₦airaland Forum

Some Ongoing Projects Edo People Will Benefit From By Voting PDP

By Efe Igbinosa

1. The Benin River Port, which is set to be one of the newest ports in Nigeria in a few years’ time has started its journey. China Harbor and Port of Antwerp are working with the State government to execute the project. The Federal government has given an approval for the project and contractors are already moving to site. This port will become a gateway for domestic and international trade. You wouldn’t need to drive the long distance to Lagos to clear your goods again when completed.

2. The Enterprise Park : Julius Berger International has been entrusted with the design of a mixed-use development park, covering a total area of almost 1,000 hectares. The site is located at Iyanomo, about 20 kilometer south of Benin City in Edo State, is to be established as a free trade zone, including both industrial and commercial areas, as well as an attached residential area, inclusive local recreation area. The Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring board has taken 50-hectare, which will begin the first phase of development in the park. The park will provide jobs for up to 35,000 people and housing for up to 20,000 residents. Its own 575 MW multi-stage gas turbine power plant will ensure a self-sufficient power supply for the entire area. The transactional Advisor to the park, is Amaya Capital.

3. Emotan Gardens (Phase 2): Phase 1 has been delivered and construction work has now begun on the phase 2 of Emotan Gardens estate, which is located at Egba Community. Emotan Gardens is sitting on 71-hecatre piece of property and it is expected to have 1,800 units of 2 and 3 bedroom flats, bungalows, villas and terraces homes, with an artificial lake and pedestrian promenade, shopping complexes, office buildings, Green boulevards and buffers, schools, places of worship and a health center. Quality infrastructure including access roads, pedestrian walkways, bicycle and jogging paths. Good security with perimeter fencing and police post.

4. The Extension of Ossiomo from 95MW to 550MW has gradually begun, as well as the transmission to other parts of the state. This will help accelerate the new industrial age that Edo is entering into, thereby creating a stable economy, powered by 24hrs power supply.

5. The extension of Main One fiber optic cable of 2,000km to other parts of the state, across all the 18 local government to enhance the improvement of internet connectivity in Edo state, which will ensure that no home or person is left out.

6. The Education Hub : A world class library system that would house a minimum of 50 million volumes of academic works, which is located at the Edo State Ministry of Education at Iyaro in Benin City. Some of the facilities to be constructed at the education hub to include; Ministry of Education offices, new State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) offices and Secondary School Education Board. Others are; offices for Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET), quality assurance office, three schools, which are primary, junior secondary school and senior secondary schools, playground, healthcare centre, a 500-capacity conference centre and restaurants for workers.

7. Radisson Blue Hotel Partnership:
Radisson Hotel Group is bringing its luxury lifestyle brand, Radisson Collection, to Edo state. Radisson Collection Hotel&Conference Center, Edo, marks the Group’s 10th hotel, placing it firmly on track to achieve 15 hotels in Nigeria by 2025.

Some of the investment already delivered to the people of Edo state by the Governor Obaseki led government are as follows;

*Edo Modular Refinery, Dufil (Makers of Power Oil and Indomie Noodles)
Market Square Mall, Jara Mall, GreenHill (Makers of Ethanol), Duport Modula Refinery/Power, Ossiomo Power, Reign Arcade, Rock Studio (Iroko TV), Edo Fertilizer and chemical Company Limited (Revamped by Obaseki), Dangote Cement (Completed by Obaseki), Emotan Garden Estate, Golf Mews Estate, Benin City Mall (Ongoing), Rubber Estate Nigeria Limited, Agripam Limited, Saro oil Palm, Fayus Nigeria Limited, Saturn Farms, Dufil Farms, Loquat Farms, Barnsley Farms, Tech Park, the Innovation Hub, the Edo Production Centre, etc.

No governor has been able to deliver these magnitudes of projects for Edo people. So, Edo people have a lot to benefit if we stick to Governor Obaseki and the PDP this Saturday, March 18th, by voting all PDP candidates across the state for continuity of policy and improved development across the state.

Efe Igbinosa is a local boy from Okada who wants the best for Edo.

Conference Of Political Parties Hails Obaseki’s Devt Strides, Endorses PDP Candidates For March 18 Polls

The Edo State’s chapter of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), an umbrella of political parties in Edo State, after careful consideration and review, has endorsed the candidates of the PDP in the Saturday, March 18 House of Assembly elections.

