Borderline News 24

By DADA AYOKHAI  Teachers  in Edo state  under the umbrella of  Nigeria union of teachers, NUT,  said  no  forms of threats, blackmail, intimidation,announcements, pronouncements and moves by the state government will make them to resume classes on Monday, February 1st  as scheduled by the Edo state government.   The union  advised parents/ guardians to keep their children and wards out of school on Monday, February 1, 2021, insisting that its indefinite strike still in force. ln a press statement  signed by the union  chairman, Pius Okhueleigbe, Assistant Secretary General, Moni Mike Modesty Itua and three others, made available to newsmen in Benin City on Sunday dated January 30, 2021 insisted that the union has not called off the indefinite strike embarked on since January 18, 2021. The union appealed to parents/guardians to keep their  children/wards at home pending when the issues in dispute are favou...

By DADA AYOKHAI The Edo state government has exhumed  the old military tactics of No work,No pay to coerce the teachers who are presently on strike  back to the class room. The Godwin obaseki led administration tactics might be connected to the directive issued by the teacher's umbrella body in the state,  Nigeria union of teachers,NuT,  directing   her members  to ignore the state  government directive  on  resumption of  classes scheduled for Monday, 1st of February. In a statement issued by the secretary to the State government, Bar. Osarodion Ogie, parents, teachers and the general public were informed that "all public primary schools in Edo State shall resume full activities on Monday 1st February 2021".  The statement enjoined Parents "to make their children and wards ready for resumption on this date.  The Board wishes to reemphasize that all public-school teachers and head teachers are required to be pr...

By DADA AYOKHAI The former senator representing Edo North in the national assembly, Senator Domingo Obende, has attributed his current travails in the APC    seeking his removal on the basis of some spurious allegations bordering on "anti party activities", smacks of a gang up, insisting however that the whole scenario is a build up to who gets the Edo North APC senatorial ticket in 2023.  Sen Obende's statement comes on the heels of a petition signed by  Edo North APC national Assembly caucus,  demanding his removal as the chairman of Niger State APC registration and validation committee.  In an interview with an online platform   Sen Obende said he is at a loss about the script playing out, wondering also how his traducers became suddenly awakened and crystallised into a caucus.  He said, "Nobody has ever queried or questioned me on any issue relating to anti party activities. Their allegations are spurious and at no time d...

By: Dada Ayokhai The  Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Edo State on Tuesday directed all primary school teachers in the state to shun the  February 1, 2021, resumption date proposed by the state government. The leadership of the union  gave the order in a statement made available to newsmen in Benin City. The statement was signed by Pius Okhueleigbe, state chairman and Moni Mike Modesty Itua, the Assistant Secretary General of the union. Recall that the union had on January 12, 2021 directed all primary school teachers and school heads to embark on an indefinite strike with effect from January 18, 2021. The union in reaction to the state government's request to suspend the strike, noted that the state government has not demonstrated any reasonable commitment to resolve the issues presented to it. A statement, signed by Derby O.Enakhimion, the Permanent Secretary, establishments for  Edo State,  Head of Service, Anthony Okungbowa, appealed to the un...

By DADA AYOKHAI  Loyalists of former All Progressives Congress national chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomole, dominate the registration and validation committees set up by the national secretariat of the party to conduct the registration of new members and revalidate those of old members.  Names of the loyalists of the former APC national chairman across Edo North featured prominently in the list just released by the APC national secretariat.  Most of the Oshiomole loyalists emerged either as chairman or secretary of the registration and validation committees.  Yet, a large percentage of them also emerged as members of the committees.  Hon Abass Braimoh,a former House of Representatives member for Etsako federal constituency, is chairman of the registration and validation committee in Imo State. He also served as Oshiomole's Chief of Staff, CoS, when the latter was national chairman.  Other Oshiomole's loyalists such as Barr OlaBisi Idaomi and Barr...

