Edo State Executive Council

This Man Go Continues To Amaze Me

by with No Comment Edo State NewsFeatured NewsGeneral NewsPolitics

In 2016 , when he was yet a mere co-opted member of Edo State Executive Council as Chairman of the Economic and Strategy Team, and was propel by the then Governor Adams Oshiomhole to run as Governor, he (GO ) was never seen kneeling or lying down anywhere in Edo State to beg for votes.

Fast forward, he is Governor with full constitutional protection of Section 308 guaranteed immunity in 2020 , he goes to the palace of the Oba of Benin without bead even when his handlers manages to put on him Benin Traditional dress until he was cautioned to do so.

In desperation and amidst confusion, he goes to the well-respected Oba of Lagos with his team of desperados allies, some of which stayed under the mango tree at the last NEC meeting of the APC, groveling, prostrating, lying and kneeling down begging the Royal father to help him out in the quagmire he puts himself.

Yet, he says Edo is not Lagos!

How else can one describe a HYPOCRITE?

His case is like that of a man who has Doctors capable of curing his ailments but chose to go outside to seek assistance?

He claims the politicians who worked for him to become Governor as useless, thieves and greedy. He claims the man who bore the pains , agony, and received the bullets for his ascendancy to power in Edo has been a “bad influence” and as such ” as far as he is concerned Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is suspended and remains suspended ”

Which man in his right senses pursues the person holding his pot of destiny?

In 2016, with same Adams Oshiomhole backing him he didn’t have to run from pillar to post. Now with a monthly #500m Security Vote in a state that Kidnapping and criminality has continued to fester he is doing Town hall meetings in Lagos, London and everywhere amidst protests to his failed government.

Does anyone needs a lesson on how not to govern a people? Understudy Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State!

~ Samson Osagie

Oshiomhole-and-Buhari-at-meeting-photo

Speech By The Chairman Of Chairmen Of The All Progressives Congress (APC) On The Occasion Of A Visit To President Muhammadu Buhari On Friday December 6th, 2019

by with No Comment Featured NewsGeneral NewsPolitics

It is with great pleasure that we are here today, your Excellency, on the occasion of this August visit in the month of December, to congratulate you on your recent victory in the presidential election, which outcome was also reaffirmed by the Supreme Court, the apex court of the land.

It is our strong belief that the successes that you recorded in your first term as President must be built on and sustained so that Nigerians will enjoy the dividends of democracy, which were not provided by the PDP in its 16 years of misrule.

Regardless of what your adversaries will say about your administration, a majority of Nigerians are happy that today you have stabilised our economy; our rail system is working again; the war against corruption is on and succeeding; Boko Haram has been technically degraded and defeated.

We are aware of the pockets of violence here and there in the North East, but those monitoring events across the country, even in Europe and America, know very well that even after defeating insurgents, it is common to witness pockets of violence and attacks on soft civilian targets.

Mr President, we are proud of what God has used you to achieve in this country and that was why Nigerians voted massively for you for a second term. Congratulations once again Mr President and congratulations to our great party, the APC.

Mr President Sir, as custodians of our party at the state level, we will not fail to use this opportunity to brief you on the happenings in our states and how they affect the party. We are proud that in the last general election, our party was able to maintain our lead in the number of states, increased our numbers in the National Assembly and, above all, ensured that our party enthroned a national Assembly leadership that would work harmoniously with the party.

While we celebrate these feats, we still believe that our party can do more. Your Excellency,

Sir, we listened carefully when you spoke at the last NEC meeting, when you charged our party members to make sure they dominated their units, wards and Local Governments.

We appeal to Your Excellency, Sir, to ensure that, as chairmen, we are given board and other appointments that will empower us minimally and help us to run the party in our various states.

We appeal to you, Sir, to ensure that true APC members are given appointments because there are some of the states where PDP members were given appointment to the detriment of our people. That does not encourage our people.

Mr President, Sir, let me also express our recent worries regarding the activities of some of the governors who are undermining the efforts of the National Chairman of our great party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, to reposition the party by plotting his removal. It is more worrisome knowing full well that they are not doing this because the National Chairman is not performing his duties according to the constitution, but they are fighting him due to their 2023 presidential ambitions when it is a notorious fact that Mr President has just commenced his second term in office a few months ago.

Your Excellency, it may interest you to know, Sir, that because these governors were desperate in their bid to oust our national chairman, they even worked against our governorship candidates in Kogi and Bayelsa States so that we would lose and they would have latched on the losses as grounds to advocate for the removal of the national chairman.

It is really unfortunate, Your Excellency, that just after we won additional state in the South South, which is Bayelsa, consolidated on our hold on Kogi, these governors have been busy collecting signatures, spending our hard-earned resources in both covert and overt campaigns for the removal of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

We believe Sir that the affected governors don’t mean well for your administration because after Nigerians voted massively for Your Excellency, all hands should have been on deck to give Nigerians the desired dividends of democracy and not creating crisis where there is none.

On the watch of this National Working Committee (NWC) led by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole,

Mr President, our party ensured that true party leaders who would work in accordance with the visions and missions of Mr President were elected as leaders of the National Assembly.

