybody stayed for the meeting.

Firing the first salvo, Odubu lamented that his office had been starved of funds, his political allies victimized, the governor refused to attend  his  wife’s birthday and, above all, the governor directed his Attorney General, Mr Henry Idahagbon, and Washington Osifo to write a petition against him to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with a view to impeaching him.

The deputy governor further lamented how the governor had allegedly relegated him to the background, expressing shock that the cordial relationship, which had existed between him and the governor, broke down. But responding, Oshiomhole, who recalled how he had backed his deputy in his political battles and his several advice to him as a brother, explained that the parlous state of finance of Edo had even affected his own office and other government offices, and not only that of the deputy.

He narrated how he had been travelling without his aides due to paucity of funds. Oshiomhole went further to berate his deputy for being part of those who signed a statement accusing him of backing the state Chairman of the APC, in the alleged plot to manipulate the delegates list ahead of the primary of the party, asserting that the deputy’s action was a clear indication of an attack against his person. But Odubu, who defended himself, denied being behind the statement, explaining that his coordinator put his signature with some other party members who needed it but never knew what they wanted to use it for. But the leaders of the party expressed their doubt in his defence, saying he should have debunked the publication if he was not behind it. Odubu, however, apologised to Oshiomhole, assuring that such mistake will not be repeated.

Tension in the room heightened when Oshiomhole started responding to the allegations against him by Odubu that he did not attend his wife’s birthday and that the governor had treated him recently like a leper.

Sunday Vanguard gathered that the governor declared to the leaders that he had deliberately avoided attending events at his deputy’s house after it was revealed to him that his deputy allegedly contracted native doctors to hurt him so that Odubu will take over as governor. Oshiomhole said he was informed of the alleged plan by a leader of the party and that he had met with the native doctors whom his deputy allegedly contracted to do the damage, adding that the native doctors admitted and gave him details of how the rituals were executed.

Oshiomhole added that the party leader who leaked the information, who was out of the country, was ready to confront the deputy with the details of his alleged meeting with the witch doctors. He further stated that he could not have attended any ceremony at Odubu’s place, saying he would not want to be poisoned.

The governor’s disclosure was said to have come  as a surprise to the APC leaders but it equally elicited strong rebuttal from his deputy who attributed what he described as the spurious allegation to the handiwork of his political enemies. To buttress his innocence, Odubu volunteered to contact a strong traditional doctor in Benin, so that those who accused him will come and take an oath before the gods.

He vehemently denied the allegation and reiterated his loyalty to the governor. But some of the party leaders at the meeting were said to have countered Odubu with his suggestion, informing him that he should have suggested swearing with the Bible since he is a Catholic.

But Odubu thundered that he was shocked with the allegation and would like to clear his name with whatever that will convince everyone. Some of the party leaders at the meeting admonished Odubu to end his governorship ambition. However Ogie calmed the situation and the parley ended on a  good note after both parties expressed satisfaction.

As the governorship primary of the party, scheduled to hold sometime in June-July, draws closer  Oshiomhole’s foot soldiers, led by Ogie, are working round the clock to ensure a united house. Odubu is viewed as one of the most formidable aspirants in the APC and cannot be taken for granted. Sunday Vanguard was informed that the governor and his deputy exchanged banters after the meeting and a date for another peace meeting was fixed for this week.

How Odubu went to native doctor to hurt me - Oshiomhole

Oshiomhole, Odubu relationship degenerate further over governorship ticket

The cordial relationship between Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State and his deputy, Dr. Pius Odubu, has hit the rocks. Both men are on collision course over the party’s governorship ticket in the election. While Oshiomhole has left no one in doubt that Godwin Obaseki is his preferred candidate, Odubu is insisting on gunning for the ticket.

Oshiomhole

Before now, Odubu was described as the best deputy governor in the country, because of what many termed his unalloyed loyalty to his boss. But, that is no longer the case. He has set up his campaign office within the highbrow Government Reservation Area (GRA) in the state capital and notable members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) are flocking there to pledge their loyalty. But, Oshiomhole has made it clear that he would not support Odubu’s bid. “We came together, we leave together,” he was quoted as telling his deputy.

Odubu, a lawyer, hails from Orhionmwon Local Government Area. His supporters say he is the only experienced aspirant among those gunning for the ticket. This is attributed to his eight-year tenure as a lawmaker in the House of Representatives and his close to eight-year stint as deputy governor. They say Odubu showed his political relevance during the tussle between Samson Osagie and Patrick Obahiagbon; a contest where Obahiagbon, who is believed to be favoured by Oshiomhole, was narrowly defeated.

Apart from Odubu and Obaseki, top contenders for the APC ticket are: Blessing Agbomhere, Charles Airhiavbere, Prof. Amadasun Ebegue and Chris Ogiemwonyi.

Supporters of Odubu say the relationship between him and Oshiomhole has degenerated to a low level. Last year, the sacking of four commissioners by the governor signaled the parting of ways between them. The commissioners were reportedly sacked for holding political meetings with the deputy governor. Those affected were Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Chief Lucky James, Commissioner for Women Affairs Blessing Maigida, Commissioner for Basic Education Mr. Patrick Aguinede and Commissioner for Energy and Water Resources Chris Ebare. Oshiomhole, however, explained that the commissioners were removed for corrupt practices.

Several loyalists of Odubu have also been dropped from one political appointment or the other. For example, Osaretin Edoma, the member representing Orhionmwon in Edo State Oil and Gas Producing Areas Commission (EDSOGPADEC), was kicked out for alleged corrupt practices. Osaretin told reporters he was being victimised for supporting the deputy governor and warned of dire consequences at the polls, if the governor succeeds in imposing a candidate on the party.

In January, the Vice Chairman of the APC and one of the key supporters of Odubu, Gentleman Amegor, was suspended from office. Amegor, who is also the Edo South Senatorial leader, was accused of providing a lacklustre leadership for the party.

Other accusations were that Amegor failed to implement objectives contained in the Article 13.9 of the party’s constitution; he failed to convene regular meetings of the district to discuss and resolve issues affecting the development of the party; and was also alleged to have been engaged in anti-party activities during the last presidential elections, which led to the loss of his unit and local government.

Attempts by Amegor to call a meeting of the APC in Edo South were resisted by some youths, who drove away those heading for the residence of the APC chieftain. The youths laid siege on Amegor’s residence till about 6pm.

Odubu, according to his loyalists, is now rarely invited to government functions or sent to represent the governor. For instance, he was absent at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Okpella Cement Company by the Dangote Group. He was also not present at the visit of the Crown Prince of Benin Kingdom and Edaiken N’ Uselu, Prince Eheneden Erediauwa, to the Government House and in February, when the Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali, visited the internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Edo. It was the governor’s wife, Lara, that was sent to welcome him.

Nevertheless, a peace move has begun to settle the political differences between Oshiomhole and his deputy. Sources told our reporter that a meeting was held in Abuja to prevail on Odubu to step down and that the deputy governor reportedly told those at the meeting that he would consult with his supporters. Those close to the Odubu, however, insist that he may have resolved to contest the primaries, even after settling the rift between him and his boss.

A Senior Special Assistant to Oshiomhole on Media, Curtis Ugbo, who was arraigned last week for illegal possession of firearms and making inciting statements against the governor, said his travails began when he started showing support for Odubu’s governorship bid.

Ugbo had posted the following statements on his Facebook wall after the groundbreaking ceremony of the Okpella Cement Company: “What is wrong with my boss? no senior member of government, Speaker and National Assembly member was present at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Edo State-owned cement industry, in partnership with a private company. “Is Edo State now a personal estate of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole?” Government sources said Odubu has distanced himself from the rantings of Ugbo and other political appointees who want to hide under the fracas to get at the governor. Many supporters of Odubu had wanted an all-out war with the Governor, but Odubu opted to remain calm and work towards getting the party’s ticket.

