₦airaland Forum

The Edo State Government has intensified efforts to ensure that petroleum products are sold at the regulated pump price of N145 per litre, following steady supply of the products to the state.

Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Oil & Gas, Hon. Joseph Ugheoke, disclosed this during a meeting with stakeholders in the oil and gas sector and security agencies in the state.

The commissioner said the ministry has set up an information desk to attend to complaints of commuters and other consumers of petroleum products in the state with complaints about unscrupulous marketers who are either hoarding products or selling above the approved prices.

He added that, in two weeks’ time, officials of the ministry and other relevant bodies will go on a tour of petrol stations that were reported to be selling petroleum products above the regulated prices to enforce strict sanctions.

He explained that “though the meeting was the first this year, it would continue on a monthly basis to ensure that marketers and distributors who buy petrol at government price, sell at the approved N145 per litre.”

The commissioner noted that the state government remains committed to the welfare of its citizen hence the meeting of stakeholders in the sector and security agencies to brainstorm on ways to reduce the rising price of the product and stop the artificial scarcity of the products.

“Members of the public are required to always furnish the information desk at the Ministry with relevant information for urgent intervention," he said and appealed to distributors and marketers to cooperate with the state government to ameliorate the sufferings of the people.

The commissioner, however, warned defaulters that strict measures will be meted on anyone who goes against government’s directives.

Triple Gbosaaa to the most active Governor; GBOSAAA!, GBOSAAA! GBOSAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

Osabass:
Edo people have won again.

Thanks to Governor Obaseki for providing a level-playing ground for all contestants.

I agree with you, and I am sure that this level=playing ground will extend to the general election.

Congratulations Edo State.

Very Sad!

The dark days are over in Edo State. Never will the active and responsive Governor Godwin Obaseki allow 'the powers of darkness people' to reign in fear and terror on the masses again.

The Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has commiserated with the family of the late former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Dahiru Musdapher, the people of Jigawa State and Nigerians, over the death of the former CJN.

Obaseki noted that Justice Musdapher’s death is a great loss to his family and the nation at large.

While praying the Almighty Allah to grant his soul eternal rest, the governor said that “the late Jurist will be remembered for his life-long contributions to the nation’s judiciary which have been referenced by eminent Nigerians since the news of his death broke.”

He said Justice Musdapher’s commitment to hard work saw him rise through the judiciary ranks, beginning with a laudable practice in the bar, his appointment as the Attorney General of old Kaduna State, a Judge in the Kano State Judiciary and his rise to the position of the Chief Judge of the state before he was promoted to the position of the Justice of the Court of Appeal.

He was elevated as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and retired five years ago as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

Obaseki consoled the family to “find comfort in the good and exemplary life of Justice Musdapher,” which he described as “a model for Nigerians aspiring to attain similar height in life.”

My sincere advice to those planning to disrupt the state and upturn the people's will is that they should have a quick rethink and let peace alone, or else, the people's might will overrun them.

L-R: Executive Director, China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), Jason Wang; Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; Secretary to the Edo State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq., and Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Taiwo Akerele, after a meeting between representatives of CHEC and officials of Edo State Government, on the commencement of the development of Gelegele Seaport at Government House in Benin City, on Tuesday, January 23, 2018.

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (right); Executive Director, China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) Ltd., Jason Wang; Managing Director, ICMG Securities Limited, Michael Osime and Engineer, CHEC, Chengjie Ma, during a meeting between representatives of CHEC and officials of Edo State Government, on the commencement of the development of Gelegele Seaport at Government House in Benin City, on Tuesday, January 23, 2018.

L-R: Secretary to Edo State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq., Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; Executive Director, China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) Ltd., Jason Wang, and Managing Director, ICMG Securities Limited, Michael Osime, after a meeting of CHEC representatives with officials of Edo State Government, at the Government House, Benin City, on Tuesday, January 23, 2018.