Today, we are enjoying cordial relationship between the Executive and the Legislature and Nigerians are seeing the difference. These and many other achievements have been recorded under the Oshiomhole-led NWC. Therefore why will some people want to remove a winning team?

We want to appeal to Your Excellency to use your good office to call these governors to order so they will not destabilise the party. We need stability at this point and not anything that will cause distraction. And we use this opportunity to reiterate the Vote of Confidence, which we earlier passed in our National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and we appreciate Mr President for the cooperation that you have been giving to the NWC.

We thank you for granting us this audience and May the Almighty Allah bless you and bless your administration.

Long live APC!

Long live our President!

Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!

SIGNED:

HON. ALI BUKAR

Chairman of Chairmen

Godwin-Obaseki-and-Samson-Osagie

Second Term, Not Automatic For Obaseki, He Has Not Earned It, Declares Hon Samson Osagie

by with No Comment General NewsLaw & JusticePolitics

Former Minority Whip and member House of representatives and Co- Covener of the Edo Peoples Movement, Hon Samson Osagie has taken a swipe at the Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki over the latter’s boast that his second term was not negotiable.

In a statement personally signed by him in Benin City , Samson Osagie queried the Governor over the audacity he has to boastfully declare that his second term is non-negotiable and that he earned it. Hon Samson Osagie stated that Governor Obaseki has not given a good, tangible and acceptable account of his steward three into his administration.

According to the erudite Lawmaker and corporate Executive, Obaseki had merely attempted to spoil the APC brand by employing deceitful tactics to give Edo people the impression that he is performing whereas his administration is more of the more you look the less you see.

Hon Osagie noted that Obaseki didn’t need to reinvent the wheel if he had continued with the people oriented projects and programs which the administration he served as Chairman Economic Team instituted and on the strength of which he campaigned for continuity.

According to the him ” Governor Obaseki exhibited the highest degree of infidelity to Edo people and the All Progressive Congress by abandoning projects he participated in sourcing for funds for, and then turned around to blackmail the same government that started those projects. He did that because to continue the funding of those projects will not avail him the quick wins of looting Edo funds as quick as he would like, hence he resorted to all manners of intangible projects like Alaghodaro summits 1 and 2, over 25 Seminars, workshops, talkshops, conferences, trainings using his his cronies and allies from other places, over 50 foreign trips for the sole purpose of executing MoUs at great expense to the state without any tangible benefit to Edo people and the party”

So, Governor Obaseki is only dreaming to think that because he is the custodian of our collective patrimony he will intimidate us and hoodwink Edo people to shy away from giving him a run for our money he is amassing to run for second term.

Let this serve as notice to him that some of us are going to present ourselves for next year’s gubernatorial elections and by the time the array of contestants are unveiled, Edo people will not chose deceit over sincerity, rhetorics over substance and a government that has encouraged capital flight from the state over a government that will make sure the resources of the state circulates among its citizens.

For close to three years, Governor Obaseki major achievements are in a few storey buildings in the high court premises and the Secretariat. Schools infrastructures have deteriorated, standard road infrastructures are no longer carried out, drains are not desillted and erosion rendering inhabitants homeless. Obviously, this is not the APC brand of government that Comrade Adams Oshiomhole laboured to institute in Edo State. So let it be clear to Governor Obaseki and his coterie of sycophants and carpets baggers that real development will come to Edo State not by rhetorics and deceit, but by genuine and sincere implementation of existing master plans in infrastructural development and painstaking approach to provision of social services that will guarantee the welfare and security of the people. This is the only way that the massive security vote, voluminous revenues from the Federation account in various forms and the internally generated revenue can be justified. Governance is not rocket science and Obaseki cannot school in the art of good governance. We know it, Late Dr Samuel Ogbemudia gave it to old Midwest Region, Professor Ambrose Alli gave it to Bendel State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole demonstrated it in Edo, what we have now is a far cry.

Edo State deserve better than what we are getting now.

Central Hospital Project, Benin City

Re:Central Hospital Project, Benin City

by with No Comment BusinessFeatured NewsGeneral NewsPolitics

Obaseki seeking to diminish Oshiomhole’s achievements

– Hon Samson Osagie

The recent statement by the Edo State Government through one Crusoe Osagie, who doubles as the Media Adviser to Governor Obaseki on the Central Hospital Project, Benin City has elicited varied reactions as the statement contained a litany of falsehood.

Ordinarily, it would not have mattered so much for many observers of the Comrade Adams Oshiomhole led government in Edo State between 2008 and 2016, an administration in which the incumbent Governor was a integral part , been a member of the State Executive Council, which approved the award of the Contract for the supply, installation,Training and Maintenance of Hospital Equipments for the New 200 Bed, Accident and Emergency Complex of the Central Hospital, Benin City at its 267th meeting held on the 12th of January, 2016 following the recommendations of the State Tenders Board.

It is indeed a thing of regret that the state government could attempt to turn truth on its head in a matter that the Edo State House of Assembly has investigated and came out with extensive findings and far reaching recommendations.

