Borderline News 24

By DADA AYOKHAI   Five politicians picked across Edo North district are part of the 15 man committee inaugurated  by the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki charged with the responsibility of screening political nominees that will be appointed into his cabinet as Commissioners. Obaseki, during the inauguration ceremony at the Government House, Benin City, urged the committee, headed by Prof. Dennis Agbonlahor, to submit its report on or before 15th of July, 2021. The five persons nominated   are Gen. Airende (Rtd.); from  Owan East local government,  Abass Yakubu; Hillary Otsu, Abubakar Mustapha, (Etsako West) and  Bayo Ogedengbe , Akoko Edo  Governor Obaseki during the inauguration said  “We have passed that stage where people just come into the government for the sake of it; you are coming for a purpose and must be equipped to deliver on that purpose. “We have gone round the state and asked wards and local governments to subm...

By DADA AYOKHAI The senator representing Edo North Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Francis Alimikhena recently clocked 6 years in office . Six years down the lane, his constituent,  Edo North people, are more interested in taking stock to see if the soldier- turned politician they elected to serve as their mouthpiece in the Senate has lived up to expectations or not.  Rather than hold a press conference to tell  the stories about the  bills and motions bearing his marks in the 8th and 9th Senate, he chose uncommon ways to let his actions speak volumes for him through commissioning of projects. Among the many projects the senator commissioned in a space of days include a block of three classrooms at Ihievbe; a block of two classrooms at Ayogwiri; a Dialysis Centre at the General Hospital, Auchi and a classroom block at Uneme Eruru in Akoko Edo local government area.  Much as some watchers of Edo North  politics appreciate th...

By DADA AYOKHAI  Wow!!! That's the exclamatory remarks anyone who saw what remains of the beautiful edifice once inhabited by a former military governor of former Bendel state. How time changes! The beautiful country home of the late Gen George Agbazika in Agenebode, Etsako East local government area, is in tatters.  Abandoned, decrepit and in total shamble is an understatement.  What could have led to the country home of the late army general who also served as the governor of the old Bendel and Kwara states respectively during the peak of his military career?  Gen George Agbazika Innih, a great man of influence who loved his people as well as his birth place, Agenebode, with a lot of passion, died in August 2002 at the age of 63 after a brief illness in Germany. He was the military governor of the former Bendel state from August 1975_  March 1976. On retirement from public service, he ventured into full time farming and set ...

By DADA AYOKHAI  Wow!!! That's the exclamatory remarks anyone who saw what remains of the beautiful edifice once inhabited by a former military governor of former Bendel state. How time changes! The beautiful country home of the late Gen George Agbazika in Agenebode, Etsako East local government area, is in tatters.  Abandoned, decrepit and in total shamble is an understatement.  What could have led to the country home of the late army general who also served as the governor of the old Bendel and Kwara states respectively during the peak of his military career?  Gen George Agbazika Innih, a great man of influence who loved his people as well as his birth place, Agenebode, with a lot of passion, died in August 2002 at the age of 63 after a brief illness in Germany. He was the military governor of the former Bendel state from August 1975_  March 1976. On retirement from public service, he ventured into full time farming and set ...

By DADA AYOKHAI  The Benin Solidarity Movement( BSM), worldwide, said the Edo State governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki motives and action as regards the custodian of about to be returned benin artifacts is treacherous.   The Benin solidarity movement BSM, made  the statement in a release signed by the President, Elder Curtis Eghosa Ugbo and made available to journalists in Benin City. “The action is a complete treachery against the Benin Kingdom under the guide of His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare11, N’Ogidigan. According to him, “Benin Solidarity Movement (BSM) worldwide has received with trepidation the news that the Edo State Government under the leadership of Governor Godwin Obaseki in collaboration with some criminally minded individuals mostly of Benin extraction have through the backdoor planning to corner our stolen but soon to be returned Benin Artefacts by some foreign countries. ” For those conversant with history Governor Godw...

By DADA AYOKHAI   A mere alarm raised about the lack of any meaningful ongoing infrastructure projects in Edo North senatorial district by the state government, by the former APC national chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomole, has stuck out like a sore thumb. The comrade governor, who ruled Edo State for eight uninterrupted years, between 2008 and 2016, drew the  attention to his esteemed audience to the obvious neglect of the district which produced the deputy governor of the state under the present dispensation  He made his displeasure public while addressing top APC chieftains at an enlarged Edo North caucus meeting.  Sounding blunt and unrepentant in his characteristic manner of saying it as it is, the import of the comrade governor's assessment was not lost on his audience.  Some of the few landmark projects currently ongoing in the district and which has helped to propel the district's urban  renewal drive, are those facilitated either by APC ...