Above Photo

L-R: Engineer, China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) Ltd., Chengjie Ma; Executive Director, CHEC, Jason Wang; Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; and Managing Director, ICMG Securities Limited, Michael Osime, after a meeting between representatives of CHEC and officials of Edo State Government, on the commencement of the development of Gelegele Seaport at Government House in Benin City, on Tuesday, January 23, 2018.

Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the construction of Gelegele Seaport between the Edo State Government and China Habour Engineering Company (CHEC) Ltd., in China three weeks ago, senior officials of the company arrived Benin City, Tuesday, to commence preliminary development.

The Executive Director of the company, Mr Jason Wang, led the team of engineers from the Chinese firm to begin the execution of the project with the development of a masterplan for the project, feasibility study and an in-depth assessment of the Gelegele Seaport Report submitted by the Engr. Greg Ero-led Technical Committee on the Actualisation of the seaport, to the state government.

Exactly 21 days ago, China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd., the most renowned marine engineering and port development company which constructed over 90 percent of the seaports in China, signed an MoU with the Edo State Government to develop the Gelegele Seaport.

The company with over 90 branches and operating in about 100 countries across the world commenced operations in 1994, handling various projects in Nigeria including Calabar, Warri ports and most recently, the $1billion Lekki Deep Seaport.

During the meeting with Governor Obaseki and other senior officials of the Edo State Government, Wang explained that apart from the Gelegele Seaport, his company will also carry out other infrastructural projects including access roads and rail projects as well as the dredging of 35 nautical miles of the seaport.

In his response, Governor Godwin Obaseki, welcomed the members of the CHEC team and stressed that the speedy implementation of the MoU shows the commitment of both parties to the actualisation of the project.

“We signed the agreement exactly 21 days ago and our Chinese partners are here today to commence preliminary work on the project. This shows the seriousness of both China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd., and Edo State Government. It also shows that we have chosen the right partners. 90 percent of the ports in China were built by this company.

“In terms of experience, there are not many companies in the world that can match CHEC. The governor stressed that another unique advantage of the partnership is that the Chinese company will help to raise the financing as they have done for many other projects in Nigeria, including the $1billion Lekki Deep Seaport that they have helped to finance at an interest rate of 2.5 percent with facility from the China EXIM Bank.

“We are excited to be working with people like you. Under this project, we want to build road and rail access. We want to use this access to build a toll road from Benin to Okpella. You have taken the project very seriously and we want to assure you that we have the political will to execute this project,” Obaseki said.

The governor hinted that the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, has assured that all the approvals needed for the project will be given at the federal level.

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Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (right); Facilitator/Coordinator, Maritime Security Agency (MSA), Bishop Goodluck Akpore (2nd from right); Member, MSA, Igiebor. O. Semi (2nd from left), and Acting Director-General, MSA, Awighoza Friday (left), during the courtesy visit by MSA to the governor at the Government House in Benin City, Edo State.

…to support bill on Maritime Security Agency

The Edo State Government has disclosed that it is in talks with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to harness the state’s water resources to generate electricity.

This was disclosed by the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, when he received the Coordinator and Officers of the Maritime Security Agency (MSA) during the group’s courtesy visit to the governor at the Government House in Benin City, Edo State.

Obaseki said the partnership talks with the UNDP on electricity generation is to strengthen the state government’s efforts to promote economic activities.

He said, “We are currently working with the UNDP to develop a mini-hydro project from the water resources in the state, specifically from Ovia and Ikpoba Rivers.

“We have identified two major projects. The state government will take advantage of the opportunity provided by these water bodies to generate electricity to boost economic activities in the state.”

According to Obaseki, “this administration is open to collaboration with relevant groups and agencies to complement government policies designed to grow the economy of the state and secure our internal waterways.”

The governor added that his administration supports the bill for the establishment of the Maritime Security Agency as the creation of the agency will safeguard internal waterways across the country.

