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Tag: Godwin Obaseki

  • Obaseki is politically dead, says  Oshiomhole

    Obaseki is politically dead, says  Oshiomhole

    Former governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, has said Governor Godwin Obaseki is politically dead.

    Oshiomhole stated this while reacting to the  outcome of the just concluded governorship election in the state during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today.

    On Sunday, INEC declared Monday Okpebholo of the APC as the winner of the election.

    But during the interview, Oshiomole said the outcome of the election represented the will of Edo people.

    “We subscribe to President Jonathan’s school which says the election of even a president is not worth the blood of any Nigerian. And you have the PDP national chairman who is acting with all the crises around the status talking about bloodbath for election.

    “You have Obaseki, I watched him on Channels insisting it was do-or-die. And when you asked him,  he said, if they did, then they would be dead. Now the people have done it. I guest he is politically dead.

    “The people have decided that Sunday who was elected last year as a senator, has been elected; and now has been declared the governor-elect.

    “They now understand if a man can speak like the King of England, but can’t built classrooms and their children are sitting on the floor, where is the value of the English?

    “If you have signed millions of MoUs, brought all manner of consultants, even though you are one of the consultants anyways. The hospital that was built by Governor Oshiomhole you converted it to a private hospital. You ran it by consultants and only the rich can go there.

    “The poor have been forbidden from going there. You demolished the other side of the hospital and replaced it with a museum. You think the poor are stupid?”

     

  • Aisha Yesufu lists Obaseki’s sins after PDP’s failure at Edo guber elections

    Aisha Yesufu lists Obaseki’s sins after PDP’s failure at Edo guber elections

    Aisha Yesufu, a renowned activist and vocal supporter of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Peter Obi in the 2023 election, has criticized the incumbent Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, following the emergence of Monday Okpebholo, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, as the winner of the Saturday election.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) earlier reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday night declared Okpebholo as the winner of the governorship election held in Edo State on  September 21 after securing victory in 11 local government areas.

    On the other hand, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo, only won 7 local government areas, while Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP) failed to win any.

    In reaction, Obaseki, in a statewide broadcast on Sunday described INEC’s declaration as a tragedy and travesty of democracy.

    The Governor further expressed dismay over how institutions that were charged with the protection of democracy are killing democracy.

    Reacting to Obaseki’s broadcast, Yesufu via the microblogging platform, X formerly Twitter questioned Obaseki’s grievances regarding the election outcome, urging him to accept the democratic process.

    She wrote on X, “I am looking for a video where Obaseki was speaking about the principles of democracy. Please share if you have it.

    “Obaseki that refused for 4 years to swear in 14 Edo House of Assembly members.

    “Obaseki that refused to swear in judges. He swore in 5 out of 8.

    “Obaseki that got his deputy Governor impeached. He is talking about democracy under attack.”

  • BREAKING: Obaseki loses LGA to Okpebholo

    BREAKING: Obaseki loses LGA to Okpebholo

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has been declared winner of the governorship election in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State, where Governor Godwin Obaseki hails from.

    According to the result declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Senator Monday Okpebholo, candidate of the APC polled a total of 30,780 votes in the LGA, while Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secured 24,938 votes.

    Olumide Akpata of Labour Party garnered 5,389 votes.

    Below are the results announced at the State Collation Centre in Benin.

    Registered Voters -356242

    Accredited voters -64802

    Total Votes cast – 64042

    APC – 30780

    LP – 5389

    PDP – 24938

     

  • VIDEO: Watch Gov Obaseki booed out of INEC HQ in Benin

    VIDEO: Watch Gov Obaseki booed out of INEC HQ in Benin

    Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State was in the wee hours of Sunday compelled to leave the premises of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Benin City, capital of the State, where the results of the 2024 governorship election in the State is being collated.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Governor Obaseki in a tense moment was escorted out of the INEC headquarters by Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) of Police, Frank Mba, who is leading the police team to supervise the election.

    Obaseki had made a surprise appearance at the INEC headquarters to lament the process of the election and the collation of results, which he and his party alleged had been compromised against them. Obaseki held a four-hour meeting with INEC officials and the DIG before he was escorted out.

    Watch video below:

    This is coming after INEC had said it will investigate allegation of wrong figures entered into polling unit result sheets in the ongoing Edo governorship election. The commission in a short statement on X on Saturday night promised to investigate the matter immediately.

