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Tag: Obaseki

  • Edo guber: Tribunal grants substituted service on Obaseki, adjourns sitting

    Edo guber: Tribunal grants substituted service on Obaseki, adjourns sitting

    The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Friday granted ex-parte motions filed by five petitioners for substituted means of service against their respective respondents.

    Chairman of the Tribunal, Hon. Justice Abdulrazaq Abdulkareem, granted the order at its inaugural sitting in Benin City.

    Five political parties had filed petitions at the Tribunal challenging the outcome of the September 19 governorship election, which was won by the candidate of the PDP candidate, Governor Godwin Obaseki.

    The political parties seeking to nullify the victory of Godwin Obaseki are Action Democratic Party (ADP), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

    Earlier at his inaugural comment, Justice Abdulkareem assured that the Tribunal is committed to completing the five petitions before it within the stipulated time frame.

    He solicited the co-operation of all parties and their counsels, assuring that the Tribunal would perform its duties without prejudice to any party.

    “We wish to assure you that in our quest to get to the truth of these matters, we shall act in good faith and shall do our work without any form of bias or appearance of any preconception.

    “We wish to assure you that in our quest to get to the truth of the matters before us; we shall act in good faith, and shall do our work with open mind, without any form of bias or appearance of any preconception. We also pledge not to lend ourselves to any form of external influence,” he said.

    Speaking for counsels to all parties, Mr. Ken Mozia (SAN), assured the Tribunal of their cooperation.

    Mozia promised that they would do their best to file their applications within the specified time frames.

    Justice Abdulkareem thereafter adjourned sitting to Monday, December 7, for pre-hearing process.

  • #EndSARS: Govs should be able to hire, fire police commissioner at will – Obaseki

    #EndSARS: Govs should be able to hire, fire police commissioner at will – Obaseki

    Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo has assured youths in the state of 60 per cent representation in his new cabinet as part of his administration’s efforts to redress their grievances.

    Obaseki gave the assurance on Thursday, when he held an interactive meeting with youth groups at the Government House, Benin.

    He described the Edo protest as politically motivated, following its hijack by agents allegedly determined to cause political instability in the state.

    Obaseki said: “I am worried about the level of criminality.
    “Part of the fight we had in our first term was the issue of maintaining law and order and fighting criminality.
    “Lots of these criminals hid under the cover of the godfathers who called them their infantry, lions and tigers.
    “You could see them in the last few days, the way they came out pouncing on people’s private properties.
    “The crisis in Edo is not the #ENDSARS protests but political because the government supports the #ENDSARS protests.
    “Just as we defeated them in the election, we will contain them. With my #ENDSARS people, we are going to arrest them and put them back to the zoo.”
    “Without law and order, there can’t be economic growth because no investors will come here to invest.
    According to the governor, his administration recognises the role played by youths in his re-election.
    He therefore said that his administration had plans to reward the youths with 60 per cent of appointment of youths under the age of 40 in his second tenure.
    He said his government had no problem with peaceful protests, adding, “I asked the police to give you protection but the police authorities have a choice to either obey me or not.
    “Our position as a government is to support the position of the #ENDSARS protesters because their demand is legitimate,” he said, and assured the youths that he was on their side.
    “The Judicial Panel of Inquiry is the first step to go and we have instructed that the number of members be increased to 20 to accommodate other groups.
    “The panel has 90 days and I urge you all to give evidence to the panel, which should be documented to enable us to implement its report.
    “Our security arrangements in the country must reflect our federal system because I can’t be a governor of a state and not be able to hire and fire my Commissioner of Police.
    “But the #ENDSARS has helped us start the process.
    “The Public Works Volunteer is a version of our neighborhood watch in the state.
    “We have 900 people being trained. 1,100 others will be trained after this set and another 20 persons per ward will be hired to be in charge of public safety.
    “As the governor, I will do everything within my power to have strong internal security because we need to protect ourselves,” Obaseki said.
    The meeting was attended by leaders and representatives of over 30 youth organisations in Edo.
    A representative of the protesters, Abraham Oviawe, said their demand emanated from the pain Nigerians had suffered in the hands of security operatives over the years.
    He thanked the governor for constituting the panel to investigate the excesses of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad and urged him to ensure that the panel discharged its assignment creditably for Edo people.
    Oviawe urged the police to be civil in their dealings with members of the public, while urging the police authorities to scrutinise the activities of the anti-cultism unit of the force.
    “We urge your government to re-constitute the neighborhood watch and ensure the recruitment process is open and transparent in order to assist community policing in Edo,” he said.
    Also, a representative of Civil Society Organisations in the state, Curtis Ogbebor, urged the government to arrest and prosecute those who shot and killed some protesters at Kingsquare in Benin.
    A representative of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Steven Imafidon, said that 60 per cent of victims of police brutality were students.