By DADA AYOKHAI The Edo state chapter of the All Progressive Congress, (APC) has demanded   the  reversal of  the appointment of Senator Domingo Obende as the chairman of the party revalidation and  registration exercise   in Niger  state. The Edo APC demands was contained in a  petition to the National Secretariat of the party Senator Domingo Obende from Akoko Edo in Edo north    represented  Edo north district at the National Assembly between 2011_ 2015. . It was alleged that the senator worked against the APC candidate in the last Edo gubernatorial  election  which the PDP won. In a statement signed by Col David Imuse, Rtd,  Chairman, Caretaker Committee ,APC, Edo state   said the petition became necessary because, "Obende's appointment is causing a lot of ripples in Edo State. According to col Imuse, Senator Domingo Obende has since June last year ceased to be a member of the  party...

By DADA AYOKHAI  In a determined bid to strengthen its electoral fortunes, leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party in Auchi, Etsako West council area, have met and endorsed   Hon Sule Imoudu as its new leader.  With this decision, Imoudu replaces Alhaji Y .A Anahuagbor who left the party for APC .  Close party sources said the endorsement of Hon  Sule Imoudu's,a former councillor during non party basis, nomination as party leader was unanimous, noting stakeholders at the party's caucus meeting chaired by Alhaji Duru Sule, were convinced he fits the bill of someone who can galvanise the entire Auchi populace as well as lead the PDP to future landslide electoral victories.  According to Mallam Dada Abubakar, a PDP House of Assembly candidate, the caucus'  decision to appoint Hon  Sule Imoudu as leader is quite commendable, adding his leadership will help forge a common front which will make the PDP in Auchi unbeatable in future elec...

A socio-cultural group, Niger Delta Development Initiative (NDDI) is said to be mounting pressure on President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio. The group agitation is based on reports   that Akpabio has allegedly hijacked the functions of Commission in violation of the spirit and letters of the enabling Law that set up NDDC ACT 2007. In a petition signed by the duo The President and  Secretary of the group, Chief Ebikalome Tonye Anselm and Comrade Johnson Oghenekevbe  titled: "The need to stop the manipulation of the Management of NDDC against the Law" where they appealed to President Buhari to urgently constitute a legally recognized Board and Management ― 16-months after members of the Board who are yet to be inaugurated, were appointed and cleared by the Senate. The Niger Delta Stakeholders who described the development as sickening, accused the Minister of manipulating the Commission from been le...

By DADA AYOKHAI After a long and arduous wait that was characterised by the pandering to several whimsical political sentiments, the federal government finally made good its promise to release the duty posts of the ambassadorial nominees.  The Senate, as stipulated, had  screened and approved the list of the ambassadorial nominees almost six months ago, but the executive dithered in releasing their duty stations.   Few days ago, however, President Buhari finally weighed in on the issue and ordered the official release of the ambassadorial nominees duty posts, thus, bringing to an end the debate that had engulfed the nation as to the fate of the nominees. The ambassadorial nominees are expected to resume in their assigned countries any moment from now.  Barrister  Yamah Mohammed is one of those who made the final cut. His duty station, going by the list released, is Mozambique, a tiny southern African country which shares border with Tanzania, Ma...

By DADA AYOKHAI  mother and son  Wife of the former Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Mrs Hassana Garuba, was among the seven others from Edo state secured  the  recommendation of the national judicial council to be appointed as judges by the Edo  state government  after a successful interview process have been sworn in. The new judges were sworn in on Monday  by the Edo state governor, Mr Godwin obaseki  at a ceremony held inside the new Festival Hall of the Government House, Benin, with strict observance of the COVID- 19 protocols.  Mrs Garuba who was accompanied to the ceremony by her eldest son,Haliru, who is also a lawyer, has held several magisterial positions in the state, including Magistrate and Chief Magistrate respectively, before her new appointment as a judge.  An indigene of Auchi, Etsako West council area, Mrs  Hassana Garuba is greatly admired for her magisterial disposition. Her late husband, Rt Ho...

