The Primacy of Truth (Part 6)

By Crusoe Osagie

Pensioners in Edo State had an interesting uniform in 2016 when Governor Godwin Obaseki just took office. It was an all black outfit which indicated that they were perpetual mourners.

Their place of convergence, almost on a weekly basis, was the King’s Square at Ring Road in Benin City, the State capital.

It was always a sore sight when they gathered. It was difficult to watch.

Senior citizens who had given their youth to their State with the hope that when they are old and frail, their State will in turn fulfill its obligation of prompt payment of their pension had been let down.

Each time they gathered, they sat under the sun; they prayed and chanted war songs. They lost their voices. Some of them collapsed and lost consciousness and had to be revived by good Samaritans. Others who were not so lucky paid the ultimate price. They died on the streets protesting for a wage they had faithfully earned after working for the State for over three decades with the most useful dispensation of their lives.

Obaseki inherited this huge embarrassment and didn’t shy away. He deployed a strategy that entailed the batching of these pensioners and clearing government liabilities to them batch-by-batch. He set aside hundreds of millions on a monthly basis to clear the debts.

He also broke down the problem with pensioners into three categories. Category A was pension arrears. Category B was the complaint about the unharmonised pension for almost 30 years, and the third Category was the gratuity liabilities.

Today, the pension liability is cleared completely. The harmonization of pension has been effected spanning a period of nearly 30 years. Obaseki is now at the stage of clearing the gratuities and has also been doing this in batches, beginning with the most frail and ailing retirees.

Should all these funds deployed to save these elderly people who have given their vitality to the State have been given to only a few politically connected people with access to power?

Today, our pensioners are happy that their dignity has been restored and that they get their pension payment alerts on the 25th or 26th of every month.

Even though like Oliver Twist, they want more and indeed they deserve more, but at least they have now put aside their mourning outfits and wear the bright smile of hope again.

Will these pensioners, their children, grandchildren, friends and well-wishers sit idly and allow the avaricious few return them to the dark days?

The jury is out and the battleground is the gubernatorial election on September 21, 2024.

Sadly, not many will read this. Our people are inundated by a deluge of tall tales and they can hardly find space to accommodate the Primacy of Truth.

Watch out for Part 7.

Osagie, a journalist, is the Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki on Media Projects

Edo 2024: Lies with short legs can't help APC in guber poll

By Peter Uwuoruya

The political foundation of the APC was built on a web of lies and deceit. Their ingenuity is in peddling fake news, falsehoods, lies and mistruths. That is the only way they can thrive and prove that they are still in existence.

It is therefore not surprising to see the party resort to their usual trade of deliberately concocting lies and spreading falsehoods and misinformation in a desperate attempt to curry cheap popularity and launder the image of their candidate, Monday Okpehbolo, who can’t make a coherent sentence without embarrassing himself with the wrong turn of words or phrases.

In its latest series of faux and scripted lies, titled “Tension in Government House as Initial Election Analysis Show Asue Ighodalo will Lose,” the APC and its social media hacks attempted to use fake news and fake polls by some faux election experts from Lagos to prepare the ground for their rigging ahead of the September 21 gubernatorial poll.

In their warped thinking, linking the said election experts to Governor Obaseki will give the lies credibility. But as always, the APC and their ilk have failed again. The dimwits claimed that the group used a sampling of voters’ opinions across the 18 local government areas of the State and released their findings which projected that a man who had to opt for a ‘miracle centre’ at the age of 36 to write WAEC and still failed, will become Edo’s next governor with a 55 percent chance of victory.

This is not only laughable but curious. It is quite unfortunate that rather than focusing on reawakening their completely comatose party in Edo State, the APC has resorted to desperate and unconventional campaign tactics; fake news, deceit and falsehood to wet the ground for its rigging machinery which they are known for.

The APC must know that the dynamics of politics have changed. The people are no longer swayed by empty rhetoric and concocted lies, which have over time been the bane of the poisonous politics that deprive the people of good governance while the political class fed fat from their collective patrimony.

For the forthcoming elections, there will be no writing of results. Edo people will come out in their numbers to vote for the PDP and its candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, and will thereafter stay at their various polling units to defend their votes just as they did during the 2020 governorship election which secured the second term victory for Governor Godwin Obaseki.

Edo people are not unaware of some of the rigging strategies deployed in the past by the APC and its tag team of lions and tigers, including the use of violence to intimidate people so that voter turnout will be low and ballot snatching, among others, and will resist them to the last.

There must be electronic transfer of election results and there will be no room for writing of results. So, it is pointless for the APC and its minions to try to use fake polls and fake news to prepare the ground for rigging like the ‘AKPAKO’ man is currently doing.

Edo people will not forget in a hurry the flagrant intimidation, chaos, and misrule during the reign of APC in the State and are sure of the candidate of the PDP come September 21. The thought of the APC still rings the bell of fear, torment, and pain in the minds of Edo people and they are never going back to the reign of lions and tigers.

On September 21, it is PDP or nothing, and there is nothing the APC can do about it.

Uwuoruya writes from Benin City, Edo State

https://www.newshunternow.com/posts/edo-apcs-unintelligent-lies-reflect-their-candidates-ineptitude

Edo APC's unintelligent lies reflect their candidate's ineptitude, unpreparedness for executive functions



By Emeka Nwachukwu

It is an open secret that the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State is comatose and the only sign to show they are still in existence is through spineless lies, mistruths, and ill-fated propaganda on social media and the pages of newspapers which their hirelings sporadically churn out in a last-ditch effort to revive the dead political party.

These hirelings and agents of darkness have continued to tell unintelligent lies and spread complete falsehoods, making a mess of their assignment of providing the seriously needed perspective and constructive criticism that is expected of a viable opposition party.

In their last salvo of lies, the APC in order to market its bad candidate, Monday Okpehbolo, a man who had to opt for a ‘miracle centre’ to obtain High School certificate at the age of 36 and still failed, claimed that the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Asue Ighodalo, had commended him for a road project construction.