By DADA AYOKHAI The feud within the ranks of the Edo North PDP family took recently took a new dimension with a section of PDP leaders in the district affirming the media mogul, High Chief (Dr) Raymond Dokpesi, as the Edo North Leader of the party . The  organizers of the meeting   successfully kept the meeting away from the preying eyes of the media.  The emergence of Dokpesi is considered as a way  to checkmate  the status of the former two term deputy governor of the state, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, who has been  the arrow head of  PDP leaders in the district who are mainly Obaseki loyalist and  enjoys the support of the state governor and his deputy.  Notable Edo North PDP leaders who attended the Agenebode, the administrative headquarter of Etsako East meeting where Dr Dokpesi emerged  included former PDP state chairman, Chief Dan Orbih as well as the senatorial secretary, Hon Baba Sherrif. Bulk of the attendees at the...

By DADA AYOKHAI   The Governing Council of the Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State, one of the foremost tertiary institution in Edo North senatorial district, is about to set a new precedent with it's decision to put a cap on the age of prospective applicants who intend to apply for the vacant position of Rector.  Apart from putting the age bar at 59 for those aspiring to occupy the vacant position of Rector, the applicants are also expected to be holders of a Masters degree from a recognised institution, preferably a PhD.   The position of Rector became vacant since last year following the sudden death of its former occupant, late Dr Sanusi Jimah, barely two years of his tenure.  Since his death, Engr Zubair, the deputy Rector of the school has held sway, albeit on acting capacity pending the appointment of a new Rector.  In the newspaper advert inserted by the institution, the Council set some stringent conditions for the prospective appl...

By DADA AYOKHAI President Muhammad Buhari has reconstituted the  board of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), with Hon Luqman Muhammad from Edo North in Edo State to represent South-South geographical zone. The reconstituted  board with appointments of secretary and members drawn across the geographical areas of the country  is subjected to Senate confirmation. These appointments are in line with Section 2 (1) and Section 4 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act, 2004. Hon Muhammad, a lawyer by profession,  hails from Jattu, Uzairue clan in Etsako West local government of Edo State. He was a member of Edo State House of Assembly representing a constituency of Etsako West between 1999 to 2003. He similarly served as a board member of Edo State Oil and Gas Producing Areas Development Authority representing Edo North district.

By DADA AYOKHAI The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has blacklisted a Computer Based Centre owned by the former chairman of Edo State Board of Internal Revenue Service, Chief Oseni Elamah located at 39, Poly Road, Auchi for alleged poor performance in the 2021 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME), which started nationwide on Saturday.  The centre is among the 25 Computer Based Centres blacklisted. Besides, JAMB also include Givitec CBT Centre, 192, Murtala Mohammed Way, by Ekiosa Market, Benin- City, Edo State as one of those blacklisted in the state. Spokesperson for JAMB, Dr Fabian Benjamin, disclosed this in a press statement made available to newsmen in Abuja. According to Dr. Benjamin "The following centres whose performance fell below the tolerable limit of the JAMB during the conduct of the 2021 UTME on Saturday, June 19, 2021 are hereby delisted”.

By DADA AYOKHAI Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki, has commiserated with Mrs. Evelyn Igbafe over the death of her former husband, Prof. Philip Igbafe. The governor in his show of support, donated a truck of drinks and  cow to support  the burial arrangements . Mrs Evelyn Igbafe, a People's Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain was once married to late Prof Igbafe but got separated before the death of the erudite Professor of History whose burial arrangements is scheduled for the 26th of June.  Prof Igbafe who hails from Ayua in  Uzairue clan, Etsako West local government died in  April.  He was a Prof of History at the University of Benin and was also the Orator of the university for many years . Prof Igbafe  served the then  Bendel State in various capacities during the military regime of late Gen George Agbazika Innih, first as commissioner of works and transport and later as commissioner of Chieftaincy Affairs and Culture.  Chief E...

By DADA AYOKHAI An Edo born, American based, mixed martial artist world champion, Kamaru Usman  champion has arrived Edo state  after a long stay in  the United States for almost 26 years . The Edo-born professional mixed martial artist had earlier revealed to the media how he hawked “fufu” and did subsistence farming before migrating to Texas at the age of 8.  Kamaru umoru had on his arrival in Nigeria a week ago, paid a courtesy call on the Kogi and Lagos state governors. The world champion arrived at the Edo State Government House into the waiting hands of the Edo State deputy governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu, who received him on behalf of governor Godwin Obaseki.   Comrade Shaibu reassured that the Obaseki's administration will sustain reforms and programmes to ensure that more young people in the state thrive and realise their potentials to the fullest. According to him, "We are happy today to receive you and are very proud to have you as our own...

