Borderline News 24

By DADA AYOKHAI The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter of the Nigerian Scout Association has appointed Mr Abdulwajid Obomeghie as Assistant Commissioner in charge of Media and Publicity, ASHQ Mr Obomeghie's appointment was made known by the head of the Scout Council in the FCT, Dr G. B. Omonigho JP, via a letter to SEC members of the Council. With his appointment, Mr Obomeghie is expected to serve as a  member of the newly constituted Media and Publicity unit of the Scout Council. The Scout movement is a worldwide paramilitary outfit which helps to expose, nurture and teach young people the virtues of discipline, character molding, a goal - oriented and focused life.  Mr Obomeghie, a media consultant  is expected to drive the new communication policy of the Scout Council and to help publicise its activities within the FCT and beyond. As a renowned member of the Scout movement, having joined way back in 1974 in Auchi, Mr Obomeghie's appointment is seen as ...

By DADA AYOKHAI A student union activist,Mr Iyeomoan Emmanuel Ehizogie, has advocated for a greater Students' participation in decision-making in tertiary institutions in the country. Ehizogie, who make the remarks in a declarative statement in Benin City said such participation includes paying more attention to students' voices as a   way to promote a harmonious learning environment and enhance students-management relationship in Nigerian campuses.   The Student Union presidential aspirant who is a  former, graduate of Economics from the University of Benin and currently a Law Student at the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma Edo State,.   The Student Union presidential aspirant a graduate of Economics from the University of Benin and currently a Law Student at the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma Edo State, noted that  incessant and prolonged strike actions by workers in academic institutions is  the failure to involve students at every level...

By DADA AYOKHAI The Okpella people from Etsako East local government area of Edo state are at present on a mourning mood over the gruesome murder  of their son, Major General Hussaini Ahmed. The late Army General was the former Provost Marshall of the Nigerian Army during the tenure of former Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt General Tukur Yusuf, who was killed  by suspected bandits around Abaji, along the Lokoja - Abuja highway.   The late army general is said to have attended the burial of one of his cousins in Okpella  and was heading back to his duty post in Abuja, along with his driver and in-law, when the gunmen sprang from the bush and accosted them.   Some erroneous reports have suddenly appeared in public domain claiming the late army general was of northern origin.  According to Hon Momoh Armiyau aka Mbakwe , the former chairman of Etsako East local government area, said the late army general is from Awuyemi Okpella. "He is my cousin"...

By DADA AYOKHAI  The Edo State governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has felicitated with Shaka Momodu for being appointed as Editor of the ThisDay Newspapers. He also felicitated with  two other journalists from Edo state, Mr. Davidson Iriekpen  and Mr. Abiodun Eromosele  who  got elevated  as Editors,ThisDay  Saturday and Group Business of the newspaper. The management of ThisDay Newspapers recently announced series of appointments which saw Auchi born Shaka Momodu emerging as Editor of This Day Newspapers. The duo of Davidson Iriekpen and Abiodun Eromosele from Owan East and Esan  West local government area of Edo State were promoted as Editor of THISDAY, the Sunday Newspaper and Mr. Abiodun Eromosele as the newspaper's Group Business Editor. The Governor in a statement said " The promotion of Momodu, Iriekpen and Eromosele is a testament to the Edo spirit of hard work, diligence and excellence.  "We are proud of their attainment, as th...

By DADA AYOKHAI Five suspected kidnappers were, on Sunday, set ablaze by angry youths along the Afuze-Uokha road in Owan west LGA of Edo state. The suspects were said to have attacked and abducted some travellers along the road and taken them inside a nearby forest. However, luck reportedly ran out of the kidnappers, as they were arrested by vigilantes who brought them out of the forest. According to NAN, the youths, on sighting the suspects, seized them from the vigilantes and burnt them to death. The suspected kidnappers were said to have taken the travellers into the bush, without knowing that the vigilantes, who had gotten wind of the incident, were on their trail. “The kidnappers would have been contacting the families of the abducted travellers to ask for ransom if not for the bravery of the vigilantes, while residents, who were fed up with the criminal activities of these kidnappers, set them on fire and left them to get burnt to death,” a source said. Bello Kontongs...