To actualise their dirty job, they had photoshopped the fake story on an old, fake hardcopy version of ‘The Daily Times’ dated, Sunday, May 5, 2024, with the headline “Dr. Asue Grateful for Senator Okpebholo’s Role in Benin-Auchi Road Construction.” What else could this be if not desperation taken too far?

Ordinarily, this childish stunt does not really deserve a response because it is clearly false, but it is necessary to set the records straight and constantly respond to their obvious lies so that unsuspecting members of the public are not deceived.

First, let me point out that Senator Okpehbolo is not undertaking any road construction project in Edo State.

Not only has he abandoned his assignment as a Senator, he has elected to traffic in dubious propaganda as can be seen in the said report. Moreso, his supposed masterstroke in getting the Federal Government to fix bad sections of the Benin-Auchi Road in Edo Central is another gimmick that has been exposed to be a lie.
The resort to unintelligent means is not surprising as one cannot give what they do not have. The vacuousness of Okpebholo's candidacy shines through in the use of a photoshopped newspaper clipping for a hatchet job of image launderying.

One wonders if the APC thinks it can revive its dead political party or give life to its inept candidate by telling unintelligent and cheap lies.

Rather than dissipating its energy on laughable lies, why can’t the APC focus on issue-based politics and telling Edo people what they can do and offer?

No gainsaying, they already know their fate. Edo people know their antics and have rightly placed them in the dustbin of history with the defeat of the party at the 2020 governorship election, a feat that is sure to be repeated in the forthcoming governorship election in the State.

While we thank Edo people for the love and support they have continued to show the PDP and its candidate in the run-up to the electioneering campaign, we urge them to keep up the faith and get their PVCs ready to reward the APC for their blatant lies on September 21.

Nwachukwu, a public affairs analyst writes from Benin City

https://nigerianobservernews.com/2024/05/the-primacy-of-truth-part-1/

The Primacy of Truth (Part 1)*


By Crusoe Osagie

“In a society where they burn books, they will soon burn human beings.” This is a paraphrase of the somewhat prophetic quote by a German poet called Heinrich Heine long before the Nazi regime began to set up gas chambers in which over six million Jews were massacred.

Heinrich wrote this quote in 1820 and 113 years later, the Nazi regime led by Adolf Hitler took office and shortly after, they diligently supervised the holocaust, exterminating over six million Jews which till date is probably the biggest scar on the human conscience.

But guess what? Before the regime began to exterminate the Jews, they had made practical efforts to suppress truth, knowledge and reason by burning thousands of books including All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque; the Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka; Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad; the Outline of History by H.G. Wells and the Story of My Life by Helen Keller, a memoir written by a deaf and blind woman who was also a socialist and pacifist, all of which were seen as threats to Nazi ideals.

It is however important to note that even though books may not be physically burnt today, a lot of efforts and tactics are being deployed by people with selfish political interests to silence the voice of reason, truth and upend objectivity.

In Edo, a lot of effort has been made by a small segment of political actors to rewrite the history of the last seven and a half years, and their reason for doing this is simple: pecuniary. Unfortunately for this small segment of politicians in our society who used to depend absolutely on state gratification for their opulent living, Governor Godwin Obaseki’s approach to governance occasioned the redistribution of resources from people with political access to the generality of Edo citizens.

Funds that could have been deployed for orgies, opulent overseas trips, flamboyant medical tourism, and other frivolities have now been redirected for the construction of institutions like the Edo College of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi; Edo College of Nursing Sciences, Sapele Road; Edo School of Health Technology, Dumez Road; equipping teachers to adequately train over 400,000 children under the EdoBEST Programme; upgrade of the Edo State Polytechnic, Usen, and the reconstruction of the Stella Obasanjo Hospital; the list is endless.

Funds that would have been ferried away in sacks popularly called ‘Ghana Must Go’ after pointless meetings in Government House have now been channeled towards the reconstruction and equipping of the State Secretariat Complex on Sapele Road; construction of the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA), in Benin City; construction of the Adams Oshiomhole Labour House, in Ikpboa Hill; establishing the e-governance system that allows the government to run a paperless public service; prompt payment of salaries and pensions to workers and retirees, and payment of N70,000 as minimum wage, which is the highest in the country, among others.

Alas, by these good deeds, Obaseki has murdered sleep. Just like Robin Hood, the legendary heroic outlaw depicted in English folklore who stole from the rich to give to the poor, Obaseki has a target on his back.

A segment of the politically powerful are upset. They have vowed to destroy the reputation and legacy of the man who dared to interrupt the flow of state funds to satisfy their voracious appetite.

Will the people for whose benefits Obaseki contended with the powers that be rise in his defense?

The jury is out and the battleground is the gubernatorial election in September 21, 2024.

Sadly, not many will read this. Our people are overwhelmed by a deluge of lies and they can hardly find space to accommodate the primacy of truth.

Watch out for Part 2

Osagie, a journalist, is the Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki on Media Projects

PDP unveils campaign council for 2024 Edo governorship election

The Edo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has launched the Campaign Council for the September 21 2024 Governorship Election in the State.

In a statement, the PDP State Organizing Secretary, Tony Anenih (Jnr.) said members of the Campaign Council are versatile members of the PDP who have been carefully chosen to deliver the party’s candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo.

He noted that the Campaign Structure has an Advisory Council to be headed by the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; a Management Committee; a State Campaign Council made up of 200 eminent members of the PDP; the women wing to be headed by the Edo State First Lady, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki and Mrs. Ifeyinwa Ighodalo, and the youth wing to be led by the Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor.

Anenih explained that the selection process was carried out under the direct supervision of the leaders of the party headed by the State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, adding, “I do not have any doubt whatsoever in my mind, that this group of very versatile members of the PDP that have been carefully chosen will deliver our erudite, intellectually sound and broad-minded candidate, Dr. Asuerinme Ighodalo.”