Our decision to endorse the PDP candidates is based on the remarkable achievements of Governor Godwin Obaseki in various sectors, including health, energy, agriculture, education, and infrastructure, among others.

The governor's programmes and projects across the state have continued to bring significant improvements to the lives of our people, hence the need to support him by voting for those that will only contribute to the government’s drive for progress and development in our state, rather than those on a mission to cause crisis and chaos.

Our endorsement of the PDP candidates reflects our commitment to advancing the interests of our state and ensuring that our people are represented by capable and visionary leaders. We are confident that electing the PDP candidates into the House will ensure that the governor sustains ongoing projects and reforms to improve the livelihoods of the people and ensure economic prosperity for the state.

We urge all members of the CNPP and voters across the state to come out en masse on Saturday, March 18 2023 to vote for candidates of the PDP for quality representation at the Edo State House of Assembly.

Comrade Roy Oribhabor,
Chairman, Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP),
Edo State


Conference of political parties hails Obaseki’s devt strides, endorses PDP candidates for March 18 polls

The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has thrown its weight behind the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Saturday, March 18 House of Assembly elections, citing the unprecedented performance of the State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, across various sectors of the state, including health, infrastructure, education, agriculture, among others.

The umbrella body of political parties in the state expressed confidence that electing the PDP candidates into the House will ensure the governor sustains ongoing projects and reforms to improve the livelihoods of the people and ensure economic prosperity for the state.

In a statement jointly signed by its chairman, Comrade Roy Oribhabor and secretary, Mr. Civic Momodu, the Edo State’s chapter of the CNPP, urged members of the group and Edo voters to come out en masse to vote for candidates of the PDP to support the governor’s transformational drive in the state.

According to the group, from the welfare of workers and security of lives and property, through education and healthcare, to infrastructure and industrialization, the governor has, in the last six years, performed exceedingly well and deserves the support of all Edo people to sustain these achievements.

The statement reads: “The Edo State’s chapter of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), an umbrella of political parties in Edo State, after careful consideration and review, has endorsed the candidates of the PDP in the upcoming House of Assembly elections.

“Our decision to endorse the PDP candidates is based on the remarkable achievements of Governor Godwin Obaseki in various sectors, including health, energy, agriculture, education, and infrastructure, among others. The governor's programmes and projects across the state have continued to bring significant improvements to the lives of our people, hence the need to support him by voting for those that will only contribute to the government’s drive for progress and development in our state, rather than those on a mission to cause crisis and chaos.”

Oribhabor further noted, “Our endorsement of the PDP candidates reflects our commitment to advancing the interests of our state and ensuring that our people are represented by capable and visionary leaders. We urge all members of the CNPP and voters across the state to come out en masse on Saturday, March 18 2023 to vote for candidates of the PDP for quality representation at the Edo State House of Assembly.”

Obaseki is indeed working, but he makes no noise about it.

Much respects, the people's Governor

Obaseki disclaims all disengagement letters to Ambrose Alli Varsity workers

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has disclaimed all disengagement letters issued in the last couple of weeks to workers in Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, insisting that they are illegal, null and void.

The governor maintains that his administration’s commitment to workers’ welfare in the university remains sacrosanct and hasn’t sanctioned this action.

He has ordered an investigation of the issue and action would be taken swiftly on anyone culpable.

The state government assures that it upholds the interest of the university workers and would continue to position the state as a suitable place to live and work.


Crusoe Osagie
Special Adviser on Media Projects to the Governor
March 14, 2023

Edo workers hold appreciation rally for Obaseki as NLC, NURTW, RTEAN, TUC, others endorse PDP candidates for March 18 polls

Workers in Edo State, on Tuesday, took to major streets within the Benin metropolis to appreciate the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, for his government’s commitment to the welfare of workers in the state, declaring support for candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Saturday, March 18, House of Assembly elections.

At the one-day appreciation rally, members of the organized labour hailed the governor for the transformational reforms in the civil service, listing the payment of the N40,000 minimum wage, regular and prompt promotion of civil/public servants, prompt payment of salaries and pensions to workers and retirees, conducive work environment, an increase of retirement age from 60 years to 65 years and service years from 35 to 40 years (whichever comes first), among several others as some of the governor’s strides in the civil and public service.

THE organized Labour comprising of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), Public Service Joint Negotiation Council (JNC), Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP), National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) also endorsed candidates of the PDP in the House of Assembly elections.

