₦airaland Forum

…says Obaseki’s Making Edo Great Again (MEGA) manifesto is people-centric

The Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki on Media and Communication Strategy, Crusoe Osagie, has challenged the former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, to be courageous enough to tell Nigerians the truth about the circumstances that led to his removal, as bandying lies on national television will not save his drowning political image.

Osagie who was responding to claims made by Oshiomhole on ARISE Television programme on Monday morning, noted that “no amount of lies can controvert the fact that Oshiomhole’s political misfortune is self-inflicted.”

According to the governor’s aide, “Contrary to the narrative being advanced by the sacked national chairman that he was a victim of power play, Nigerians who have followed the events that led to Oshiomhole’s ouster closely, can attest to the fact that he was a victim of his own indiscretion and unholy machinations.

“In fact, in Edo State, Oshiomhole was the powerful force that millions of Edo people fought against, so that the governor could breathe and deliver good governance to them.”

“Nigerians know that Oshiomhole was sacked for his gross abuse of power and not the narrative he has been bandying on television. His obsession with power and absolute control of same, drove the APC to a near catastrophic situation.

“He was elected to build on the achievements of his predecessor, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, but he frittered away the enormous goodwill he inherited and embarked on personal battles that cost the APC such states as Zamfara, Sokoto, Oyo and created factions within the National Working Committee of the APC. So it was only natural that the consequences of the strife, crisis and divisions that he caused would come calling someday.

“In Edo State, Oshiomhole turned against Governor Obaseki when the governor failed to yield to his subservience and his grand plot to rule by proxy. He literally invaded the Edo APC and set up parallel structures to hijack it. His predecessor, Chief Odigie-Oyegun allowed the state’s structure of the APC to carry out its activities without any interference. To Oshiomhole’s immoderation, Edo State is today a PDP state and we are free from his inanities.

“The former national chairman of the APC mortgaged the internal cohesion of the party, which ought to have been his primary task, for personal interest and set the APC on a roller coaster to disaster, until the president intervened.”

He added: “Today, Oshiomhole has found it convenient to rewrite history, by playing the victim in an event he was the sole protagonist. But Nigerians will not fall for such a trick.”

On Oshiomhole’s claim that Obaseki does not have a manifesto, Osagie explained: “Obaseki has since unveiled his Making Edo Great Again (MEGA) manifesto to Edo people and the manifesto is clear about the direction the Obaseki-led government will take the state in the next four years.”

Osagie queried, “How can a man that Oshiomhole publicly acknowledged as the brain box of his eight-year administration not have a manifesto?

“Oshiomhole keeps running from one issue to another when confronted with facts and superior argument. He once called Governor Obaseki an MoU Governor. But the moment we confronted him with photographs of the CCETC-Ossiomo Independent power plant project that is awaiting commissioning; the Benin Refinery project which is at 70% completion; the EDPA-Mixta Nigeria Housing Estate and several other projects birthed by Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), the former governor, stopped calling Obaseki an MoU governor.

“Edo people are very intelligent people who cannot be deceived with lies and propaganda. We have facts on ground in virtually all sectors of the state that speak to the performance of the Obaseki-led government.

“The Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation programme (EDOBEST) has attracted the attention of several state and national governments who have come to understudy the policy.”

Godwin Obaseki is governor of Edo State until Nov 12 2024. God has decreed it already. #GODmustWIN

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has kicked off his re-election campaign for the 2020 governorship polls in Edo North Senatorial District of the state, with a visit to the palace of the Otaru of Igarra, Oba Emmanuel Adeche Saiki II.

The governor who led a number of members of the Edo PDP Campaign Council to the palace, noted that he is seeking re-election to continue to deliver good governance to the people and consolidate on the gains made in his first term.

Governor Obaseki is popular in the Igarra and neighbouring towns for constructing the most roads in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area and providing jobs for the teeming youths in the locality.

He is riding on a wave of support from different groups within and outside the state for his re-election.

