Posts

Showing posts from May, 2021

Igbafe's family releases burial arrangements

Image
By DADA AYOKHAI The family of late Prof Philip Aigbona  Igbafe, has formally released the final burial arrangements for the accomplished historian and scholar. Late Prof Igbafe passed on at the age of 84 after a brief illness.  According to the release, signed by Pastor Charles Oshiogue Igbafe, on behalf of the family, the transition programme for the final burial rites of the late Prof Igbafe commences Thursday, June 24, with his corpse lying - in - state at his Benin residence on Pole Street, off Sapele Road, to be followed by vigil mass and service of songs at St Gabriel Catholic Church.  The funeral mass will hold next day at the same church, before his corpse departs Benin for his country home in Ayua, Etsako West council area, for internment.

Buhari reappoints Anegbe as public complaints commissioner

Image
By DADA AYOKHAI President Muhammed Buhari has renewed the appointment of Ambassador Peter Anegbe as honorable  Commissioner in the Public Complaint Commission for another three year tenure.   Ambassador Anegbe, an indigene of Ivioghe,  Agenebode, Etsako East council area, represents Edo State in the Commission.  The Commission was established in 1975 by the federal government to serve as ombudsman between citizens and public officers and to entertain complaints that borders on injustice, unfair treatment, corruption and abuse of office.  A retired career  diplomat, Ambassador Anegbe  served Nigeria meritoriously in various capacities in the Foreign Affairs ministry and rose to become Chief of Protocol in the Presidency. He was later appointed Nigeria's ambassador to Malaysia.  On retirement, former Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomole headhunted him based on his vast reservoir of expertise and appointed him as Executive Dir...

Obaseki's Supreme court victory: we are not surprise_ Tenebe

Image
By DADA AYOKHAI  A  state PDP chieftain, Hon Henry  Duke Tenebe  has  lashed out at the APC leaders in the state for leading their people on a  journey destined for nowhere. Heaving a sigh of relief on the outcome of the court ruling, a visibly excited Hon Tenebe, a former state Organising Secretary of the PDP, declared his faith in the ability of the judiciary and that the good people of Edo State were not in any way surprised at the verdict of the Supreme Court.  According to Hon Tenebe in a press statement , added that the APC leaders  knew from the onset that  they were on a wild goose chase but refused "to retrace their steps because of  ego and pride, adding that now that their ego have been fatally bruised  one wonders  what their next line of action would be." The Supreme Court had, in a landmark ruling delivered  in Abuja, upheld an earlier judgement reaffirming Godwin Obaseki a...

PDP crisis : Party leaders set up committee to search for a new secretariat

Image
By DADA AYOKHAI The crisis rocking the Edo State chapter of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a new dimension as the leaders of the party in ward 2, in Oredo local government area set up a committee to search for a new secretariat. Recall that the state chapter of the party had been in crisis following the state governor, Godwin Obaseki proposal for the dissolution and harmonization of the executive of the party at all levels. The decision of the party leaders to  relocate  its secretariat from along Oko/Ogba, Benin City was taken during an enlarged meeting which was held at the former All Progressives Congress (APC) state secretariat on 59, Airport road in Benin City. A 3-point communique issued at the end of its meeting and ready by  Victor Enoghama in Benin City said the ward leaders have  approved the relocation of its  secretariat due to administrative convenience. Enoghama said the committee responsibility was to look for a Ward sec...

Stop pursuing shadows; Tenebe tells ADP, others

Image
By DADA AYOKHAI A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Hon. Henry Duke Tenebe has advised Action Democratic Party (ADP) and other political parties  in the State to  braced up with the reality on ground and stop pursuing shadows which can lead  to self destruction. Hon. Henry Duke Tenebe's statement is connected to the Court of Appeal judgement that upheld the ruling of the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal against the Action Democratic Party (ADP), reaffirming the victory of Governor Godwin Obaseki at the 2020 gubernatorial election. The PDP chieftain in a statement, said that  the ADP  along with their collaborators are much aware that Governor Godwin  Obaseki won the September 19 Edo State Governorship Election on a popular mandate freely given by the Edo people  which they hold sacrosanct. The Obaseki judicial victory comes barely two months after the Elections Petitions Tribunal stru...