By DADA AYOKHAI  Like a dutiful wife, justice Hassana Garuba, rekindled memories of the love that existed between her and her late hubby, Hon Zakawanu Garuba, a year after he was snatched by the cold hands of death.  In a touching one year tribute, in which she paid glowing tributes to her late hubby, justice Garuba, recounted how their shared ideal of a happy home flowered despite the odds and likened his sudden demise to the "flight of joy".  July 17, 2021, marked exactly one year Hon Zakawanu Garuba, former Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, died.  In an emotion laden advert to mark his one year remembrance, Justice Hussaina Garuba recalled the beautiful moments they shared together and how his death left a huge vacuum yet to be filled.  Until his death, Hon Zak, as he was fondly called by friends and associates, served as a commissioner in the Security and Exchanges Commission, SEC.  He was also a first class Auchi citizen as well as a ...

Iduozee Paul, Benin The National Rural Institution for Gender and Youth Coordinator of LIFE-ND Project, Dr. Celement Uwem, said the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Federal Government and the Edo State Government is to train a total of 4200 youths and women on various skills and trades to make them self-reliance in life. Dr. Celement Uwem, made the statements at a one day worshop for stakeholders on Agricultural Development Programme on the Policy Engagement meeting on Agricultural Extension Service Delivery for Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise in the Niger Delta, LIFE-ND Project, Edo State Project Coordinating Office, Benin city. Dr.  Uwem said:" the essence of this ADP policy dialogue is to engage the Agriculture Development Programme. In our work in LIFE-ND. LIFE-ND means; Livelihoods Improvement Family Enterprises in the Niger Delta. " "This programme is funded by Internatiinal Fund for  Agricultural Developm...

By DADA AYOKHAI Hard times awaits local government workers in Edo North with the prospect of a bleak Sallah festivity due to the policy of half salary adopted by the various council areas in the senatorial district. Many of the affected council workers, majority of them Muslims expecting to celebrate the Sallah festivity in grand style with their family and friends, have been forced to scale down.    Checks by our roving reporter shows that all the six  local government areas in Edo North district are said to be deeply involved in the payment of  per cent of their workers' monthly salary.   This policy, according to some of the affected workers who spoke on conditions of anonymities, started with the shortfall in federal allocations and has been going on for more than a year now.  Though quite embarrassing and nightmarish, the workers said they are hopeless about the situation, stressing that their umbrella union, NULGE, is even more confus...

By DADA AYOKHAI More facts have emerged concerning the controversy surrounding the 300 km Lawani Street, Igarra, Akoko Edo road project, with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture claiming full responsibility for its award and construction.  The ministry's response is coming at a time the said road project had provoked a row between the state government and Hon Peter Akpatason, who represents Akoko Edo constituency in the green chamber The ministry's disclosure was made public in an advert in a national daily.  It was signed by the Director of Information in the ministry, Mr Theodore Ogazichi.  "The Ministry wishes to put the records straight, and as such, states that the said road construction is not a 200m but a 300m Zonal Intervention Project (ZIP) approved in the 2020 Appropriation Act and domiciled under supervision of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development,” the statement read. The claimed of shoddy and poor quality of work done by the c...

By DADA AYOKHAI The moves  to have Auchi polytechnic Auchi converted into an university yesterday got the nod of the Senate.    The Senate on Tuesday at plenary session passed bills establishing three universities. The bills are  City university of Technology Auchi, Edo state, Federal University of Science and Technology Lau, Taraba State, and  Federal University of Agriculture and Technology, Aboh, Delta State . The passage of the bills followed the consideration and adoption of three separate reports by the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND.  The report of the Conference Committee on the establishment of City University of Technology, Auchi, Onuh said the Senate and House of Representatives met and deliberated on the two versions of the bill. According to him, it has been resolved that the harmonised version be adopted by each of the two chambers of the National Assembly for approval. (NAN) .

By DADA AYOKHAI More facts have emerged concerning the controversy surrounding the 300 km Lawani Street, Igarra, Akoko Edo road project, with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture claiming full responsibility for its award and construction.  The ministry's response is coming at a time the said road project had provoked a row between the state government and Hon Peter Akpatason, who represents Akoko Edo constituency in the green chamber The ministry's disclosure was made public in an advert in a national daily.  It was signed by the Director of Information in the ministry, Mr Theodore Ogazichi.  "The Ministry wishes to put the records straight, and as such, states that the said road construction is not a 200m but a 300m Zonal Intervention Project (ZIP) approved in the 2020 Appropriation Act and domiciled under supervision of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development,” the statement read. The claimed of shoddy and poor quality of work done by the c...