It is important to note that the attempt to castigate the Oshiomhole administration and many of its well thought out policies and programmes by the Obaseki administration has been well orchestrated to the chagrin of many who voted for the Governor on account of the sterling performance of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as Governor of Edo State.

The Accident and Emergency Complex of the Central Hospital Benin City from available records was Constructed by A&K construction company after the contract was revoked from the initial contractor on account of the unsatisfactory work that was been done by the company. Interestingly, A&K Construction Company which completed the job has remained a contractor which the current government is still using. If there are defects in the construction work, the company still has a duty to correct them rather than attempt to create the impression that it was fraudulently carried out.

It is also on record, that from the investigation carried out by the Edo State House of Assembly and other available documents from the office of the Edo State Auditor General ,the contractor which was given the responsibility to supply the equipments had supplied equipments in excess of the seventy five percent advance payment made to it by the Edo State Government as at 2016.

To demonstrate the bad faith in which the statement was released on July 4, 2019 by the State

Government, its immediate past Commissioner of Health Dr. David Osifo had reported to the Edo State House of Assembly committee that investigated the reason why the hospital was not put to use that “the issue of how to manage the Central Hospital had not been resolved by the Edo State Government that was contemplating a Public Private Partnership(PPP) arrangement to run the centre”. This was as at December 2018. Why then is the state Government labouring to portray the project as a product of fraud?

Perhaps it is sufficient to restate the fact that the Central Hospital Project; Benin City was one of the very people oriented projects executed by the Comrade Adams Oshiomhole led administration as a mark of his deep seated commitment to provide affordable healthcare services to the people of the state and it behaves on every responsible government to pursue this social service to the people without playing politics with it.

Ironically, contrary to the intention of the Oshiomhole administration, this government has engaged a private consulting firm – Ciuci Consulting as the official operator of the New Central Hospital now called Edo Specialist Hospital. How this will serve the health needs of the people of the state in terms of cost of health service services, time will tell. In fact the firm has acknowledged that the company that supplied the equipments “ played a pivotal role in the supply of cutting edge equipments in line with the vision of the Hospital “ This is coming from an appointee of the same government that is trying to portray the execution of the project as shoddy and substandard.

It will not be out of place to remind the Edo State Government that those who lives in glass houses ought not to throne stones. Edo people understands perfectly the shenanigans of the present handlers of the commanding heights of the state economy and that in the fullness of time, the hen will come home to roost.

The Adams Oshiomhole administration in Edo state cannot be wished away by the fabrications of falsehood of unimaginable proportion by a government he stake his goodwill and integrity to enthrone. The beauty about democracy is that it holds elected representatives to account for their stewardship.

While it is convenient for this State Government to malign the administration of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole on the altar of politics, the people remains the ultimate judge in the final analysis.

Press Conference By Critical Stakeholders In Edo State All Progressives Congress

Press Conference By Critical Stakeholders In Edo State All Progressives Congress

by with No Comment Edo State NewsFeatured NewsGeneral NewsPolitics

Gentlemen of the Press.

Let me on behalf of my brothers and colleagues seated before you congratulate you all and to thank God for ushering all of us into this New Year.

This year is significant for every Edolite in a number of ways chief of which is that the Governorship elections for our state will hold later in the year.

Before you this afternoon are de facto and bonafide leaders and critical stakeholders in the All Progressives Congress, Edo State. Individually and collectively we have committed our lives to the service of our great state and nation in different capacities in the past and are therefore very concerned about the developments in the State under the current administration.

We therefore consider it imperative for us to leave our comfort zone to add our voices to the solutions that will restore peace and unity among Edo people once again.

Since the middle of 2018, the ruling party in our State – the APC- which is our party has been embroiled in needless crisis arising from the deliberate alienation of party leaders and members from the Government the party worked hard to install in 2016 through the wishes of Edo people.

Of particular concern to us is the inability of the State House of Assembly members of our state elected on the platform of our party to perform the responsibility of lawmaking for which they were elected since June 2019. This is unprecedented and does not represent the progressive character of the Edo people.

We have also observed with great trepidation the orgy of politically motivated violence across the State targeted at members of our great party who dared to hold opposing views from government. This is unacceptable in a democratic setting. Needless to bog you down with the litany of attacks on the person and office of the National Chairman of our party and the onslaught against prominent Edo sons and daughters perceived as threats to the second term ambition of the Edo State Governor.

As stakeholders we have made both individual and collective efforts at restoring sanity to the polity but it appears that as we inch closer to elections the apprehensions in the land is on the increase. We therefore commend our traditional institutions in Edo State who have taken various steps to promote peace and unity in our state.

We also commend Mr. President and the National Working Committee under the leadership of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for the various peace initiatives they have instituted but which have surprisingly been rejected by the Governor of Edo State and have even gone ahead to institute court actions to stop these peace initiatives.

At this point, we wish to place on record that Edo state and its people remain one of the most politically sophisticated, enlightened and pragmatic in the Federation and we cannot seat back and allow our State slide into the abyss.