Follow Governor Obaseki on Social Media

Website: www.godwinobaseki.com
Facebook: fb.com/godwinobasekiofficial
Twitter: @governorobaseki
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Official Whatsapp Number: +2349025944616
Telegram: https:///GGOnewsofficial

…assures security, peace ahead of guber poll

…Muslims in Edo hail governor’s achievements, reaffirm support for reelection

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has accused the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state of planning violence and importing arms to intimidate and harass his supporters as the September 19, 2020 gubernatorial election nears.

The governor, who said this while receiving Muslim leaders at Government House, in Benin City, expressed his readiness to stand with the people, defend their interests and develop the state.

Obaseki said: “I am not afraid of any man but God. I know the gang up is to provoke me and my supporters but we will not fall for their tricks as God will help us.

“As I speak to you now, you can't imagine that Police from Abuja are already in the state and have been paid to arrest our supporters. They have been paid by a billionaire to arrest Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supporters in the state. This billionaire sponsored the attacks on me and other PDP governors at the Palace. This is to tell you the level of corruption and impunity we face.”

He added: “They are planning violence, bringing arms, intimidating our supporters as part of their strategy. They know that if we have a free and fair election, they stand no chance. Their strategy is to continue with their propaganda and lies. They know they don't have a record of performance; their plan is just to intimidate our supporters and ensure they stay off the polling booth.

“They attacked my supporters and wanted me to react to the attacks. I will not attack them back because as the Chief Security Officer of the state, my responsibility is to maintain peace. We would continue to do that at all costs.”

Governor Obaseki assured Edo people that the developmental strides in the state had just begun as the first four year of his administration were used in laying the foundation which will be built on in the next four years.

“What Edo people have witnessed in the first four years is only the beginning of greater things. The first term is for laying the foundation for greatness. The foundation has been laid; we will build on it to make life better for Edo people.

“We have improved education, healthcare, agriculture, roads, infrastructure, environment, civil service and the economy of Edo State, ensuring that the life of every Edo man is improved for the better,” he added.

The Chief Imam of Benin Central Mosque, Alhaji Fatai Enabulele, who led leaders of the Islamic community drawn from different parts of the state to pay Sallah homage to the governor, said Muslims in the state are proud of Governor Obaseki for the developmental strides recorded in the state.

He said the governor has done well in the last four years of his administration, reassuring that the Muslims in the state will reward him with their votes come September 19, 2020.

Enabulele noted: “You have scored distinction in your first term and we will overwhelmingly reward you with another four years in office by casting our vote for you in the forthcoming governorship election.

“The election is not about religion or tribal sentiments but about understanding the vision and mission of Edo people and Obaseki understand this.”

“Your administration has provided progressive, pragmatic, dynamic policies and programmes to touch the lives of millions of Edo people across the state and beyond,” the cleric added.

In a continuation of his series of publicity stunts to Edo royal fathers, a former governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole has recently been reaching out to eminent persons who are close to the Onojie of Uromi, HRH Anselm Okojie, Aidenojie II, to seek forgiveness.

Almost four years ago, just three days to the end of his second tenure as governor, Oshiomhole had deposed the monarch in a brazen assault on our traditional institution. In his authoritarian manner, he rejected pleas from all quarters, including HRH himself, not to sack the Uromi town monarch.

It was the present Edo State governor, HE Godwin Obaseki, who, barely six months into his government reinstated the Onojie.

As the September 19, 2020 Edo gubernatorial election approaches, Oshiomhole, who was recently sacked as national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been making frantic, face-saving efforts to garner support against the incumbent governor.

Credible sources have confirmed that the Uromi monarch has outrightly rejected Oshiomhole’s overtures, on the grounds that the public would perceive it as not being genuine and influenced by the forthcoming election. With their penchant for giving financial rewards, amongst other inordinate offers, the highly revered Esan monarch does not wish to be associated with such unholy alliances against the sitting governor.

His stance notwithstanding, the peace-loving monarch has advised Oshiomhole that he can return to the palace after the guber election, and that his pleas may be accepted when the appropriate conciliatory traditional rites have been performed.

