Borderline News 24

By DADA AYOKHAI People of Ogbonna Community in Etsako Central, yesterday, protested the wanton destructions of their farm crops by Fulani herdsmen. The protesters, who brandished placards that read thus "Fulani herdsmen stay away from our farms, our dialogue with herdsmen proves abortive, we have no farms to run to, Fulani herdsmen, where are Ogbonna Community cassava, yams, maize, vegetables and cash crops?" marched to the state government house to express their displeasure. Addressing newsmen in Benin, spokeperson for the group, Chief Vincent Usoh, said the major occupation of the people of Ogbonna Community is farming but,  at the moment, their livelihood is being threatened due to the unbridled activities of  Fulani herdsmen. "Predominantly, majority of our people are farmers and for sometime now, the Fulani herdsmen have been invading and ravaging our farm lands and even the lands have been degraded", he said. Usoh said for them not to take laws int...

By DADA AYOKHAI  The National Assembly  has provided the needed arsenal for the electorates  who may want to engage in the laborious activity of gauging the performance  of their respective lawmakers. A recent report published by the management of the 9th National Assembly may have indirectly indicted some federal lawmakers for dismal performance(s) in sponsorship of bills which is the bedrock of of a legislative House. The report, for instance, shows that Hon Peter Akpatason, who represents Akoko Edo federal constituency of Edo State, only succeeded in  sponsoring two bills within the last 10 years of his membership of the House Hon Akpatason is the deputy majority leader in the green chamber, a principal officer of the House.  The publication, tagged "Order Paper, NASS  Mid Term Report", gives a concise and clear breakdown of the number of bills   sponsored by each honourable member of the national assembly, on a state - by - st...

By DADA AYOKHAI      High profile musician, Sir Victor Uwaifo yesterday died at the age of 80 years In Benin City, Edo State The Professor Visual Arts University of Benin, whose tracks “Joromi” and “Mammy Water” were hits till his demise, was a multi instrumentalist and well as a renowned virtual artist. One of his children, Uwaifo Peter de Rock, broke the news of the demise of the Professor of Visual Arts, University of Benin, UNIBEN, on his Facebook page, on Saturday evening. While Peter did not disclose the cause of the death of his late father, he nevertheless, expressed anguish at the passing of the music star. “Daddy. Why Did you leave us now. Prof sir Victor UWAIFO has gone to rest. Black Saturday for me now”, the young Uwaifo wrote with 34 sad emoji. “One week now after collaborating with me”, the distraught Peter added. The legendary musicologist served as Commissioner for Arts and Culture under the governorship of Lucky Igbinedion. A First Class grad...

By DADA AYOKHAI A former Senator who represented Edo North Senatorial District at the 6th National Assembly, Senator Yisa Braimoh has cried out over the continuing marginalization of  Owan and Akoko-Edo clans in party-allotted positions in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo North. Senator Braimoh who expressed displeasure over the way the clans  have  been schemed out of political positions in the state, also opined that the next PDP national convention hopefully slated for October/November should be used to correct the anomalies by ensuring that whatever PDP national position is zoned to Edo North is filled by candidates from either the Owan or Akoko Edo clans. The former senator expressed the resentment in a press statement issued yesterday in Abuja and personally signed by him. According to Senator Braimoh who is of Owan extraction in Edo North district, “all the party positions allotted to Edo North have been taken over by the PDP members in the Ets...

By DADA AYOKHAI The Edo State  government, yesterday said plans have reached a feverish stage to establish forestry protection force to fight banditary across the State forest reserves, which have illegally converted as bases for kidnappings and other nefarious activities. Governor Godwin Obaseki revealed this while flagging-off 10 million tree planting programme at Upper Sokponba forest reserve in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of the State. He said the initiative would help to keep the forest and our land safe by ensuring  that bandits cannot use the forest as bases to foster criminality with the support of forest guards, security agencies, Edo State Vigilante Network. According to him, "Along with our forest regeneration drive, we also want to keep our forest and our land safe. With your support and all other security agencies in the State, we will be reestablishing a forestry protection force to ensure that bandits cannot use our forest as bases to foster cri...