    “The commission’s attention has been drawn to an allegation of wrong figures entered into polling unit result sheets in the ongoing Edo governorship election. This is the second complaint we have received out of the 4,519 polling units used for the election. The commission will immediately investigate the matter and deal with any proven infraction,” INEC said.

    It will be recalled that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of a Presiding Officer (PO) in the state governorship election, Obozuwa Josephine, for allegedly compromising election results.

    The PDP in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, alleged that Josephine brazenly allocated votes to the All Progressives Congress (APC) beyond the number of accredited voters at the polling unit.

    He said that the election result sheet for Osholo Primary School Polling Unit, Weppa in Etsako East Local Government Area showed that only 213 voters were accredited at the polling unit.

    Ologunagba added that the result sheet further revealed that Josephine who “criminally and fraudulently allocated 352 votes to the APC, 52 to the PDP and one to the LP, giving a total of 406 as votes cast.”

    Ologunagba insisted that it was highly provocative that the INEC presiding officer, could be so compromised to audaciously and feloniously allocate unearned 352 votes to the APC above the 213 voters officially accredited in that Polling Unit.

    “This alleged reckless act by Josephine is reminiscent of the criminal conduct of the former Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mallam Hudu-Ari, during the 2023 governorship election in that state, which provoked violent protest by the people and nearly led to the loss of lives of INEC officials.

    “Josephine should take note that this alleged criminal action by her could provoke similar consequences,” he said.

    Ologunagba said that the PDP believed that her action was a reflection of one of the many cases of electoral fraud, ballot manipulation, betrayal of public trust and crime against the state perpetrated in this election which must not go unpunished.

    “The PDP demands that INEC effects the immediate arrest and prosecution of Josephine and cancel the election in Osholo Primary School Polling Unit and take steps to address other such infractions in this election.

    “Our party again commends the people of Edo for their vigilance and urges them to remain resilient till the end,” he said.

  • Edo State election: Gov Obaseki, Akpata react after voting

    Edo State election: Gov Obaseki, Akpata react after voting

    The outgoing Governor of Edo State, Governor Godwin Obaseki and Labour Party (LP) candidate, Olumide Akpata have casted their votes in the ongoing Edo State Governorship Election.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Obaseki voted at Emokpae Model Primary School, PU 19, Ward 4 in Oredo Local Government Area of the state while Akpata cast his vote in Oredo ward 6, unit 11.

    Speaking shortly after voting, Obaseki said: “You can see the turnout. People came out. You can see the enthusiasm. Its not midday yet and the ballot box in my polling unit is already full.

    “So, clearly that tells you people are very interested because they have been mobilised. They are very interested in this election.

    “For now, I am glad with what I see. The process in my unit has been quite smooth and efficient. I hope the collation process will be the same; that it will be peaceful, and that the results would be counted and there will be no disruptions.

    “I am glad that with the military presence in the State. The federal security agencies have taken over the State. So, at this point in time, I am not the chief security officer. I believe the IG is the chief security officer.

    “The military have done well. I am pleased. The Chief of Defence Staff came to see me to give assurances that his men will be on ground and fully deployed, and I have seen that deployment. I am glad that the military is here as a back up but clearly, we are not too sure of what the police is doing”.

    Edo election: Akpata votes in Oredo, commends voting process

    Olumide Akpata, Labour Party (LP) candidate in the Edo Governorship Election has cast his vote in Oredo ward 6, unit 11, commending the voting process.

    Speaking to journalists after voting at about 10:30 am, Olumide said “I voted according to the voting process and everything went well.

    “I want to hope that this is the experience of every Edo voter. I cannot make assumptions standing here. I am going to wait for feedback from around the different units and 192 wards in the state.

    “We are hopeful that this will be the experience of every Edo voter. I am calling on INEC that the playing field should remain level. Nobody should be given any undue advantage.

    “All party agents should be allowed into the collation centres, so that we can all witness the process. Edo election is an off cycle election so INEC should have the luxury of deploying it’s resources to show the world that they can do it well.

    “‘The playing field should be totally  levelled to allow the best man or women to win. I am hearing some concerning feedback from around the state but I cannot make any statement until I verify the source of my information. We have crossed one hurdle, I have voted and my supporters should be allowed to vote,” he said.