Addressing the governor on behalf of the organized labour, Edo NLC chairman, Chief Comr. Odion Olaye, stated that “every right-thinking Edolite will agree that the Obaseki-led administration under the PDP banner had brought massive transformation to the state, hence the need to vote in people who will work with the governor to achieve further development in the state.”

In his response, Obaseki said, “The most important elements in any society are the workers and without workers, you cannot have government buildings alone do not make the Government but the people who work in government.

“When I came into office, I said never again will people work for 30-35 years and afterwards be abandoned. So, we started the contribution towards pension and today, we have over 10 billion in that fund. So, in the future, as you people are leaving, the money is there for pension and gratuity.”

Olaye earlier noted, “We, the organized labour, after looking deeply into what you have been doing for workers and the state, have come to thank and support you.

“We are the only state with a minimum wage of N40,000, regular and prompt promotion of civil/public servants, prompt payment of salaries and pensions to workers and retirees, conducive work environment, an increase of retirement age from 60 years to 65 years and service years from 35 to 40 years (whichever comes first), among several others.

“The organized labour is fully in support of your administration's commitment to the development of Edo State and we call on workers in the state to come out en masse on Saturday, March 18, to vote for the governor's party, PDP. This is so that he can continue the good works he has been doing for workers in Edo State.”

On his part, the Edo TUC chairman, Comr. Aigbomwanhi James, commended the governor for the construction of the Labour House, among other projects, reassuring the union’s support for PDP candidates.

Also, State Chairman of Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Pullen Noruwa, noted, “It was when Governor Obaseki came into office that all the entitlements of pensioners were received which is unprecedented in the state in less than a year.

“The pension arrears of over N4 billion was paid, monthly pension comes before 26th of each month with no arrears accumulated for all retired civil/public servants. Governor Obaseki met a 6 percent increase in 2003, 15 percent in 2007, and 33 percent in 2010 and implemented them, and today pensioners are enjoying the same.”


PHOTO CAPTION

Chairman, Edo State Chapter of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Aigbomwanhi James; Chairman, Edo State Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Chief Comrade Odion Olaye, during an appreciation rally, at the Government House, in Benin City, on Tuesday, March 14, 2023.

TO EDO OBIDIENTS – FREEDOM IS IN YOUR MIDST

A careful look at the campaign manifesto of the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter ‘the Rock’ (Okwute) Obi, shows that it holds so much promise for a new system of governance which is the yearning of millions of Nigerians, especially the Edo youth.

For good reason, every progressive-minded Edo youth will want to be associated with the former Anambra State governor. That was why, in the March 25 presidential election, Edo state once again proved true to its acronym, the Heart Beat of the Nation, with the OBIDIENT movement upstaging the two political mainstay parties, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC). Although Obidients delivered Edo State votes for Peter Obi, at the national level they were left disappointed because they were outsmarted at the polls by the rigging structure of the APC and their flagbearer, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

If only they had heeded the advice last year that they should deploy their energy strategically (because the election is akin to a long-distance race), they would have mobilized enough field officers to check the malpractices of colluding INEC officials.

Like the election has proven, electioneering is about strategizing. What most Obidients fail to realize is that even the act of choosing a candidate has to be done strategically. In their pent up angst against the state of affairs in the country, which Edo as a subnational, they have risen against the Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki due to propaganda by the opposition APC, his (Obaseki’s) unusual approach to governance, and of course his own foibles.

Today, Obaseki is the greatest enemy of the political class in Edo State (APC and PDP alike) because he lacks the number one trait of a typical Nigerian politician – the penchant to waste state’s resources by doling out money to all and sundry. So in actual sense, Obaseki is a pioneer of the popular Obidient mantra ‘we no dey give shishi’.

Like is contained in his manifesto, one of Peter Obi’s touted promises is to move Nigeria from ‘consumption to production’. Within six years in Edo, Obaseki has transformed Edo State from a ‘civil servant state’ to one that boasts of an Independent Power Plant (IPP) – 95MW Ossiomo Power, and two modular refineries. With the Edo State Oil Palm Programme (ESOPP) and over 120,000 hectares being cultivated, one of Africa’s largest oil palm plantations is also situated in the state. The governor continues to attract big-ticket investment into the state through SARO Africa Group, Dangote Plc, BUA Plc, Greenhills Agro Products, Presco Oil, etc., amounting to over two billion dollars to boost production, build the capacity of local entrepreneurs, provide hundreds of thousands of jobs for Edo people and boost the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

Obaseki has unleashed the productivity capacity of the state's human and natural capital and the gains are gradually coming to fore.