By DADA AYOKHAI  In the face of the daunting challenges facing Fugar community and the loud silence of their male folks, Fugar women have gone spiritual in the search of solutions.  A spoke person for the Fugar women disclosed that their resort to seek divine intervention to the myriad of problems confronting the community was borne out of the realisation that the fate of Fugar is one that defies human comprehension.   Fugar women, bemoaning the string of ill luck that befell  the community, traced the source of their worries to the abject neglect of the community by successive   governments administrations which led to the collapse of the local economy, the diversion of critical projects earlier earmarked for Fugar to other places and, of recent, the menace of Fulani herdsmen who have now laid a siege on the community thereby preventing indigenes from going to their farms.  Speaking in their local dialect, in a viral video, the group ...

By DADA AYOKHAI  The Managing Director, Benin-Owena River Basin Development Authority, Engineer Ahmed Saliu,  said he was happy that the partnership with the University of Benin (UNIBEN) especially in setting up a joint Analytical Laboratory at the Faculty of Life Sciences, has yielded the desired results in the quality of graduates being produced by the Faculty. He said this when he paid a courtesy call on the management of the University of Benin. Engr. Saliu promised that within one month, the agency would provide a new borehole with an overhead storage tanks which would be connected to the Laboratory building of the institution. Describing the University of Benin as a great resource base, Engineer Saliu asked for more collaborations in the area of agriculture in order to successfully key into the federal government’s shift of focus from oil to agriculture. Saliu, who is an alumnus of the University, praised the Vice Chancellor for achieving so much in such a sh...

By DADA AYOKHAI The Edo State Government has restricted mass gatherings across the state in a bid to curtail the COVID-19 pandemic. Governor Godwin Obaseki disclosed this while flagging off the second phase of the COVID-19 vaccination exercise on Monday. “Beginning from the second week of September 2021, large gatherings, as well as high traffic public and private places will only be accessed by persons who have proof of taking at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccination. People who have not yet been vaccinated at all will depend on remote access to these gatherings,” he said during the event held at the Government House in Benin City. “From the second week of September people may not be allowed to worship in churches and mosques without showing proof of their vaccination cards at the gates. Similarly, people will not be allowed to event centers, receptions or parties, without showing proof of their vaccination cards. “People will not be allowed to access banking services fro...

By DADA AYOKHAI The visible absence of Owan East PDP chairman, Mr Leslie Ebosojie, at the meeting between Gov Godwin Obaseki and stakeholders and leaders, during the latter's recent  tour of the local government caused a major political stir.  The closed door meeting, held in Afuze, as part of the governor's tour of duty of PDP chapters in the 18 local government areas in the state, afforded him the chance to rub minds with the grassroot party leaders on a broad range of party issues, including the party's e - registration exercise and others.  But speculations that the party's Owan East local government was deliberately sidelined became rife A top party leader who spoke under the cloak of anonymity, disclosed that the chapter chairman was privy to the meeting, noting he was assigned with the responsibility of compiling the list of attendees and wondered how he was not invited,  However, the chapter chairman, Mr Leslie Ebosojie, in a telephone chat  ...

By DADA AYOKHAI For the first time in more than a decade, the chances of an Edo North indigene nicking the plum post of Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, looks dimmer than ever.  This is so because the few applicants from the senatorial district which is also the immediate catchment area of the institution, have failed to scale the screening hurdles to fill the post of Rector which became vacant as a result of the death of the former Rector, Dr Sanusi Jimah.  Late Dr Jimah hailed from Auchi, the host community of the school. He was midway into his second tenure when he passed on.  Dr Jimah's  predecessor, Dr (Mrs)  .Philipa Idogho also of Edo North extraction, hailed from Fugar, Etsako Central council area.   Credible sources said  Edo North will not have the luxury of having someone from the zone presiding over the affairs of the school, as Rector. The institution's governing council is handling the screening exercise Further ...

By DADA AYOKHAI Against the strain of the growing clamour for the conduct of fresh council polls to fill the vacant political offices in Edo State, Gov Godwin Obaseki has declared there won't be any such election any time soon.  This stance must have taken the wind out of those pushing for an early conduct of council polls in Edo State  Governor Obaseki, made the disclosure in Owan East, Edo North district, during a closed door meeting with some selected party leaders and members of the Peoples Democratic Party in the axis.  He was in Owan East in continuation of his tour of the local government chapters of the party.  Addressing the patty leaders, the governor submitted that the councils, as presently constituted, are in a very unhealthy financial state and unable to meet their obligations as a result of a huge debt overhang to the tune of over N58bn.  Most of the debts, he added, were incurred from various sources but principally from the backlog o...