  • Obaseki steps down curfew in Edo State

    Obaseki steps down curfew in Edo State

    The governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki has lifted the curfew imposed on the state.

    The Governor said the move is to contain the activities of hoodlums who have hijacked the peaceful protests in a bid to end police brutality tagged

    While briefing the youths in Benin on Thursday afternoon he said the curfew will now be relaxed from 4pm to 6am daily for the next 72 hours for reevaluation and further actions.

    Details soon…

  • Edo jail break: Obaseki speaks tough, issues ultimatum for fleeing inmates to return to facility

    Edo jail break: Obaseki speaks tough, issues ultimatum for fleeing inmates to return to facility

    Governor Godwin Obaseki on Wednesday issued a stern warning and an ultimatum to fleeing inmates of the Benin Custodial Centre on Sapele road and the Oko Maximum Security Correctional Centre on Airport road to return to the prisons before Friday, Oct. 23, 2020.

    He gave the ultimatum while inspecting the correctional centres and the police facilities destroyed by hoodlums in Benin.

    Obaseki was accompanied on the inspection of the destroyed facilities by the deputy governor Philip Shaibu, Secretary to State Government, Osarodion Ogie, Chief of staff Ethan Ozamere, DIG Celestine Okoye, and Commissioner of Police Johnson Kokumo among others.

    According to him, the destruction was never in the spirit of EndSARS but an act carried out by criminal elements.

    “This is sheer criminality while the real protesters were focusing on the reform of our policing system and not to destroy government property, destroy prisons, and release inmates.

    “We condemn the act wholeheartedly and we expect that even the EndSARS protesters would join us in condemning this dastardly act.

    “The government cannot sit down and fold its arms to allow the breakdown of law and order in our society because everybody would be affected.

    “Having undertaken the assessment and seen the extent of destruction that has taken place, we would now move swiftly into action.

    “Fortunately, the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, understanding the gravity of what has happened in Edo has asked the DIG of Police, Celestine Okoye, to come to Benin to put the situation under control.

    “We are also fortunate that the Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces has allowed the military to join the Police in stabilising the situation to bring things under control.

    “What we have a problem with are hooliganism and sheer brigandage and that we will not accept or tolerate in Edo State,” he said.

    The governor told all the fleeing inmates to come back on their own before the close of business on Friday.

    “If they come in and go to the Nigeria Police Force Command headquarters in Benin nothing will be done to them,” he added.

    ”Those who do not return after Friday night, we have all their records, we have their biometrics, appropriate sanctions will be meted out against them.

  • Edo poll: Governorship candidate asks court to void Obaseki’s election

    Edo poll: Governorship candidate asks court to void Obaseki’s election

    The governorship candidate of Action Democratic Party (ADP) in the September 19 poll in Edo State, Iboyi Emmanuel, is set to challenge the victory of Governor Godwin Obaseki at the Election Petitions Tribunal.

    Emmanuel spoke through ADP National Chairman Yabagi Yusuf Sani at a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Sani said the decision to take the legal action was aimed at strengthening democratic rule.

    The ADP National Chairman said the party believed that the court should determine the propriety of Obaseki’s educational certificates and the process that led to his selection as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the poll.

    “The questions are very simple. Can a candidate buy nomination forms from two parties in the same election cycle? Can a student get into a university with just three Credits and without Mathematics and English?

    “Can a political party shift the date of the sales of its nomination forms after giving the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the public a date? Can a political party extend the date of its primaries with just five days’ notice to INEC when the Electoral Act stipulates seven days? Can a dead and buried Vice Chancellor sign a student’s result and date it after his death?”

    “Most importantly, if any of these issues is resolved in the negative, can the PDP be said to have fielded a candidate in the Edo State governorship election?

    “We should all be thankful to our candidate, Iboyi Emmanuel, who has gone to court to ask these fundamental questions on behalf of Nigerians. The man will end up deepening our democracy.

    “This country shouldn’t be about political parties; it should be about laws, justice and equity. I want to assure you that we are ready to prosecute this matter to a logical conclusion until justice is done to the great people of Edo State,” Sani said.