It is not yet clear how many local government areas Odubu could win at the primaries, but some party leaders claim that he has a good relationship with delegates from Orhionmwon, Uhunmwode, Ovia North East and Ovia South West, Owan East, Owan West and Egor.

A top government official, who expressed worry over the cold between Oshiomhole and Odubu, said the latter deserves some respect from the governor and that he is not a push over, as he appears on the surface. He said Odubu helped to stabilise Oshiomhole’s administration by being loyal and not becoming over ambitious in the last eight years.

By Osagie Otabor

Oshiomhole, Odubu relationship degenerate further over governorship ticket

Oshiomhole, Messiah of Edo — Edo Crown Prince

THE Edaiken N’Uselu, Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa, yesterday, described Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State as the Messiah that God gave the people of the state, saying that those angry that the governor enjoys close relationship with the Benin royal family should have a rethink.

Governor Oshiomhole

The Ediaken, who said that the Benin traditional institution “shall not fall, cannot fall, we can only go further,” told the governor when he paid him a thank you visit at Government House, Benin City, that his close affinity and respect for Benin traditional institution led to the unity and progress being witnessed in the state and prayed that the ancestors will continue to protect him as he looks towards his exit from office.

The Crown Prince also expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for receiving him recently when he went to inform the president of his movement to Uselu as Ediaken, just as he thanked Oshiomhole for facilitating the visit which he described as very successful.

Addressing members of the State Executive Council and top palace chiefs in the kingdom, the Crown Prince said, “Oshiomhole started very well and my prayer is that God and our ancestors will bring his tenure to an unblemished end in Edo State. He is the messiah of everything in Edo State. I have not seen anything to change my mind up till now. I asked anybody with a contrary opinion to contradict what I said but I have not seen anybody to contradict me up till now.

“I just want to say that this visit here today is basically a thank you visit for many reasons. I want to thank our governor for the many things he has done in the state. He has laid a very strong foundation for democratic process, democratic development, he brought the one-man one-vote to the fore.”

Oshiomhole, Messiah of Edo — Edo Crown Prince

Gov. Oshiomhole Panics, Builds Police Post, Barrack Around His Home In The Twinligt Light Of His Government

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State will be commissioning a police barrack at the back of his ranch and a police post beside the mother’s house this afternoon, respectively. The governor’s mother’s house is adjacent to the governor’s ranch. The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase will be on hand for the commissioning.

Inside sources who didn’t want their names in print revealed that governor Oshiomhole built fortresses around himself because of his numerous unkept promises to the people to develop every part of Edo the state.

“Oshiomhole should have led by example, like his acclaimed role model, Pa Michael Imoudu who neither mass up policemen around himself but had the people as his foot soldiers”, one of them said.

They lamented that the governor only developed a part of the senatorial district, Edo North: that is, Etsakor, East, Central and West local governments areas and left out Owan West, East and Akoko-Edo out of his development templates.

They chided the governor for not making any attempt to fixing any reasonable road in Edo Central which suffers the most in the entire stretch of nearly eight years of his administration.

Furthermore, they indicted the governor as an ethnic bigot who paid political appointees from his part of the state different salaries to the ones who are not from his Etsakor conclave. One of them said: “Once you find your name on the Iyamho salary list you thank your God, if you are not, God help you”.

The list of names of political appointees printed out from government bureaucracy showed that more than 75 percent of political appointees under governor Oshiomhole administration are all from the three local governments of Etsakor East, Central, and West.

In the last seven-plus years, the governor has made more enemies than friends or turned his enemies to friends or vice versa. This is manifest from the way Edo people have rejected his anointed candidate, Mr. Godwin Obaseki in the forth coming September 10th governorship election.

Gov. Oshiomhole Panics, Builds Police Post, Barrack Around His Home In The Twinligt Light Of His Government

How much did Dangote contribute to your campaign? - Ize-Iyamu replies Oshiomhole

………………says Edo people are my friends

By Ehi Ekhator

One of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP governorship candidates in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu has replied the Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole on the call to provide his friends.

Osagie Ize-Iyamu

On Tuesday, the governor had asked the PDP governorship candidate to provide his friends, who he said among whom are looters.

The governor boasted that his friendship with Dangote, the richest man in Africa, has yielded $1bn investment to the state.

Oshiomhole said: “I’m proud to associate myself with Dangote, and I’m proud to say my friendship with Dangote has yielded a $1 billion investment in the state in the form of a brand new Okpella Cement factory which will offer close to 50,000 direct and indirect jobs to people of the state.”

Speaking with NAIJA CENTER NEWS on Wednesday, Pastor Ize-Iyamu said he won’t compare his friends, but stressed that Edo people are his friends and he is very concerned about them.

He said ” I am sure by now everyone knows how childish they can be. I am not going to start comparing those who are my friends and who are not. What is important is that Edo people are my friends and I am concerned about them.

“The statement they said I made was that for a long time, we have seen the governor going around with Dangote to different African countries to commission different factories and many of us wondered that he could not even appeal to him to come and establish it here.

“Eventually we have heard that the man is going to establish one, and as you know Oshiomhole’s tenure is coming to an end in a matter of months, and i said this is a kind of people i would have thought

“He started talking about Dangote being his friend and all that and he forgot that we were the one who support him in 2007. Ask whether Dangote was his friend in 2007 and how much he contributed to his campaign.

“I don’t see the big deal as the governor is now beginning to know that Dangote is his friend.

“What matters is the policy and vision you have. This is a governor who when we quarrelled with him that he had not been able to established industry and he said he never promised industry.

He has now realized that industrialization is very important. Dangote is not the only person who is putting a cement factory in Okpilla, BUA group is already there.

It is good that Dangote is interested in our state, but a governor who his tenure will end in few months now begin to realize the importance of industrlization.”

How much did Dangote contribute to your campaign? - Ize-Iyamu replies Oshiomhole

Dangote is my friend, who is your friend? - Oshiomhole asks Ize-Iyamu

I’m proud of my friends, Oshiomhole replies PDP

Governor Adams Oshiomhole has told a gubernatorial aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu that he is proud to call Alhaji Aliko Dangote his friend while Ize-Iyamu can’t boast of his friends and associates as some of them have been convicted of looting the state’s treasury.

Oshiomhole

Pastor Ize-Iyamu who was Secretary to State Government during the administration of Mr. Lucky Igbinedion as Governor of Edo State had in a press statement published in some newspapers said “with the touted relationship with Dangote, it is just a few months to the end of his tenure that he could attract him to lay foundation stone for cement factory in Edo State”, however in a response by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Peter Okhiria, the Governor said “I’m proud to associate myself with Dangote, and I’m proud to say my friendship with Dangote has yielded a $1 billion investment in the state in the form of a brand new Okpella Cement factory which will offer close to 50,000 direct and indirect jobs to people of the state.

“My friendship with Dr. David Ladipo yielded another $1 billion Azura Power Plant. My friendship with Captain Hosa Okunbo has yielded a $750 million Wells and Carlos Farms which is set to employ over 85,000 people.

“I’m proud to say that under my stewardship as Governor, investors now find Edo State very attractive and they are coming down here in droves. Already a Chinese Steel Company, Yongxing, is in full production and is already seeking ways to expand its operations; another Chinese Company, Time Ceramics Limited is also into full production and already into the second phase of expanding its operations.

Also, more Chinese companies are planning to set up their factories in different parts of the state, these are my friends, those are my records which I am proud of.

Now, there is a popular saying “show me your friend and I will tell you whom you are”. Who are Pastor Ize-Iyamu’s friends? It is on record that some of his best friends have been convicted of looting the state’s treasury.

What are Ize-Iyamu’s records as SSG in Edo State? How many of his friends was he able to attract to invest in the state? None. Rather than bring in investors to the state, they siphoned the state money and established phoney companies: Ehor Juice factory, Cassavita Company, AVA Cement factory all of which were designed to fail from the beginning and which they eventually sold to their cronies at give-away prices.