According to him, the Campaign Structure has the following unique features: “The advisory council has 7 eminent members of the state, with His Excellency, the Governor as Chairman; the Management Committee is made up of the Director General and 13 Deputy Director Generals for Finance, Contact and Mobilization, Media/ Publicity Field Operations, Security, among others; the State Campaign Council is made up of 200 eminent members of our Party; the women wing to be led by Her Excellency, the first lady of the Edo State, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki with the wife of the PDP candidate, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Ighodalo, and the youth wing to be led by the Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor.”

On the youth and women wing, the State Organizing Secretary further noted, “Though these two very critical wings will be working independently, its relationship with the other Directorates will be symbiotic.”

He added, “On behalf of the party, I congratulate each and every one of you that have been selected, and the party hopes and expects you to hit the ground running.”

Obaseki hails Edo Queens for Super Six qualification

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has congratulated the State’s female football team, Edo Queens for clinching a spot in the Super Six tournament after finishing second in Group B of the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL).

Obaseki, in a statement, expressed optimism that the team will have an excellent outing at the Super Six championship to hoist the State’s flag on the continental stage.

Obaseki said, “I heartily congratulate our own dear Edo Queens for clinching a spot in the Super 6 Championship after securing the second position in Group B of the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL).

“We celebrate your exploits and accomplishments as you continue to give an excellent account of yourselves, showcasing your exceptional talent and team spirit, and making us proud with your outstanding performance.”

He added, “As you go into the Super Six Championship, I charge you to continue on this impressive run even as we are confident of an excellent outing at the championship for a chance to hoist the State's flag on the continental stage for the first time.”

Edo outperforms other S’South States on key devt indices

Edo State has outperformed its peers in the South South geopolitical zone in Nigeria in terms of key development indices as captured in the Nigeria Multidimensional Poverty Index (NMPI, 2022) produced by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

In a breakdown by Statisense on X (formerly Twitter), the platform profiled the states in the South South according to the incidence of deprivation across four pillars namely health, education, living standards, work and shock.

According to the NMPI 2022 report, in terms of nutrition in the region, Edo performed better than the five other states, with the worst hit being Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Cross River and Rivers, occupying 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th positions respectively.

In terms of time to healthcare, Edo also came up tops, with Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross River and Delta coming 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th respectively.

On deprivation in housing materials, Edo bests the other South South states, with Cross River, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Delta coming 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th respectively.

In overall multidimensional poverty, Edo fared better than the five others. Multidimensional poverty was worse in Bayelsa, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Delta, in descending order.

In unemployment, Edo also performed better than the rest, with Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Delta taking the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th positions respectively.

https://www.godwinobaseki.com/News/edo-outperforms-other-ssouth-states-on-key-devt-indices

https://nigerianobservernews.com/2024/04/obaseki-leads-nigeria-to-international-exhibition-in-italy/

Obaseki leads Nigeria to La Biennale di Venezia in Italy


…to sign agreement with Italian Govt to facilitate technical training, bo[b][/b]ost tourism, others

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, will be the Commissioner of the Nigerian Pavilion at the 60th International Art Exhibition organized by La Biennale di Venezia and taking place in the Veneto region of Italy from the 16th to 18th April 2024.

The governor was nominated by the Federal Government of Nigeria to lead the Nigerian delegation due to the State’s landmark successes in promoting our rich culture, arts and heritage and advancing the economic potential of tourism in Edo State.

According to the Federal Government, “Edo State and its capital city, Benin City, have been a main heritage and cultural artistic hub in Nigeria for centuries and Governor Godwin Obaseki has a strong desire to support arts and culture.”

“The government of Edo State is planning to develop a cultural district in the centre of Benin City. The cultural hub is intended to span a large expanse of land that will bring in new structures and also accommodate existing ones such as the National Museum Benin City. The development of the cultural district is intended to expand the cultural and creative industries to attract tourists to the country, The Federal Government noted in its letters to the organizers to nominate Governor Obaseki.

The Board of the Museum of West African Arts alongside the President of the Veneto region, will receive the delegation and guide Governor Obaseki and his team on a tour of the Nigerian Pavilion and Art Exhibition.

“This is the very first time a sub-national is leading the Nigerian delegation to such an event. The Veneto region is about the wealthiest and most productive region in Italy with one of the highest gatherings of people of African descent.

“Edo intends to learn from The Veneto development model that is characterised by strong export-oriented entrepreneurship in traditional economic sectors.

“The Edo State Government will collaborate with the Government of the region via the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to foster Sociocultural and Economic partnership that will be beneficial to the improved growth, development and productivity of Edo State,” the organisers said.

The partnership, according to the organizers, will further facilitate cooperation in technical and vocational training, advance opportunities in agricultural sector, enhance Information Technology capacity, promote tourism, increase economic opportunities in the textile industry and promote social and cultural relationships between both countries.

The eight artists to be featured in the group exhibition are Tunji Adeniyi-Jones, Ndidi Dike, Onyeka Igwe, Toyin Ojih Odutola, Abraham Oghobase, Precious Okoyomon, Yinka Shonibare CBE RA, and Fatimah Tuggar.

Edo refinery receives 15,000 barrels of crude from Oza oil field in 2024

The Edo Refinery has received a total of 15,000 barrels of crude oil in 2024 for production from the Oza Oil Field operated by Decklar Resources Inc. and its co-venturer, Millenium Oil & Gas Company Limited.

The Chief Executive Officer of Decklar Resources, Sanmi Famuyide, who disclosed this in a statement, noted that the company has continued ongoing crude oil injection volumes into the Trans Niger Pipeline for transport to and export from the Bonny Export Terminal.

The refinery was developed by the Edo Refinery and Petrochemical Company Limited (ERPC) and was facilitated through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led State Government and AIPCC. It is a 6,000bpd capacity plant, which is being expanded to 21,000bpd.

The facility with its feedstock can produce 500,000 litres of diesel, 300,000 litres of Naphtha and 200,000 litres of low-pour fuel oil.