Coordinator and facilitator, Maritime Security Agency, Bishop Goodluck Akpore, commended the governor for his drive in promoting economic development in the state, noting “your effort in promoting economic development in the state is visible to all.”

Akpore said the objectives of the agency include to provide security, information and mechanisms to protect national maritime zones in the country, coordinate Nigeria’s Maritime security in collaboration and consultation with the relevant agencies.

A thanksgiving mass was held on Monday at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Benin, Edo State, to celebrate the freedom of six Catholic sisters from the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus Convent in Edo State, who regained freedom after 53 days in captivity.

Speaking at the ceremony, the state Governor, Godwin Obaseki, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Mr. Philip Shaibu, said, “We thank God that we have a Commissioner of Police that is concerned. With what we are working on, I can tell you that Edo State will be safer than it is now. “Working with the security chiefs and the programmes on creating wealth, I can assure you that incidents like this, if not completely eradicated, will be minimized.”

Gunmen had on November 13, 2017, stormed the convent in Iguoriakhi, Ovia South-West Local Government Area of the state, and three reverend sisters – Aloysius Ajayi, Frances Udi and Roselyn Isiocha – with three other females were taken away in a speedboat.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Johnson Kokumo, told journalists that the release of the sisters had provided an opportunity for the police to improve their operation on the waterways. He said, “From their release, we have learnt some lessons; lessons on how to be more proactive in the future and fight hoodlums on our waterways, because after they had kidnapped the sisters, the abductors went through the waterways. We have identified the porosity of our waterways. This, of course, we have improved upon. The new security architecture embraces adequate security on our waterways, with adequate gunboats patrol all the time.”

The Superior-General of the convent, Sister Agatha Osarekhoe, expressed gratitude to God and commended the leaders of the church, the state government and security agencies for their support. Osarekhoe described the abduction as unimaginable, but at the same time, a test of faith.
The victims however said they had since forgiven their abductors.

One of the victims, sister Isiocha, who spoke on behalf of her colleagues, said although their experience with the gunmen was horrific, it has increased their faith in God. “For everything that may have happened, we continue to thank the good Lord for what he has done for us and what he will continue to do in our lives. It was not a good experience, but in everything, we thank God. It has increased our faith and trust in God. With this experience, we can now help others to trust in God more.

“We have forgiven them. Even as we were there, we kept praying for them, for their conversion. Many thoughts came, but we strongly believed that God was in control’’.

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has expressed readiness to partner with Edo indigenes in the diaspora to engender social economic growth, especially in empowering women and girls in the state.

Obaseki disclosed this when he hosted Ms. Blessing Itua, a United States of America-based Edo indigene and Gender and Development Advocate/Founder, Blessing of Africa Empowerment, who was on a courtesy visit to the governor, at the Government House, Benin City.

Governor Obaseki said the state government is ready to partner with the diaspora community, in empowering women to open up the space for women participation in efforts to transform the state into an economic hub.

Obaseki said, “the state government will take advantage of the human resources in the diaspora community to promote socio-economic growth and development, and to make life better for Edo people.”

He said the state is not only blessed with natural resources but with human resources, noting, “This administration is designing a development roadmap that will enable the state partner investors, including the indigenes of the state who are in the diaspora, in specific areas of need, especially women empowerment.”

Obaseki said, "As a state, our destiny is in our hands and we will ensure that we utilise the opportunity to create wealth and prosperity for the people. The roadmap for development being designed will enable the state partner with the diaspora community. This will enable the indigenes of the state who are based abroad to come and undertake projects. We are creating the right environment for things to work as we also plan to generate correct information and data for effective planning.”

The governor commended Ms Itua, a recipient of the President Barack Obama Award of Service, for her determination in undertaking projects that have positively impacted lives.

Ms. Blessing Itua, earlier, said she was in the state to support the laudable achievements of the governor and seek areas of collaboration with the state government on women empowerment, human trafficking, training, medical tourism and aviation.

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has urged workers in the state to collaborate with his administration to drive socio-economic growth and prosperity for the people of the state.