Ize-Iyamu said a PDP Government will commission the Okpella Cement factory. Is the PDP still functional in Edo State? Is it not instructive that nobody finds the PDP attractive to jostle for that party’s gubernatorial ticket. As at the last count, the APC had over 13 aspirants, while the PDP had just four. That is reflective of the apathy, dissatisfaction, and resentment the people have towards that drowning party.

The PDP will never again reverse the development train of the APC government in Edo State and come 2018, another APC government will continue from where we stop on November 12, 2016, and will commission the $1 billion Okpella Cement factory and many other industries which my friends have signified interest to establish in Edo State.

Yes, Aliko Dangote is my friend. Ize-Iyamu, who is your friend?

Dangote is my friend, who is your friend? - Oshiomhole asks Ize-Iyamu

I can make Edo an APC state - Don Pedro Obaseki

Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirant Dr. Pedro Obaseki has warned Governor Adams Oshiomhole against any imposition of candidate, saying that it may backfire.

He said the governor is not bigger than the party, recalling that last year, the governor’s candidate failed during the senatorial polls.

Obaseki urged the people, including Edo in the Diaspora, to make a good choice, adding that the choice they make will determine the progress of the state in the future.

Don Pedro Obaseki

The 49-year old politician stressed: “Edo is on the throes of motor park democracy. Change is good, but we must change properly.  I don’t have a godfather. God is my father. I will take my message to the Edo people, even in the Diaspora, to make a good choice.”

Oshiomhole has anointed Obaseki’s cousin, Godwin Obaseki, as his preferred candidate. The governor, who described the Chairman of the Edo State Economic Team as a competent technocrat and administrator, justified his decision, saying that he has the constitutional right to make a choice.

 No fewer than eight aspirants are struggling for the ticket. Other contenders are Deputy Governor Pius Odubu, former Governor Osherhimen Osunbor, Gen. Charles Airhiavbere, a former minister, Chris Ogiemwonyi, Osarodion Ogie, and Kenneth Imasuagbon. Some of the APC contenders came from the PDP. Also, majority of the PDP aspirants defected from the APC.Obaseki, a broadcaster and film maker, cautioned the APC against over-confidence, stressing that the PDP is roaring like a wounded lion, seeking to devour the ruling party.

He said: “Edo is not an APC state. I can make it an APC state, leveraging on the achievements of Oshiomhole.”

The aspirant said the onus is on Oshipmhole, who rode to power on the back of his ‘one man, one vote’ campaign and serious resistance to godfatherism, to learn from the past. he said any manipulation of the selection process in favour of any aspirant will be to the detriment of the party.

Obaseki also condemned what he described as the evil of money politics, adding that stomach infrastructure will not play any role during the election. He said: “Only God anoints. I am not rich in terms of the interpretation of stolen wealth.”

Reflecting on the zoning debate, the former university teacher said: “I will not sacrifice competence on the altar of zoning. Edo people are one.”

He also warned against violence during the primary, saying the perpetrators of violence will be taken to task.

Unfolding his programmes, Obaseki said: “Edo is my political message, ideology and focus.” He said he will focus on agriculture, health care system, education, employment generation, culture and tourism.

He lamented that “Edo is where it is because of leadership laziness,” stressing that its natural endowment can take it far, if properly harnessed.

Obaseki, who shed light on his health manifesto, lamented the lack of ambulance serve in the health sector. He promise to introduce the ‘Edo health Initiative,’ which he described as a coordinated health policy to redeem the health sector. He said he will also create a data base in the health sector detailing the health history of the people.

On agriculture, he said: “We have the land. Nigeria imports 63 percent of its palm oil, which Edo can produce.”

I can make Edo an APC state - Don Pedro Obaseki

Oshiomhole: Azura has made Edo a power generation hub

Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has said the Azura Power Plant in Benin, the state capital, has the capacity to produce almost 50 per cent of Nigeria’s 4,000 megawatts (MW).

Oshiomhole

The governor said the power plant made Edo State a hub of power generation in Nigeria.

Oshiomhole spoke on Tuesday while inspecting the Azura Power Plant at Ahor in Benin.

He said: “Let me appreciate your vision, your courage and your determination to navigate through all the technical political and social, economic, logistics issues that you have to go through to get to this level. It requires a level of confidence in our country, in our people, and confidence about our future to step out to initiate a gigantic project such as this.

“Even while you are at the state of construction, all of us  are beneficiaries of that vision.

“As we have always said, and there is nobody to say it better than you, that what Nigeria needs, Edo possesses: suitable land and nature, good people that are friendly to investors. Our people are educated enough to know that this project, the Azura Power Project, has become an indigene of this community and Edo State. And like every indigene, it attracts the support it needs, whereas in some parts of the country, you have people who want to make quick money by blackmailing contractors.”

Oshiomhole added: “I am happy with what I have seen. Your choice of Julius Berger to handle the civil engineering work gives absolute confidence. I have just listened to some of the technical details. It is clear that we are in good hands. Whatever we can still do, you can take it for granted, because for us in Edo, the primary purpose of government is creating the enabling environment that gives the real private sector investors the confidence they need to locate in this state and bring fresh dollars, which you call foreign direct investment, into our country.”

At a guided tour of the project site with Governor Oshiomhole, Managing Director of the power plant, Dr. David Oladipo, noted that the project employed 400 workers, including 150 from the host community.

Oladipo said: “We have local contractors who meet the highest standard set by Julius Berger. They bring in materials and they have to be upgraded and tested. One of the commitments we have is to ensure we have real impact from the local community in terms of employment and business opportunities…”

Oshiomhole: Azura has made Edo a power generation hub

Gov. Oshiomhole Buys Media editors In A Bid To Enthrone Godwin Obaseki As Governor

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has concluded plans to host his long-time middle man, business partner and chairman of his economic team as the next governor of the state.

oshiomhole

FREEPRESS learned that the governor invited key editors of major newspapers across the country to the state capital and lavished them with cash running into hundreds of millions.

An eyewitness account who is shy of the press said for the governor to dole out such amount of money to a group of top editors variously is an indication that he has mortgage the state already.

“Edo State in the next ten to fifteen years can not recovery from the plundering and debt it has been railroaded into by the comrade governor.

“It’s shocking to see the governor doling out N8 million each to news, political and features editors of various national newspapers for the promotion of Mr. Godwin Obaseki’s ambition and to be downgrading the ambition of other aspirants for the same race in the same political party.

Our source hinted that the commissioner for information, Mr. Kassim Afegbua was visibly angry with governor Adams Oshiomhole after seeing one of the editors off to the Benin airport without the courtesy of given him 10 percent of the largesse he got from his boss.

Governor Oshiomhole is known for allocating huge sum of money to buying each paragraph of the national dailies for favourable publications and out-of-world-propaganda.

Gov. Oshiomhole Buys Media editors In A Bid To Enthrone Godwin Obaseki As Governor

Speaker Edoror fear jail, calls Hon. Eruaga to be sworn in today

The speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Edoror has bowed to pressure to swear in a member of the house representing Estako West 11 constituency, Sylvanus Eruagua.

The speaker after receiving court decision yesterday suddenly made a call, and invited the embattled lawmakers to be sworn in today, Tuesday.

Appeal court had given Hon Edoror 72 hours to appear in court for contempt, failure to swearing Hon. Eruaga as the duly elected member representing estate West 11 constituency.

 

Eruaga has been dealing with the problem for months after being declared at the election tribunal as the legitimate winner of the election.

Rumour has it that the governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole swore not to allow the Hon. in as it would be disgraceful to allow a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to representing his constituency, under All Progressives Congress.

Hon. Eruaga while speaking with NAIJA CENTER NEWS yesterday confirmed the rumour that the governor was behind the delay. He categorically quoted the speaker as saying that he should settle with the governor if he wanted to be sworn in.

Eruaga said: “It is a very terrible situation, on the 19th of December, I won and the INEC received a directive to give me a certificate of return, and withdraw that of the man who lost. Three months after, I have not been sworn in, i have exhausted all avenue. The speaker started by saying that they were preparing for my swearing in, they wrote to the governor to approve the funds for the swearing in, they have to dress the preparation. I waited for about a month, there was nothing.