We the APC aspirants for Edo State 2020 gubernatorial elections in consultation with other critical stakeholders state unequivocally that as aspirants for the gubernatorial elections in consultation with other critical stakeholders of the party wholeheartedly welcome the urgent intervention of the newly constituted Senator Ahmed Lawan’s reconciliation Committee for the party. Indeed, we are prepared with our memos for presentation to the Committee and we urge every genuine stakeholder of the party to cooperate with the committee. We collectively desire a party that is stable, virile and viable for us to realize our individual and collective aspirations so as to provide effective , efficient and productive leadership for our dear state. We also think and quite rightly too, that the attempt to close the political space and shut the doors against potential contestants for the office of Governor of Edo State by the incumbent governor is antithetical to the established norms of democracy. We must all be allowed to subject ourselves to the democratic process without let or hindrance.

We maintain our unalloyed support and confidence in the leadership of our party in Edo State headed by Col. Dr. David Imuse and at the National level under Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. We thank Mr. President Mohammadu Buhari and other national leaders of the party for their insistence on party supremacy. The successes that have been recorded by the party across the country particularly the recent inclusion of Bayelsa State into the comity of APC States must serve as impetus for us to retain Edo State with firmer grip in the 2020 gubernatorial election.

We urge all our party members and supporters across the state to remain committed to the party while we collectively endeavour to navigate our party through the avoidable crisis and restore the hope of Edo people in an APC government that will once again provide an all inclusive governance and rapid economic development for which it was known in the early days of the party’s administration of the State under Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

On our part we are committed to ensuring full compliance with the party directives as we go into the elections and urge our brother Governor Godwin Obaseki that in a multi party democracy everyone no matter how highly placed must be subject to party laws and rules. Therein lies the respect, order and decency in the interrelationship between government and the people.

We thank You All.

We Are:

Rt Hon Dr Pius E. Odubu (Former Deputy Governor)

General Charles Airhiavbere(Rtd) ( Former Governorship Candidate)

Engr. Christopher Ogiemwonyi ( Former Minister of State, Works)

Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu ( Former Secretary to Edo State Government & Governorship Candidate)

apc

Presidency, APC NWC Mulls Denial Of Second Term Ticket For Sitting Governors Who Lost Their State In The Presidential And National Assembly Elections

by with No Comment General NewsPolitics

There are indications that as part of the commitment to party discipline and strengthening of the party ahead of future elections, the Presidency and the Ruling party is considering sanction on sitting Governors by way of refusal of second term tickets and denial of Federal appointments to sitting Governors who could not deliver their states to the party during the Last general election.

Inside sources in the Presidency and the National Working Committee revealed that it will amount to encouraging non performance and indiscipline in the party to allow a Governor who could not deliver his state to the party during the presidential election.

Some of the governors who are seeking second term in office are that of Ondo, Edo and Kogi States, out of which Ondo and Edo States lost their states. Kogi was won by the APC but investigation conducted revealed that the APC won the State narrowly because of the personality of the President as the people of Kogi State are dissatisfied with their Governor whose performance they considered abysmal.

In ondo , the Governor was accused of working against his party with the result that APC lost woefully except with the exception of one Senatorial District won by Senator Boroface and a very few national Assembly seats.

Edo state presents a gloomy picture of a sitting Governor who could not win his unit , ward ,Local Government , Federal Constituency and Senatorial District owing to his alienation of the entire political class in the State. In the case of Edo, despite the prediction carried out by the presidency that the Governor will lose his local government, he did nothing to ward off the loss, as he inspired no one to work for the party. He is therefore considered as a liability for the party should he be fielded in the next elections as the Political classes across party lines are unanimous that the Governor of Edo State Godwin Obaseki is an example of a bad and disloyal party man who cannot be trusted. Inspite of this assessment he has continued to hunt those who dare to tell him to alter his approach to the politics of the State, a counsel he has refused to heed insisting instead on blackmailing the party leaders of asking him to share the State resources. The Governor on addition is also said to have engaged the National Chairman’s supporters in a needless battle of survival by harassing and intimidating them with the apparachik of State powers for daring to challenge his second term ambition. This group led by former Minority Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon Samson Osagie and Former Attorney General of the State, Hon Henry idahagbon are said to consist of the political egg heads in the state many of whom supported the Governor to win elections in 2016 and have themselves been elected representatives of the people in the past. Coming under the aegis of the Edo Peoples Movement, the group is said to enjoy the support of the National Chairman, gubernatorial aspirants who contested against the Governor in the primaries in 2016, Business men with huge financial war chest, powerful traditional rulers and a silent but vast majority of APC members at the grassroot level. He is said to now embark on panicky strategy of attempting to buy people over with meetings across the state and sharing fifty thousand to attendees of his meetings. He recently got some influential party leaders and Aliko Dangote to support him to intervene in the dispute between him and his predecessor, the National Chairman. How far these efforts can save his second term bid, observers say is yet to be seen. But many believed that he cannot be trusted by the political class in the state with another opportunity.

In ondo , Akerodolu faces the battle of the South West where the National Leader of the

party holds away. Since 2016 when He emerged Governor of the State against the wish of the National leader who supported another candidate in the primaries he has been having a running battle with the forces of the Leaders supporters in the state led by Senator Boroface, a third time Senator of the Governor’s Senatorial District, Ondo North. Also , he is said to have performed below average as a section of the Ondo elites have written to the National leader to rescue them from Governor Akeredolu’s misrule.