Also, the LP presidential candidate said if elected as president, he would end banditry and insurgency. Today in Edo, Obaseki’s efforts to curb crime and criminality in the state, including the activities of killer herdsmen, has been reduced to its barest minimum. With a community-based vigilante system spread across the three senatorial districts of the state, Edo is one of the safest states in the country.

When I posited some of these points to a friend of mine who happens to be a die-hard Obidient, he could not help but see reasons with my point that what Obi is promising Nigerians at the federal level, Obaseki is already delivering in Edo State.

In one of highpoints of his reforms, Obaseki has also digitized governance in Edo, enhancing accountability and transparency in the civil service, and upskilling and tooling-up Edo workers, not to mention the opulent state of the art reconstructed secretariat complex. Today, at N40,000, only Edo State presently pays above the federal government recommended minimum wage of N30,000.

Essentially, Obi’s promise to “Restructure the polity through effective legal and institutional reforms to entrench the rule of law, aggressively fight corruption, reduce cost of governance, and establish an honest and efficient civil service…” is already being fulfilled by the Obaseki-led administration.

Also in consonance with Peter Obi’s manifesto, with a 5G fibre optic network accessible in the Benin metropolis, and being laid across all 18 local councils in the state, EdoJobs, the Edo Innovation Hub, the Edo Production Centre and Edo Tech Park, a digital economy has been created in Edo, leapfrogging the state into the 4th Industrial Revolution.

Inasmuch as one would expect a blindly sentimental Obidient to repeat what they did in the presidential election, by voting along party lines even without having the slightest idea about most contesting candidates, it is still expedient to speak to those Obidients who are more politically astute. Emotions aside, the ‘freedom’ that they seek with Peter Obi at the federal level is already in their midst in Edo, with Obaseki delivering the dividends of democratic governance with people-centric programmes and policies.

Time and space may not allow us expatiate on education where Obaseki’s model, which has made Edo students the best performing in Nigeria, is being copied across Nigeria and Africa; or sports where Obaseki remodeled the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, becoming one of the best-equipped in Nigeria and the state-sponsored football team, Bendel Insurance, which just gained promotion into the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) is currently sitting atop the league; or the expansion of primary and secondary healthcare services in the state and the Health Insurance Scheme (EdoHIS) making healthcare services more affordable and accessible; and so forth.

For roads infrastructure, it may be difficult to dispute that no other governor in the history of the state has done more work on arterial and circular roads than Obaseki, providing alternative routes and easing traffic for commuters in the state’s city centres.

In conclusion, I will not beg Obidients, but speak to their conscience and good reasoning, that for the Edo House of Assembly elections, if they are truly Obidient they should support candidates of the PDP who seek better governance in the state and will help Governor Obaseki deliver such. Afterall, as Obidients are wont to remind us, Labour Party and ‘Obidient’ are not exactly the same movement.

Together, all well-meaning people of Edo must reject those whose stock in trade is leaving Nigerians in sorrow, tears and blood and support the transformative governance of Governor Godwin Obaseki.

- Unapologetically penned, on the 14th day of March, 2023.

Obaseki’s Infrastructural Legacies Will Ensure Victory For PDP In Assembly Election – Group

By Shojobi Abisola On Mar 12, 2023

A body, known as Edo Legacy Group, (ELG) has said that Governor Godwin Obaseki’s infrastructural development across the state would contribute to the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates in Saturdays house of assembly election.

Such achievements, the group said, cannot be sacrificed just to swell the political egos of those who are desperate to win election to the detriment of the state development.

They called on the people to put behind them the outcome of the Presidential elections in the state and focus on the coming election which it said directly affects the people.

The group also frowned at the campaign of calumny and deceit allegedly being spear headed by a former governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole.

The group’s global president Samson Imade and Secretary, Francis Igbineweka and eight others in a statement, said Edo people would continue to support Obaseki to succeed.

Part of the statement reads “The developmental stride of the governor in changing the face of governance has resulted in the physical development in the state. Today, as Edo citizens we are proud of the state of the new secretariat built for civil servants. We make bold to say no state of the federation can boast of a decent working environment like the one in Edo built by Obaseki.