“When i was now pressing him, he said my certificate of return, there is a petition from my constituency that it was forged. What kind of type of child game is that? How can i win election petition both in the tribunal and in the appeal court go and forge a certificate of INEC?

“Even when they confirmed the authenticity in Abuja, they could not swear me in, they went to file a case in the same appeal court asking the court to reverse my judgement that it was wrongly given. After three months, the appeal court was angry and struck the case as they cannot turn the appeal court to a toilet.

“This time around, the man has no excuse again, he has nothing to say. My constituency has not been represented. The budget has been approved and there is no one representing the governor’s constituency. Which offence did i commit? Because i  am a member of the PDP and there is APC government in the state.

“I have to go back to the same appeal court to ask them to mandate the speaker to swear me in compulsorily which they have told the speaker but he refused. Today, the court finally gave on the 7th as the last day for the speaker and the rest of them to appear for refusing to swear me in or face jail.

“Speaking concerning who is responsible for his woes, Eruaga said “The speaker once told me at a particular time that i should go and settle with the governor, and that he has nothing against him. He confessed that the governor directed him not to swear me in or he will fire him.  After sometimes, i had to believe the speaker because he does not really have anything against him, they just deliberately refused to swear me in.

Mr Eruaga warned the governor that people that live in glass houses should not throw stone. He reminded the governor that there would be another day as power is not permanent.

 

 

 

 

 

Speaker Edoror fear jail, calls Hon. Eruaga to be sworn in today

Edo 2016: APC battles imposition threat

Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, reports on the current efforts to douse the tension in the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) following Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s alleged endorsement of Godwin Obaseki for the ticket of All Progressives Congress (APC)

As All Progressives Congress (APC) prepares for its primaries ahead the September, 2016 Edo State Governorship Election, some aspirants for the party’s ticket and their supporters have continued to express fears over Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s alleged endorsement of one of the aspirants, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, threatening that anything short of free and fair primaries will endanger the fortunes of the party at the governorship election.

oshiomhole

Aside Obaseki, who is the head of the economic team of Oshiomhole’s government, other prominent aspirants for the ticket of APC in the governorship election include the Deputy Governor of the state, Dr Pius Odubu, Mr. Kenneth Imasuagbon (fondly called the Rice man), former governor of the state, Prof. Osarhiemen Osunbor, Works Commissioner, Osarodion Ogie, former Minister of State (Works), Dr Chris Ogiemwonyi and Gen. Charles Airhiavbere, amongst others.

The tension over Oshiomhole’s alleged preference for one of the aspirants, which has been building up since late last year, when it was first rumoured but was stoutly denied, gathered steam in January this year, when the governor was reported as openly supporting Obaseki and for making government facilities and aides available to him to promote his ambition at the expense of the other aspirants.

Insiders told The Nation that this allegation, which is the major subject of contention within the party in the South-South state today, is giving the leadership of APC concern as some of the aggrieved aspirants have allegedly reached out to top leaders of the party outside the state, warning that they would resist any form of imposition.

A top campaign official of one of the high-profile aspirants, who revealed the current moves by the concerned aspirants, told The Nation this week that “Oshiomhole’s open support of Obaseki has split the party along ethnic and ideological lines. From what we are seeing, it seems clear that the governor is trying to change the goalpost in the middle of the game. This is not acceptable to us. Everybody knows that the calibre of aspirants in the race for APC ticket today was made possible because the governor initially and openly promised to allow a level playing field, to ensure that only the best and most popular candidate would emerge APC flag bearer. If what we are seeing is real, someone is poised to breach that sustaining trust.”

Calling on President Muhammadu Buhari and the national leadership of APC to wade into the matter urgently to save the party in the state, the source, who is a campaign director of one of the aspirants asked rhetorically, “Will President Buhari, APC chieftains and national leaders of the party allow Governor Adams Oshiomole to go ahead and impose a candidate in Edo APC? Is it not common knowledge that he is sponsoring delegates to favour his candidate? So, why are the leaders folding their hands and watching this dangerous development, knowing the obvious consequence of destroying the party’s chances at the real governorship election?”

The source added, “We all know that the governor came in with a populist ideology as a labour leader, fighting for the welfare of the people and so they embraced him and the party but it seems he has turned out to be a capitalist. In his actions, especially on this issue of how his successor would emerge, he is not walking the talk as he now sees himself as alpha and omega. He should allow people’s will to prevail and shouldn’t be allowed to truncate Buhari’s change mantra.

“When he called Anenih, Ogbemudia and Igbinedion godfathers, Edo people believed him. Is he now the godfather? We are worried, not just because of our personal aspirations but because of the likely effect of this action on the fortunes of APC in the state and on the overall politics of the state. It is not enough to suspend and intimidate party chairmen and APC chieftains in the state. What we and the party national leaders should be concerned of is how this development will impact on the party in the state. If you ask me, it will impact negatively. It will be better for all of us, including the party and the governor, if free and fair primary election is allowed in Edo and if the governor retains his father image for all the aspirants. This way, APC will remain united and strong.”

Already, some recent reports confirm sharp disagreement between some APC chieftains in the state and governor’s close associates and aides on the alleged plot to foist Obaseki.  For example, it was recently reported that while Anselm Ojezua, Edo APC Chairman, denied that the governor would impose a candidate, the state Attorney– General and Commissioner for Justice, Henry Idahagbon, confirmed the governor’s support for the aspirant. Ojezua was quoted in an earlier interview as saying, “the governor would never consider handpicking a candidate when he should be playing the role of an impartial arbiter in a most sensitive issue as a candidate to succeed him. All the over 20 candidates in the race are all Oshiomhole’s favourities,” he said. But in a later report, Idahagbon was quoted as saying that the governor had thrown his weight behind Godwin Obaseki.

What may influence the parties’ choices?

Preliminary investigations into the current sentiment of both the political leaderships in Edo State and amongst the common people show that the issue of who will succeed Oshiomhole would be determined not only by the calibre of the aspirant but also by the unity of either the ruling APC or the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the election. The fact is that the two political parties now have strong roots in Edo State. So, none of the two leading parties would afford serious disunity amongst its leaders during the election. As a result of this reality, which some insiders said may be decisive, the two leading political parties in the state may be forced to weigh all options and likely effects before electing their candidates. This explains why some national leaders of APC are expressing concern over the alleged plans to impose a candidate; a development they feared may negatively affect the unity of the ruling party during the governorship election.

The opposition PDP will not wait to celebrate such disunity in the camp of the ruling APC.  Confirming this, Tony Edosoma, a grassroots PDP leader in Edo Central, said, “We understand there are threats in APC that if some of their governorship aspirants confirm the governor imposed one of them on the party, then the rest will work against the party. For us in PDP, we have always known the celebration and the noise in APC in Edo State will not be forever.  Whether or not they fight amongst themselves, PDP will regain Edo State’s Government House this year. If they fight themselves over imposition, it will only make the task of dislodging them easier for us,” he boasted.

Also, considering the widespread belief that APC-led government of Adams Oshiomhole performed very well, bookmakers are of the opinion today that an APC candidate, if generally accepted, will be on a better footing than other candidates during the September governorship election.

But our findings show that aside performance of the outgoing governor and the current popularity of his party, APC, people’s sentiment on the need for what they described as “fair zoning,” will play a major part. This is a major challenge that all the parties must take into consideration in the election of their candidate if they hope to win the governorship election. In this case, Edo Central Senatorial District is being favoured by many leaders for the sake of equity and fairness. Dr. Eugene Iyare, a political commentator in Benin, told The Nation on Thursday that the quest for Edo Central to produce the next governor of the state in 2016 “is non-negotiable.” He explained that the agitation is “for the purpose of justice, equity and fair play.”