In Kogi, Bello, appears to be fighting several battles of survival and his chances of winning a re election is almost near impossible. His failure to pay huge salary arrears and deliver on the dividends of democracy is so much talked about in all the books and crannies of the State. The party and the presidencmay have ruled him out of a re election.

Interestingly, the Adams Oshiomhole led NWC appears firm on enthroning discipline in the party and promoting internal democracy which Governors will not be able to manipulate in their favour. Consequently, the travails of the National Chairman in recent times in which a minute section of the media goaded by these Governors have been calling on the National Chairman to resign for flimsy and phantom reasons. At the head of this campaigns is the Deputy National Chairman of the party, Senator Lawal Shuibu. The attempt at forcing out the National Chairman of the party appears at the time of writing this report to have died on arrival as the NWC have passed a vote of confidence on the Chairman and set up a committee to try Senator Lawal Shuaibu. A case of the hinter becoming the hunted!

As things stands , there appears to be no clear signal in the horizon for these Governors as there are very serious moves to deny them ticket and get more politically viable candidates to fly the party’s flag to victory in those states Concerned. When the party eventually bares its fangs on this governors it is believed that internal democracy of the party will be promoted and it will encourage performance by elected Governors.

As for appointments, those who couldn’t deliver in the elections to the party like Sen Abiola Ajimobi, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Rotimi Amaechi and a good number are said to be having a serious challenge getting the needed endorsement for cabinet appointments as well.

This will ensure party discipline and promote the much talked about party supremacy.

Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu

Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, An Outstanding Political Icon

by with No Comment Featured NewsGeneral NewsPolitics

By Pascal Ogie

In a citadel of learning, where academic fecundity and scholastic empowerment were meteorically sky rocketing at a supersonic pace, there was once a student activist/leader in University of Benin by name OSAGIE ANDREW IZE- IYAMU. This Edo born diplomat is an enigma of some sort, possessed with the vitality of rhetorics and an enchanting ambience. He gave general currency to the phrase “POLITICS WITH ETHICS”. He is a personality of invaluable equanimity enriched with a splendour of appearance and loftiness of thoughts. A man with the Birsmarkian style of politics, which gives him an enviable domineering poise.

On a voyage of discovery, his oratory dexterity, rhetorical impeccability, his adorning theatrics and intimidating high sense of confidence made him stand out among other political leaders of his time. He is one who always left people better than he met them. He always makes positive deposits into peoples’ lives.

Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu is a man of ethical managerial qualities. A Political Gladiator and Heavyweight. A man who has carved a niche for himself through his political antecedents. It is very visible to the blind and audible to the deaf that PASTOR OSAGIE IZE-IYAMU is fundamentally rooted in Political Engineering, which has birthed great and prominent leaders who have contributed to State and National growth.

Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu is a famous and fundamental pillar in the political arena of Edo State since, 1991. He is a clear definition of humility and he exudes loyalty, which have been tested over the years in public service to the people of Edo State. Above all he is a man who fears God and a Christian who by actions carrys out the divine instructions and apply them to his service in office and relationship with others around him. His sincerity and proactive nature have earned him a place of high repute in the heart of leaders and the populace of Edo State.

Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, is a prolific leader deviod of tribal discrimination. He is a defender of the oppressed and an advocate of equal opportunities for all. He has demonstrated in the past, the willingness to assist others to achieve political prominence. He has contributed to making his kinsmen and political allies Governors, Deputy Governors, Commissioners, local government council Chairmen, Senators, House of Representatives members, State House of Assembly members to mention a few. He used his political space to accommodate his allies and galvanized them  to societal relevance, though some of them have become disloyal and show undue ingratitude because of selfish ambition.

Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu don’t burn bridges because he understands that today’s opponent could be tomorrow’s political ally. He plays the role of a Servant Leader. He is  calm and unassuming. He attracts people to himself as magnet attracts metal products. He has the political structure and fanatical charismatic followership all over the State. He has the capacity to withstand any political storm and hurricane.

Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, career experience as a public servant and party manager endear him as outstanding aspirant in the forthcoming party primaries to nominate a gubernatorial candidate. His political sagacity, management acumen and party management dexterity qualify him as the candidate the party is sourcing for. Hence, APC members should nominate Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu as the party flag bearer in the forthcoming Governorship election holding September 19th, 2020.

Oshiomhole As Recurrent Issue In Edo Politics

Oshiomhole As Recurrent Issue In Edo Politics

by with No Comment Edo State NewsFeatured NewsGeneral NewsPolitics

By Aiyevbekpen John Osakue

WHEN a man emerges from the dark valleys of his humble birth and near state of hopelessness to build for himself an ecosystem of superlative achievements, he would have eminently earned an exalted place of honour in the hearts of men and women who understand the true purpose of life! And when a man embraces spartan discipline of dedication, doggedness, resilience and persistence to his life goals, falling and rising, banging his head against walls in the process and finally emerging with garlands of super achievements on the other side, you cannot help but celebrate him. The man in question is Comrade Adams Oshiomhole who recently emerged stronger than ever before from one of the thickest political conspiracies in the history of Nigeria.