Benin owena sets to complete Otuo Earth dam

Image
By DADA AYOKHAI Barring any constraints which may stand in the way of an early delivery of the Otuo earth dam, the management of Benin Owena River Basin Development Authority, BORDA, is poised to ensure that all bottlenecks are removed and the dam   delivered on schedule.  In that regard, the BORDA management recently awarded contracts for the completion of the last phase of the project, preparatory to its commissioning.   The Otuo earth dam was conceived primarily to bring succour to the inhabitants of Otuo and her neighbours in Owan East who have long suffered acute water scarcity over the years due mainly to the absence of a functional public water supply scheme.  According to sources, the Otuo dam project is capable of servicing the entire Owan axis if put to full capacity. In addition, the dam is also expected to serve  the dual purpose of providing water for both domestic and irrigation purposes and thereby boost food production via m...

Edo Central PDP Leaders reject dissolution of party's structures

Image
By DADA AYOKHAI Peoples Democratic Party leaders in Edo Central district rose from an expanded stakeholders meeting to reaffirm their positions on some nagging issues confronting the party in the state.  The meeting was held in the Benin residence of Senator Odion Ugbesia. The meeting was attended by leadership of the Senatorial district which includes  Elder Odion Ugbesia and his twin brother, Hon. Barr. Akhere Ugbesia, Hon. Barr. Sergius Ogun,  Chief Ulinfoh, Engr. Gideon Ikhine, Hon. John Yakubu, Hon. Ezehi Igbas, PDP Local Government Party Chairmen in the Senatorial District, amongs others. A major fallout of the meeting was the outright rejection of the dissolution of the party's existing structures at all levels.  Instead, stakeholders called for the adoption of an alternative means to integrate both old and new members of the party without the dissolution of the existing structures.  A seven point communiqué was later issued to buttress the po...

AAU Alumni Passes vote of No confidence on Onobun led Edo House of Assembly

Image
By DADA AYOKHAI The National Executive Council (NEC) of Ambrose Alli University Alumni Association Worldwide has passed a vote of no confidence on Hon Marcus Onobun led Edo state House of Assembly. The body described the law passed by the House tagged Ambrose Alli University (Special Intervention Powers) provisions 2021 that led to the unilateral appointment of an acting  Vice Chancellor for the university  without due process  by the Edo State Government and the dissolution of the Governing Council as obnoxious . The communiqué  signed by the world wide president Hon Bar Dave o.Emakunu and the Vice president,Hon Johnson Idolor Akpolomen observes that the law is capable of causing anarchy in the university and creating a legacy of military dictatorship and sought that it be repealed without further delay. The body made the remark in a communiqué issued at the end of its emergency meeting held in Benin City on Friday, May 21, 2021. The meeting had delibera...

Federal Unversity Of Sports Afuze will come to reality _ ihonvbere

Image
By DADA AYOKHAI Prof Julius Ihonvbere, has reassured his constituents that the proposed university of sports to be located in Afuze, Owan East administrative headquarter, will soon become a reality.  Prof Julius Ihonvbere represents Owan federal constituency in the green chamber.  Prof Ihonvbere's reassurance became necessary in order to douse apprehension among his constituents created by rumours of a similar bill in the Senate for the setting up of a university of sports in the South East.  In a press statement personally signed by him to underscore his commitment to the proposed university of sports in Afuze, Prof Ihonvbere said there's no cause for alarm, adding his novel idea is one whose time has come. The former Edo State SSG added he is not deterred by a similar proposal in the Senate, insisting, however, that he has not abandoned the push to ensure the proposed federal university of sports becomes a reality.  He said, "It has come to our attentio...