According to Famuyide, “We are very pleased to be announcing the significant milestone of the first crude oil exports from the Oza Oil Field through the TNP and Bonny Export Terminal. In addition, crude oil is still being trucked to the local refinery customer in Edo State.

“The restoration and continued operation and availability of the Trans Niger Pipeline connection between the Oza Oil Field and the Bonny Export Terminal and delivery and sales of crude oil to the local refinery has allowed Decklar and Millenium to deliver a steady stream of crude oil to market and to generate a continuing revenue stream.

“With continued revenues, the Company’s financial position will improve enabling progress with additional field development activities including re-entries and drilling plans. In addition, the approximately 8,000 barrels of crude oil Decklar and Millenium previously delivered to the Forcados export terminal is expected to have a vessel nomination in the next few weeks with export and sales coming thereafter.”

Noting that the crude oil produced from the field is sold to Shell Western Supply and Trading Limited (Shell), he said: “Crude oil production from the Oza Oil Field through the TNP to the Bonny Export Terminal is being sold to Shell Western Supply and Trading Limited (“Shell”). Crude oil held in storage at the Oza Oil Field and crude oil being produced into storage tanks from the Oza-1 and Oza-4 wells is being transported by truck a short distance in-field to the transfer pumping station at the Oza Oil Field for injection into the TNP.

“The first crude oil export cargo of 15,000 bbls to Shell was loaded on board a vessel with a bill of lading date of February 7, 2024, with sales proceeds expected in the last week of March. Decklar and Millenium are expecting another crude oil export nomination notice from Shell before the end of March 2024 for the export of another 15,000 barrels of crude oil currently held in the Bonny Export Terminal tanks.”

We have secured 40 new licenses for solid minerals, ready for investors – Edo govt

The Edo State Government has said that it has secured 40 new licenses for solid mineral deposits in the State through Associates Mining and Investment Company, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) promoted by the state government.

The Commissioner for Mining and Energy, Hon. Enaholo Ojiefoh, who disclosed this in a chat with journalists, said the state took the bold step to acquire the licenses so that it is not shortchanged in the drive for industrialization.

He noted that the State will rent the licenses to interested private investors to exploit the mineral deposits in the State.

According to him, “Upon getting the licenses, we went back to the drawing board. We engaged with the Community Development Associations in the communities where these solid minerals are found. Between December and January this year, we have received not less than 14 visitors, who are all interested in bringing their money in.

“The governor has asked that this has to be transformed into money. So, we are looking at industrialization. A Commodities Trading and Mineral Analysis Center is being completed in Dangbala in Akoko Edo. We have had to train our staff working with a research team from the universities.

“We have professors in geology, geophysics, industrial chemistry and biochemistry working with us on the project. We have staff across the state working on identifying more minerals also.”

“We have deposits of kaolin in Ubiaja, in Edo Central Senatorial district of the State. We have gypsum in Warrake as well. The State is blessed and we are looking to drive investment with these deposits,” he added.

https://www.godwinobaseki.com/News/we-have-secured-40-new-licenses-for-solid-minerals-ready-for-investors-edo

Edo govt pays March salaries, pensions

The Edo State Government has paid civil and public servants’ salaries for the month of March, assuring that it will continue to meet its statutory obligations to workers before the 26th day of every month.

In a statement, Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Hon. Chris Nehikhare, noted that alongside workers who have received their salaries, pensioners have also been paid their pensions for the month of March.

According to him, “The Edo State Government led by Governor Godwin Obaseki has paid workers’ salaries for the Month of March. Pensioners have also gotten their due emoluments. They received their alerts on Sunday. This is very much in line with the government’s policy of ensuring that workers are paid before the 26th day of every month.

“We want to use this opportunity to appreciate workers for their commitment and steadfastness despite the harsh economic conditions we face. The workers have continued to discharge their duties in good faith and pushed even harder to ensure that government’s programmes, policies and reforms are implemented.”

He added that the government will continue to sustain reforms to alleviate the suffering caused by rising inflation, noting that the free bus ride scheme, improved work conditions, among others will be sustained.

'Edo has surplus minerals deposit to host 20 more Dangote, BUA production plants’

The Edo State Commissioner for Mining and Energy, Hon. Enaholo Ojiefoh, has said that the State has surplus solid mineral deposits to host more than 20 more mega plants like the ones set up and operated by Dangote Group and BUA Cement in the State.

Speaking during a live chat with his counterpart in the Ministry of Digital Economy, Science and Technology, Hon. Ogbeide Ifaluyi-isibor, Ojiefoh noted that the State has enormous deposits of limestone, dolomite, quartz, gold, kaolin, feldspar, clay, gemstone, quartz, and is determined to exploit the minerals.

“BUA has been mining in a particular spot for over 10 years. Freedom Group has been mining on their site for over 30 years. They are over 50 years old. The hills you see when going through Okpella are all minerals. The same applies to Akoko Edo. There is a huge deposit of dolomite, limestone, and many others across the State.”

He noted that the state government is looking at expanding the number of ceramics companies in the State to increase productivity and expand the opportunities for employment.

Ojiefoh added that the move would boost revenue in the State and also allow for skills development as the companies will have to train more persons in the State to fill vacancies.

“We are ready for investment in Edo. We do not just want to identify the minerals; we want to use these to drive industrialization and that is the mandate we have from the governor,” he said.

[/b]A bachelor @ 53 wants to be Edo governor; our girls and women are not safe[b]

A governor wields so much power. He wills and sets the agenda for society, consciously or unconsciously. But when a man at 53 has not had the discipline to take a wife and manage a home successfully, which is one of the core tests of manhood and maturity, his intentions and credentials to become a governor are suspect.

Why will Olumide Akpata, the Labour party candidate still be single at 53. We know he took a wife earlier, but he is currently unmarried.

Are we electing a governor who will come for our young girls or one who is not bold and confident enough to resist the allure of beautiful women. Someone who is unable to handle conflict. Will our resources be safe with this sort of man?

Edo people, we need a responsible man as a governor. Vote wisely. Vote responsible people to manage your resources.