”Today, people of the state are enjoying over 18 hours Ossiomo power supply attracted by the Obaseki administration thereby jumpstarting economic development. Despite campaigns by the APC to down play the numerous achievements of the government and sadly their only reasons is Obaseki blockage of non state actors who had plundered the state resources for personal aggradizement.

”We are therefore calling on Edo indigenes to come out on Saturday to vote PDP candidates so that Obaseki can sustain and continue to give Edo people the benefit of democracy as demonstrated in the last seven years.



https://independent.ng/obasekis-infrastructural-legacies-will-ensure-victory-for-pdp-in-assembly-election-group/

March 12, 2023


Let’s keep progress in power!

At the start of this campaign we said We would spend a lot of time listening. That’s what we’ve done over the last six years, and that’s what We have done over the last eight weeks as well.

Listening to vested interests.

Listening to highly selective focus groups

Listening to ordinary people.

Listening to their disillusionment with politicians.

They want politicians to stand up and address the issues that matter to them. They want commitments that are clear.

And there are just a few days left to determine the direction Edo takes.

A few days to turn this into a campaign that sets Edo on the right course for the years ahead.

A few days to turn this into a campaign that focuses on the long term.

A few days to turn this into a campaign about the issues that matter to people.

I expected a barrage of lies and distortions from the opposition party High Command, the like of which we have never seen before. It has come to pass!

They are intimidated by the many “ good stories we have to tell”… and they are frightened that the distance between them and the levers of governance is widening. When they are frightened get negative, and they get nasty.

Instead of engaging in honest debate, they will put up thousands of posters, jingles and articles distorting the truth.

Instead of confronting voters face to face, they will ring people up, whispering lies about our policies down the phone, WhatsApp groups and on Facebook. Instead of talking about their record, they will fight the most negative, most nasty campaign imaginable.

Well, we will not be cowed. The best antidote to negative APC campaigning is to fight positively on our programme for Edo.

To make the campaign in this last few days a campaign the Edo people can be proud of.

And our Party and government has a duty to make that happen.

Our investment in Education has given our children the best possible education. Guaranteeing the best possible start in life for every child.

Our government has signed over 20000 certificates of occupancy, Cof O, in the last six years surpassing the 15000 that had ever been signed in Edo State by all its past Governors put together.

Our government does not owe pensions or salaries to its workers. These commitments are met and paid on or before the 27th of every month.

Our government has constructed and rehabilitated over 1000km of road in the last six years. Countless numbers of inner city roads across the three senatorial districts and rural communities.

Our government is lighting up Edo with the most comprehensive and sustainable street light project every embarked upon by any state government in Nigeria. Our Ossiomo power partners provides the power with which these lights as well as numerous businesses and factories are powered. In Edo today, we can boast of 24hours of interrupted power. Our secretariat and government offices also enjoy this service.

Haven conquered the power deficit that plagues Nigeria, our state now commands a strong presence of business and commerce as the Benin Airport is now among busiest airport in Nigeria while our hotels growing exponentially are experiencing close to 80% occupancy rates.

This is not by coincidence but by planning, strategy and collaboration with all arms of government.

As we go to the polls on Saturday March 18, 2023, Edo people have a choice to vote all PDP candidates into the Edo State House of Assembly for sustainable development or expose our state to a party whose only agenda is to have its hand on the levers of government for self interest. They have no plans, no legislative agenda but embroiled in anger and vendetta.

Over the last six years and especially in the last few weeks, APC have failed to prove that they are worthy of our trust.

Let’s keep progress in power!


Chris Osa Nehikhare
Hon Commissioner for Communication&Orientation

Edo govt debunks illegal disengagement of staff of College of Education, Igueben

The Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Media Projects, Crusoe Osagie, has described as fake, letters of termination of the appointment handed to some employees of the College of Education in Igueben.

In a statement, Osagie urged the general public to disregard the notice, as it is null and void.

He said, “The attention of the Edo State Government has been drawn to the illegal termination of the appointment of employees of the College of Education in Igueben.

“The general public and anyone who may have received such letters should kindly disregard it. The Edo State Government is completely unaware and distances itself from such notice.”

Osagie further charged, “All staff of the institution are by this notice advised to carry on with their lawful duties as this is the handiwork of mischief makers who are trying to stir crisis in the state ahead of the Saturday, March 18 House of Assembly elections.”