 By Dada Ayokhai The  Chairman of the Action Alliance Party(AAP),  Edo State,  Engr. Israel Iyobosa Guobadia has appealed to the Edo people to support the party in her bid to reposition   ahead of future elections in the state. Engr. Guobadia made the statement during an interactive chat with the Journalists at the party Secretariat, Benin city,. Engr Guobadia attributed the unimpressive performance of the  party, AAP, at previous elections was  due to poor leadership by the past administrators  of party.   " Our vision is to evangelize  our party programmes   and believe in the masses. The Motto of the party is that the masses should lead. Action Alliance over the years hasn't been able to make meaningful impact as a result of bad leadership." " The party has existed  over 15 years in the State but no good record to show. Our new vision is to ensure the party is known in Edo State. We want people to come ...

By DADA AYOKHAI  Based on his stellar performances and visionary leadership as the helmsman of Benin - Owena River Basin Authority, Engr Saliu Ahmed, has been duly rewarded with tenure elongation by President Muhammad Buhari.  He was among the seven heads of river basin authorities in the country whose tenure for another period of four years was renewed by the president.  News of the tenure renewal was contained in a press statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by   Mrs Kenechukwu Offie; Director, Press and Public Relations, in the Ministry of Water Resources.  The appointment takes immediate effect from January 5, 2021.  Engr Saliu Ahmed, an Auchi, Etsako West politician, has been saddling the ship of the authority in the past four years.  Pundits had predicted the possibility of the president renewing his appointment based on the new lease of life and direction the University of Benin trained engineer has brought to bear in the  ...

By DADA AYOKHAI The much touted APC membership revalidation and registration exercise, scheduled to start on January 25 after several postponements may serves as an  avenue to weed out those considered as disloyal. The APC nationwide registration exercise was designed to revalidate the status of old members as well as register new ones. The exercise, however, suffered a major setback as a result of the raging feud between some concerned stakeholders and members of the National Caretaker Committee of the party, with accusations that NCC members were seeking to elongate their tenure while also using the exercise to shut the door of the party against perceived opponents.  In Edo North district, for instance, it is alleged that some leaders  of the party have bandied together to hijack the process in order to settle old political scores,. some party members are afraid that the noble objective behind the exercise may resultantly lead to the miscarriage of justice a...

 By DADA AYOKHAI An Edo state Agency, Public Works Volunteer scheme ( PUWOV) has congratulated Edo State Governor,Mr Godwin OBASEKI, on his well deserved victory  at an Abuja  High court  over a certificate forgery case  instituted against him by the opposition party in the state, APC. According to the coordinator, PUWOV, Mukhtar Yusuf-Osagie in a chat  with journalists in Benin City said "Edo people's choice of Governor Godwin OBASEKI is so sound and loud to the extent that the self acclaimed leaders and candidate of the opposition can not change through the backdoors".  Mukhtar Yusuf-Osagie said "the judiciary has once again rekindled the hope of an average Nigerian, stressing that the Saturday's  court judgement restored the hope of many, that Nigeria will still be great again" The PUWOV coordinator while "thanking Edo people for standing solidly behind the duo of Governor Godwin OBASEKI and his "rock of gibrota" Deputy, Rt Hon(...

The  North Chapter of our great party, People's Democratic Party (PDP), heartily rejoice with Governor Godwin Obaseki on his continuous defeat of APC at the temple of justice. The Abuja High Court judgement is a  confirmation that Obaseki/ Shaibu  2020-2024    is a divine mandate which no Man can scuttle. God will Always Win Congratulations Sir. Hon. Saiki Samuel Shegun JP. PDP senatorial Leader Edo North District