By DADA AYOKHAI The  Benin Solidarity Movement (BSM) worldwide has accused the  Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin  Obaseki of  stopping the monthly stipend due to  Traditional Rulers  in the state. The action according to the body, the monthly stipend has vigorously affected the payment of the salaries of workers in the employment of the Traditional Rulers. The body made the disclosure in a Press statement signed by its  president, world wide  Curtis Eghosa Ugbo,. According to Curtis Ugbo "Godwin Obaseki's directive to the Local Government Councils, stopping them from paying the Traditional Rulers' stipends easy seen by the Benin Solidarity Movement (BSM) as a way of confronting the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Omo N'Oba N'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare11 N'Ogidigan, a fallout of the ongoing issue of Benin Artefacts ownership and control." "This is a Federal Government monetary allocations coming directly to the Various Traditional C...

By DADA AYOKHAI Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has vowed never to return to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as being rumoured rather remains in PDP. Governor Obaseki was a member of the APC where he won the election to become a governor  but was denied a return ticket in 2020. He  join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) where he got the ticket to vie and won the election for a second term as Edo state governor. Obaseki, who spoke in Abuja on Monday in the backdrop of the exodus of governors elected on the platform of the PDP to the APC, insisted that he would not join the defection train. But Obaseki described rumours getting the rounds that he intended to return to the APC as laughable, adding that he is committed to serving the people under the “stable, people-oriented and democratic structure” of the PDP. The Edo Governor, who is the Chairman of PDP’s e-registration exercise, declared his commitment and strong belief in the PDP as a party that holds the s...

By DADA AYOKHAI The Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has ordered that no one, whether in government or acting independently should engage in “disrespectful exchanges” with the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, over stolen artefacts. This was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday by the Secretary to the Edo State Government, Osarodion Ogie. Obaseki was reacting to a statement issued by the Oba of Benin asking the Federal Government to temporarily take custody of 1,130 stolen Benin artefacts that are about to be repatriated from Europe. The monarch had earlier said, following a statement issued by the Edo State Government which revealed that a “transformational” museum would be built in Benin to house the artefacts upon their return, the rightful destination of the artefacts should be the Benin Royal Museum. Edo government in the statement issued on Monday allayed fears of a conflict between the state government and the Oba of Benin, adding that Governor Obaseki will maintai...

By DADA AYOKHAI The Hon member representing Owan federal constituency at the National Assembly, Prof Julius Ihonvbere has tabled a bill at the floor of the House for the establishment of a  School of Nursing and Midwifery at  Sobe, Owan West local government area of  Edo State. The bill recently scaled through the first reading at the floor of the House of Representatives. According to Prof Ihonvbere, the  motive of sponsoring the Bill centered on the need to help mitigate the high maternal and infant mortality rates in Edo State and Nigeria by extension. The lawmaker also said the emergence of covid-19 pandemic seriously exposed the lack of adequate medical personnel in the health institutions. He maintained that he is especially elated at the Bill passing through the first hurdle towards becoming a law and hopes that the Second and Third reading stages will be passed before the end of the year as he foresees the establishment of the school of Nursing br...

By DADA AYOKHAI A group on the aegis of South-South Pressure Group, yesterday, called on Nigerians to rally round the governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello for presidency come 2023 if the nation must move forward just as it says those calling for the zoning of the presidential slot are doing so for their selfish reasons. Speaking during a large meeting held in Benin City, president of the group, Comrade..... said, the nation at this dire moment, needs a ditribilize Nigerian that can unite the country and that the man who is best for the job is Yahaya Bello. "We have identified Governor Yahaha Bello as someone with sound mind, great capacity and competence, wide reach, a bridge between the Moslem & Christian, Elites & Grassroot, North & South to take up the mantle of Leadership in 2023. Our position is devoid of ethnicity, religion or social class, as all we want is a developed and united Nigeria", he said. .... noted that the youth have decided to take ...

By DADA AYOKHAI   The Edo State government recent announcement made by the deputy governor of the state, Hon Philip Shaibu, in which he conveyed the decision of the state government to take over the reconstruction of Lawani road in Igarra, Akoko Edo council area has continued to generate mixed reactions in the local government. The state decision seems to have raised serious concerns among the people about the genuineness behind the move, particularly against the backdrop of funds paucity and its failed promises to deliver on similar roads in the locality.  Some of the Akoko Edo leaders who spoke under anonymities pointed to the fact that the state government, which has so far failed to either formally flags off or resumes meaningful reconstruction work on the numerous deplorable roads in Akoko Edo, is quick to take over the reconstruction of Lawani road on the basis of a  social media post so as to score cheap political points. In his reaction, the PDP Senato...

