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Tag: Obaseki

  • I won’t abandon umbrella that shielded me during the storm for a place I was pushed out, Obaseki addresses defection rumours

    I won’t abandon umbrella that shielded me during the storm for a place I was pushed out, Obaseki addresses defection rumours

    Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has again said that he has no intention of returning to the All Progressives Congress (APC), where he was pushed out.

    Governor Obaseki gave the reassurance on Wednesday while addressing State House correspondents after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The governor stated that as a politician of repute, his conscience would not allow him betray those who gave him shelter when there was a political storm.

    He explained that he did not leave the APC on his own terms, but was forced out, an action which he says will not allow him to leave the People’s Democratic Party where he got support in his time of need.

    “I think I’ve shown that I’m a politician with integrity and I have made it very clear that I didn’t leave the other party on my own, I was pushed out of the party, and someone else gave me cover, gave me an opportunity.

    “It will not be the right thing to do to now leave who helped you, who gave you the umbrella in your storm, and then go back to the person who pushed you out.”

    Reacting to the Senate’s decision to reverse its earlier resolution on electronic transmission of election results, Governor Obaseki said he remains a proponent of the course.

    According to Obaseki, PDP would not have won the last election in Edo State, but for the deployment of technology by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    “If not for the technology utilised by INEC, and God, I may not be governor today. So, I am one of those people who believe that we cannot and should not have elections in this country, going into the future, without transmitting results electronically from the polling units, because for elections to be credible, they have to be seen as transparent and once you have voted, you should be assured that your vote will count.

    “With technology today, it is possible and INEC has shown it from my elections, that as soon as you voted, and the results have been counted in the polling units, then that result should be made available, such that you already know what you expect to be collated at the ward collation points.

    “What has happened in many cases in the past is that people go and vote, the votes are counted in the polling units, they know, but by the time it gets to the collation point, it changes.

    “But this time around, because of the transparency, everybody will see and know what they are expecting to be collated from the polling units. That is what happened in my election.

    “So, I am a very strong advocate for electronic transmission of results from elections and I want to also note that from my personal experience, INEC has the capacity, INEC has the technology, and also the understanding of how these things should work. So, they should be encouraged. I hope and pray that the President will assent to that bill,” the governor declared

  • It’s sad people are playing politics with COVID-19 vaccination –Obaseki

    It’s sad people are playing politics with COVID-19 vaccination –Obaseki

    The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, says it is sad people are playing politics with COVID-19 vaccination.

    Obaseki made this known when he received the Chief Medical Director of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Prof Darlington Obaseki, who was on a courtesy visit to the Government House in Benin City.

    Emphasizing on the need for residents to get vaccinated and ensure compliance with safety protocols against COVID-19, Obaseki said, “I am saddened when I see people not protecting themselves against COVID-19. We are not making vaccination compulsory, but for now, it is the best way to protect yourselves and protect the people around you. It is so sad to see people making it a political issue.

    “Go to any of our isolation centres and see what is happening to people.”

    The governor gave the reassurance that his administration would sustain reforms in the health care sector to reposition Edo State as the country’s medical hub.

    “Our experience from the outbreak of coronavirus taught us something that the health care system in Edo is one. God forbid you fall ill or you have an emergency, it won’t matter where you are treated. At that point you don’t care if it is a federal, state, or religious institution, as long as you get cured,” the governor noted.

    Earlier, the UBTH CMD commended the governor for the support which the hospital management had enjoyed under his leadership.

     

  • Obaseki fulfills threats, refuses civil servants with no proof of COVID-19 vaccination entry into offices

    Obaseki fulfills threats, refuses civil servants with no proof of COVID-19 vaccination entry into offices

    The Governor Godwin Obaseki led Edo State Government on Wednesday fulfilled its earlier threats of barring civil servants without proof of COVID-19 vaccination entry into their offices within the secretariat.

    True to the government’s warning, workers at the state secretariat and the 18 local government areas in the state were met with a notice asking them to show proof of their vaccinations.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the decision followed the announcement by the State Government on Tuesday that it will begin enforcing the ‘no-vaccination-no-work’ policy.

    “We have trained special teams and these special teams will be spread across the 18 local governments of Edo State.

    “What we are going to do tomorrow is to allow those who have the authentic vaccination card, access to their government working places and those without, can go back and work from home and government will know how to deal with that,” the Head of the COVID-19 Enforcement Team in the state, Haruna Yusuf, said at a briefing on Tuesday.

    This comes amid speculations that the state government is working towards making vaccination compulsory for all residents.

    However, Governor Godwin Obaseki in a statement last week described the reports as an “obvious misconception”.

    He had given residents up to the second week of September to get a vaccine or risk being barred from public places such as banks, receptions, churches and mosques.

    So far, Edo State has recorded 6,008 COVID-19 cases.

    It has also recorded the second-highest death toll in the country (215) – justifying talks about the ‘compulsory vaccination’, as part of measures to curb the spread of the virus.

  • Obaseki’s deputy, Shaibu opens up on rift with governor, plans to dump PDP

    Obaseki’s deputy, Shaibu opens up on rift with governor, plans to dump PDP

    The Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, has denied having any rift with his principal, Governor Godwin Obaseki.