A word is enough for the wise.

Again, vote wisely!

Edo, Oando to generate 175MW wind energy for industrial clusters

The Edo State Government’s renewable energy programme being implemented in partnership with Oando Energy will result in the construction of wind turbines across three locations in the three senatorial districts of the State.

The locations, according to studies by Oando Energies, will be at Uhunmwonde, Uromi and Akoko Edo, where energy currents are high.

The Commissioner for Mining and Energy, Hon. Enaholo Ojiefoh, who disclosed this in a chat with journalists, noted that the state government is looking at serving areas with increased economic activity with wind energy operated by partners.

According to him, “Oando has carried out their audit and came up with the report that there is a heavy wind current in a part of Uhunmwonde Local Government Area. They have opened discussions with the local government chairman.

“The other location is between Uromi and Ubiaja, close to the railway bridge, where there is also a strong wind current. Another one will be situated between Etsako and Akoko Edo, close to the Igbira camp.”

He noted that the company has identified the areas where they will install the turbines to harvest wind energy, generate power and sell to willing buyers, adding “They are set to fit the meteorological mast to take record of the wind in the area. These are part of the renewable programme we have to drive industrialization.”

The Commissioner added that the renewable energy programme is targeted at industrial zones in the State, which is why the company is conducting an energy audit in Ikpeshi, Akoko Edo Local Government, where a lot of mining activities are ongoing.

“Oando Energy is set to construct a plant in the area to serve the investors in the economy. So, the renewable energy programme is targeted at solving energy issues in these clusters,” he added.

Poor planning bane of Nigeria’s socioeconomic problems, says Obaseki

...rallies stakeholders in Afuze, Auchi on Regional Devt, Benin City Masterplans

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has attributed the many socioeconomic challenges bewildering the nation to poor planning.

Obaseki spoke during an engagement with stakeholders in Afuze, Owan West Local Governments Area and Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area, respectively on the State’s Regional Development Plan and the Benin City Master Plan.

The engagement session rallied together various stakeholders in the LGAs to deliberate, share insights, and seek their input in the development of the 30-year development plans.

Present at the stakeholders meeting were the Local Government Council Chairmen of Owan West, Akoko-Edo, Etsako Central and Etasko West, as well as members of the State’s chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), traders, women unions, civic society groups, youths, traditional and religious leaders, among others.

Obaseki said, “The problem we face as a nation is that of improper planning. We didn’t plan properly and today; we are facing various degrees of challenges hindering our progress. Even when we plan, we fail to implement our plans. We should stop complaining about our situation but plan a way out of it.”

He added, “The master plan is for all Edo people and it doesn't have political affiliations but is aimed to chart a course for the betterment of the entire Edo people. The people must collaborate with the government as we can't do it alone. The plan will help and enable us to create a peaceful and friendly environment for investors to come into the State to invest.”

Obaseki continued: “If Nigeria is going to survive, we must restructure the security apparatus in this Country. We have started this here in Edo. We have trained our vigilante security network to collaborate with other sister agencies to fight insecurity in the State. We must have State police and local police that are independent in fighting crime and criminality in the country.

“The time to save ourselves is now as we are already planning for community policing. It will happen. We should secure ourselves not waiting for the Federal Government to secure us.”

In his response, High Chief David George from Ora Kingdom commended the governor for his developmental strides in the State and for his vision for the 30-year development plan which he said will transform the State and set it on growth and development.

A traditional ruler from Uzairue, Momodu Abdulraman, who reiterated the need to prioritize security in the master plans, commended the governor for his visionary leadership.

EDSG steps up surveillance, collaborates with security agencies for safe release of kidnapped PDP Chair, Aziegbemi


The Edo State Government is on top of the issue of the unfortunate kidnapping of the Chairman of the State’s Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Tony Aziegbemi.


The Government is working closely with security agencies to ensure his safe release and return to his family.


We have also increased surveillance and beefed-up security measures across the State to ensure that these criminal activities are quelled and culprits are brought to justice.


We encourage residents to go about their lawful businesses without fear and urge them to call the State emergency numbers 112 or 739 to report all suspicious persons or activities within their environs.


The Government reassures that it is committed to protecting the lives and property of Edo residents and will spare no resources in ensuring that the perpetrators of this dastardly act are apprehended and made to face the full wrath of the law.

*Hon. Chris Nehikhare*
_Commissioner for Communication and Orientation_

Obaseki’s reforms open Edo retail sector to big ticket investors, as over 5 players jostle for market share

Edo State’s retail sector is experiencing a boom on account of reforms by the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration, which has eased up the process of setting up new businesses in the State.

A survey of the new entrants into the retail space shows that not less than five popular retail brands have opened shops or expanded operations in Edo State in the last three years, including Genesis Cinemas, Dominos, Market Square, JARA Stores, Reign Arcade, Ford Mart and Shoprite, which is due to commence operations in a matter of weeks.

Some of the business reforms initiated by the government include setting up of the Edo State Investment Promotion Office, a one-stop shop that promotes ease of doing business in the State; the Edo State Geographic Information Service, which processes Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) in about 30 days; the Public Private Partnership (PPP) office and other private-sector facing agencies in the State.

A cross-section of residents in the State who spoke to journalists said the new entrants have redefined the retail experience in the State.

An economist, policy analyst and lecturer at the University of Benin, Mr. Nosakhare Ikponmwosa, said that the new investors are responding to the government’s reforms, which has made investment seamless.

According to him, “There has been a strong shift to attract private investors and it has increased competition in the economy. A lot of the old players are improving their services to measure up to the new entrants. So, the competition is healthy.

“Another implication of this is that a lot of local suppliers to these superstores have had to improve the packaging of their goods. The improved package ensures standards and also opens these producers to more markets.”

A businessman, Mr. Darlington Osawe, said: “We are really excited by the new trend of popular retail stores coming into Edo State. The shopping experience has changed. We now have well-stocked shops, with local and international brands on display. It is a boost for the local economy and a testament to the growth being experienced in the State.”