By DADA AYOKHAI The Benin Monarch, Oba Ewuare II, has rejected the possibility of handing over of the stolen historical Benin artefacts to any other organization, individuals or agency of whatever guise. The Monarch made this declaration at a world press conference addressed in his Palace grounds on Friday. The State Government was planning to set up what it called Edo Museum of West African Arts (EMOWAA), using Legacy Restoration Trust Ltd as vehicle to receive the stolen artifacts. It is pertinent to note that the move by the State Government could set it on collision with the Benin Palace. Oba Ewuare, while rejecting the move, noted that demands for the stolen items predates the emergence of this administration. He called on the Federal Government to take custody of these artifacts on behalf of the Palace until the Benin Royal Museum is ready for their collection, even as he warned that under no circumstances should custody of the artifacts be handed to any privately-con...

By DADA AYOKHAI The member representing Owan Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Prof Julius Ihonvbere in conjunction with the Taipei Trade and Investment Office in Nigeria has concluded arrangements to rebuild the Oke Old Community market in Owan West local government area. The Oke _ Old market  was  abandoned for several years after a wind storm  blew off the roofs of what was left of the dilapidated stores.  Prof ihonvbere plan was disclosed through a press statement signed by the media aide, Comrade Joshua iraoya .  According to the statement, the rebuilding of the modern market is part of Prof ihonvbere commitment to addressed   the plight of Owan Federal Constituency which he represents at the National Assembly. The statement further said "In pursuit of fulfilment of his campaign promise,Prof Ihonvbere who is Chairman House Committee on Basic Education remains concerned about the state of markets in the Constituency....

By DADA AYOKHAI The Edo State House of Assembly, EDSHA, has defied all known transparency process in  engagement of staff  to secretly employed more than 100 additional workers amidst claims of overstaffing. Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, had, at several foras in the past, canvassed for transparency in employment of staff into the state  workforce.  However, the assembly, in flagrant mockery of the standing orders by the state government, threw caution to the winds and embarked on a job bazaar. At the end of the job bazaar exercise, the already bloated assembly workforce had swollen by an additional 100 workers, many of them secretly employed. Most of the newly recruited workers recently besieged the Assembly's Commission office at the Government House in Benin, to undergo the ritual of biometrics.  Before now, the state government had  lamented that one of the reasons why it had found it so difficult to grant full autonomy to  the ...

By DADA AYOKHAI The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South _ South zone of Nigeria  has called on the National Assembly to retain the electronic transmission of results as originally contained in  the electoral act. Chief Dan Orbih, National Vice Chairman, South South of the party, made the call on Wednesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin. He was reacting to the purported removal of the clause from the Act currently being amended by the National Assembly. ``Nigerians should resist the removal of electronic transmission of election results during elections from the electoral Act because it is an invitation to unending electoral fraud.’’ Orbih noted that the introduction of electronic  transmission of election results during elections from the polling units to the collation centres was conceived by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove result manipulation during elections. He noted that the initiative was well...

By DADA AYOKHAI The Edo State Government has taken over the construction of the Lawani Crescent Road project in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of the state. The action of the state government followed a viral video online exposing the poorly executed Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency Road project, sponsored by Deputy Majority Leader, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Peter O. Akpatason through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. During inspection of the project site, representative of the Governor and Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, said the state has maintained a standard in execution of road projects across the state, describing the project in Akoko-Edo as substandard. The governor ordered for the arrest of the contractor handling the project, while urging the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to immediately commence investigations by inviting Hon. Akpatason, the f...

   By DADA AYOKHAI Nigeria’s foremost environmental rights group, the Environmental Rights Action/ Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/ FoEN), yesterday rejected the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) as passed by the National Assembly and called on both chambers of the National Assembly to immediately harmonize and produce an environmentally friendly and peoples oriented bill. The Executive Director of ERA/FoEN, Dr. Godwin Uyi Ojo In a press statement he signed and made available to newsmen in Benin City, Edo State said, the National Assembly failed to do justice to the bill which has been pending since 2008. Dr. Uyi Ojo, queried “why would the members of the National Assembly approve a paltry three percent for the host communities in the Host Communities Trust Fund, saying it’s way below the bar and constitutes an affront to the suffering rural communities.” Also, ERA/FoEN wants the law to make provision for allocation of the 30 percent frontier oil explo...