In 2006 Comrade Oshiomhole took the political stage in Edo State by storm as he went about galvanising support for his gubernatorial ambition after an unprecedented labour activism as President of the Nigeria Labor Congress, NLC, that saw him confront both military and civilian dictators over anti-people policies mostly at the risk of his life. Everywhere he addressed an audience, the grounds quaked and the people were held spellbound by the power of his wisdom and thoughts and the vision he espoused. Oshiomhole was a stunning new revelation as candidate of the then Action Congress, AC, that was little known. His message resonated and made him shine with the lustre of a messiah!

To be honest, only few uncharitable folks would argue the fact that Comrade Oshiomhole has, in and out of office, proven to be a master tactician of the game of politics and has remained the issue in Edo political space. You are either railed on the side of his fanatic supporters and admirers who glowingly idolise him or on the side of those who are opposed to him, who criticise and demonise him. The people who idolise him point to his fearless engagement of authorities as a labour leader, his doggedness in fighting for his mandate when it was imperiled, his compassionate and transformational leadership as governor and the courage with which he executed Benin City renewal programme that opened up the ancient capital of the state to the fresh breath air of modernity, such that it could now compete side by side with modern state capitals in terms of city beautification and road infrastructure!

On the other hand, those who demonise him accuse his government of lack of transparency in contract awards and argue that he was awfully disrespectful of elders. Whether openly or discreetly expressed, most citizens belong to one side of the coin or the other. His massive and overwhelming second term re-election victory at the polls during which he scored the unprecedented but now famous 18 over 18, is a clear rebuttal of those allegations. Its dismissal is buoyed by unconcealed twist in context. However, given the experience of Edo people before and after his administration, his admirers have remained overwhelmingly preponderant and rock solid!

Comrade Oshomhole is passionate about his convictions. Thus, on assumption of office as National Chairman of APC, he resolved to give practical expression to the shared vision of the party as encapsulated in her ‘Change Agenda’. He is too athletically and energetically motivated by a sense of purpose to be content with mere appellation of the office. As a leader, he has inspired the majority of the National Working Committee, NWC, members to be dedicated to the promise of change. And together, they have made great progress in putting in place a transparent system that commands faith, trust and confidence of party members and not the whimsical dictates of party patrons!

He has continued to implement a plan to transform the mechanics and operations of the party with a view to eliminating all extraneous forces and interest groups opposed to party constitutionalism. His personal approach, attitude and idiosyncrasies might not be agreeable to all members but no one can conscientiously fault the purity of his intentions. We are all different in character and attitude, and owe each other no apology for our inherent traits so long as we play our parts as powerful moral agents of the society!

Apart from mercilessly crushing the boastful political behemoths, otherwise known as ‘new nPDP’, which had perfected a coup de grace, thereby holding the presidency and the party to ransom, Comrade Oshiomhole has had the temerity to confront other internal political and economic contradictions, namely the negative role of cultural diversity and heterogeneity, political merchandise, democratic impunity, regional power irredentists and the dilettantism of greedy political patrons. He is winning the battle in all fronts. These are humongous obstacles that have continued to undermine genuine efforts towards growth and development of the democratic process. If these hydra-headed negatives are tackled with patriotism, thereby projecting the collectivity of the Nigerian project, they could be converted to positive strengths, resulting to a free and unfettered political system.

With a mindset of success, Oshiomhole is an exemplar of being the ‘salt and the light’ of his world. He has remained an aggressive firebrand whose activism has been moderated only by national responsibility! He exited office of governor on a superlative high note with legacy projects that have continued to interrogate mere merchants of hope of today and put them on edge. In order words, he successfully provided the spur for steady progress at a ferocious pace yet unmatched in the state. As National Chairman of APC, Oshiomhole has demonstrated that party leadership must be driven by vision and a capacity for aggressive campaign activism.

He is, therefore, not only the issue in the politics of Edo State but also, the ubiquitous and irrepressible force at the national level. The more we rise to celebrate an impactful life like this, the more we create more impactful lives to be celebrated!

Osakue, a political strategist / public affairs commentator, wrote from Benin City, Edo State

IMG-20190919-WA0008

Of Uhunmwode, Slave Master And The Slaves

by with No Comment General News

Charles Idahosa aka Charly Tempo has been holding away in the political leadership of Uhunmwode Local Government Area, Edo State.

His tactics are as crude as they are mundane. It’s a combination of blackmail, name dropping, intimidation, peddling lies and boastful ness.

Despite being a semi illiterate, his early voyage in the UK in the early 70s where he had the privilege of becoming friends with the likes of Peter Uwaibi and some other con guys has give him the skills to perfect his criminal tactics of hoodwinking unsuspecting politicians has have risen in Uhunmwode into believing that he is a “messiah”, “saint ” whereas the truth is that he is a fit candidate for jail for petty stealing and obtaining by false pretenses.