AN OPEN LETTER TO MR. IDAHOSA OKUNBOR (‘CAPTAIN HOSA’, the Retired Aeroplane Captain from Orhua Village) (Vol. 1 Re-enacted)

July 21, 2020

The President, Midwest Progressives Forum (MPF) Mr Andrew Adaze Emwanta Esq, has written an open letter to Mr Idahosa OKUNBOR a.k.a Captain Hosa, read full text below:

‘An error does not become a mistake until we refuse to correct it.’ – John Fitzgerald Kennedy

It is with a deep sense of personal responsibility that l write you this letter, with the hope that you digest its every content(s) with an open heart. I will not join the clique of those who tag you as a “flying” drug baron or a guru in the vice of arms dealing via foreign oil transportation. It is for this particular reason you personally arranged the arrest of a political aide to the Governor of Edo State, Hon. Marvelous Zibiri, who you later settled and compelled, with the aid of the police, to help you in doing a hatchet media job, in order to buffer your rickety public reputation. I believe you are an industrialist in whatever sense you have been painted, involved in philanthropic activities within elitist circles. That is what you will surely be remembered for. Unfortunately, you will also be remembered by bookmakers as one of the men who carelessly and needlessly fought His Excellency, Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki, as Governor of Edo State. But, please note that you are not God to determine the destiny of a man to whom God has given the reins of power, via the popular mandate of Edo people. No amount of blackmail from you or any other mortal of Nigerian origin can change the love the masses of Edo people, (both at home and in the Diaspora), have for their God-sent, sincere, well-meaning, committed and highly performing Governor. Have you ever thought of running for any public office, let alone the office of Governor? I guess yes, but with trepidation you thought of one thing which is already in the public domain: your past records.

I won’t bother going into the details of your many attempts at sponsoring various persons to run against the incumbent Governor within the APC fold and your desire to be the next Esama of Benin, at all cost. The choice of who becomes Governor of Edo State is not the same as that of the noble office of the Esama of Benin. The current occupier of that Chieftaincy is still very much hale and hearty. So allow God to be God in the affairs of Edo people. You can’t play God. Adams Oshiomhole tried it and you know his present status in the scheme of Nigerian politics. He has been sent into political oblivion by his APC ward Chairman in his village on account of political charges levelled against him for indiscipline and anti-party activities. In the history of global politics, no national ruling party Chairman has been so humiliated or vapourized from the political scene, the way Oshiomhole fell from his Olympian height, as a political fixer to the present hollowed-out figure that he is. Out of fear, and in his desperation to remain relevant, he now enters into his community in Edo at night, in company of hired Okada riders from a neighbouring village. What a political fall from grace to grass!

Therefore, it was with great consternation that I read your recently released piece, with the caption “AN OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI AND THE GOOD PEOPLE OF EDO STATE: PLEASE, URGE GOVERNOR GODWIN OBASEKI TO LEAVE ME ALONE”, where you sought to drag the name of the Governor of Edo State into your perennial personality travails in the media space. If you have problems with Edo people’s perception about your past or current hideous political activities, does that make it a conflict with Edo State Government or the Governor? It was rather pedestrian when in that very uncharitable and vexatiously verbose media piece published in a couple of national dailies you stooped so low to have even mentioned that the Governor told you that “politicians are rogues” and listed your attempts at supporting activities of the Edo State Government, which you are a chief beneficiary of, whether in person or by proxy, since 1999. Examples of your benefits from government, whether State or Federal, are countless, but one will suffice. During the regime of Adams Oshiomhole, in a rather fraudulent manner, Airport Road Benin expansion project was awarded thrice to three different corporate entities and yours was one of them. In the media release under review, you claimed to be a philanthropic person. Conversely, you belong to and come from a community, which is Orhua town in Uhunmwode Local Government Area of Edo State. What visible socio-economic or public-spirited contributions have you made there? Absolutely none, if one is to go by the adage, “charity begins at home”. The money you spent in accommodating and feeding the renegade Edo State legislators-elect in Abuja for the past one year, would have been deployed into better causes, if truly you are a man of peace, as you claim. Acts of political philanthropy like the one just highlighted, can only confer a national honour in Idi Amin’s Uganda.