According to him, “Edo Central had only occupied the governor’s office for only 18 months. The people of Edo Central are therefore demanding to be allowed to produce the next governor to take over from Oshiomhole in 2016. Honestly, I think the people of Edo South, which had occupied the position for over nine years when Lucky Igbinedion held sway and Edo North presently completing its eight years in that office in the person of Oshiomhole, should not argue about it. It is the turn of Edo Central.”

Given these contentions, insiders said the parties must take the people’s sentiment into consideration before determining who will fly their gubernatorial flags.

Summarizing the situation in APC, Chief Eric Obaseki, a retired civil servant in Benin, told The Nationthat “although other parties may field candidates, the battle would most likely be between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). So, the major task before these two parties is the task of picking the right candidate from the right zone. From what I have seen so far, apart from ensuring that the candidate has what it takes to step into the big shoes of the Comrade Governor, zoning may be the major consideration here,” he said. He added, “From the calibre of aspirants so far, there is no doubt that we have qualified people vying to succeed the comrade governor. But fair is fair, any of the parties that fails to consider where its candidate comes from may pay dearly for it.”

So as Edo prepares for the governorship primaries amidst intense pressure on who emerges the parties’ flag bearers and how they emerged, our investigation shows that the leading aspirants for Oshiomhole’s job from APC today include:

Godwin Obaseki

As the head of Governor Oshiomhole’s economic team, Godwin Obaseki is considered a very close aide of the out-going governor. He is the aspirant the governor is accused of throwing his weight on at the detriment of the others. This has made him one of the leading aspirants for the ticket today.

But our enquiries reveal that the governor’s efforts to sell his candidacy may have suffered serious opposition from powerful stakeholders.

Besides criticism arising from an attempt to impose him on others and on the state, Obaseki’s critics said he has no background and experience in politics. They said he has no supporters and is not known like the other leading aspirants.

But his defenders insist he fits the bill because Oshiomhole is looking for the best man, especially a technocrat or someone with private sector background, with a firm grasp of the relevant issues today to succeed him.

Kenneth Imasuagbon

A lawyer, philanthropist and former aspirant to the Edo State Government House in the April, 2012 election, Mr. Kenneth Imansuangbon has emerged the major aspirant in the race for APC governorship ticket. This is because apart from his distinguished private sector background, as a foremost educationist in Nigeria, Imasuagbon has made a unique mark as a genuine philanthropist. One of his philanthropic gestures has earned him the name, the Rice Man. This has, according to insiders in Edo State, made him the man of the common people. He is also said to be very popular, amongst the youths in the three senatorial districts of the state, most of who have benefitted from his continuous I-pad gifts and scholarships.

A respondent said even when there is no election at sight the Rice man still gives out during festivities, like Christmas, New Year, Sallah, etc. During these festivities, he distributes thousands of bags of rice to the less privileged in the three senatorial districts in the state; a gesture he explained was to put smiles on the faces of the poor during the festive periods.

Asked to explain why he gives out rice to the people, Imasuagbon said, “This is my own commitment to fighting poverty in my state. I came from a home where there was no rice to eat but now that I can afford rice, my commitment is that to the extent God permits, I will always give food, every time, to the poor in Edo State and if I had enough money, I will send it to other parts of the country to put smile on the faces of the people.”

Another factor that may go for the Rice man is his wide experience and strong political structure in Edo State. He is one of the few aspirants for APC ticket that can combine grassroots popularity with the right political connection and experience. Besides these, his private sector background fits into what insiders said Oshiomhole wants for a successor. He is also from Edo Central; the zone many say should produce the next governor of Edo if fairness and equity are to be given their pride of place.

Besides these two aspirants, other visible aspirants for the ticket include, the deputy governor, Hon. Pius Egberanmwen Odubu, from Urhomehe in Urhonigbe North Ward, Orhionmwon Local Governrnent Area of Edo State, the former governor of the state, Professor Oserheimen Osunbor, from Edo Central, Chris Osa Ogiemwonyi and Major-General Charles Airhiavbere (retired), the PDP candidate at the 2012 Edo State Governorship Election.

Pius Egberanmwen Odubu

Considered by many as one of the frontline aspirants on the platform of the ruling APC is. Odubu, a lawyer who served two terms at the House of Representatives, is currently the Deputy Governor of Edo State.

Oserheimen Osunbor

Another top APC aspirant is Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor. He was elected Senator for the Edo Central constituency at the start of the Nigerian Fourth Republic, on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). In April 2007, he was elected Governor of Edo State also on PDP platform but only spent 18 months on the seat before he lost at the tribunal and the Appeal Court to Oshiomhole.

Chris Osa Ogiemwonyi

An engineer with over 30 years of work experience in the oil and gas industry, who retired as Executive Director (Exploration and Production), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), before his appointment as Minister of State for Works, Chris Osa Ogiemwonyi has consistently harped on his desire to render service to the people. But his critics have said that he cannot boast of the kind of solid political structure that would enable him win the APC governorship primaries.

His response to this is however instructive. He had said, “I hear that and I laugh when I hear it; structure, what is structure, these are human beings. What is going to play out now and tomorrow in Nigeria is not how deep you are in politics, but people are going to respect the character of the person

Charles Airhiavbere

Major-General Charles Airhiavbere (retired) was Commander, Corps of Army Finance and Accounts at the Army Headquarters. An accountant, he was the PDP candidate at the 2012 Edo State Governorship Election. Now in APC, he is seen as one of the aspirants whose supporters are already deeply involved in consultations.

With such array of highly qualified aspirants, and their consistent call for a free playing ground observers say the threat over alleged plot to impose an aspirant over the other APC governorship aspirants should not be overlooked by Oshiomhole and APC national leaders. It remains to be seen how the current tension will be resolved before the primaries.

Edo 2016: APC battles imposition threat

Those calling for Emefiele’s removal’re palm wine drinkers – Oshiomhole

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.

Those calling for Emefiele’s removal’re palm wine drinkers – Oshiomhole

‘No room for anointed candidate in Edo APC’

Professor Ebegue Amadasun, a professor of Anasthesiology and the Chairman of the Edo State Hospital Management Board, is a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In this interview, he speaks about on ambition and other partisan issues. Excerpts:

Why do you decide to join the governorship race?

Professor Ebegue

For me it is not new. I was an aspirant in 1991 in the old Social Democratic Party (SDP). I only vied for the party nomination with John Odigie Oyegun, the current National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) who eventually emerged as the party candidate. So, I am just going back to the old turf.

Are you not worry as one of the aspirants that the governor is allegedly supporting one of the aspirants?

I think the governor has given copious reasons for his action. As member of the party and besides, the governor is entitled to his choice. Moreso, be the most prominent individual in the party by virtue of being governor and hence the leader in the state he should have an interest as to whom succeeds him. But, that does not trampled on the right of any other member of the party to aspire. It is going to be a free and fair primaries and so if the governor’s candidate wins we will all join in working for him to make sure that we win the election and I guess if it is otherwise all the members will also join to make sure that whomever emerges is assisted to become the governor of the state.

Why do you consider yourself as the best and most qualified person to succeed governor, Adams Oshiomhole?

I am the oldest politician among the aspirants. I just told you that, 25 years ago, I was a gubernatorial aspirant and ever since I have been in politics even though I have not been contesting elections. I am a consultant at UBTH, but I have been the leader of my people all this while and I think it is time to go back to what I left behind in the 1991. So, as far as political experience and knowing what the people want. If it is so, who do you think is better qualified than me? Is it grassroots ability, orientation or in whatever area you think any other person on the field is qualified more than I? I believe I am the best.

There are fears that the APC may explode after the party primaries, if the right thing is not done?

There is no reason why the right thing will not be done. From experience since the advent of the present political dispensation primaries elections are usually be free and fair. They are usually done in the open especially for primaries like this, we go to the stadium where people come out in the open take their ballot papers, vote whomever they want, drop it in the box and there after the ballot papers are sorted and counted. So, whoever is a democratic should be able to accept who emerges from such an exercise if it is seemed as free, fair and transparent I will support anybody that come out from such process.