    He denied any disagreement between him and the governor and restated his unalloyed loyalty to the latter.

    “I am happy with my governor; I don’t have any problem with my governor,” said the deputy governor who is rumoured of planning to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    “So, the issue of not being happy with my governor is not there. I remain absolutely loyal to my governor,” the deputy governor said on Monday during an interview on a monitored Channels Television programme.

    When asked what went wrong with the PDP on whose platform he was re-elected into office, Shaibu admitted there were some issues within the ruling party in the state.

    “There are issues we need to resolve over PDP,” he said, although he did not categorically state whether he would leave the party or not.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the deputy governor’s remarks come amid reports that he had purportedly concluded arrangements to dump the PDP for an undisclosed party, as a result of a rift over matters bothering on the running of the state.

    He was said to have held a series of meetings with some party bigwigs outside the country last week where the supposed plans were finalised.

    But the Chief Press Secretary of the deputy governor, Ebomhiana Musa, denied the reports in a statement on Monday, saying they were mere speculations.

    According to Musa, claims that Shaibu plans to leave the PDP are complete falsehood and the figment of the authors’ imagination.

    TNG recalls that Governor Obaseki, with Shaibu as the running mate, first contested the governorship election in the state on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and won, defeating Mr Osagia Ize-Iyamu who was the PDP candidate at the time.

    Four years into office, the governor and his deputy sought to be re-elected in the September 2020 election and won again.

    In what can be described as a dramatic turn, they defeated Ize-Iyamu who had later joined the APC while they ran on the PDP platform, following a disagreement with the former APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole.

  • Obaseki mourns Sowore’s younger brother, says killers will be brought to book

    Obaseki mourns Sowore’s younger brother, says killers will be brought to book

    Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has mourned Olajide Sowore, assuring that the state government will bring his killers to book.

    Obaseki gave the assurance on Saturday while commiserating with a former presidential candidate and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, over the killing of his brother.

    Olajide, a student of Pharmacy at the Igbinedion University Okada, was killed by kidnappers on Saturday in the Okada area of Edo State.

    The Edo State Police Command had earlier confirmed his death via a statement issued by its spokesman, Kontongs Bello, noting that the remains of the deceased had been deposited at IUTH Mortuary, Okada.

    But Governor Obaseki assured that the state government will work with relevant security agencies to investigate the unfortunate incident.

    “I commiserate with the Sowore family and the Publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, over the death of his brother, Olajide Sowore,” the governor said.

    “The news of Olajide’s death is heartbreaking and we will make all efforts to bring the perpetrators of the dastardly act to justice.

    “On behalf of the people and Government of Edo State, I condole with the Sowore family and pray that God will grant all the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”

  • COVID-19: Obaseki vows to appeal court orders stopping vaccination of residents

    COVID-19: Obaseki vows to appeal court orders stopping vaccination of residents

    The Edo State Government has cleared the air over what it described as the “purported compulsory vaccination” of its residents with the COVID-19 vaccine.

    In a statement signed on Wednesday, Governor Godwin Obaseki said it was an “obvious misconception” that the directive issued by the government was to make vaccination compulsory for all citizens.

    Governor Obaseki had given residents up to the second week of September to get a vaccine or risk being barred from public places such as banks, receptions, churches and mosques.

    But in Wednesday’s statement, the governor said the order which was given last Friday was, at best, speculative and pre-emptive as the scheduled date for the commencement of the enforcement of the directive by the state government is the second week of September.

    He said this in reaction to an order by a High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, directing the Government to maintain the status quo on the purported compulsory vaccination.

    Governor Obaseki said: “Although the State Governor, in truth, has the power to make such an order under the Gazetted Quarantine Regulations, this directive is actually only a denial of access to public places of persons who chose not to be vaccinated.

    “We believe government’s overriding concern is the safety and health of its citizens”.

    The government’s intervention comes as Nigeria experiences a fresh spike in infections, and Edo becomes one of the top affected states.

    The governor said Edo State is currently confronted with a situation wherein the Case Positivity Rate (CPR) for COVID-19 hovers between 15 and 25 per cent.

    According to him, unvaccinated persons have accounted for 100 per cent of deaths in the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state.

    “Government, therefore, finds it strange that some persons in purported pursuit of their fundamental human rights would embark on litigation tourism outside of our state, seek to become a source of public health danger and put at risk the safety and health of the larger population,” the statement read in part.

    “Government owes a sacred duty to the populace to take all actions necessary to protect the health of the majority of the citizens and in this connection, an even greater quantity of vaccines is being secured for the use of the people of Edo State.

    “The Edo State Government has, therefore, instructed its lawyers to vigorously pursue and challenge all such orders in the courts from where they emanate and if necessary, at the appellate level, while affirming its position as a law-abiding government.

    “It must be made clear that Government shall continue to pursue all legal and administrative options available for the protection of the best interest of the good people of Edo State”.