By DADA AYOKHAI The former  Senator who  represented  Edo north district  at the 6th Senate, Senator Yisa Braimoh said PDP will take over  Federal power come 2023. Senator Braimoh made the statement during  an interview in Abuja during the inauguration of  former PDP Non Serving Senators Forum. According to him " the spiral return of PDP to power at the centre come 2023  will be based on  the ability of “ the party to aptly engage all provisions of its conflict resolution mechanisms and thereafter successfully manage the emerging leadership  problems at the PDP NWC, to avoid imminent implosion within the party" The PDP National leader of the Owan clan  extraction in Edo north further said "However a new and heightened apathy against the ruling APC Government will soon envelope the country nationwide , leaving all doors wide open for a reformed PDP to grab power  at abuja again". " And with the newly inaugurated PDP ...

By DADA AYOKHAI Senator  Bukola Saraki , former Senate President exchanging pleasantries with Distinguished Senator YISA Braimoh and Senator Mohd Sanusi Dagash at the inuagural meeting of NON SERVING PDP SENATORS FORUM at the Abuja Transcorp Hilton today 

By DADA AYOKHAI The quest as to who represents Edo North in the Senate come 2023 is taking a new dimension following the declaration of interest by the Owans to present a consensus candidate for the slot.  The senatorial seat for the district is expected to become vacant in 2023. The  present occupant, Sen Francis Alimikhena, is from Etsako and his eight year tenure will terminate by 2023 . Power shift  according to the Senator Braimoh should shift to another axis in the zone, in the spirit of the fairness and Inclusiveness among the 3 clans that makes up the axis. Sen Yisa Braimoh , the National Leader of PDP for Owan East and Owan Weat LGA’s , dropped the hints of the resolve by the Owans to field a consensus candidate in the race for the district's sole senatorial ticket in 2023 during an interview marking his 79th birthday anniversary.  He added, however, that they intend to do so under the PDP banner, submitting that it is a sign of their...

By DADA AYOKHAI  The Abuja residence of the former Senator representing Edo North at the national Assembly, Senator Yisa Braimoh was beseeched with prominent Edolites across the state  to felicitate  with him on his 79th birthday. Among the early callers at  the Braimoh's house  was the Majority Leader, House of representatives, Col Tunde Akogun, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, founder Ray Power/AIT and other political class across the states. One of the highlights of the quiet celebration was the display of a  designer cake with the traditional SYB Cap associated with the Senator which got the attention and admirations of guests. The birthday cake  was said to be a birthday gift by the celebrant's  children.  Senator Braimoh had earlier as part of the celebration, visited, shared fellowships and prayers with inmates of orphanage homes across Edo North.  The highly revered Senator who is first Senat...

By DADA AYOKHAI  The  Seriki Muslumi of AfenmaiLand ,Senator Yisa Braimoh has decried the continued marginalization within Edo North Senatorial District and called for a power shift to give the senatorial district a sense of belonging. Senator Braimoh opined that such political shift will help in assuaging the dissatisfaction of majority of the people of Owan and Akoko Edo clans over perceived and real marginalization of the zone .   The former Senator, who represented the district in the National Assembly between 2003 and 2007, appealed to H.E. Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, Comrade Deputy Governor of Edo State and the Etsako speaking people in the senatorial district to concede the Senate Seat 2023 and support the Owans or the Akoko-Edos in producing the next senator for the district .The Senator made the appeal yesterday while addressing a world press conference as part of the anniversary to mark his 79 years birthday at his country home in Ihievb...

By DADA AYOKHAI On the surface, the just  concluded All Progressives Congress (APC) nationwide ward Congresses appeared like an academic exercise but in actual political terms, it was a warfare without an exchange of gunshots. The ward Congresses was meant to elect those who will run the affairs of the party at the various ward levels. Beneath the facade, however, the Congress provided ample opportunity for the politicians to test their grassroot appeal, popularity and influence.  In Edo North, it was, indeed, a straight fight among the political gladiators to determine who controls the party structure in the senatorial district. At the end of the exercise, two top notch APC leaders in the district, Hon Momoh Abubakar and Peter Akpatason  were able to have relied heavily on their political clout and reach to overwhelm their opponents and plant their loyalists in vantage positions in those wards where they expect to reap bountiful political gains in the nearest...