Same tactics he has employed to recruit a one time senior prefect turn pineapple farmer in Evbuohuan, Napoleon Agbama and has managed to promote him twice as Local Government Chairman twice.

On both occasions Charly has been the defacto chairman. Even now ,he is , otherwise how do you explain the situation where only Charly and Agbama knows the Revenue of the Local government Area, with councillors and other appointees in the dark. Charley is obviously the Slave Master, Agbama and the rest of Uhunmwode politicians particularly in the APC are the slaves.

All it takes charly to continue to hold away is to be a sychophant of any incumbent Governor. Grant regular press interviews in support of the Governor, and that is it. He is serviced regularly for this and he keeps his supporters busy with folktales and stories that never existed all in a bid to paint a larger than life picture of Charles Idahosa. A villain. His politics is purely the hunger games! Give him money from government house even if nothing is done in Uhunmwode Local Government Area, it doesn’t matter. If you happen to be with him and his phones rings he puts it on Speaker for his visitors to know and hear who is calling, particularly if it’s the Governor, who

calls him ” senior kaligbona”- a nickname he was known for in his school days as one of the deadliest marijuana smokers. His excitement will be boundless. His first request will he ” wake and see Governor, you have abandoned me ooo to hunger…..”

He is not know to attend rallies, or campaigns, he leads from his bedroom. Dodge inside his house to eat early morning amala and assorted while his hypnotized followers who normally kill around his house very early in the morning will be in hunger except some political office holders( not Agbama)who are magnanimous may offer the unfortunate jobbers some life line.

Napoleon Agbama, an admixture of treachery, deceit and incompetence finds favour in the manipulative trap of Charles Idahosa. He is not know to have executed any project since he became Chairman. Once the councillors dare to ask questions, they are summoned by the Sanhedrin” Charles Idahosa ”

Uhumwode Local Government has remained in the dark but for some federal presence attracted by a former federal Lawmaker. But you cannot make pepper soup with the blood of a fowl.

Many observers have blamed the elites in Uhunmwode Local Government Area for the perpetuation of this gang of RIP offs. Where are the Solomon Edebiris from Isi? where is Isaiah Osifo? where is Samson Osagie? Ativie, where are you? Where are the Ehigiamusoes ? Where are the Imafidons, the Alaris, Obamogies, David Osifo, Omorotionmwans, Washington Osifo, Justin Omoruyi, Odeh , Oyegue, RKO, etc etc?

Uhunmwode Local Government Area should hold you guys responsible for the state of affairs.

You stand akinbo to watch Uhunmwode become the farm of Agbama and Charles Idahosa.

Posterity will judge all of you.

Charly Tempo deserves a place in prison. Why? Through the Council he remodelled his aunt’s house in Ehor and got the council to buy a generator there. Then Agbama was Caretaker

Chairman. About same time he established a farm where he takes the cows he receives as Leader to for feeding. The council fenced the land and bought a generator there.

He shares Agbama security vote with Agbama on a ratio of 50:50. After all, he is Slave Master and Agbama slave!!

He obtains political power seekers money, vehicles, air tickets to London and estacodes. He lives off the people. He has no identifiable means of livelihood, no store, no shop, no office. He claims to run a company Charles Tempo that cannot pass due process test for contracts but through his adroit manoeuvres he secures contracts from the state government, many of which he collects money and dont execute. Haba!!! One man? Anyway, many days for the thief, one day for the owner. The Time Should Be Now!!!

Obaseki-Edo

Obaseki Stokes The Rise In Political Violence In Edo State

by with No Comment Edo State NewsFeatured NewsGeneral NewsPolitics

-Samson Osagie

”           …it is that èm you know we can’t feel safe in the house of the our National Chairman, I am not sure that èm if I visit, go to the house of the National Chairman of PDP they will attack me the way they did in the house of the National Chairman of APC, its really unfortunate that things have degenerated to this extent, we will continue to pursue peace, we cannot afford to lose the gains of the last three years, we continue to pursue peace”

Above were the exact words of Mr. Godwin Obaseki, Governor of Edo State on 2nd November 2019 following the unfortunate incident of his denial of entrance to the country home of the National Chairman of the APC National Chairman Comrade Adams Oshiomhole after the Convoction of the Edo University, Iyamho, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State.

Let me state unequivocally that I condemn in strong terms any form of politically motivated violence or any violence for the matter as a means of settling scores and this recent one is not an exception. But my concern about what has become a harvest of political violence that have pervaded Edo State in recent times is that the Governor himself stoke the fire which has almost engulfed the entire polity.

Consequently, I will attempt to Chronicle them seriatim. First, on the 18th of June, 2019 members elect of the Edo State House of Assembly were attacked at Golden Tulip Hotel Etete , GRA, by hired thugs with full official cover by the state Security outfit codenamed “Wabaizigan” with the former CSO to the Governor Chris Nwankwo actively involved.

Some of the Lawmakers (including the younger brother of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole National Chairman of APC) were mercilessly beaten to stupor and subsequently detained.This incident led to the redeployment of the former CSO but the police never arrested the other participants in that despicable conduct up until now. Thereafter , the Governor organized a rally at Museum ground to issue out threats to all those who would dare to challenge his reign of tyranny and disregard for the rule of law. All in a bid to promote his second term ambition.