It is worth emphasizing that in your political media advert, you made spirited efforts at vilifying the person and office of the Governor of Edo State, and your admission of a personal feud with the Governor is even self-indicting. It was exactly this same style of dress-rehearsed media campaign calumny of yours that snowballed into the face-off you had with the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Haija Hadiza, who said you brought thugs to attack her at the premises of the National Assembly, because she exposed some of your underhand dealings. You even blamed the Governor for that. It is even more alarming when in one of your media releases against the aforementioned aide to the Governor, you exhibited documents of the drug-related criminal case brought against you by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). Sadly, and in a rather duplicitous manner, you said that you took the NDLEA to court in a criminal case where you were in the dock as the accused person. Your media handlers must have misled you in that regard, why because as a “money bag” you pay without properly reading and understanding the implications of what is to be published in your name. Very regrettable, indeed!

In closing this piece, indulge me to pass a brotherly advice to you, as one who knows the very humble beginning of your late father in Orhua village. My simple advice is that you should try not to play God like Adams Oshiomhole in the affairs of men. You have the opportunity of correcting your many errors in the politics and social affairs of the Edo society. You have every right to support Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the man whose political aspirations and activities you have been consistently bankrolling since 2015, and he remained a failure and political liability. You are doing well in that regard. But, please note that your present media attack on the person and office of Governor of Edo State is not only evil, but seditious, malicious and signposts the height of political envy. Edo people have already decided who their Governor is. By the grace of God Almighty, come September 19 2020, the social contract between Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki and Edo people will be renewed. A lorry load of detractors like you can’t change that impending event of history. A word is enough for the wise.

Source

https://grassroothotnews.com/blog/an-open-letter-to-mr-idahosa-okunbor-captain-hosa-the-retired-aeroplane-captain-from-orhua-village-vol-1-re-enacted/

Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr Crusoe Osagie has advised candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming gubernatorial election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, to go to court and face his corruption trial instead of sponsoring protests over non-existent issues.

“In a bid to distract Edo people from his ongoing trial in court for a N700 million fraud allegation, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has resorted to sponsoring protests over non-existent issues.

“There is no such thing as N20 billion debt proposal by THE Edo State Government, and Edo people cannot be distracted by such wild claim,” Osagie said.

The scheming among candidates and their sponsors in the Edo State gubernatorial elections has taken a criminal and devious bent, as popular Benin billionaire, Captain Hosa Okunbo has been fingered as being behind the Oba Market inferno in a clandestine move to tilt the opinion on his preferred candidate in the poll.

It was gathered that Okunbo, who has variously denied having an interest in the gubernatorial election, has continued to hatch different plots aimed at undoing Governor Godwin Obaseki, whose rating among the people continues to soar by the day.

Sources familiar with the recent action of the billionaire said that he has resolved to fight dirty and deploy whatever available arsenal to detract from the government’s goodwill, regardless of the cost on the ordinary man on the street.

A source, who pleaded anonymity, said the market fire was the machination of Okunbo and his cohorts, which include the suspended Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who is the preferred candidate of Captain Okunbo in the polls.

He said, “A lot is happening that is just too inhuman. You can imagine that Captain Hosa Okunbo would go to any length to paint the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led government in bad light. He is behind the fire. He set it up because he has seen that any other decent way to get people to back down from supporting Obaseki would back fire.

“The plan which has been in the works for a while now is for such a fire to be arranged and then Captain Okunbo starts dolling monies and support to affected market women and get their pledge to support his preferred candidate, Pastor Ize-Iyamu.”

Another source, who asked not to be named, said the desperation of Captain Okunbo is getting out of hand, noting that he may resort to murders and other violent options in the coming days.

Recall that Captain Okunbo is said to have imprisoned a young man, who had exposed his dealings as a drug lord and accused him of using proceeds from the illicit trade to fight against the state government.

We have watched the mockery of democratic process, which Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, is administering and superintending over in our great party the All Progressives Congress (APC). It has been an unfortunate, disheartening and dreadful spectacle.