By DADA AYOKHAI   Oba of Benin welcomes quadruplets with fifth wife Oba Ewuare II, the Benin monarch, has welcomed quadruplets with Esosa Ewuare, his fifth wife. The state traditional council broke the news in a statement on Friday amid jubilant guests while at his palace in Benin city, Edo state. According to the statement, the quadruplets are three males and a female. It added that the mother and babies are in excellent health. In the statement, the monarch also paid tribute to his creator and the ancestors for the new infants. Ohen-Osa Igbinoghodua Edebiri, the presiding priest of Holy Aruosa Church, the oldest West African Church, while congratulating the monarch, prayed for wisdom and guidance for the newborns. It was gathered that a brief ceremony, which followed the announcement, coincided with the visit of the national executives of Immaculate Conception College (ICC), Benin city, which is the alma-mater of the monarch. The mother of the quadruplets is the young...

By DADA AYOKHAI Fresh succession crisis which may in no distant future disrupt the prevailing peace and cordiality in Ayogwiri community, seems to be rearing its ugly head unless those concerned move swiftly to stem the tide.. Ayogwiri community is under Uzairue clan in Etsako West council area.  Presently, the hitherto peaceful community,  is faced with the dilemma of which of the two opposing versions of the history as regards the ruling family with the right of ascension to the revered throne of village head.  The fire over who is the rightful occupant to the throne was at stoked via two separate historical books authored by two prominent sons of the community, both of whom are co- incidentally from the same lineage.    The two separate publications which stirred the controversy over the right to ascension to the royal stool was written by Prof U. M. O Ivowi and Sir Oyaseh Ivowi.  However, both publications contain some contentious historical...

By DADA AYOKHAI The recent ward Congress held across Etsako federal constituency has brought out the facts that the Hon Johnson Oghuma, is not in touch with his party members both in his local government and Etsako federal constituency. Hon Johnson Oghuma is a second term member representing Etsako federal constituency at the house of representatives.   In the political scene, having loyalists occupying party positions from the wards, local government and the state level usually determines who gets the  party slot. In the  concluded APC ward Congress in the three local governments that make up Etsako clan, none of Oghuma's preferred candidates was elected as a party exco member The most devasting news came from Etsako Central local government  where Hon Oghuma hails where he could not even win his Ward.   It was gathered that the Richard Lamai and Aloye led group over-ran  Oghuma's group to have their men  taken over the ward exco . Accordi...

By DADA AYOKHAI   Apostle Johnson Suleman, founder of Omega Fire Ministries has threatened to sue Israel Balogun over a 'miracle money' video he posted on his YouTube channel, Wholeness Africa Initiative.  Balogun, in one of his videos, condemned a miracle service organised by Suleman where the cleric was heard telling members that he would command angels to drop money into the bank accounts of those who believe. The programmes were held in Edo, Nigeria and Atlanta, USA in June and July, 2021 respectively.  In reaction,  through his  solicitors,M.S Amune & Co (Omega Chambers), sent a letter dated 27th July to Balogun demanding a retraction of the posts (video and write-ups) alongside a written apology to the minister.  They stated that Balogun's action was a case of defamation of character against Apostle Suleman whose church, Omega Fire Ministries has members in 52 countries of the world.  In the letter, Balogun's statements were descr...

By DADA AYOKHAI The recently held All Progressives Congress, APC, ward Congress in Etsako West local government area of Edo State served the dual purposes of electing new ward executives to pilot the affairs of the party for the next four years and to finally lay to rest the ghost of Mr Stephen Oshawo which has hunted the party for a greater part of the period. APC members in Etsako West will never forget in a hurry the role played by Mr Oshawo in the problems faced by Comrade Adams Oshiomole, which eventually led to his removal from office as the national chairman of the party.  Mr Oshawo capitalised on his position as the party's chairman for Ward 10 to suspend the former comrade governor from the party at the ward level. Traducers of the former comrade governor later cashed in on his suspension by his ward members to nail his political coffin.  After much agitation and strident calls for his removal as the national chairman of the party, an extraordinary Nationa...

By DADA AYOKHAI Several decades after she left the political scene, the name Senator Franca Afegbua still rings a bell in Edo North political circle.  Though there is no statue or any landmark public building named in her honour, either in Okpella, her birth place, in particular, or Edo North in general, her place in the political history of Nigeria as the first elected female senator is, however, assured. Those who were old enough in the second republic would recall how the young, dazzling and delectable lady held everyone spellbound with her rare combination of beauty and brain (BB). She did not just take the political stage by its scruples, she became the cynosure of all eyes.  Young, flamboyant, beautiful, delectable, trailblazer, fiery,  Amazon  and so on and so forth. She, indeed, was everything rolled up in one piece of elegant creation.  Even her male counterparts did not only tremble at her beauty but also got captivated by her brain - her s...