Okpekpe Produces Edo New Chief judge

Image
By DADA AYOKHAI Okpekpe, a hilly community in Etsako East local government area of Edo state recorded a major judicial feat following the appointment of Justice Joe Itsebaga  Acha as the Acting Chief Judge of Edo State pending his confirmation by the state assembly.  Edo State governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki  administered the oath of office on him at the Government House in Benin. Justice Acha is the second person from Edo North district to become the chief judge of Edo State since its creation in 1991.  The first, Justice Constance Momoh, from Auchi in Etsako West, served as Chief Judge between 1998 and 2005. Justice Momoh did not only shatter the glass ceiling, she also left indelible footprints in the judicial development of the state during her tenure.  Okpekpe has in recent times attained global fame, no thanks to the duo of the former governor of the state, Comrade Adams Oshiomole and Mike Itemuagbo, a front line sports marketer, who pioneered the ...

Rift in our party, unfortunate, regrettable says Edo PDP

Image
By DADA AYOKHAI The leadership of the Edo State chapter of the People's Democratic Party (PDP)  has described the recent rift in the party which pitched the state working committee against the governor as unfortunate and regrettable. This was contained in press statement issued and signed by the party publicity secretary, Chris Nosakhare titled "a storm in the tea cup". Recall that the state leadership of the party had in a letter dated May 10th, 2021 addressed to the National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus after an enlarged State Working Committee and Local Government Area Chairmen, accused the state governor of allegedly proposing a dissolution of the state elected executive committees at all levels of the party. The PDP's letter to the national leadership of the party has elicited several reactions and  counter reactions by some party's chieftains alleged of working in collaboration with the governor in the agenda of dissolution of the ...

No Alternative To Harmonization in PDP_ Tenebe

Image
By DADA AYOKHAI A   Leader in Edo State PDP  and a former Senatorial chairman and State organizing secretary of the party, Hon  Henry Duke Tenebe has lent his voice to the calls for harmonisation in state chapter of the party He made the submission through a signed  press statement issued yesterday, and made available to newsmen in Benin City. As  more leaders of the PDP begin to lend their voices on the urgent need for the harmonisation of both the old and new members of the party, it is becoming obvious that the position of the party's state working committee  is being put to test. According to Hon Tenebe " I am more  concerned as a party leader  and  worried about the undue distractions to the polity as well as the delivery of the dividends of democracy this unhealthy crisis would cause". He  therefore enjoined  all party faithfuls to moderate their stance for the greater interest of the party." ...

PDP passes vote of confidence on Oghiadomhe, suspends LGA party's chairman,

Image
By DADA AYOKHAI The leadership of the People's Democratic Party, (PDP) in Etsako Central local government area of Edo State, yesterday, expressed confidence in the leadership of Former Chief of Staff to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Mike Oghiadomhe. This was done through a vote of confidence just as they also suspended the LGA party's chairman, Kassim Abdulkareem. The verdict to suspend the party's chairman and also pass a vote of confidence was part of the deliberation  endorsed during an  enlarged  party  meeting  held at  the instance of a ward chairman, Chief Musa Aidelebe at the party's secretariat in Fugar. The suspension letter and the appended signatures  which contained the votes of confidence and suspension of the party's chairman, Kassim Abdulkareem and 7 other officials of the party was signed by the elders, leaders and the ward chairmen of the party . Some of the signatories are the LGA woman leader, Alao Paulina, legal a...

Drama in PDP as ‘Orbih boys’ purportedly suspend Oghiadomhe from PDP

Image
By DADA AYOKHAI These are certainly not the best of times for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Edo State as suspension of members have speedily turned out to a drama series. The drama which pundits referred  to as part two of the  series recently took place  in Etsako Central local government with  some PDP said to be loyal to a former state chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih who gathered at the Ekperi residence of the suspend party chairman, kassim Abdulkareem to allegedly suspended former deputy governor of Edo State, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe. The suspension drama is said to have pitched, and almost resorted to communal war in the local government between PDP members from Fugar and Ogbona where both Chiefs Oghiadomhe and Orbih hail from. The purported suspension raised so much dust among a vast majority of the party members from Fugar who feel that the drama so-called is a calculated attempt to embarrass Chief Oghiadomhe, and is ...