We had initially asserted that going by the open display and enthronement of illegality by one man in the party that comprises several organs and eminent personalities, there is no way that Governor Godwin Obaseki would get a fair assessment in the run-up to the nomination of candidates to fly the flag of the party in the forthcoming Edo gubernatorial election.

It is unfortunate that this open show of shame, illegality and travesty of justice is the brand of democracy which Comrade Oshiomhole has reduced the APC into. The situation is quite saddening because this is a party supposedly reputed for change, equity and social justice.

We have therefore decided that it would be effort in futility to appeal whatever the unjust outcome of the evaluation and screening process of the APC will be, especially when Comrade Oshiomhole has declared that he is the Supreme Court and ultimate determiner of the fate and future of our great party.

We wish Oshiomhole luck in his maladministration of the party and trust that the Almighty will help our country to find the path to true liberty, freedom and justice.

We call on all party members and the teeming supporters of Governor Obaseki to remain calm and await further directives.

Long live Edo State. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria


Crusoe Osagie

Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Media and Communication Strategy

Tyrant Oshiomhole bares fangs, to announce Obaseki’s disqualification from APC primaries by 2pm today

The extreme display of lawlessness and dictatorship by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole would reach its peak by 2pm today when he would announce in a press conference the disqualification of Governor Godwin Obaseki, from contesting the primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In record time, Oshiomhole has subverted all due process and broken all the laws in the books in his ultimate quest to crown himself as the godfather of politics in Edo State.

Like he stated recently that he is the Supreme Court and the ultimate determiner of the fate of aspirants for governorship seat under the APC, he has executed his pre-conceived agenda of stopping Governor Obaseki from flying the flag of the party, at all cost.

After pushing the failed narrative about Governor Obaseki’s educational qualification and meeting a brick wall with the University of Ibadan’s response, he resorted to using his characteristic brute force to disqualify the governor.

Details later…

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PHOTO 2:
Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (2nd left); Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq. (left); Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Job Creation (N-Power), Afolabi Imoukhuede (2nd right); after the departure of Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo who was in Edo State to launch the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP).

…as skeletal night operations begin

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has assured that the Benin Airport will soon commence full night-time flight operations.

Obaseki said facilities that will enable aircraft to land at night are being received in batches.

He gave the assurance while addressing journalists at the Benin Airport, after the departure of the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo who was in Edo State to launch the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP).

According to the governor, the landing facilities at the Benin Airport were already functioning which enabled the Vice President to depart Benin City through the Airport few minutes to 7pm on Thursday.

“We are expecting more night landing equipment to be installed at the Benin Airport especially the lights.

“The contractor has assured us that the lights will arrive before the end of this month, February. We will launch it and have our inaugural night flight to Benin City," he said.

On the delayed flag-off of the Benin-Abraka Road reconstruction, Obaseki said he has spoken with the new Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), and has secured his understanding for the road construction to go ahead if it becomes impossible to get the Vice President to flag it off.

“I have spoken with the new Managing Director of NDDC, we may just go ahead to flag it off if we cannot get it on the Vice President’s schedule.”

The Benin-Abraka Road is a 106km Road project which would connect several agrarian communities in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State.\


PHOTO 1:
Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (left), and Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, during the departure of the Vice President, who was in Edo State to launch the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP).

UnueboAbiodun63:
Read below it.

Get a job

PHOTO 2:
Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (2nd right); All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Assembly candidate for Egor Local Government Area, Edo State, Hon. Osadolor Eribo (right); APC House of Representatives candidate for Egor/Ikpoba-Okha Federal Constituency, Hon. Johnson Agbonayinma (left); and the APC Senatorial candidate for Edo South, Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon, during the governor’s visit to wards in Egor LGA.

Vote APC Candidates In Edo To Sustain Social Investment Programmes, Obahiagbon, Iyoha, Inegbedion, Others Urge

As the 2019 general elections draw close, candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) seeking to represent Edo State in the National Assembly have urged residents in the state to vote for the APC in the forthcoming general elections, to sustain the Federal Government’s social investment programmes.