Have you been asked by anybody or group  to work for a particular aspirant?

That will be undemocratic and nobody would want to try and coerce me to do what is undemocratic when they know that I am a democrat.

If given the opportunity to govern the state, how do you intend to impact on the political and economic development of the state?

Again, that is the crux of the matter because, before now, several people have asked me this question. My answer has been that it is generally acclaimed that Adams Oshiomhole has done well whoever comes after him must strive to improve on what he is leaving behind. The most important aspect of that will be the economic because every other facets of development will drive from the economic. If the economic is poor, revenue will be dwindled, services will not be maintained, and salaries may no longer be paid among others. It becomes a vicious circle. Whoever wants to succeed Oshiomhole must aim to expand the economic base of the state beyond what he or she meet. That is exactly what I intend to do.

How do you intend to expand the revenue base of the state beyond what Oshiomhole has done?

Governor Adams Oshiomhole is acclaimed to have improved on the internally generated revenue of the state more than a 1000 percent than what he met. Taxation means giving a part of your earning to government for its services because those services are what make you to earn the money in the first place.  Taxation is not confiscation. We must improve on the taxation process to the extent that the people can appreciate it. This part is blessed with good climate, fertile soil and it is very difficult for me to understand why agriculture is not thriving beyond subsistence level that it is today and that is because of the orientation of the average farmers. Firstly, most of them are uneducated, secondly, most of them see farming as earning a living, to feed the family but elsewhere outside our shore farming is business. It is not just a means of livelihood it is business. One we have to teach our people that because I have heard some of my aspirant colleagues promising to mechanize agriculture. My question is how? Are you going to give every farmer a tractor? I intend to reintroduce the agricultural extension services. I know what it means to send agric assistant to the hinterland to teach farmers the best method, make available to them the best seedlings and to also to bring from them information to the centre and let government know how best they can be helped. That was one way of doing it. Additional way of doing it, is that government should also make available to the farmers the best yielding varieties of seeds. What you can do is to make life a little more bearable in the rural areas with the provision of essential services like water, electricity, communication, good motorable road, and good health facilities among other. Many of these agricultural goods are perishable. Government should be able to establish adequate storage facilities, silos for grains and processing mechanism for other products like the tubers among others. These are simple that does not need peculiar or rocket science to do buy by the time you put in sufficient intellect and work into agriculture you will see the yield coming, improve on employment generation, increase economic yields and IGR will indirectly increase. This is just one aspect to improve on IGR.

As a medical practitioner, and if given the mandation to rule the. How do you intend to develop the health sector to eradicate or reduce to barest minimum medical tourism?

The current Health Management Board is just about 18 months in office now. Since we can on board there has been very positive improvement in the rendering services. The structures are there, they are being maintained. what hitherto was missing was lukewarm attitude of personnel to work. I came from UBTH where things work and held responsible for any misdemeanor. I instituted this monthly publication of statistics because I want to know the output on monthly basis of each of the doctor. I want to know how many patients each consultant sees in he/her clinic monthly. How many operations each consultant does monthly in his clinic. By the result start coming they were staggering and I just called the management people and said is this believable? How can you say a consultant will have seven operations over six months? If it was his/her hospital can he/she maintain services from the fees of seven operations in six months about an average of one operation in one month? With that being enough to pay your bill, pay your nurses and other auxiliary staff? I said this can’t go on. I even reported to the comrade governor. The truth of the matter is that, by the time they now knew that they were being watched, they improved. People started coming to work earlier than they used to do.

Some persons have complained that APC is not doing enough to showcase the achievements of the governor. What is your comment on that?

If you say there is room for improvement, I won’t argue much with you.  But, even the governor himself is a chief propagandist. Every year there is celebration of the anniversary of his government. The last one was the 7thones that was done last November and during the sixth anniversary there was a publication of bronchure highlighted the achievements of the governor. I think there has been sufficient publicity

‘No room for anointed candidate in Edo APC’

$75m World Bank Loan: Kassim Afegbua fires back at Dan Orbih

Edo State Commissioner for Information Prince Kassim Afegbua has responded to the state Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Dan Orbih’s allegation over $75m world bank loan.

Dan Orbih

Dan Orbih had accused the state governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole of planning to exchange the assisted loan at the rate of N325 to $1 at the black market instead of bank official rate which according to him, would lead to a surplus of N10bn.

Dan Orbih also cried that the governor planned to use the said amount to cause chaos in the coming election by possibly, buying election officials and vote in his party favour.

The Commissioner for Information who was trying to defend his boss had a share of the attack from the State Publicity Secretary, Chris Osa Nehikhare who described his response to the allegation as infantile and uncivilized.

Without wasting time, Afegbua has responded saying that PDP showed reckless financial orientation.

According to Afegbua  ” If Orbih were not a complete dunce, he would have known that World Bank is not like Ogbona Community Bank where you can abuse financial procedures.

He has just shown the reckless financial orientation of the PDP and their brigandage and voodoo economics. Otherwise he would not even contemplate that a world bank would carry money in sacks and hand over to state government.

“We have repeatedly said it that the PDP has no answer to the challenges of governance. The empty-headedness of their state chairman further compounds their problem. How on earth would a man talk about world bank in such reckless emanations.

“What a pity. Please I recommend for Dan Orbih a refresher course for him to learn the ropes in modern world bank financial transaction instead of exhibiting manifest ignorance that tends to put Edo people to shame.”

$75m World Bank Loan: Kassim Afegbua fires back at Dan Orbih

Infantile Tantrums of Prince Kassim Afegbua - Edo PDP

The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has taken a swipe on the state Comissioner for Information, Prince Kassim Afegbua for defending his boss, Governor Adams Oshiomhole concerning the plans to exchange dollars worth billions in the black market.

dan orbih

The State PDP Chairman, Chief Dan Osi Orbih had accused Oshiomhole of planning to sell the $75m world bank assisted loan at the black market at the rate of N325 to a dollar instead of the official rate of N199 which will make the governor up to N10bn.

The PDP expressed worry that the amount, the governor has allegedly planned to create chaos, possibly to buy votes and election officials in the coming governorship election.

In a Statement issued by the state Publicity Secretary, Chris Osa Nehikhare, the PDP described as infantile, uncivilised and culture, the manner Kassim responded to the allegation by the party Chairman.

Nehikhare said “Once again Prince Kassim Afegbua commissioner for information has brought his gutter language to bear. The mere fact that you come from a village  called Okpella does not excuse your uncivilized and uncultured manner of responding to issues of grave concern to Edo people.

“The issues raised by Chief Dan Osi Orbih, state chairman of PDP Edo State are germane and as    usual, Prince Kassim Afegbua, you completely failed to address them.

“For the purpose of clarity, Chief Dan Osi Orbih exposed your master, Governor Adams Oshiomholes’ grand evil and fraudulent plan to sell the $75m world bank assisted loan at the black market at the rate of N325 to the dollar and then make return/deposit at the official rate of N199 to the dollar. This criminal round tripping of the loan will make Governor Adams Oshiomhole a cool N10billion which he plans to use as a weapon of coercion and intimidation as we approach the governorship elections.

“As we speak, the accomplice commercial bank to be used for this fraud has released its private jet for the pleasure and use of Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

“Edo people want responses and not infantile tantrums. Please grow up and behave your age.”

 

Infantile Tantrums of Prince Kassim Afegbua - Edo PDP

Dino Melaye mockery of Oshiomhole"s Choice of Wife in bad taste- Hon. Samson Osagie

A former member and Minority Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon. Samson Osagie had taken a swipe at Sen. Dino Melaye for attempting to mock Gov ADAMS Oshiomhole’s choice of wife as comparable to patronizing foreign goods.

The Senator had taken a swipe on the state governor while contributing to a debate concerning made in Nigeria goods.

Dino said ” It is a very bad development today that most Nigerian senior citizens detest made-in-nigeria women and opt for women abroad. We should condemn this. Take Oshiomhole for example,he spited Edo beautiful ladies and married a woman from abroad. This is wrong. We must go for our women. It is the height of irresponsibility if we do otherwise.”