Obaseki gave the charge at the weekend when he joined members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in celebrating their end-of-the-year/get-together party, in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

The governor commended members of NLC for their resilience in supporting government and its programmes while the economic recession lasted.

Obaseki assured the workers that he is always ready to lend listening ears to their pleas, noting, “If Oshiomhole is yours, I, Governor Godwin Obaseki, I am equally yours. I am here as governor to always listen to your pleas.”

He promised to always seek to meet their collective interest as the state government has initiated policies on health insurance and housing mortgage for the benefit of workers in the state.

“For us, this is a year of hope, as we anticipate achieving more progress through collaboration,” he said.

Obaseki said the state government will continue to sustain industrial harmony with all labour groups in the state, adding, “peaceful environment remains priority in ensuring socio-economic growth and prosperity in the state. The greatest value of labour is to ensure service delivery and we want to harness that for the benefit of the people.”

He added that his administration will collaborate with labour groups such as the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in reforming the basic education system.

Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Emmanuel Ademokun, said that the governor has made giant strides in promoting socio-economic development in the state.

He commended the governor for the ongoing construction works across the state, including the ongoing construction at the Palm House, which will benefit workers in the state.

“The proactive approach of Governor Godwin Obaseki in ensuring the spread of development across the state is highly commendable,” he said.

Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki has said that the construction of the 5,500 barrels-per-day-(bpd)-capacity Edo Modular Refinery will commence in the next three months to create jobs, train youths and guarantee availability of petroleum products.

Obaseki said this at the weekend during the APC Mega Rally at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, noting that the refinery project was one of the offshoots of his recent business trip to China.

According to him, “You can recall that I was in China recently. I went there to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with some Chinese companies.

“We have signed the agreement for the construction of the first Modular Refinery in this country. The refinery will be located in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of the state. Construction work will commence in three months’ time.”

A 12-month timeline has been set for the first phase of the project, after necessary approvals from the relevant regulatory authorities.

The governor said that the project is geared towards delivering his promise of 200,000 jobs in the state, adding that one of the biggest industrial parks in Nigeria will also be constructed in the state.

Recall that the governor signed an MoU with a Chinese consortium that is made up of Peiyang Chemical Equipment Company of China (PCC), a world leading modular refinery company; Sinopec International Petroleum Service Corporation (SIPS) which is a subsidiary of Sinopec, a top chemical giant in the world, and African Infrastructure Partners (AIP), a Nigerian infrastructure company.

Governor Obaseki, expressed his delight at the local content component of the deal, which will ensure that Edo citizens and residents are trained in welding, refinery operation and fabrication works to enable them participate in the construction of the refinery as well as its operation, post-commissioning.

In continuation of the phased payment of pension arrears in the state, the Edo State Government has called on pensioners in batch 40 to present themselves for physical and documentary verification from January 23 to 24 at Imaguero School Hall, Benin City.

In a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary/Chairman, Pensions Bureau, I.D.S Juwobor, the state government said the exercise will also afford pensioners in batches 37, 38 and 39, who missed previous verification exercises, the opportunity to be screened and get their records taken to facilitate payment of their arrears.

According to him, “Affected pensioners are advised to check the list of pensioners in the batches at the office of the Head of Service on January 22 and 23. They are to come to the venue of the verification exercise with the following:
1. Pension Authority,
2. Retirement Letter,
3. Letter of first appointment,
4. Pension Identity Card,
5. Biometric Slip
6. Bank details including Bank Name and Account Number.”

He said upon conclusion of the verification exercise, outstanding pension arrears will be credited into each pensioner's account, “without delay after due process and documentation by relevant agencies involved in the payment process.”

Recall that the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration opted for the phased payment of pension arrears after it met a backlog of about N10 billion. The phased payment of the arrears has reduced the arrears by about N6 billion, providing succour to pensioners whose arrears accrued from 1996 to 2000.