By DADA AYOKHAI   An elderly man from Igarra in Akoko-Edo, Edo State, his son-in-law and a yet to be identified third person have been reportedly abducted near Lampese  in Akoko Edo a  border area between Edo and Kogi States. The elderly man, Aminu Ibrahim, was said to have been sent by his family to settle a marriage dispute between their daughter and her husband in Yamoya near Kabba, Kogi State, and was returning with his son-in-law when they were kidnapped by gunmen who are said to be demanding N30 million ransom for their release. A family source who does not want her name in print has, however, said that, as of Monday morning, the kidnappers have reduced their demand to one million per person. ‘The last time we spoke to him was when he said they were told by the popular Total [petrol station] in Okene that they would soon continue their journey to Igarra which is about 40 minutes. ‘Shortly after that, his phone was no longer going. Initially, my husband s...

By DADA AYOKHAI Concerned indigenes  of Ikabigbo Community, uzairue clan, in Etsako West local government of Edo state have appealed to the Inspector General of Police, Baba Alkali Usman, to investigates  the circumstances sourounding   the death of their son, Sergt Zekeri Bilal Dauda, serving at the Edo state Police command Headquarters, Benin City. Sergt Zekeri attached to Criminal Investigation Department (CID) went on official duty with his colleagues last Saturday, 3rd July, but reportedly died in an accident on the Benin-Auchi by-pass. Addressing journalists in Benin yesterday on behalf of the community, Hon Zibiri Mohammed , the immediate Past Secretary to Etsako west local government, said his colleagues at the command  called the family members on Saturday night that Zekeri died in accident during official duty on Benin-Auchi by-pass.   "We mobilized to the station and met the three other officers whom they went on the official  du...

By DADA AYOKHAI The Edo State deputy governor, comrade Philip Shaibu said his wearing of khaki is not a way to emulate his estranged godfather and the Edo former governor, comrade Adams Oshiomole. The deputy governor statement is an extract from the interview granted to one of the national dailies. He said : "My putting on khaki most times was not because the former governor was doing the samething. Wearing khaki was out of my conviction to be an activist. I started putting on khaki from secondary school through to university."  "Even during one of my tribunal cases, when the issue of my certificate was in question, one of the representatives of my secondary school, Sardauna Memorial College, Kaduna gave testimony in the court of how I led students against the school authority which earned me a suspension.  "A teacher had injured one of the students while beating him and I felt that such treatment was wrong so I led a protest against the school." ...

By DADA AYOKHAI  Operatives of Ehor Division of Edo State Police Command, have rescued nine travellers who were reportedly kidnapped Sunday morning, at Igieduma village, along Benin/Auchi road. The rescue operation was carried out in collaboration with operatives of other security agencies and the local vigilante group. The Command Spokesman, SP Kontongs Bello, disclosed this in a statement issued Sunday evening. He said the victims, three males and six females, were traveling from Auchi to Benin, in a white-colored 14-seater Toyota Hiace bus with registration number XA 525 KRF, when they were intercepted at about 7.30 am, by the hoodlums suspected to be kidnappers. He added that the bus which belongs to a private company, was driven by 40-year-old Karimu Momoh. Bello said: “On receipt of the information, the  DPO Ehor Division, CSP Benafa Benjamin immediately swung into action, mobilized his team of  Police operatives from Ehor Division of Edo State Police Co...

By DADA AYOKHAI Some yet to be identified gunmen have reportedly shot dead a member of Edo State Security Network, simply identified as Endurance. The tragic incident occurred on Saturday evening at Ologbotsere Street, off Benin Technical College Road, in Egor Local Government Area of the state. The victim was said to have been trailed by his assailants to a betting shop, and shot at close range. Other stakers at the shop and passersby reportedly scampered for safety, as the gunmen fired shots at the Vigilante repeatedly. An eyewitness who who did not want to be named, told journalists that the gunmen who numbered about six, stormed the scene of the incident in a Mercedes-Benz 4matic saloon and a Toyota Camry cars. It was gathered that the remains of the vigilance group member was later evacuated by operatives of the police division in the area. It would be recalled that gunmen suspected to be cultists also shot dead a final year student of University of Benin (UNIBEN), Aug...

By DADA AYOKHAI The Edo State deputy Governor, comrade Philip Shaibu said the battle between him and his estranged political godfather, comrade Adams Oshiomhole was purely political and not  personal . Comrade Shaibu made the clarification during  an interview with a national daily. He said, " I never had a personal battle with Oshiomhole and I don’t intend to have one with him. We only had political differences and we both fought in opposing camps. We will all recall that Oshiomhole was oppressed when he was governor of Edo State and I was one of those who fought for him. I was injured and had a knee cap replacement due to the injury I sustained.I still have scars on my body as a result of those fights.  "All those fights were to ensure he survived the five impeachment moves against him. " In fact, the last one was very close. We fought to a level that we had to remove the roof of the State House of Assembly and relocate the parliament to the Government Hous...