Mrs. Ruth Igbinosa, a trader, on her part, noted that the expansion of the retail traders in the State is evidence that the market is viable and that a lot of local producers are meeting up to the new standards being set.

Obaseki: We’ve laid foundation for economic growth, devt in Edo, Nigeria

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said his government has over the past seven and half years focused on transformative reforms across various sectors of the State’s economy, repositioning the Edo State as a leading subnational in terms of GDP growth.

Obaseki, who spoke to journalists in Benin City, the Edo State capital, said the reforms in agriculture, energy, technology, economy, security and manpower development, among others, have laid the foundation for economic growth and development in the State and nation.

Reeling of some of his government’s achievements over the last seven years, Obaseki stated, “We have built institutions, empowered our people with skills, and ensured they are gainfully employed and seven years after, we are ranked as one of the top States in terms of GDP growth in Nigeria.”

He continued: “In the last seven years, we have improved our security architecture, ensuring our people walk freely as the ability to restore security gives confidence to our people who come back home to invest in our State.

“Before now, our young ones traveled at will to seek greener pastures but our administration in 2017 got the report about how desperate our youths are traveling out but we have changed the narrative.”

According to him, “As I wind down as governor, I am leaving a strong State economically; agricultural production has been ramped up significantly. We are leaving a State that is the most digitally connected in Nigeria today as we have laid over 2,000km of fiber optic connection across the State and we have connected the 18 LGAs in our State.

“We are leaving a State that is leading in terms of electricity generation. We have Azura Power contributing to the stability of the national grid and we also have Ossiomo Power. Investors are ready to support our initiatives in the State. We have the Edo State Electricity Regulatory Law that allows us to regulate those who want to generate and distribute electricity in Edo State.”

He added, “We have made considerable progress as we have laid the basis for economic growth and development in Edo State and Nigeria.”

We’ve decentralized Edo’s healthcare system, building over 100 PHCs, says Obaseki

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said his government has in the last seven years and a half years focused on revamping and upgrading the State’s health sector, decentralizing the system and bringing quality and effective healthcare services closer to the people.

Obaseki said this when he inspected the progress of work at the ongoing reconstruction of Aruogba Primary Healthcare Center (PHC) in Oredo Local Government Area of the State.

Noting that the government has refurbished over 40 PHCs and is building over 100 others across the State, the governor said part of his administration’s health improvement plan was first to build neighborhood clinics of high standards which will help patients get quality health care regardless of their location in the State.

He said, “About seven years ago when we started our health improvement plan, we did say that the goal was to make sure that every citizen in Edo State does not drive a certain distance to seek healthcare. One of the major plans at that time was to focus on what you call Primary Healthcare Centers, that is neighborhood clinics, making sure you build infrastructure where people can easily go to get first-line health care.

“The plan is to build 100 of these facilities across the State. We have many of these existing in one form or the other. The plan is to continue to upgrade and improve them. The key to this is not the quality of the building but the quality of the people to manage it.

“This has led to our investment in our healthcare institutions like the School of Nursing and the School of Health Technology. These schools will provide the manpower required to man these facilities across the State.”

Obaseki further noted, “The important thing is to decentralize the healthcare system, no more central hospital as every ward and populated neighborhood must have a neighborhood clinic which is called the primary health center with all the basic facilities as seen here.

“The Aruogba Primary Healthcare Center has a 14-bed facility-seven for males and seven for females, theater, and accommodation for doctors, among others.”

“We are trying to build about 100 of these and today, we have refurbished about 40 and have 60 more to go,” he added.

Obaseki to parley FG on concessioning of Benin/Auchi Road to Edo govt, partners

…as Edo, Dangote, BUA commence remedial works on 30km

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said the State Government has arranged for a meeting on Tuesday, March 12 with representatives of the Federal Government, Dangote Group and BUA Plc to discuss and proffer short term solutions on the deplorable condition of the Benin/Auchi Road.

The governor disclosed this at the weekend during a chat with journalists at the Government House in Benin City, after a closed door meeting with the Minister for Works and Housing, Engr. David Umahi.

Governor Obaseki also appealed to the Federal Government to concession the road to Edo State Government as a long-term solution, noting, “As a State, we would work with the Minister and the Federal Government. The issue of roads can’t be left to one stakeholder alone; we all must come to work together.

“We are very concerned about the high-traffic roads like the Benin-Auchi road which is one of the main transport arteries in Edo State. Youths have protested severally about the poor condition of the road. We have appealed to them and they accepted and expect us to fulfill the promise on remedial action to reduce the carnage, accident, destructions, and delays commuters witness on that road.

He noted, “We have agreed with the Minister that we would send one of our contractors immediately to go in there this next week to commence palliative work in some very bad sections of the road. We also agreed that the bad sections particularly around Agbede, between Ekpoma and Irrua-axis and some other portions towards Uhunmwode LGA.

“These bad sections have been calculated and it came to about 30km and we have to bring in other stakeholders, particularly heavy users of the road. We have singled out Dangote and BUA cement companies as they are one of the largest users of the Benin/Auchi road and can’t stay aloof.

“We are summoning a meeting with representatives of these two companies, Edo State Government, and the Federal Minister for Works and Housing on Tuesday to agree on concrete steps and measures to take and make sure that the remedial works are done on the bad sections of the road to ensure rehabilitation work are done before raining season commences.

“We can’t afford to have that road in that condition this year. Things are bad enough in the country. This is the main artery moving petroleum products, foods from the North to the South. We have no choice but to make sure that the road is open to traffic. These are short term measures.”

“I want to thank the Honourable Minister for Works and Housing for the concern he has shown to us on the State of Federal roads. Same time last year when I cried for help about the deplorable State of our roads ahead of the rainy season, we didn't get this kind of response. That is why we have to deal with the terrible road situation during and after the rains.