By DADA AYOKHAI A driver with Hartland Construction Company simply known as Buhari and two police officers  were on Tuesday were shot at  by gunmen  in the process of kidnapping an expatriate, a white man, along the Benin-Auchi expressway by Ogbemudia Farm in Uhunmwonde local government area of Edo State. Hartland construction company is owned by notable Edo north business man, Alhaji Abu Inu Umoru. It was gathered that  the driver and the police officer were coming from the Benin airport where they went to pick the expatriate when the gunmen  suddenly appeared from the bush and opened fire on the vehicle. The driver and the police officer were alleged to have died on the spot while the white man was taken into the bush by the gunmen. It was also learnt that the white man has been on leave but came back to the country yesterday to resume work. The driver who hails from Jattu, Etsako West local government was said to have been buried yesterday night a...

By DADA AYOKHAI  A graduate of  Ambrose Alli University, AAU (AAU), Ekpoma, Miss Ella Williams, was  reportedly gunned down by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen. The tragic incident which allegedly occurred on Monday, along the kidnapper-infested Benin-Auchi highway, was made known on the Facebook page of a user, Asomba Andrew Egbuonu. According to Egbuonu, Ella Williams who graduated with a Masters of Science degree in Architecture, met her death while traveling from Benin, to pick up her call up letter at the University’s main campus in Ekpoma, in preparatory to the compulsory one year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), programme. He reported further that the herdsmen opened fire on the bus she was travelling in, killing her on the spot, while other passengers in the bus were abducted and taken into the thick forest by the hoodlums. Asomba Andrew Egbuonu, wrote on his Facebook page: “I received the devastating news of the demise of a young lady and a promisi...

By DADA AYOKHAI The Edo State deputy governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu has commissioned an ultra modern Dialysis center situated at the  Auchi Central Hospital, Auchi. The dialysis center is a federal zonal project  facilitated by the senator representing Edo North Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator  Francis Alimikhena. The commissioning ceremony served as the formal handing over of the facilities to the Edo State government for onward usage by the public.  In his speech at the ceremony while handing over the edifice to the government, Senator Alimikhena said the commisioning of the centre at the Auchi Central Hospital, is a fulfilment of the intention of the federal government in establishing zonal intervention project.  "The overall essence of zonal intervention projects or constituency projects as they call it are expected to fill infrastructural gaps in our constituency, particularly in the areas of education, healthcare services...

By DADA AYOKHAI The former Governor of Edo State who also served as the national chairman of the APC, comrade Adams Oshiomhole said all ongoing projects in the Edo north  district were all influenced by the APC legislators and the Hon minister, who hails from the Senatorial district, hon Clem Agba.   Comrade Oshiomhole statement  an inuendo that the Obaseki's administration does  not have any ongoing  projects in district was  made  during the party's enlarged leaders meeting across the Edo North senatorial district of the state which took place in Iyamho, his country home. According to comrade oshiomole, "the party members across the senatorial zone to be proud of themselves because as at today, no projects are ongoing in Edo North apart from constituency projects being done by APC legislators in the National Assembly and those influenced by the Hon. Minister." The former national chairman also  appealed to the party faithfuls in Edo ...

By DADA AYOKHAI  The National Butchers Association of  Nigeria has  appealed to president Muhammadu Buhari to direct the Minister of Agriculture to release  budgetary Loans  due to the Association. According to the association the said loan has  been pending for years. The butchers appeal was part of the communique  issued and signed by the National President of the Association, Chief John Osamede Adun, the Aiyobahan of Benin Kingdom who is also  the Seiriki Katakpe of Abuja at the end of the association  NEC meeting which took place  in Abuja. The communique further added that the the loans will go a long way in helping the association  to build modern facilities across the country. Similarly, the leadership of Butchers  appealed to the Elites to always preach peace  which will in reducing tension in   the Country which is presently facing  security challenges.  They...

By DADA AYOKHAI The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON ,has assured intending pilgrims that  their deposits  which was made on the hope of  embarking on this  year   annual pilgrimage  to Saudi Arabia would be refunded without delay.  Recall that Saudi Arabian Government recently  informed the Muslims world  of her intention of not  allowing pilgrims from other countries to perform this year annual pilgrimage. Saudi Arabia declared that only 60,000 pilgrims, including its citizens and nationals residing in the Kingdom, would be allowed to take part in the exercise, according to the state-run Saudi Press Agency, Haramain. In 2020, only 1,000 pilgrims were allowed to perform the hajj because of Coronavirus. Its implication is that more than 70,000 intending pilgrims, who already made deposits and obtained COVID-19 vaccines as part conditions, would miss the yearly exercise. This is the second time Nigeria and othe...