    He added that the deployment of tight security personnel was good, but he however expressed concerns if the security were for the voters or certain individuals.

    Edo Decides 2024: Voters defy rain to vote

    Meanwhile, residents of Benin, the Edo State capital on Saturday trooped out in their numbers to cast their votes defying the heavy rain in the ongoing governorship election in the State.

    The election is to elect a successor to outgoing Gov. Godwin Obaseki, whose tenure expires in November.

    At the Eresonye Primary School Ward 12, in Ovia North Local Government Area, near Benin, voters filed out in their numbers not minding the rains in order to exercise their electoral franchise.

    Although the process has been peaceful, there was an unusual absence of security personnel in the area. Some of the voters commended the INEC officials for the timely arrival of election  materials and the early commencement of accreditation and voting.

    At the Oredo ward 11 polling booth, police personnel at the gate refused journalists entrance to monitor the process even after they had presented INEC accreditation tag and official identity card showing they had been cleared to cover the election.

    Similarly at the Itohan Grammar School ward on Sakponba road in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area, voters were seen in their numbers exercising their electoral responsibilities even with the rains falling heavily.

    Scores of voters in Edo Central on Saturday trooped out to participate in the off-cycle governorship election in the state amidst a downpour.

    Voting commenced at exactly 8:40 a.m. at the Eguare Primary School, Ujiogba in Esan West Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, which hosts three polling units. In spite of the rain, voters lined up for accreditation and voting, which were held simultaneously.

    At the polling unit II, ward 2, some of the voters took cover with their umbrellas, while others queued in the rain. One of the voters, Samuel Samson, disclosed that the voting process started at 8:30 a.m.

    “The electoral officials got here overnight, but the polling booth opened exactly at 8:30 a.m.,” he said.

    At Igueben, Igueben LGA, canopies were mounted in some of the polling units to shield voters from the downpour.

    Faulty BVA machines disrupt voting in Ikpoba, Benin

    Malfunctioning of Biamodial Voters Accreditation (BVA) machines, meanwhile, disrupted voting at Ikpoba Okha ward 7, Unit 39, Benin. At Ikpoba ward 7, unit 39, the voting process, which started at about 8 a.m., came to a halt some minutes later and has not been restored as at 10:20 a.m. The unit, located inside Ologboshere Primary School, has 838 registered voters.

    However, voting in other units within the school is going on smoothly. An Ad hoc INEC official at the unit 39, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said INEC had been informed about the faulty BVAs.

    “We are waiting for another BVA so that the process could not be adversely affected,’’ he said.

    Materials arrived at the centre before 8a.m. while voting started at 8 a.m.

    An elderly woman at the unit, Mrs Helen Osagie, who spoke to NAN on the delay, said she arrived in unit about 7 00 a.m. Osagie commended the peaceful environment and called on INEC to replace the faulty machines on time.

    “INEC should act fast to replace the faulty machines in order not to disenfranchise most of us at the polling unit,” she said.

    Mr Paul Eromosele, who voted at ward 7 unit 39, commended the peaceful process.

    “For now, there is peace here and everything is okay; I voted and it was not stressful and we pray the exercise ends peacefully,” he prayed.

  • Nigeria is technically bankrupt – Gov Obaseki

    Nigeria is technically bankrupt – Gov Obaseki

    The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has said Nigeria is technically bankrupt. Obaseki made this statement during an interview on the Channels Television programme Politics Today on Thursday evening. He explained that the country neither had enough nor earned enough to cover its expenditure, adding that government spending was also not decreasing.

    According to him, “Nigeria is technically bankrupt. And I mean it. When you are bankrupt anywhere in the world, like in the United States, you file for what they call Chapter Eleven. You restructure your affairs so that you can reorganise and meet your obligations. Nigeria is not restructuring in that sense; it still behaves as if it had money like it used to.

    “It (Nigeria) has been in trouble for a while. I won’t say insolvent, but technically so, in the sense that we don’t have enough to cover our expenditure, we are not reducing our expenditure, and we are not earning more.”

    “First, the Federal Government does not have the capacity to manage the economy at the scale and in the way it is currently doing. You’re producing 1.3 million barrels of oil, right? Because you are trying to do it centrally. We have 147 oil wells in Edo, and only 53 or fewer are producing.”