The social investment programmes being implemented by the APC-led Federal Government under the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) include the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP), N-Power, the Marketmoni and Tradermoni loans for small scale traders, Conditional Cash Transfer, among others.

The candidates of the APC in the state are Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon, who is contesting for the Edo South senatorial seat; Hon. John Inegbedion, Edo Central senatorial seat; Hon. Osaigbovo Iyoha for Oredo Federal Constituency seat at the House of Representatives; Dennis Idahosa for Ovia North East/ South West seat in the House of Representatives; Hon. Joseph Ikpea, Esan South East/ North East seat in the House of Representatives; Hon. Johnson Agbonayinma for Egor/Ikpoba Okha Federal Constituency seat, among others.

Speaking to journalists during the launch of the NHGSFP by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, in Edo State, Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon, said if elected, he will ensure the sustainability of the social investment programmes to benefit more people in the state.

He noted that social investment programmes are laudable initiatives through which a good number of caterers have been engaged to feed school children.

The APC candidate for Edo Central Senatorial seat, Hon. John Inegbedion, said the social investment programme has a reverberating effect on food value chain in the state, as the NHGSFP has provided employment and guaranteed means of livelihood for farmers, traders, caterers and suppliers of food to schools, adding that if elected, he will see to the extension of the programme to more schools in Edo Central.

On his part, Hon. Osaigbovo Iyoha, APC House of Representatives candidate for Oredo Federal Constituency, described the NSIP as a laudable initiative which if sustained, will create wealth for more people.

“The sustainability of the social investment programme will spread the net to accommodate more beneficiaries. Now the NHGSFP has been launched for Uhunmwode and Orhionmwon Local Government Areas, if I am elected to represent Oredo at the House of Representatives, I will ensure that the programme receives a boost for the benefit of school children in Oredo Federal constituency, in addition to other components of the NSIP, which residents of Oredo are benefitting from,” he added.

Hon. Dennis Idahosa, who is contesting for Ovia North East/South West Federal Constituency seat, said “We have seen how the Tradermoni N10,000 loan is benefitting thousands of petty traders in our markets, with the assurance that they can benefit more. What is required now is the sustainability of all these and other development-oriented programmes. I promise my people that I will deepen these impactful programmes to reach everyone when elected to represent Ovia North East/South West Federal Constituency at the Federal House of Representatives.”



PHOTO 1:
R-L: Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; Edo South All Progressives Congress (APC) Senatorial candidate, Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon; APC House of Representatives candidate for Oredo Federal Constituency, Hon. Iyoha Osaigbovo; APC House of Assembly candidate for Oredo West Federal Constituency, Hon. Osaro Obaze; and APC State House of Assembly candidate for Oredo East, Hon. Chris Okaegben; during the governor’s visit to wards in Oredo Local Government Area, Edo State.

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PHOTO 2:
Cross-section of school children, during the launch of the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP), by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo in Eyean Primary School, Uhunmwode Local Government Area, on Thursday, January 31, 2019.

Osinbajo Launches School Feeding Programme In Edo, As FG Feeds 9.3 Million Children

Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has launched the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) in Edo State, to provide free meals for children in public schools in the state.

During the launch of the programme at Eyaen Primary School in Uhunmwode Local Government Area of the state, Osinbajo said the NHGSFP feeds 9.3 million children in 49,937 public primary schools in 27 states, including Edo State.

Earlier, Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, who received Prof. Osinbajo at Western Boys High School in Benin City, thanked the Vice President for the visit, and commended him for the Social Investment Programme, which has added value to the lives of Nigerians.

In his speech, Osinbajo noted that the programme employs 94,422 cooks while over 100,000 small-holder farmers are linked to the programme.

The Vice President said in feeding the children across the country, 594 cows are slaughtered, 138,000 chickens killed, and 83 million tonnes of fish used in preparing the meals.

He said the NHGSFP is part of the Federal Government’s Social Investment Programme which is one of the largest safety net programmes in Nigeria.