Otaru of Auchi to Turban Clem Agba as ODUMA of Auchi kingdom

Image
By DADA AYOKHAI The otaru of Auchi, HRH Alhaji H.A momoh has concluded arrangements to turban the Minister of state for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba  as the Oduma of the kingdom.    News of the decision to turban Prince Agba as the "Oduma" of the sacred Auchi kingdom is contained in a private letter which emanated from the palace of the Otaru and was addressed to him. The Otaru of Auchi, HRH H. A. Momoh, Ikelebe III, is one of the most revered monarchs in Edo North district.  The letter conveying the approval of the Otaru - in - Council was signed by the Daudu of Auchi, Prince H. M. Momoh. According to the letter  the selection of Prince Agba as the "Oduma" of Auchi is worthy and deserving, adding his good deeds towards the growth and development of Auchi kingdom has certainly not gone unnoticed.  Further checks reveals that the ceremony heralding his formal decoration and investiture with the staff of office has been tentative...

Saliu Ahmed, facilitating the benefits of River Basin to Edo north

Image
By DADA AYOKHAI Prior to his coming as the substantive managing director ofthe Benin - Owena River Basin Authority Not much was known about the agency in Edo state especially in Edo north district.    Edo State can be said to have been marginalised in the scheme of things, making people to believe the situation was caused by its non representation in the top management board of the authority.   All these, however, changed with the coming of Engr Saliu Ahmed.  Today, the story is different, apart from having repositioned the Authority for greater delivery of services, Engr Ahmed is also sticking to the old cliché that charity begins from home. Engr Saliu Ahmed is a rare gem and the Auchi born engineering graduate of the University of Benin has chosen not to be a hostage of the coveted office he occupies as the Managing Director of Benin - Owena River Basin Authority.  The lofty idea behind the establishment of these river basin authorities in the...

Dokpesi advocates for harmonisation, dissolution of PDP structures in Edo

Image
By DADA AYOKHAI The media Mogul and a leader of the Edo State PDP, Dr chief Raymond dokpesi said he is an advocate and wholeheartedly support for integration, harmonisation and dissolution of all party structures in the state. Chief Dokpesi statement is in reaction to the state working committee which rejected any form of harmonisation and dissolution of PDP structures in the state. Chief Dokpesi made his stand known in an open letter which he titled, High Chief Dokpesi speaks. According to him the dissolution will paved for way and  enhanced the unity and progress which the party so much desired. Similarly, chief Dokpesi,  who contested for the   national chairmanship of the party position similarly advocates for Compesation to those who have much value to the party but will be displaced by the dissolution arrangements rather than People have held on to positions in the name of loyalty to certain God fathers and Leaders. Chief dokpesi expressed concern t...

Edo govt orders mass deployment of assembly staff to ministry ahead of autonomy

Image
By DADA AYOKHAI Edo State Government seems to be preparing ahead  of  granting full autonomy to the legislative arm.  Preparatory to the time the autonomy will come into effect, however, the state government has released guidelines to be followed . One of the guidelines will be the mass deployment of some of the staff of the Edo State House of Assembly  to other ministries and agencies in the state.  The push for legislative autonomy has grown louder and louder in recent times, leading to a strike by the  Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, PASAN, the umbrella body of the workers.    In response to PASAN's demands, the state government hurriedly put in motion the machinery for its actualisation.  Consequently, a directive is said to have  emanated from the office of the Executive Governor of the State, in which the bogus staff strength of the assembly was identified as a major snag on the road to full autonomy for the...