    “Unless you create a new design that allows the individual states to take advantage of the economic opportunities they have, stressing the assets of this country and paying what they need to pay to the central government, the federal government cannot sit and try to micromanage the country and its assets. It has shown that it cannot. It doesn’t have the capacity to do so,” he said.

    He also expressed his belief that the Federal Government was stuck in the past, stating that the current structure of the country was outdated and that a new structure was needed to effectively manage the economy.

    “I think for me, it’s like this federal government is stuck, and stuck in the past. Because you cannot resolve a malignant problem using the same tools you have used over the years.

    “It’s not that the people there are not smart; it’s not that they’re stupid. It’s more that they just don’t have the courage to make the decisions they need to make.

    “The problem with Nigeria today is structural. The structure we have is expired; it’s outdated. We need a new structure to run the economy of the state. If it doesn’t happen, we are not going anywhere.”

  • What Tinubu must do to move Nigeria forward – Gov Obaseki

    What Tinubu must do to move Nigeria forward – Gov Obaseki

    Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has said the administration of President Bola Tinubu is stuck in the past and that the administration needs to restructure the country in order for the country to make real progress.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Governor Obaseki said this on Thursday on Channels TV Politics Today while insisting that the problem of Nigeria is structural and that without restructuring the country cannot move forward.

    “This federal government is stuck, and stuck in the past because you cannot resolve malignant problems using the same tools you have used through the years. It is not that the people there are not smart, it is not that they are stupid. It is just that they just don’t have the courage to take some of the decisions that need to be taken.

    “The problem of Nigeria today is structural. The structure we have has expired. It is outdated. We need a new structure to run the economy of the State. We are just wasting time. If restructuring doesn’t happen, we are not going to move forward,” Obaseki said.

    Nigeria is technically bankrupt – Obaseki

    Speaking further, the Edo State Governor said Nigeria is technically bankrupt, and while explaining that the country neither had enough nor earned enough to cover its expenditure, he said government spending was also not decreasing.

    “Nigeria is technically bankrupt. And I mean it. When you are bankrupt anywhere in the world, like in the United States, you file for what they call Chapter Eleven. You restructure your affairs so that you can reorganise and meet your obligations.

    “Nigeria is not restructuring in that sense; it still behaves as if it had money like it used to. It (Nigeria) has been in trouble for a while. I won’t say insolvent, but technically so, in the sense that we don’t have enough to cover our expenditure, we are not reducing our expenditure, and we are not earning more.

    “First, the Federal Government does not have the capacity to manage the economy at the scale and in the way it is currently doing. You’re producing 1.3 million barrels of oil, right? Because you are trying to do it centrally. We have 147 oil wells in Edo, and only 53 or fewer are producing.

    “Unless you create a new design that allows the individual states to take advantage of the economic opportunities they have, stressing the assets of this country and paying what they need to pay to the central government, the federal government cannot sit and try to micromanage the country and its assets. It has shown that it cannot. It doesn’t have the capacity to do so,” Obaseki said.

  • Gov Obaseki doles out N1bn to market women ahead of Edo election

    Gov Obaseki doles out N1bn to market women ahead of Edo election

    Ahead of the Saturday’s governorship election set to hold in Edo State, Governor Godwin Obaseki has announced a one billion Naira traders’ grant for market women in the State. Governor Obaseki made the announcement on Tuesday at a get-together of Edo market women put together in honour of the Governor in Benin.

    The Governor said the grant would be distributed in a transparent manner in collaboration with market women leaders. He added that Dr Asue Ighodalo, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Sept. 21 governorship election in Edo State, would double the grant when elected. The promise drew loud applause from the audience.

    The governor thanked the market women for their support throughout his tenure and expressed aappreciation to them for their promise to support Ighodalo in the forthcoming election.

    Responding, Madam Blacky Ogiemen, the leader of the women, praised the Obaseki-led administration in the state for the achievements recorded thus far. She promised that the market women would continue to support the government even after Obaseki’s tenure.

    Ogiemen expressed the women’s commitment to backing Ighodalo as the next governor of the state, stressing that the traders would remain loyal to the governor and would extend their loyalty to Ighodalo.

    “The Edo State Women Traders have always supported the government, and we pledge to continue even after your tenure,” she said.