According to him, “N-Power employs over 500,000 graduates and 200,000 non-graduates across the nation. Two million people benefit from our Micro Credit Scheme which includes Trader-moni and Market-moni. This will be expanded to the next level to enable more Nigerians benefit from it. We will be able to reach five to 10 million Nigerians.”

The Vice President said the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration has been able to achieve these because it has fought corruption to secure the country’s resources and develop the nation.

Speaking on the impact of the Social Investment Programme, Obaseki said the programme has provided an opportunity for vulnerable families to feed and send their children to school.

He explained that the NHGSFP would be linked to the Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation programme to bring out the best in school children, and thanked President Muhammadu Buhari and Prof Yemi Osinbajo for the initiative to feed children in schools.

“This is a new dawn in Edo State that is ensuring that our children in schools across the state are not malnourished,” he added.

The focal person of N-Power in Edo State, Ms. Osayuwamen Aladeshelu, said the NHGSFP has benefited thousands of Nigerians, who now include people in Edo State.

"The programme is targeted at making children healthy. We are starting from Uhunmwode and Orhionmwon local government areas before spreading to other areas in the state.”

PHOTO 1:
Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (4th left); Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (3rd left), with State Government officials, during the launch of the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) in Eyean Primary School, in Uhunmwode Local Government Area of the state, on Thursday, January 31, 2019.

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Few weeks after Governor Godwin Obaseki awarded contracts for the renovation of primary schools, work has commenced in a number of the primary schools across Edo State.

The renovation work is part of the overall vision of Governor Obaseki to reposition basic education for improved outcome, with the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) leading the charge.

At a number of the schools visited by journalists, labourers were seen carrying out major renovation work on some of the dilapidated structures.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said that the remodelling of the 230 schools is part of the state government’s commitment to provide conducive learning environment for pupils in the state, a major pillar of the Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (EDOBEST) programme.

At Ivbiotor Primary School in Benin City, workers interviewed, assured that they would deliver quality job as their supervisors are determined to exceed the state governor’s expectations with regard to quality and deadline for delivering the project.

Renovation work is also ongoing at Ezoti Primary School, St Paul Primary School, Obaseki Primary School now hosting Ekpenede Primary School, Okai Primary School and Obakhavbaye Primary School, which were relocated.

Osagie noted that the state government is keen on ensuring faith is restored to the public-school system in the state, adding that this would be achieved not only through improved teaching and learning methods, but also through provision of a conducive environment for teachers and their pupils.

Recall that Governor Obaseki during a meeting with contractors vowed to prosecute any of them who delivers sub-standard work in the ongoing refurbishment of public primary schools.

Obaseki told the contractors: “Ordinary, I will not interact with contractors but because of the priority we place on basic education, I decided to have this all-important meeting with you. We have five pillars of our SUBEB system and one of them is the refurbishment of our schools.”

He emphasised that his administration was not leaving any public school behind in the rollout of the renovation programme, adding “We are committed to ensuring that the schools in Edo State are in good shape. We have had to take our time to do this because we wanted the School-Based Management Committee (SBMC) to be in place so they can play a critical role in ensuring that the schools are well run and that whatever is provided for the schools are not vandalised.”

Some of the schools scheduled for renovation include Ojirami Primary School in Ojirami, Akoko-Edo Local Government Area (LGA); Ugbogo Primary School in Igarra, Akoko Edo LGA; Amegor Primary School in Uwelu, Egor LGA; Eweka Primary School in Egor LGA; Olua Primary School in Egor LGA; Ivbiyeneva Primary School in Ikpoba Okha LGA; Aduwawa Primary School in Ikpoba Okha and Uhie Primary School.

Others are Egbokor Primary School, Idunmwingun Primary School, Iguere Primary School, Evboeghae primary school and Oza Primary School, in Orhionmwon Local Government Area, and over 200 other schools across the three senatorial districts.



PHOTOS:
Ongoing construction work in Ezoti Primary School, St Paul Primary School, Obaseki Primary School now hosting Ekpenede Primary School, Okai Primary School and Obakhavbaye Primary School, which were relocated.

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