We reject any propose harmonization with Obaseki's loyalists --- Edo PDP

Image
By DADA AYOKHAI  Six months after the inauguration of Governor Godwin Obaseki for a second term in office, the Edo State leadership of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected any form of harmonization of positions with members of the party that defected with the governor from the All Progressives Congress (APC) . Recall that the state governor, Godwin Obaseki defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the People's Democratic Party (PDP) after he was disqualified from contesting the party's governorship primary election in the build up to the September 19 governorship election.  A letter addressed to the National Chairman of the Party , Uche Secondus and signed by the Tony Aziegbemi and  Hillary Otsu, state party's chairman and  Secretary, respectively, after an emergency and expanded State Working Committee and Local Government Chairmen of the party on Monday, noted that the proposed dissolution and, or harmonization are designed to hol...

Edo Assembly decorates Obaseki as the Emperor of AAU

Image
By DADA AYOKHAI   The 10- man Edo State House of Assembly led by its Speaker, Rt Hon Marcus Onobun, has enacted a new bill which more or less makes the state owned Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, a satellite of the Government House.  The new bill, tagged "Special intervention Powers for the Visitor", which enjoyed accelerated passage from the first reading to the third reading on the floor of the assembly on the same day, has already been assented to by the state governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki An examination of the contents of the new bill hurriedly passed by the assembly, invests the state governor with so much powers to the extent of directing the day - to - day affairs of the varsity.  For instance, the new bill which is already a law, allows the governor to suspend any or all substantive principal officer(s) of the varsity from office for a period of time covered by the special intervention powers.  It also confers on the Visitor to the varsity, in this...

Oshiomhole urges Edo APC members to close ranks

Image
By DADA AYOKHAI The former National chairman of the All progresive congress, APC, comrade Adams Oshiomhole has called on APC members in Edo State to close ranks and work harmoniously with the leadership of the party in the state and other levels in the overall interest of the party. The former National chairman and Edo State governor made the statement in his remarks at the party stakeholders meeting in Benin, Edo State capital. Also in attendance at the meeting was also a  former national chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun , as well as other leaders of the party . The APC leaders, who called for unity among party members, also hailed the Edo State Caretaker Committee of the party led by Col. David Imuse (rtd) for the success of the just-concluded membership registration across the 18 local government areas of the South south state.   Odigie-Oyegun said: “Let us put the past behind and let us look at the future. I belong to AP...

Edo state government makes Vaccination against Covid-19 mandatory for Teachers

Image
By DADA AYOKHAI Edo State Government has  directed that as frontline workers, teachers in the state  are to be compulsorily vaccinated against COVID-19 when the school resume  academic activities on  Monday  10th 2021 for third term session.   In a statement in Benin yesterday, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs. Stella-Maris Imasuen said  Ministry of Health officials will be on ground to administer the vaccines to teachers in their schools from Monday 10th May, 2021,   The report further stated that all schools in Oredo, Egor and Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Areas(LGAs) that were previously operating morning and afternoon sessions are to revert to the normal school time of 8:00am and 2:00pm. She said, "It is hereby announced for the information of the general public especially Heads/principals and proprietors of private  schools that Schools in Edo State will resume for the academic activities for the third term on M...

Four detained Agba kinsmen regain freedom

Image
By DADA AYOKHAI The four Uneme Uzanu  chiefs allegedly detained on the orders of Edo State deputy governor,  Hon Philip Shaibu, have finally breathed the air of freedom.  They were said to have been granted administrative bail based on an exparte motion filed by some prominent sons and daughters of Uneme- Uzanu clan.  Ironically, the same man accused of having ordered their detention in police custody on account of their alleged role in the murder of an Igiode indigene, stood as surety for them.  The detained chiefs are Chief Emmanuel Ikeme, James Alugbei, Peter Ajegba and Anthony Adamu. The quartet were held in police custody in Benin for more than two months.  Their detention caused serious social and political ripples in both Etsako and Edo North, with people questioning where the deputy governor derived his powers to order their detention without recourse to the courts.  Giving an insight into how they regained their freedom...