By DADA AYOKHAI The 9th of June  2019 will go down in the Edo Legislative history as a RED letter day. It was a day 9 members of the 24 members of  Edo State House of Assembly were inaugurated at odd hours  in the night through the instrumenlity of the power that be. From councillors to council chairmen to lawmakers to governors, they are same of the same. Once the polls are done and dusted, the victorious among them look forward to their formal inauguration, more of an icing on the cake. Nothing else can supersede it.  Pronto, they begin to mobilise: friends, family members, party chieftains, well wishers, associates and even the entire community get mobilised to the event venue as supporters or as witnesses to history.  That was exactly the expectations preceding the formal inauguration of the members of the Edo State House of Assembly which was supposed to hold  on the June 5th but suddenly took place on the June 9th yet nothing t...

By DADA AYOKHAI A leading contestant in the forthcoming Local Government Council Election, Hon. Louis Imhandegbelo has felicitated with His, Excellency, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu in commemoration of    Democracy Day which is observed on  June 12  of the calendar. The aspirant also urged Edo people to work in harmony with the governor to enable him fulfill his promises to Edo people   Hon. Imhandegbelo, in a statement, urged Esan South-East local government people to rededicate themselves to salvaging the local government and positioning it for greatness. “We are currently faced with numerous challenges, it takes commitment, dedication, sacrifice and noble intentions to get through the rough pitches that we are experiencing, but with God on our side, we will overcome. “The people and the government hold the key to the solution of our problems and we must work together to make our local government and Edo...

By DADA AYOKHAI  The former pro Chancellor and Chairman of the dissolved  Governing Council of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Chief Sir Lawrence Omokhodion has alleged  that  Barrister Jimoh Ijegbai, as then Commissioner for Education, was  the  arrow head of Edo State Government officials who provided shield for corruption machinery  at the state owned university. The allegation was made in his statement, titled, "My stewardship at AAU, Ekpoma as the pro Chancellor and Chairman of the institution Governing Council. According to the former chairman of the dissolved Council, writing under the banner of avoidable and worrisome developments, said Barr Ijegbai  was appointed as the Commissioner for Education in August 2019 .      He said that the former commissioner first assignment at AAU was to frustrate the alleged corruption charges levied against the Vice chancellor being investigated by the council. "He was unhappy w...

By DADA AYOKHAI   An Edo born,Kamaru Usman, UFC Welterweight champion, is set to return to Nigeria for the first time since he left the country for the United States about 26 years ago. The mixed martial artist, who is expected to arrive in Nigeria on Thursday, will be launching a corporate social responsibility (CSR) project in Edo state. The 34-year-old had hinted about his trip back to the country after brutally knocking out Gilbert Burns in the octagon on February 14. He has also extended his winning streak to 14 after defeating Jorge Masvidal in April — making history as the longest-ever holder of a win-streak in the Welterweight division. The ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ is expected to touch down in Abuja on June 10 before stopping over at Lagos. He will then proceed to Edo where he will kick start a community activation plan in the state. Kamaru explained that the visit is long overdue because he was only a child the last time he was in the country. “I looked at my passp...

By DADA AYOKHAI The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has resolved to suspend its 65-day-old industrial action with effect from Thursday, June 10. According to the report from Tribune online edition, the suspension is for a period of three months to enable the government complete the execution of the items contained in the Memorandum of Action signed with the Union since 27th April, 2021 as contained in a statement by Comrade Abdullahi Yalwa, National Publicity Secretary of ASUP.   The statement, which was issued in Bauchi on Wednesday disclosed that: “As part of the efforts communicated by the Federal Ministry of Education, certain items have been fulfilled like the reconstitution and inauguration of governing councils and visitation panels in Nigerian federal polytechnics while we are led to believe that the release of funds for infrastructure revitalization and minimum wage arrears is currently being processed. “Other items include the ongoing efforts at th...

By DADA AYOKHAI   An Edo State born journalist, Mr Mustafa Isah has becomes  the New sustantive President,  Nigeria Guild of Editors, NGE. Mr Isah is currently the Head of News, Silverbird TV and Rhythm 93.7fm, Lagos. Mr Isah succeeds Funke Egbemode who resigned as the President of the NGE following her appointment as the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation in Osun State.   Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) with more than 600 members cutting across print, broadcast and digital media, is a network of senior Nigerian journalists who have attained the position of editors.  It is an independent non-profit and non-partisan organisation established to develop human capacity, economic empowerment, protection and welfare of its members.  The NGE in collaboration with other journalistic bodies across the world, work to preserve the traditions and standard of journalism practice and strict adherence to the Code of Ethics of the professio...