*Obaseki harps on grassroots development, wins Midwest Personality of the Year Award*

Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki has reiterated his administration’s commitment to grassroots development, noting that efforts to develop rural communities will positively impact the lives of ordinary people.

Governor Obaseki said this when he received the Midwest Personality of the Year Award at the MidWest Tempo 2017 Annual Awards organised by MidWest Tempo Magazine, a community newspaper in Benin City.

Represented by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr Crusoe Osagie, Obaseki said that he values the views of those at the grassroots because they are honest and are not coated to earn cheap favours.

According to him, “We place premium on the ordinary people and appreciate newspapers like this, which is the voice of the ordinary people. For a community newspaper to recognize me as their Personality of the year, it is a commendable verdict.

“Some people may flatter you, but the people in the grassroots will tell you the truth. They have spoken here today about the effectiveness of this government and we have heard them loud and clear.”

In a lecture at the event titled "Time to Renegotiate our Corporate Existence", Sen. Ehigie Uzamere on his part, made a case for the Nigerian government to heed the call from different groups in Nigeria to address rising tension across the country. He called for genuine commitment among leaders to the cause of nationhood, noting, “once our corporate existence is rested on the tripod of equity, truth and egalitarianism, true federalism will become a fait accomli and our corporate existence will be guaranteed.”

The rattled image maker of the infamous Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Chris Nehikhare has come out to say that Governor Godwin Obaseki offered to pay his medical bills when he took ill. This is against his earlier declaration that the story was a figment of the imagination of the APC.

His half truth can be likened to a popular Benin parable which says that when a thief admits stealing a few tubers of yam, be certain that he stole the missing bags of yam. (Oyi gha miugan kue, aghi ren we re ewa ere o domu)

Our insistence that Mr. Chris Nehikhare begs the Governor for money has made him admit that he fell ill at a time, though he still lies about being the one that asked the Governor for money to pay his medical bills. Nehikhare should be courageous enough to bare it all. His half truth is good, and has vindicated us, but telling it all will make him a real hero, even if he stands to lose his job with PDP.

The world knows who to believe between us and a PDP spokesman who defends the activities of bandits that parade themselves as a political party.

Very soon, Nehikhare will tell it all.

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Member representing Egor/Ikpoba Okha Federal Constituency, Honourable Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayinma and former gubernatorial aspirant, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), who at the weekend decamped to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, have said that they took the decision because of the exceptional brilliance and finesse the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration is bringing to governance in the state.

The former PDP stalwarts, said that they decided to jump ship because the PDP refused to follow the rule of law.

Speaking at the APC Mega Rally held at the weekend at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, they agreed that the Edo State government under Governor Obaseki is not only working but is worthy of emulation by other governors across the country.

According to Hon. Agbonayinma, “We have decided to join the APC and Governor Obaseki because PDP has refused to follow the rule of law. We are also here because the government under the APC and Obaseki is working. To be part of the work to make Edo great. I and Hon Mathew tried our best to make PDP straight, but they refused.

“When a governor is working, you have no other option than to join him and not to oppose him.Governor Obaseki is truly working. Everyone, including a blind man can see the work the governor is doing across the state. So, why oppose someone who is working in the interest of the people. Other governors in Nigeria should emulate what Edo State governor is doing for the people.

"The governor is not a politician but a technocrat who has the interest of the people at heart. He believes in doing the right thing.”

For former PDP gubernatorial aspirant, Iduoriyekemwen, the move became necessary as they could not continue to oppose the progressive policies driven by Governor Obaseki who has brought change to governance and the state’s economy.

According to him, “I am here today, with all my followers who are sons and daughters, to be part of a great movement in Edo State. We decided to join the Obaseki’s team and the APC as we can no longer continue to oppose the good things across the state. We believe that this will make Edo State better, to make the state become the best, we all need to unite to support the governor who is interested in making the state work.”