Samson Osagie

Hon. Samson OSAGIE who describe Sen. Melaye as a supposed friend of members of the National Assembly from Edo State and the Comrade Governor describe as joke taken too far in his attempt to contribute to a motion that calls for very serious and patriotic attention.

He called on the Senator to publicly apologize to the Comrade Governor and Edo people for such verbal and unnecessary assault on the matrimony of the first family of Edo State.

Hon. OSAGIE regretted that were he in the Senate he would have raised a point of order on SEN. Melaye for making provocative and abusive statements that were irrelevant to the subject matter under debate in defiance of the rules of the Senate.

According to him’ I expect Dino my friend to know that that comparison was totally out of tune with the subject matter of the motion that was before the Senate and offensive to the rules of debate’

The privileges enjoyed by members of the legislature does not enjoin them to make scurrilous remarks about the private life of citizens. I was shocked and embarrassed and am sure Edo people were also embarrassed. Dino should thread cautiously.

Read Oshiomhole response here

Dino Melaye mockery of Oshiomhole"s Choice of Wife in bad taste- Hon. Samson Osagie

Made in Nigeria Goods: Dino Melaye hollow — Oshiomhole replies Dino Melaye

Governor Adams Oshiomhole says Senator Dino Melaye only displayed his hollowness by delving into a matter as private as his marriage to his heartthrob.

Oshiomhole

In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Peter Okhiria, the Governor said “Our attention has been drawn to the unprovoked verbal assault launched by one Senator Dino Melaye on the Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, while making a contribution on the floor of the Senate on the need to patronize made-in-Nigeria goods.

As a “nephew” of the Governor and members of the same party, we expected Senator Melaye to tender an unreserved public apology to the Comrade Governor, to no avail.

It is an open secret that Senator Melaye cannot maintain a decent matrimonial home hence he could descend to this pedestrian level of using the hallowed chambers to “cargorise” women as if they were pieces of items for purchase. Any responsible individual that is truly worth to be called a Senator, a position that convokes respect, decorum and decent public conduct, should know the limits of his verbal diarrhea. The liberty of free speech guaranteed in the hallowed chambers does not impose lunacy on anyone to disparage other Nigerians, let alone pry into their matrimony in a very derisive manner. We had intended to ignore this uncomplimentary comment as one of the several empty displays of the Senator, but the fact that it tends to reduce women to pieces of tissue calls for this response.

As we probed into Dino Melaye’s humanity, we were reminded that he is a man known for his vainglorious rodomontade and the childish display of his ostentatious lifestyle complements his love for foreign items. Many of such euro-centric mentality he has persistently displayed on social media, to underscore his materialistic eccentricity, hence his dialectical opposition to made-in-Nigeria goods. But an attempt at making women wear the garb of goods to be picked off the shelves was to take the issue to a ridiculous and irresponsible level.

By delving into the private affair and marriage of the Comrade Governor, Senator Melaye has exposed himself as a simpleton and a court jester whose words and tactlessness cannot be taken seriously by matured people.

We advise that Melaye should mend his ways with his ex-wife and concubines before coming to the village square to display his crass ignorance and emptiness to the Nigerian people.

If he has anything to offer, Dino Melaye should concentrate on making good laws for the people of Nigeria rather than descend to a ridiculous level, thus displaying to the whole world his unworthiness to sit in the hallowed chambers of the Nigerian Senate.

Made in Nigeria Goods: Dino Melaye hollow — Oshiomhole replies Dino Melaye

Don"t Emulate governor who did not patronize made-in-Nigeria women - Dino mocks Oshiomhole

The Chairman, Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Dino Melaye, mocked the Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, on Wednesday, while contributing to a motion seeking the need to patronise products made in Nigeria.

Oshiomhole and Wife

Melaye, who is from Kogi-West senatorial district, while contributing to the motion by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, which advocated the need to patronise products made in Nigeria, took a swipe at Oshiomhole, saying Nigerians should not emulate the governor whom he said opted not to “patronise ‘Made-in-Nigeria women’ but a foreign one”.

Melaye was referring to Iara, the wife of Oshiomhole, whom he married from Cape Verde in the Southern African region.

He, therefore, advised Nigerians not to only patronise goods made in Nigeria, but also made-in-Nigeria women.

He said, “I want to celebrate the ‘Made-in-Nigeria senator’ for bringing up this motion. In considering goods produced in Nigeria, we must look at the enabling factors that will necessitate the goods.

“It is beyond having one made in Nigeria attire and having over 70 designers’ attires in your wardrobe. We must reduce the allocation for made-in-Nigeria goods and services to the basics.

“What are those factors limiting the production of these goods? We must tackle them. We must also begin to look at our legislation, then we will begin to talk about made-in-Nigeria goods.

“We will also move in order to encourage made-in-Nigeria products and begin to talk about made-in-Nigeria women.

“Apologies to my uncle, the Governor of Edo State, we must as a people stop paying dowries in dollars and pounds. It is time for my colleagues here to become born again.”

 

Don"t Emulate governor who did not patronize made-in-Nigeria women - Dino mocks Oshiomhole

In Edo, Oshiomhole’s achievements ache PDP by Kassim Afegbua

When Edo State governor assumed office on November 12, 2008, many were set to put him to task if he dared fail to deliver on his campaign promises. As a labour leader who cut his political teeth from his many struggles to emancipate the poor masses and workers across the country, it was a huge responsibility for him to take over a state that was in ruins and total infrastructure decay. The education sector was a festering sore that finds expression in the manner of neglect that the previous administration had treated it. Edo State was notorious for  many miracle centers which provided accommodation for all categories of persons from different parts of the country to sit for the West African School Certificate Examinations with the hope of coming out with flying colours even when such examinations were hardly taken by the students.

Oshiomhole

With the dubious cooperation of the examination officers and the invigilators, desperate students easily parted with huge sums of money to buy their way through the corridors of examinations with promises of superlative grades. This was the practice inherited by the Comrade Governor from the PDP 10 years’ preoccupation of Edo State before the courts gave verdict that threw away that regime of waste and non-performance. Seven years down the line, the Comrade Governor has rediscovered the missing link in the education sector and appropriately repositioned the sector to the admiration of all. While the state was usually placed in a distant position of 30th amongst states in Nigeria in terms of performance at national examinations, the story today has assumed a more positive and rewarding classification. In the last three national examinations, Edo state came 2nd and has been adjudged as one of the heavily transformed states in terms of infrastructure, manpower and investment. The latest ratings and outcomes are the end product of the heavy investment which the government has put into this sector to rediscover its lost glory. Added to this is the fact that Edo State is tuition free for both primary and secondary schools students.

When Comrade Oshiomhole presented his first budget to Edo State House of Assembly, populated by majority of PDP lawmakers, rather than encourage a governor that was willing to work settle down, they threw up partisan interests over the Edo interest. First, the initial budget was scrutinized, altered and later adjusted to suit the peculiarity of the PDP godfathers. Aside from frowning at the percentage allocated for capital project, the Comrade Governor was told pointedly that he was not the messiah that Edo State was waiting for. And that if he must work, he must operate within the labyrinths of the godfather’s desires. Yet undaunted, the  Comrade Governor took his case  to our highly revered Oba of Benin, who wrote a scathing letter to remind the Edo State House of Assembly that if Benin City could not be respected for being the headquarters of Benin Kingdom, at least it should be recognized as the capital of Edo State. The PDP chieftains were asking for the portion of the budget that would be available for sharing like the “Dasukigate” money. They had to back down when the Comrade Governor told them that if they were prepared to share money, he would issue them cheques, if that would persuade them to put pen on paper to sign the Appropriation Bill. The rest as it is often said is now history.