Ekperi Leadership Forum Pays Thank You visit to Agba in Abuja

Image
By DADA AYOKHAI Opinion leaders of Ekperi community in Etsako Central local government under the auspices of Ekperi Leadership Forum were recently in Abuja on a scheduled thank - you visit to the honourable minister of national planning and budget, Prince Clem Agba. The Ekperi Leadership Forum is a non partisan body formed essentially to promote the development of the clan.   Prof Ben Ugheoke, the president of the forum, led the delegation which visited the minister in Abuja to congratulate him on his well deserved appointment and to express how proud they are with some of the giant strides recorded by his ministry within his short spell in office. The Forum equally thanked the minister on his decision to appoint one of their kinsman, Mr Athanasius Ugbome as a Special Assistant, SA. Prof Ugheoke, in his address  expressed gratitude to the minister on his bold and constructive steps towards the  development of riverine areas in...

Uneme Uzanu Appeal to Police IG to Release kinsmen detained by Shaibu

Image
By DADA AYOKHAI Community leaders of Uneme- Uzanu, South East Uneme in Etsako East local government area have risen in unison to request the immediate intervention of the Inspector General of Police to secure the release of their kinsmen held in detention for over two months on the orders of the Edo State deputy governor,    Hon Philip Shaibu They listed the names of those being detained illegally on the orders of the state deputy governor as Chief James Alugbei, Chief Peter Ajegba, Chief Anthony Adamu and Chief Emmanuel Ikeme.  The appeal by the community leaders seeking the IG's intervention in the immediate release of the detainees came in the form of an advertorial in a national daily and signed by six titled chiefs in Uzanu. They are Chief Zibiri Baja, , the Asama of Uzanu; Mallam Ibrahim Izenobor, the Ogamode of Uzanu; Alhaji Ibrahim omokpua, the Ogiega of Uzanu; Chief Kasimu Kadiri, the Osese of Uzanu Chief Ephraim Abu, the Egiegba of Uzanu and Chief Th...

Obaseki awards 250 thousand naira to gold medalist at Edo sports festival

Image
By DADA AYOKHAI The Edo State governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki has announced  cash rewards  to athletes  who won medals at the recently concluded  Edo sports festival  which the state hosted. According to the governor, each of the gold medalist will get  a cash rewards of N250,000, silver medalist N150,000 and N100,000 for each bronze medal winner.   Governor Obaseki made the announcement during a dinner party organised for Team Edo who came second at the festival with Delta State retaining the first position. In his speech at the dinner party, Governor  Obaseki   urged Nigerian youth not to be discouraged following the many challenges facing the nation but rather “have hope for a brighter future for the nation.” “This event was significant at this time in the history of Nigeria as we need to give our youths hope with events like the sports festival to unify the nation at this trying times. “Don’t despair, don’t be discouraged or ...

Imodagbe, Ugbome, Erhagbe, Pay Tributes to late Prof lgbafe

Image
By DADA AYOKHAI Tributes have continued to pour in for the late Prof Philip Igbafe, erudite historian, administrator and scholar, who died a few days ago after a brief illness.  Once news of his demise filtered into town, family members and close associates of the erudite historian went into temporary shock  trying to absorb the news of his death As a matter of fact, the entire Etsako and, by extension, Edo North senatorial district, is still reeling from the news of his death.  The late emeritus professor of history hailed from Ayua, Uzairue clan, Etsako West council area and he  is widely revered as an accomplished historian and humanist. In his tribute, Hon Abdullahi Imodagbe, an Edo North representative at the Edo State Oil and Gas Commission Development board and a  kinsman of the late professor, described him as a " rare gem and humanist" who conquered his field of endeavour and brought glory to his people.  Similarly, Hon Paschal Ugbome, ...