“The governor does not need any political distraction. All Obaseki needs to achieve his good intentions for the state is the support of progressives in the state. So, we are here to support his quest to develop our state for the benefit of the masses,” he added.

He said one of the landmark achievements of the governor was restoring order in different parts of the state, which has transformed Benin City, adding “If you go through Ring Road, you will drive through easily, same with new Benin and Ekiosa. All the places we thought were impossible to clear, have been cleared today. The governor is making Edo State work and it is because of that we decided to join the governor and his team to make Edo great.”

Since the APC's Mega Rally in Benin City, where former PDP leaders defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday, January 19, Mr. Chris Nehikhare has not known peace.

Those close to him say he has been lamenting about the fate of the dying party and his dwindling political value in the state's political space.

Nehikhare's frustration is understandable. Every spokesman's ambition is to capture more hearts, ears and minds. In his case, his audience is dwindling by the day and very soon, he will be issuing press statements that will be read only by himself.

The fear of talking to only himself hunts him daily and the only way he can express his growing depression is to resort to vituperations.

For Nehikhare to describe the APC Mega Rally at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium as a tragic failure where "two or three former PDP members" decamped to the APC, shows how scared he is of the truth.

We know that Nehikhare's feeble attempt to rally nonexistent support for the highly degraded PDP is to justify his monthly stipend from his paymasters, which he fears might reduce to a few naira notes in the coming days, as more PDP members join the progressives in the APC.

If the APC's new members - Matthew Iduoriyekemwen and Hon. Johnson Agbonayinma with their followers, some of whom were introduced at the rally, are just "two or three," according to Nehikhare, then, the PDP spokesman surely did not pass his basic arithmetics.

Serious people who know Nehikhare as a serial liar, 2-faced and sunk in the political waters of Edo State do not pay his illogical quibbling any attention.

No serious image maker will be speaking for party A, only to run to party B by night, to beg for money to pay his medical bills. Only PDP members are notorious for such level of disloyalty and fraud as deceit runs in their veins.

Since the APC Mega Rally, more PDP members have expressed their readiness to work with Governor Godwin Obaseki to consolidate on the gains of the APC in Edo State.

If the defection of Hon. Johnson Agbonayinma and former gubernatorial aspirant, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen is not a huge blow to the PDP, why did the dying party work so tirelessly to stop them?

Edo South has been completely taken by the APC and the few members of the PDP in Edo Central have sent words of their imminent defection.


By Chris Azebamwan.
Chris Azebamwan is the Edo State APC Publicity Secretary

and more..

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The Edo State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) dealt a big blow to the camp of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state on Friday, with the decamping of major PDP heavyweights, including Member representing Egor/Ikpoba Okha Federal Constituency, Honourable Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayinma and former gubernatorial aspirant of the PDP, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen.

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki led the party leadership to receive Hon. Agbonayinma and Hon. Iduoriyekemwen and their followers at its Mega Rally, which hosted party chieftains and members across the state, at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

Governor Obaseki, who welcomed the new members of the party, said that they have further swelled the ranks of the party to become an indomitable force in the state, adding that they would enjoy all due benefits as party members.

-Obaseki Assures of More Developments, Gives Credit to Oshiomhole.
Further in his speech, Gov. Obaseki maintained that the infrastructural development being witnessed in the state is linked to the solid foundation laid by his predecessor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

According to him, “Edo is working today, because Oshiomhole laid the foundation. Edo people have not seen anything yet. We will continue to demonstrate efforts in sustaining good governance. I am making effort to attract investors to the state as this administration is committed to building the biggest industrial park in Nigeria on our promise to facilitate job opportunities and engage 200, 000 youths, and we will achieve that before the year 2020.”

The governor assured that a modular refinery will be built in the state as part of the outcome for his recent visit to China, promising to replicate development in every local government in the state.

-Oshiomhole Urges Edo APC To Clinch Delta
On his part, Oshiomhole said that the action of the defectors to Edo APC reinforces the total clearing and cleansing of the opposition in the state, who, according to him, balkanized the state almost beyond repair.