In Ovia North East, sometimes in October members of APC who were holding meeting in a hotel at Oluku were rudely disrupted by agents of state and two former House of Assembly members and a representatives member from the area sustained minor injuries. Reason was that the meeting was not sanctioned by the Governor

 

It has been a battle between Progressive forces in Ikpoba/Okha Local Government Area and agents of the Secretary to the State Government over the decision of the former to liberate the Local government area from the shackles of inept and bad leadership. The combined team of police and state empowered touts have severally attacked the peraons and homes of leaders of Ikpoba/Okha Liberation Movement in a bid to cow them into submitting to the second term ambition of the Governor and the continous rulershhip of the SSG. No regard for the fundamental human rights to Association and movement of those aggrieved.

On October 12th, 2019 , thugs and state empowered touts invaded the house of the National Chairman of APC Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and even though they didn’t meet him in the house they would have wrecked havoc on lives and properties but for the timely intervention of some APC members led by former Chairman of Oredo Local government area and the Chief Executive of Akugbe Ventures. This attack was validated by the Crackteam social media group of the Governor in a live video that subsequently went viral.

Only recently, at Ivbiaro Owan East Local Government Area, a polytechnic lecturer and some others were attacked at a meeting of the party members and seriously wounded with vehicles smashed by agents of the state of no less than a Commissioner for Education and a Local government Chairman. This incidence was bloody and was masterminded by agents of the Governor on his party members.

All the above cases are matters of public knowledge but the Governor never cared or express any sentiments about them, yet they involved Edo people whether or not they are in his support for second term.

Then came the what is now known as the Iyamho incidence which state sponsored reporters have spinned beyond recognition to give the impression that the National Chairman of the APC organized an attack on the Governor and some dignitaries who had attended the 1st Convocation of the Edo University,Iyamho on the 2nd of November 2019.

Regrettably as the event may seem its precursors in form of massive mobilization by agents of the state precipitated the reactions to led to the denial of the Governor’s access to the National Chairman residence by irrate youths who have become provoked by the invasion of the small community of Iyamho by youths from all over the state.

The questions which Edo State actors need to answer are : Why was it necessary for the Governor himself to come to Iyamho to attend a Convocation ceremony Of the University with 4+4 caps bearing supporters and even those fingered as the brains behind the attack on the National Chairman’s residence?. Why was it necessary for the Deputy Governor to ride on a Motor Cycle with several bike riders carrying state functionaries and thugs to Iyamho to attend a convocation ceremony? Was it a political rally or campaign or election related event that was taking place in Iyamho that required mobilization of people?

From what we now know a top state functionary was teargassed along with a retinue of bike riders and thugs when he wanted to forced them into the convocation arena. It is also on record that the guest lecturer at this year’s convocation of the University, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, Governor of Central Bank took a swipe at the conversion of the Convocation to a political rally given the unruly behaviour and chanting of campaign slogans by those hired by the Governor to cheer him up as the best Governor the world has ever produced. The guest lecturer had

to threaten that unless and until those miscreants led by some state functionaries as high as Special Advisers and Commisioners were asked to maintain peace he will not deliver his lectures. The Governor himself had to call his hirelings to order before Mr. Emiefele could deliver his lecture.

What a way to show popularity to the world!

These events in the days leading to the unfortunate incident at the gate to the National Chairman residence may have triggered the kind of reactions that regrettably greeted the encounter at the gate of the National Chairman. It couldn’t have been a premeditated action as some state sponsored medium are tirelessly struggling to paint it.

The last time I checked the Governor is still the Chief Security Officer of Edo State. If all these attacks to several citizens and party members did not bother him all along, it therefore means that he condoned them because they were executed to advance his second term ambition.

I wasn’t surprised to hear him say he didn’t know things have degenerated to the extent he witnessed that day. Reason been that he probably didn’t feel the pulse of insecurity that has pervaded the polity on account of his intolerance of voices of dissent.

One can therefore safely submit that the fire of insecurity he stoke by directing his agents to attack all those holding meetings against his second term bid and which directive has been gradually gaining momentum were now spreading like a wide fire. What therefore is incompetence in taking charge of the security of the lives and property of Edo people? If a Governor choses who to protect and who to attack no further evidence is required to establish a gross misconduct against the provision of the Constitution which stipulates that the primary purpose of government is the protection of lives and property.

After the Iyamho incidence, the Governor amongst other things said he will continue to pursue peace. That he is just realising that peace is needed for him to govern well three years into his government is laughable. This is more so as he has refused peace moves brokered by some Governors months back after the shameful act of inauguration of the Edo State House of

Assembly at night with a minority of the elected members.

What then can one say of the burgeoning regime of political violence that has now engulfed the state on account of the second term ambition of the Governor. I once posited that if the Governor kills everyone, there will no one left to vote for him

He must take responsibility for the ugly incidences of violence been perpetrated by his agents across the State and cannot pretend that he is just knowing that it has assumed a frightening dimension.