Obaseki said, “I believe that the Minister has shown enough sensitivity to iur plight. He has come to us ahead of the heavy rains to see what we can do and what palliative measures can be put in place in some of these federal roads. I believe that once we take some of these steps, the situation can’t be as bad as we experienced last year.

“The Minster has raised several issues. First is because of our position as a State with a unique location. We have a very large network of federal roads across the State. We are perhaps one of the few states with the largest extent of federal roads. But our citizens will always argue that they are not federal citizens but citizens of Edo and Nigeria using these roads. It’s important we come together, work together and build these roads.

“In working together, we have to remove the encumbrances which are the way we contract to build the roads, the people we used to build these roads, the materials used as well.”

On the way forward, the governor said, “We need to use more sustainable local materials instead of using expensive asphalt. We should now think of using sustainable local materials. We produce cement and steel. We have no reason why we should not begin to move towards using concrete in building our roads for it to last long.

“As part of the long term measures, the road should be concessioned. We will be discussing it with the Minister on Tuesday. Our focus is that the road must and should be concessioned as we can’t continue to accept what is going on anymore.

“You have contracts for almost 20 years but we have not been able to make progress, please hand over that road to us, let us concession it to people that have the money as we have done with the Benin-Asaba Road. We believe working with the private sector we can be able to raise the money to dualise the road. Before the end of this year we would push for the concession of the road and would try to achieve this before leaving office.

The Minister for works, Engr David Umahi commended the Governor Obaseki for his commitment to make life better for Edo people, adding that the President directed him to take a look at the performance of contractors, adding that anyone that has performed below expectation will be sacked.

“The federal government has issued warning letters to some contractors who are not living up to expectations and failures to meet up will lead to termination of contract. I commend governor Obaseki for his concern about the state of roads in Edo State. I worked with the governor throughout the night and I have seen his commitment to his people. He spoke with BUA, Dangote and invited them for a meeting on Tuesday.

“I commend you very highly for your work especially on concrete roads. It means you mean well for Edo people. You are a private driven person and your commitment to the State is commercial and we see a lot of returns on investments and until we run a government like the private sector, we will not make much success.”

*PHOTO CAPTION*

L-R: Minister for Works and Housing, Engr. David Umahi; Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; Edo State Commissioner for Road and Bridges, Ethan Uzamere, and Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Hon. Chris Nehikhare, after a closed door meeting at the Government House, Benin City, at the weekend.

Mothers’ Day: Obaseki celebrates mothers, hails sacrifice in navigating complexities of motherhood

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has celebrated mothers for their immense role in societal development, hailing their sacrifice, perseverance, bravery and resourcefulness in expertly navigating the daunting challenges of motherhood, especially amid the current economic realities.

The governor in commemoration of 2024 Mothers’ Day, said mothers face complex challenges both at home and in society, from managing household responsibilities to navigating societal expectations and balancing work commitments, among others, noting that they have expertly and selflessly navigated these challenges with grace and resilience.

He said mothers deserve praise for making sacrifices that have led to the advancement of society and are still at the forefront of reforms and changes that guarantee a better future.

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According to him, "Mothers are God’s most distinctive gift to mankind, and this year’s Mother’s Day celebration presents yet another fine opportunity to celebrate and appreciate them for their sacrifices, love, care and unflinching commitment to family and society.

“Even in the face of dire economic straits, they have shown brightly, conquering several odds to be the superhumans they are. It is in this light that the state government is executing reforms and undertaking projects to make the roles of mothers easier. We are executing empowerment programmes, making the workplace friendlier, and implementing more policies to lessen the load on mothers.”

Reassuring of efforts to protect mothers and guarantee them better opportunities, the governor stated, "We have brought mothers to the decision table as we have a good number of women occupying top-tier positions in government, which affords us the opportunity to tap from their innate potential to build a better and inclusive society.

“From our government’s reforms in healthcare to education, housing, agricultural programmes, gender mainstreaming and many more, mothers who have been placed at strategic points in the value chain have all played huge roles in ensuring a better life for Edo people and we are proud of their accomplishments and exploits.”

NLC Protest: Obaseki empathises with Edo people, Nigerians over high cost of living

...assures sustained measures to ease suffering, hardship

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has empathised with people of the State and Nigerians over the incessant rise in prices of goods and services and overall cost of living in the Country, which has inflicted pain and suffering on the people, reassuring that his government will continue to provide measures to ease the hardship faced by the people of the State.

Obaseki spoke when he received members of the Edo State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and other concerned Nigerians who were on a peaceful protest, at the Government House, Benin City, the Edo State capital, to register their displeasure over the high cost of living occasioned by the fuel subsidy removal by the Federal Government.

Obaseki who was represented by the Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Hon. Chris Nehikhare, in company of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media Projects, Crusoe Osagie, said the government stands with the people in this very challenging times.

He said, “The Edo State Government supports the protest. We identify with you because this hike in price has affected everyone. We are doing our best to see how this hardship is reduced or limited for Edo people.

“The important thing is to ensure that we are able to feed Edo people. We will do our best in terms of feeding but we don’t have power over fuel. We are doing our best to ensure all the filling stations in Edo State sell fuel at the agreed prices.

“We are concerned about the hardship facing Edo people that was why few days ago, the Edo State Government had a meeting with market women, farmers, traders, civil society groups and a host of others in the food chain at Urokpota Hall in Benin City.”

Noting ongoing efforts to address the rise in price of food, the governor stated, “The Edo State Government has put many things in place to change the narrative and help reduce the cost of food.

“Our government feels the pain of the Edo people. We want Edo to thrive and are not happy as a government that we have to protest to register our displeasure over the high rise of food prices.

“We appeal to Edo people and will make sure that the government has put in groundwork for the people and reduces the hardship.

“The farming season is just beginning. We are assisting with the preparations of land, farming inputs, and equipment and are ready for a bumper harvest. We are making sure that roads are good and reduce the cost of transportation. We are also assisting in bringing the food to the City.

“The message of this protest will be carried to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We want to also let Edo people know that the Edo State Government identifies with Edo people because of the rise in cost of living and will do all necessary to ensure Edo people don't suffer from this hardship."