By DADA AYOKHAI The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki has revealed that he was discussing with investors, development partners and other stakeholders on the possibility of building an airport in Edo North Senatorial District to open up the area and boost economic activities in the state.   Obaseki  disclosed this during a meeting with PDP members at the wards and councils of the district, said the government was working to improve the state’s transportation network.   “There are some key projects we want to implement in Edo North. Some major investors who desire to come to the state are talking to us now. We have huge opportunities in agriculture, mining and transportation.   “One of the major things that I want to do is to build an airport. Access is key, and if people can fly in directly, it will improve our economy,” he stated.  

By DADA AYOKHAI Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki,  disclosed that his administration has commenced investigation of an alleged N10bn debt burden incurred by the immediate past local government administration in the state.  He said his administration was committed to fixing the structural problems in the local government system to bring development closer to the people.   Obaseki said this during a meeting with leaders of Edo Central Senatorial District at Irrua, headquarters of Esan Central Council of the state.   “I am doing an audit of all the local governments. In addition to all the receipts, they incurred debt of over N10 billion and so, I want to find out what happened.   “We are operating a system that is not working anymore and we all must agree to change it, because we are all involved. We can only deliver quality services to our people only if we agree moving forward.   “We must clean up the local government system, knowing that elec...

By DADA AYOKHAI The management of the Benin - Owena River Basin Development Authority, BORDA, has concluded plans to establish a water packaging factory in Auchi, Etsako West local government. Residents of the ancient town of Auchi, the administrative and economic hub of Etsako West local government and Edo North have for years relied mostly on itinerant water hawkers and commercial tankers to source water for both domestic and other uses.  The situation is even worsened by the total collapse of the public water scheme in the city.  The intervention agency Under the  leadership of Engr Saliu Ahmed, himself an illustrious son of Auchi community,  BORDA has taken some proactive interventionist steps to tackle the protracted acute water shortage problem in the ancient town.   The project is already on the verge of  taken off with the award of the  contract.  On complete, the project is expected to generate employment both indirectly ...

By DADA AYOKHAI Edo State governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki is presently contemplating  the next  line of action his administration would take on the twin issue of redundancy and over staffing in some local government areas in Edo North senatorial district of the state.  Governor Godwin Obaseki made the observation while addressing PDP  Leaders  across Edo north district during an enlarged Leaders meeting  of the party  in jattu, Etsako West local government.  Governor Obaseki attributed the  slow pace of development witnessed  in some of the  local governments in  Edo north to  overstaffing leading to redundancy . ,He said"Elucidating the rationale behind the slow pace of development in some local government, the Governor expressed shock over some underpopulated local government in Edo North being over staffed with redundant workers as against Oredo, which is overpopulated with lesser number of staff, and very ...

By DADA AYOKHAI The management and staff of Edo State Public Works Volunteers Scheme (PUWOV) has formerly tender unreserved apologies to the person of the former Edo State Attorney General, Dr. OSAGIE Obayuwana and  the entire Civil society family in Edo State over the Monday 31st,May,2021 encounter between some PUWOV members and the activists at the New benin axis of the state capital. In a statement issued by the coordinator, Edo State Public Works Volunteers scheme (PUWOV), MUKHTAR YUSUF-OSAGIE, the government agency said "our attention has been drawn to a video clip trending on the social media wherein some of our officials were involved in an encounter with some Civil Society Actors and Human Rights Activists( Edo State branch)who were on a protest March at the new Benin area of Benin-city." MUKHTAR YUSUF-OSAGIE further said " as a very responsible Agency of government in resonance with Mr Governor's belief in the Rule of Law and respect for citizens...

By DADA AYOKHAI The recent appointment of Hon Osaigbovo Iyoha, an Edo South person, as the Chief of Staff by the state governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki has continued to receive condemnation across the state over what the people considered as insensitive of the governor to other districts in the state.    Governor Obaseki recently breached the unofficial arrangements in the appointment of key officers of his cabinet by appointing an Edo South as secretary to the State Government and the Chief of Staff. The abnormality of having one Senatorial district holding the 3 key offices in the government's kitchen cabinet was started and ends with former governor Lucky Igbinedion. During the short term of office by former Osubor Osarieme, who hails from Edo Central District, the SSG and Chief of Staff were from Edo Central and South respectively.  During the 8years of comrade Adams Oshiomhole as governor, the existing protocol of accommodating two senatorial district started ...