The huge economic infrastructure which the Oshiomhole administration has brought about can be explained from the point of view of his determination to alter the narrative in Edo’s political economy. Rather than continue the tradition of skewing budget in favour of recurrent expenditure, the Comrade Governor has sustained a tradition of ensuring that capital expenditure carries a higher percentage in all his budgetary proposals and laws. More than anything, this explains the huge infrastructural component of the administration spread across the three senatorial districts of the state. As a direct consequence of this initiative, the state is now becoming an investment haven for different categories of businesses. There is bamboo wood furniture company in Anegbete, there is ceramics tiles company in Benin City as well as Yongxing Steel Company. These companies have recruited over 1,500 capable youths who have been trained and gainfully employed to provide one service or the other.

The Okpekpe road race has become an internationally accepted road race by the sheer insight of the government and a sports marketing company which seized the initiative of utilizing the beauty of the Okpekpe Road to bring this to fruition. This event has not only entered into the calendar year of the International Athletics Federation but has become a source of economic boom to residents of the entire Edo North each time the event was hosted. That is one way to boost the economic wellbeing of the people.

It is instructive to note that Comrade Oshiomhole’s intervention in Edo state has paid off in different areas. As we speak, even when states across the country cannot meet up with their salaries commitments, the Comrade Governor has almost completed building a brand new Edo State University located at Iyamho. The University environment boasts of sophisticated buildings and facilities that can compete with any other university in the world. Having invested heavily in enhancing the infrastructural status of Ambrose Alli University, he felt it was proper for the state to have another university that would absorb qualified students who often lazy about after failing to secure admission into the existing schools.

The national statistics with respect to school enrolment are quite alarming. On a yearly basis, about 1.4m Nigerian youths write the JAMB examinations. Out of this figure, available universities can only absorb a little above 300,000 thus allowing 1.1million to roam the streets before the onset of another examination calendar.

When the PDP raised dust over our investment in Ambrose Alli University, one had thought they were going to present their own statistics to show how much they invested in the university during their 10 years’ regime in Edo State. Rather, the PDP were running from pillar to post to complain about the huge investments we have made in the university. We have not only built and commissioned three lecture theatres; we have also built two world class laboratories for the medical and laboratory sciences students. We have also completed the moot court that was abandoned in 1991, built the agriculture extension services department, the Fine and Applied Arts department, and also the Building department. The dam that was built by the European Union and later abandoned was reticulated and as we speak, the university is now fully serviced with water. There are still several on-going projects aside from increasing the monthly subvention from a paltry N100m to N250m. When we asked the PDP to name what they did in 10 years’ at Ambrose Alli University, they were simply blaming themselves, pointing accusing fingers at themselves. What a pity.

While it is convenient for the PDP to make all the noises about development in Edo State as not reflecting what accrues to the state, they have not been bold enough to state what they did with all the billions they collected during their time. We have seen companies that were built overnight, we have seen how reptiles and snakes took over as managers and chief executives, and thereafter sold before daybreak. We have seen how Edo State resources were used to feather the nest of PDP chieftains, making overnight millionaires and billionaires. They jump about like musketeers, looting from the center and the corners, leaving Edo State to bleed with perfunctory disdain. Now that they have been uprooted from the inner sanctuary of Aso Rock conclave, they now see Edo State like a fallow land that must be conquered to continue their regime of mindless plunder. This is why the people are saying never again for the PDP to come and rape us politically.

–Afegbua is the Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Public Affairs, Edo State.

In Edo, Oshiomhole’s achievements ache PDP by Kassim Afegbua

Edo 2016: Return of the godfather

Comrade Adams Oshiomhole…must never allow himself to be distracted or wavered from those cardinal creeds which he embraced on November 12, 2008”. Quoted in Nowinta’s book;2012: Conqueror of the Godfathers (page 87)

WHEN the Comrade Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, recently applied the big stick once against the Edo State Traffic Management Authority, EDSTMA, knocking them off their usual nefarious and very much hated business, the question that came to my mind was simply:‘ who is fooling who? Yes! Who do the Comrade-Governor think he is fooling? Does he think he is a political ‘Solomon’ wiser than the knowledgeable and sensitive people of Edo State?

Oshiomhole

If I am not wrong, I think this is the second time in the life of this administration that the Comrade-Governor would be putting the Edo State Traffic Management Authority out of circulation after they would have given us dosages of unwarranted terror. The reasons the Comrade-Governor gave for sending them packing this time around is not new to the much-oppressed people of Edo State.

The sacked EDSTMA officials were notorious for stark extortion of law-abiding and peaceful citizens of Edo State under the guise of traffic control. These EDSTMA thugs, while their evil reign lasted, operated like tin gods and inflicted untold hardship and brazen torture on the vulnerable people of Edo State.

Where was Comrade Oshiomhole when the innocent people of Edo State were brutalised, terrorised and treated like slaves by EDSTMA thugs who did not employ decent modern traffic procedures when handling the people? I think the Governor waited for too long? While the Comrade-Governor waited tactically, he simply turned the other eye to allow some useless, jobless, selfish, inhuman and greedy party stalwarts to pounce on the innocent people of Edo State using traffic control or management as a cover.

Why did the Comrade-Governor betray the people in such a fashion after what they did for him in 2007 during the governorship election and in 2012? Today, as I penned this piece, market women and ‘pure water’ hawkers in all the major markets in the state are being compelled to pay all sorts of fees /levies to some marijuana-smoking, nasty and fierce looking thugs working for ‘a band of political merchants’ that have one connection or the other to the Dennis Osadebey Avenue.

Certainly this was not the promise that Comrade Oshiomhole articulated in 2007 and in 2012. Agreed that the Comrade Governor is one of the best things that have happened to Edo State in terms of construction and rehabilitation of roads; and other laudable frantic efforts he has made in other sectors. Granted that he has indeed rubbished the nearly 10 years of gigantic misrule which the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, perfected in Edo State. But the ordinary people do not seem to have a place in his democratic agenda!

It has been a very sad story of ‘used and dumped’. Where is the Youth Employment Scheme (EDO YES) that the Governor sang and danced with in his political manifestoes? These guys are now roaming the streets aimlessly, hungry and panting for survival! What about the last local government election in the state? Was it free, fair and credible? We all saw what took place.

Today, the Comrade-Governor has turned full circle after he incredibly sent the political godfathers packing and completely out of business after his victory in the governorship elections in 2007 and 2012. The road for the race of the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship primaries in Edo State is being dug up and covered with political land mines purchased and delivered allegedly by the foot soldiers of those who run the show because one Mr Godwin Obaseki is the alleged ‘anointed aspirant’.

Gentleman Amegor, an absolutely dedicated party man in the fold of the APC and others are being hounded and persecuted because they are demanding due process, transparency, equity and fairness in the way the party’s governorship candidate should emerge. For instance, not too long ago, Edo South Senatorial meeting allegedly called in Amegor’ s house was disrupted by those working for the ‘anointed aspirant’.

Recently, Ken Imasuagbon, a governorship aspirant in APC Edo State was allegedly locked out of Oredo Local Government party secretariat where he was to have a meeting with party faithful in the locality. Also, some commissioners, council chairmen, political appointees who were alleged to be working for other governorship aspirants in the state other than the ‘anointed man’ have been yanked off from their positions, etc.

I think it is not too late for the Comrade-Governor to retrace his steps, call his ‘warriors’ to order and ensure that a level playing field is available for all those who have indicated interest to participate in the APC governorship primaries. Who says the Comrade-Governor should not be interested in who succeeds him on November 12, 2016?

We know absolutely that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu showed interest in who he wanted to succeed him as Governor of Lagos State, but available records showed that his successors went through open and credible party primaries. I fear for the APC and the good people of Edo State should the party’s governorship primary become enmeshed in crisis, thereby spoiling the party’s visible chances of ultimately winning the governorship election when the time comes?

Who says any one cannot aspire to be a political godfather? But because of the terrible chains that became the lot of the people of Edo State before the emergence of Comrade Oshiomhole in 2007, we don’t need another godfather in Edo State.

Mr Igbotako Nowinta, an author, wrote from Benin, Edo

Edo 2016: Return of the godfather