By DADA AYOKHAI An Edo North PDP stalwart, Hon Henry Duke Tenebe, has berated members of the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state of been bad losers, stating that leaders of the party have become paranoid and engrossed in the unprofitable adventure of how to rubbish the hard earned reputation of Gov Godwin Obaseki. Advising the APC leaders in the state to stop challenging the outcome of the Edo 2020 guber poll, Hon Tenebe noted emphatically that God had a finger in the victory of Gov Godwin Obaseki and, therefore, urged the APC to look forward to another election instead of dissipating their energy on a lost cause. Hon Tenebe's advice is sequel to the judicial victory just secured in an Abuja High Court by Gov Obaseki, in which he was absolved of all charges filed against him by the APC.  According to Hon Tenebe, who is also a member of the state's transition committee, it is the height of irresponsibility and ignorance for any normal  person or,...

 By DADA AYOKHAI  A Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, precided over by Justice Ahmed Mohammed will on Saturday, January 9, 2021,  deliver judgment in the alleged certificate forgery suit brought against Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State. The All Progressives Congress (APC) and one of its chieftains, Mr Williams Edobor, had dragged Obaseki to court for allegedly forging his University of Ibadan (UI) certificate he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in aid of his qualification for the September 19, 2020 governorship election in Edo State. The trial judge fixed the date to deliver judgement in the matter after all the parties adopted their final written addresses. While adopting his final written address, Obaseki, through his lead counsel, Ken Mozia (SAN), urged the court to dismiss the suit, on the ground that the Plaintiffs, failed to prove their allegation that he submitted a forged UI degree certificate to INEC in his for...

By DADA  AYOKHAI The Edo State Police Command has confirmed the rumour of   jailbreak  incident  at the command headquarters  on the 1st of January 2021   but dispelled the rumour on the number of escapees. According to report, the command in a statement signed by SP Chidi Nwabuzor, the Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed that the incident occurred at about 02:45 hours of Friday, January 1st. NAN reports that Nwabuzor said contrary to reports alleging that hundreds of armed robbery and kidnapping suspects had escaped, only 10 suspects escaped after the cell break. He said two of the escapees were re-arrested while the hunt for the remaining eight has begun. The command maintained that ”Out of the 10 escaped suspects, two have been re-arrested and brought back to custody. The PPRO also disclosed that eight of the suspects were detained on the orders of the court. He added that the Policemen responsible for the safe custody of the...

By DADA AYOKHAI Two Edo state government  agencies, PUBLIC WORKS VOLUNTEER SCHEME (PUWOV) and the EDO STATE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT AGENCY(EDSTMA) recently got kudos from members of the public for excemplanry performance during  the festive period for adequately deploying their men and materials to control traffic in the metropolis which hitherto was a problem for commuters. Amongst those who acknowledged the performance of the two government agencies is the Coordinator, Action for Socio-political and Economic Change(ASEC), LEFTIST OSAZEE EDIGIN,.  According to Mr Edigi , the "Officials of the Edo State Traffic Management Agency (EDSTMA)  and Public Works Volunteer Scheme(PUWOV) were on ground during the Yuletide period to ensure there was free flow of traffic in major roads and adjoining streets. It was a herculean time for them due to the last minute rush of residents in purchase of requirements for the celebration".  Leftist Edigin disclosed that "thei...

By DADA AYOKHAI  The Christmas season  often affords people the chance to exchange visits and showcase certain cultural peculiarities. The period also calls for merriments and the eating of all sort of delicacies, ranging from chicken to cow meat. In   Akoko Edo local government area of Edo State  there is one particular type of meat_ Dog meats_  that is unique to a section of the people. The Christmas festivity would never have been complete without the consumption of dog meat pepper soup.  Dog meat pepper soup is a main delicacy in some areas of Akoko-Edo . Indeed, part of  Akoko Edo landscape  is dotted with various sizes of restaurants and bars where the dog meat delicacy is served its patrons.  One of them, Awillo bar, opposite the famous Dr Igbodaga house, is a popular joint in Igarra town and is operated by a young man in his 40s, Shegun Ezekiel. The bar is highly patronised by clients of differ...