He stressed that the APC is running on the principle of social democracy, making a case for the state chapter of the party to reclaim Delta State from the PDP, to extend the developmental strides to their brothers and sisters with whom they formed the old Bendel State.

He said, “Our aim in APC is to transfer power to the people as we have successfully taken power from the few who claimed to be godfathers and impoverished the masses.

On his charge for the state APC to advance into Delta State, he said, “Together, we will sweep whatever is left out of Edo State and Delta. Comrades, we have secured Edo State, now we must advance to Delta. In the spirit of Bendel, which was governed by the late Samuel Ogbemudia, we must carry more brooms to Asaba and sweep all the way to Warri and install an APC governor in Asaba, so that the resources of Asaba can be used for the benefit of Deltans.”

https://www.google.com.ng/amp/s/www.vanguardngr.com/2018/01/edo-agog-apc-receives-pdp-reps-member-ex-pdp-guber-aspirant-followers/amp/

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The former Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, on Friday saluted the laudable achievements of his successor, Governor Godwin Obaseki, despite the country’s economic challenges.

Oshiomhole gave the commendation while commissioning 75 new intra-city buses purchased by the Obaseki-led administration, to boost the fleet of the Comrade Bus scheme, an initiative of the former governor.

“I am humbled by your accomplishments and I am proud that you are fulfilling all the promises that we made during the 2016 electioneering campaign. You are working tirelessly to industrialise the state and make life easy for the people,” Oshiomhole said.

He noted that Obaseki was building on his legacy and delivering the dividends of democracy at a time “many governors are complaining that there is no money and they are unable to pay salaries.”

The former governor said: “You have developed your own creativity to attract resources to the state and this reflects your competence and ability to develop the economy of the state.

Governor Obaseki explained that public transportation is a core and strategic sector to focus on, as it impacts directly on the lives of the masses. He said the buses will improve the quality of intra-city transport service in the state.

He added that the revamp of the Edo State Traffic Management Agency(EDSTMA), rehabilitation of feeder roads across the state, the on-going construction of an ultra-modern bus terminal and prohibition of street trading, show the commitment of the present administration towards changing the face of the sector.

He said his administration was working on phasing out rickety commercial buses in the state and refurbish 70 of the old Daewoo buses.

On the absence of a regulatory body in the transport sector, Obaseki assured that his administration was working on a bill for the establishment of a regulatory agency for the sector.

Managing Director of Edo City Transport Service Ltd. (ECTS), Mrs Edugie Agbonlahor, said the introduction of the new buses would revitalise the Edo Comrade Bus Scheme and put smiles on the faces of passengers.

Commissioner for Infrastructure, Engr. Osahon Amiolemen, said his ministry would build a befitting head office for the ECTS and bus terminals across the state.

The dying days of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State are here at last as two major pillars of the party in the state, Honourable Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayinma, representing Ikpoba-Okha/ Egor Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and former gubernatorial aspirant of the PDP, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) today at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.

The two progressives who resisted frantic efforts by members of the dying PDP to leave the ailing party, are bringing into the APC, their teeming followers across the state.

Their defection is a confirmation of the fact that PDP will not recover from its electoral wounds and misfortunes in Edo State which the party foisted on itself after squandering Edo people’s goodwill of over eight years as the ruling party.

PDP is down and sunk in Edo political waters and never to rise again. Never again will Edo people be led by a bandit like the PDP, renowned and very notorious for betraying trust, rationalising graft and looting our commonwealth.

Never again will a party that flourishes in lies and deceit like the PDP be allowed to hold sway in Edo State. The years of the PDP in Edo State were like the years the locust ate. Our public schools were in their worst state, roads were in dire straits and other sectors of the state were in distress due to corruption, instituted by the PDP.

Edo State has been rescued from the grip of the PDP and the state is well on its way to greatness again. Join the progressives. Let us Go further together.