  • I have no power to bring back un-inaugurated elected Edo lawmakers – Obaseki

    Edo Gov. Godwin Obaseki has said that he had no power to bring back 14 state House of Assembly-elects yet to be inaugurated.

    Obaseki stated this in an interview with newsmen when he paid a thank-you visit to the National Working Committee (NWC), of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Abuja on Monday.

    Obaseki said that the group of the 14 elected-lawmakers were not prevented from being inaugurated but they “refused to be inaugurated”.

    “They were listening to their godfather who kept hoping and promising that he would unconstitutionally get the state House of Assembly to reissue a proclamation even after the court had settled the matter.

    “For more than 180 days they did not come. They refused to represent the people. Those seats became vacant; that’s what the constitution says.

    “They went to court after those were declared vacant by the Speaker. There is nothing I can do to that at this time.

    “I wish it did not happen but people were playing God and promising what is not constitutionally possible.

    “It is not about me. I am an elected governor of Edo. I am not one that plants people into the house of Assembly.

    “They on their own operated the rules the way it should be, the seats are now vacant.

    “We should learn that democracy is underpinned by the constitution and the law.

    “Even if I wanted today to bring them back, I don’t have such powers.

    “I do not have anything against them because I do not have such authority to bring them back to the house,” Obaseki said.

    Asked for his reaction to the declaration by Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Edo Election that he was approaching the court that Obaseki was not qualified to run, the governor said he would wait for the court’s outcome.

    Obaseki, was accompanied by the Deputy Gov. Philip Shaibu and other PDP leaders from Edo including former Minister of Works Mike Onolememen and the former Minister of External Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi.

  • Edo poll: Ize-Iyamu returns to church, holds special thanksgiving for ‘successful election’ [Photo]

    Edo poll: Ize-Iyamu returns to church, holds special thanksgiving for ‘successful election’ [Photo]

    The governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu has celebrated the successful conclusion of the 19 September governorship election and dismissed notions that he was downcast for not being declared the winner.

    He said this at a Special Thanksgiving Service held in his Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Soul Winners Assembly, in Benin City on Sunday.

    He said he chose to express gratitude to God for the exercise, as well as immensely thank supporters and those who assisted him.

    As he said God expects Man to offer him praises in all situations.

    The APC Governorship Candidate, whose sermon was titled “Utilising Opportunities”, said every opportunity must be seized to achieve an aim.

    On the outcome of the Election, Pastor Ize-Iyamu noted that defeat is an imagined state, and that since the exercise he had not felt defeated.

    Furthermore, he admonished his supporters not to allow the seed of defeat germinate amongst them, as God has decreed that all the “Earth is theirs”.

    The minister additionally encouraged his members to heed God’s caution in Thessalonians 5:16-18 that true believers do not “give away to grief’, ‘rejoice evermore’ and ‘pray without ceasing’ as he (God) only can determine the future.”

    The Edo State Regional Pastor of the RCCG, Professor Dele Balogun, also urged supporters of Pastor Ize-Iyamu not to lose focus as God may allow them to lose a battle and later win the war to test their faith.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) had on Sunday, September 20 declared incumbent governor and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Godwin Obaseki as winner of the poll. This is the second time Obaseki is defeating Ize-Iyamu in a governorship contest in the state. He earlier did in 2016 when Obaseki contested under APC and Ize-Iyamu under PDP.
  • Committee of Friends Celebrates Obaseki/Shaibu with Novelty Match.

    Committee of Friends Celebrates Obaseki/Shaibu with Novelty Match.

    In continuation of the celebration of Governor Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Rt Hon Comrade Philip Shaibu over their September 19 victory at the polls, a novelty football match is scheduled to take place in the ancient city of Benin, the Edo State capital.

    A signed statement from the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Comrade Ebomhiana Musa stated that the victory match which is being put together by a group of Benin – based young and successful businessmen under the ages of Friends of Philip Shaibu will take place on Sunday, October 4, 2020 at 3 pm. Venue is the reconstructed community football pitch of Western Boys High School, Ipkoba Hill, Benin. The two teams which are expected to trade entertainment tackles are Team Obaseki/Shaibu and Team Ogbane. Some lovers of the round leather game see the match as the height of post Covid-19 entertainment football in Nigeria.

    Spokesman for the group, Fred Newton Erhunmwunse said some of the big names in world of football who have confirmed their readiness to be part of the novelty match are Taribo West, Mutiu Adepoju, Sam Sodye, Austin Eguavion, Mobile Okpkaraku, Friday Elahor, Alex Ekweme and Festus Okuongbae.