  • Court stops Obaseki from enforcing compulsory COVID19 vaccine directive

    Court stops Obaseki from enforcing compulsory COVID19 vaccine directive

    A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, has granted an order restraining Governor Godwin Obaseki and the Edo state government from enforcing a directive that all residents who have not taken COVID19 vaccines will be prevented from accessing churches, mosques, banks, event centres and other public places from the middle of September.

    Recall that TheNewsGuru(TNG) had earlier reported how Obasakei at a press conference announced that residents of the state who are yet to be vaccinated will not be granted access to public places like churches, mosques, banks and others. In his words

    ”From the second week of September 2021, large gatherings will only be accessed by those who have at least taken one dose/jab of the vaccine.

    From the second week of September 2021, people will not be allowed into worship centres (churches and mosques), event centres, and receptions without showing proof of the vaccination cards.

    From the middle of September 2021, you can no longer access the banking services, if you have not been vaccinated.”Governor Obaseki had said.

    Some residents of the state who were opposed to the directive approached the court to challenge it.

    At the hearing of the suit with reference number: FHC/PH/FHR/266/2021 filed by Charles Osaretin, against the Governor and five others dated August 30, 2021, the applicant’s lead counsel,Echezona Etiaba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), urged the court to order parties to maintain status quo pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice, for the enforcement of the applicant’s fundamental human rights and for the leave of court to serve the respondents by publishing the court’s processes in a national daily newspaper circulating in Nigeria.

    The orders were granted by the Vacation Judge at the FHC, Port Harcourt, Justice Stephen Dalyop Pam. The court subsequently adjourned the case till September 10 for a hearing of the substantive motion.

  • TRENDING video(COVID-19): Only those who are vaccinated will be allowed to attend churches, mosques – Obaseki

    TRENDING video(COVID-19): Only those who are vaccinated will be allowed to attend churches, mosques – Obaseki

    Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki surprised all two days ago when he vowed that people who did not take COVID-19 vaccine would not be allowed into churches and mosques.

    According to Obaseki, “Beginning from the second week of September 2021, large gatherings, as well as high traffic public and private places will only be accessed by persons who have proof of taking at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccination. People who have not yet been vaccinated at all will depend on remote access to these gatherings.

    “From the second week of September people may not be allowed to worship in churches and mosques without showing proof of their vaccination cards at the gates.”

    Watch video below:

  • Photo: Osinbajo, Tambuwal, Wike, Emmanuel, Obaseki others storm Delta for Okowa’s father’s burial

    Photo: Osinbajo, Tambuwal, Wike, Emmanuel, Obaseki others storm Delta for Okowa’s father’s burial

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Governors Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom) and Godwin Obaseki (Edo) are currently attending the church service of burial ceremony of the father of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Sir (Chief) Arthur Okorie Okowa.

    Also in attendance are former Governor James Ibori, Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva; National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus; PDP BoT Chairman, Alhaji Walid Jubrin and Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lucky Irabor.

    The Deputy Governor of Delta, Deacon Kingsley Otuaro; Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori and a host of others are also in attendance.

    The church service is holding at Saint Michael’s Anglican Church Owa-Alero in Ika North-East Local Government Area of Delta State.

    The Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Primate Henry Ndukuba, is ministering at the burial service which also had other top minister of God in attendance.

    More details later…

  • Captain Okunbo was not a perfect man – Obaseki

    Captain Okunbo was not a perfect man – Obaseki

    Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State on Sunday said the late Captain Idahosa Wells Okunbo was not a perfect person but that he would be remembered for his undying love for Edo people.

    The governor abandoned party politics and commiserated with the family of Okunbo, who died on Sunday.

    Popularly known as Captain Hosa, the businessman of international repute who died of cancer at a London hospital at the age of 63, was a sworn political enemy of the Governor during the last governorship election in the State.

    Hosa was said to have sworn to spend his money to the last kobo to ensure that Obaseki lost the election, a venture that failed woefully.

    Obaseki in a statement on Sunday, described the deceased as a brother, and would be remembered for his undying love for Edo people.

    The statement: “It is with a heavy heart that I mourn the passing of a great son of Edo State, a brother, a distinguished Nigerian, an illustrious businessman and an accomplished philanthropist, Captain Hosa Okunbo.

    “A man of unparalleled energy and accomplishments, Captain Okunbo saw opportunities in adversity and from an early age in life, carved a niche for himself to become one of Nigeria’s most outstanding businessmen.

    “A trained pilot, he conquered the air at an early age and set for the waters and land, building enterprises that distinguished him in the business world and embodied the hard work, perseverance, dexterity and acumen that espoused his Edo heritage.

    “Okunbo was a philanthropist who gave lavishly of himself and his resources; thousands of Edo sons and daughters benefited from his charitable works and benevolence.

    “As a mortal, Captain Okunbo was not a perfect person just as none of us can claim to be, but he will be remembered for his undying love for Edo people.

    “His desire for the development and progress of our dear state, the Niger Delta region and Nigeria as well as his invaluable contributions to building bridges of peace across the country will never be forgotten.

    “I commiserate with the Okunbo family, friends and associates of our departed brother and pray that God will grant all the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”