    She highlighted the administration’s numerous accomplishments and expressed confidence in Ighodalo’s ability to build on governor Obaseki’s legacy. She declared that the market women have resolved to vote for the PDP and assured Obaseki that victory for Ighodalo was certain.

  • Edo poll: Ighodalo will continue from where I stopped – Obaseki

    Edo poll: Ighodalo will continue from where I stopped – Obaseki

    Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State on Monday declared that he had done his best for the State and that Asue Ighodalo and his running mate, Osarodion Ogie, would continue from where he stopped.

    Obaseki made the declaration during the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign rallies held at Egor and Ikpoba-Okha local governments in the state.

    Speaking at the Olua Primary School Field, Uselu, Obaseki said he had known Ighodalo for 40 years, adding that he was a very brilliant man.

    “I have done my best. Ighodalo and Ogie will continue from Nov. 12. We want progress. We want to move forward and not backwards.

    ”Looking at the people here, you see a lot of youths. I am not surprised because Egor is the home of youths. We have the University of Benin and the Benin Technical College.

    “Sept. 21 is the most important election in Edo State. Don’t make the mistake, for the sake of continuity, it must be PDP or PDP. Ighodalo is youth friendly, all his lawyers in his company are young lawyers.

    “I have known him for 40 years and his very brilliant. So, make no mistake on Sept. 21 because all the works in Egor Local Government were too important to be allowed to stop, ” he said.

    According to Obaseki, go out early, vote and protect your votes.

    Also speaking, Ighodalo promised to bring out the best in Edo youths by harnessing their potential in a very positive way for the good of all.

    ”We will work to bring out the creative potential of our youths in a way that it will benefit all.

    “It’s time to move forward. Ogie and I are very ready to work for you all. So, do not fear, do not worry, we are for you all.

    “Prosperity has come for all. Just go out on the 21st and vote for PDP and protect your votes, ” Ighodalo said.

    Also, the State PDP Chairman, Dr Tony Aziegbemi, thanked the people of Egor for coming out enmasse to welcome them and charged them to come due the same on Sept. 21.

    At Western Boys High School Field in Ikpoba Hill, home of the running mate, Osarodion Ogie, turned to a carnival at the arrival of the governor, the governorship candidate and the campaign team

    Ogie, in his speech, challenged the people to deliver Ikpoba-Okha as they did in 2020.

    “Ikpoba-Okha you know how you delivered in 2020 but I wasn’t on the ballot but today, I am on the ballot, I leave the rest to you, ” Ogie said.

    The high point of the rally was the defection of hundreds of defectors from All Progressives Congress (APC), the Labour Party (LP), the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and other parties to PDP.

  • Edo State to get new airport, rail lines in new development plan

    Edo State to get new airport, rail lines in new development plan

    Edo Government has proposed alternative sources of energy, a new airport and rail lines in the new Benin City and Edo regional development masterplans. In his address at the unveiling of the two masterplans on Tuesday in Benin, Gov. Godwin Obaseki said the alternative energy would be sourced from renewables such as solar and hydro.

    The governor said the new airport was being proposed to be located in Auchi. He also said new cities such as the Coral City would be developed in Benin City, Auchi and Ekpoma.

    Obaseki explained that the two masterplans were designed by the state government in partnership with Siraj Nigeria Limited under the Supervision of the state Ministry of Physical Planning, Housing Urban and Regional Development.

    “The master plans are living documents and subject to review every five years. They will be infused into the primary and secondary schools curriculums,” he said.

    Earlier, Ms Isoken Omo, the Commissioner for Physical Planning, Housing Urban and Regional Development said a total of 22,000 properties were visited during the planning exercise while 27 consultations held with various stakeholders

    Omo, who noted that the reviewing of the existing masterplans was participatory, noted that it would encourage local governments to focus on areas of their comparative advantage for development.

    According to her, the Edo Regional Development and Benin City Masterplans cover all the 18 Local Government Areas of the state.

    “The success of the masterplans is dependent on the collective efforts of indigenes and residents of Edo State.

    “The masterplans will determine the location of public infrastructure, such as roads, schools, hospitals, water and power.

    “It will promote innovation and entrepreneurship by creating a supportive environment for startups and small businesses across the state,” the commissioner said.