    Members of Friends of Philip Shaibu are Sunny Osanyede, CEO of Big Joe Motors, Ambassador Wesley Asoro, CEO of Wesley Hotels, Edosa Igbinosa, CEO of EDS Paints, Frank Ilaboya, Chairman Owan West Local Government and Fred Newton Erhunmwunse, former Board Member,Edo State Football Association.

    Special Guests of Honour are Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki and the Deputy Governor, Rt Hon Comrade Philip Shaibu. Other special guests expected on the occasion are the National Vice Chairman of the ruling PDP(SouthSouth), Chief Dan Orbih, Senators Matthew Urhoghide, Clifford Ordia, Hon Seigious Ogun, Hon Jude Ise – Idehen and Hon Ogbeide Ihama. Others are the state chairman of the PDP, Dr Tony Azeigbemi, Speaker of the state house of Assembly, Rt Hon Frank Okiye, members of the state house of Assembly and Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie, Esq.

    Main sponsors of the Novelty Match are Big Joe Motors, Wesley Hotels; EDS Paints and OSM.

  • Edo poll: Obaseki leads PDP governors on ‘thank you’ visit to Oba of Benin [Photos]

    Edo poll: Obaseki leads PDP governors on ‘thank you’ visit to Oba of Benin [Photos]

    Sequel to his landslide victory in the recently concluded Edo governorship election, Governor Godwin Obaseki on Tuesday led four other PDP governors on a thank you visit to the Benin Monarch, His Royal Majesty Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II.

    In his entourage were Nyesom Wike of Rivers, Seyi Makinde, Oyo, Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto and Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa.

    Chieftains of the party including the PDP Vice National Chairman, S/South, Chief Dan Orbih, and the Edo State party Chairman , Dr. Anthony Aziegbemi, also accompanied Obaseki to salute the king.

    Obaseki speaks at the palace event

    Obaseki expressed his profound appreciation to Oba Ewaure II for the warm reception and assured him that his administration will serve the interest of Edo people, who gave him the mandate for a second term as governor.

    Wike gives a vote of thanks, while Obaseki, Tambuwal, Fintiri and Seyi Makinde look on

    Obaseki, 2nd left, Tambuwal, Wike, Fintiri at the meeting with Oba Ewuare II

  • Obaseki roars again: ‘I’m Governor of everybody, everything in Edo’

    Obaseki roars again: ‘I’m Governor of everybody, everything in Edo’

    Governor Godwin Obaseki has declared himself Governor of everybody and everything in Edo.

    He also assured the management of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) his administration would ensure the university community benefits from the dualisation of Ekehuan road and the Ossiomo Independent Power Plant projects.

    Obaseki stated these at Government House, Benin during a courtesy visit by management of UNIBEN led by its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Lilian Salami, according to a statement by the Governor’s media aide, Crusoe Osagie.

    He said: “I am the governor of everybody and everything in the state, including UNIBEN. We look forward to collaborating more with you. We are working on the Ekehuan Road project, which is now going to make the Ekehuan Campus of the university accessible.

    “We are happy we have UNIBEN in our state, particularly in Benin City. It will not be fair for a government that emphasises education not to take advantage of the very fact that the institution is in our territory.

    “We are happy we have UNIBEN. We know how much it has contributed to the educational and social development of our state over the last four decades.

    “It does not matter if it is ours, but for the fact that the university (owned by the Federal Government) is located here in our state, it gives us a responsibility to make sure we make it part of our existence.

    “We are working very hard to connect 50 megawatts of electricity from Ossiomo Power Plant to the Government Science and Technical College and some of the power will be extended to UNIBEN. So that you can have an uninterrupted power supply. I am making the whole axis an Integrated Science and Technology Hub with a Data Centre.”

    While responding to the requests by UNIBEN’s VC, Obaseki also revealed the state government had awarded repairs of the road network in the higher institution.

    He said: “We will mandate the Edo 2020 National Sports Festival (NSF) contractor in charge of the hostel renovation to go back to the site. We are beneficiaries of the Federal Fire Service. I am going to make a case for you.

    “I am also going to talk to some of our corporate organisations, who are operating here, to see if we can support the university with fire trucks, but we are hoping to create a fire service centre that people can call when there is a fire outbreak.

    “We have been talking with the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) to create an ambulance service for the citizens in the state, where you can call an ambulance when the need arises.”