Earlier, the Chairman of NLC, Edo State Chapter, Comrade Odion Olaiye said, “Members of NLC are here to register their protest on behalf of the Congress to Mr. Governor for onward transmission to Mr. President. We can’t bear hunger anymore. Food items are very high now and people are finding it difficult to eat. Things are hard for Nigerians as we call on the president to intervene.”

*PHOTO CAPTION*

L-R: Representative of Civil Society Groups, Kola Edokpayi; Special Adviser to Edo State Governor on Media Projects, Mr. Crusoe Osagie; Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Edo State Chapter Comr. Odion Olaiye; representative of Edo State Governor and Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Hon. Chris Nehikhare, during a peaceful protest to Government House, Benin City, Tuesday, February 27, 2024.

Obaseki reforms: We’ve cultivated over 2,000 hectares of oil palm, now exporting to Ondo, Kwara, others – Bravag Ltd

The Managing Director of Bravag Nigeria Limited, Mr. Erhunse Oviawe, has said that with reforms pioneered by Governor Godwin Obaseki through the Edo State Oil Palm Programme (ESOPP), his company has developed a 2000 hectares farm estate and is now exporting Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFB) to other parts of the country.

In a chat with journalists, Oviawe noted that the company’s milling plant will start processing FFB next month, when the equipment installation is complete.

According to him, “We have 2,000 hectares of oil palm. We will start milling in the next one month, as I said, because we have fruits coming out in bunches. We call them FFB (fresh fruit bunches). We are now selling to other mills in Edo State; they come in to buy. Even from outside the state, from as far as Ondo.

“Today, we have enquiries from Kwara; they want to come down and collect from us. Even from Delta, they come in to buy oil palm from us. We have a mill that is starting production in another month or two. But because our mill is not ready, that is why we are selling bunches to other millers.”

He added that the Edo State Geographic Information Service (EdoGIS) has also been instrumental to the ease of doing business in the State as it has simplified ease of securing of legitimate land titles which has eased access to finance.

Obaseki decries dislocation in Nigeria’s education system

[b]…links inconsistency to irregular migration, human trafficking
[/b]
The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has decried the dislocation in Nigeria’s education system, linking the inconsistency to the high level of irregular migration and human trafficking in the country.

The governor, who spoke to journalists in Benin City, said his government is changing the narrative and has, over the past seven years, focused on reforming and strengthening the State’s education system using the Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (EdoBEST).

He stated that the success recorded by his administration in the fight against human trafficking and illegal migration in the State is linked to reforms in the education sector as well as programmes and projects to equip and build the capacity of Edo youths to become globally competitive.

According to Obaseki, “Re-enacting basic education in the State has thrown up several issues and shows us the dislocation in our educational policies and how it's affecting the whole chain. The breakdown of our basic education is one of the root causes of irregular migration and has led to human trafficking in the State.”

The governor noted, “We embarked on EdoBEST to change the narrative. We decided to set up an education fund to encourage more students to go to school. We also focused on teachers to improve the learning standards. Five years on, we can now see a reversal and rapid improvement in learning outcomes.”

On efforts by his administration to transform the State’s tertiary education system following the success recorded at the basic and secondary education level, Obaseki noted, “We are committed to sustaining the revamp in our tertiary education system. All our local government areas have been connected with fiber as we have almost 2,000km of fiber across Edo State. It’s our priority that tertiary schools in the State are connected as it supports distance learning.”

He further charged, “We have to focus on what tertiary education should be and how we should rethink tertiary education to provide the manpower that we urgently need to improve productivity. We should wake up as a nation as our problem in Nigeria is not the exchange rate but productivity. We are not training our children to understand this and be productive.”

Obaseki’s investment drive soars as Dufil's investments in Edo hits N25bn

On the back of far-reaching reforms by the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration to drive investment and boost economic activities in Edo, the State has continued to witness a surge of big-ticket players with investment by Dufil Prima Food Limited, makers of Indomie Noodles, hitting N25billion in five years.

The surge in investment in Edo reflects the burgeoning confidence of the private sector in the conducive business environment created by Governor Obaseki over the past eight years, repositioning the State as a prime destination for business and commerce.

Speaking to journalists in Benin City, the governor said the reforms have ensured the inflow of substantial investment from various investors into the State, significantly contributing to job creation and economic growth and development.

According to him, “Dufil Prima Food Limited got land from Edo State Government to farm oil palm when they started their oil palm business in 2019, and when they started, they saw the need to diversify into cassava because of the availability of the product and as you can see today, they have invested in excess of N25 billion naira in various investments.

“We are here to see how far they have gone, see what they have done, the challenges they have, and how collectively as State Government and ESOPP investors we can work to reduce the risk and encourage more investments.”

Obaseki further noted, “We are benefiting from various investments in the State like the factory of Dufil built four years ago and producing quality cassava flour and other byproducts for the poultry Industry. The State is benefiting from the food sufficiency standpoint from this investment.

“We have received substantial investment from various investors as investment has come into the State and a lot has come into the economy of Edo State, showing that a lot of economic activities are going on.”

On the economic impact of the investment, the governor stated, "From the farm and ethanol factory, they created over 1,500 direct jobs for the people. They are helping us reduce the challenge of unemployment, develop the State, expand it, and bring in people into the area with better opportunities. Edo State is one State where you can come to invest and make a lot of returns and grow your business.”

He added, “Dufil has shown us that what we are producing as cassava is not up to the demand. The variety of cassava used for industrial production is different from the one we eat.”

Ogie Vasco a meddlesome interloper, working with counter forces to undermine Edo PDP

At no time was he elected State Publicity Secretary of our party

… must be disregarded, ignored



Our attention has been drawn to an illegal and incredibly ridiculous statement purportedly issued by one Ogie Vasco who is unlawfully parading himself as the State Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State.



We would have ordinarily ignored the six-paragraph divisive scribbling filled with false and baseless ramblings on the party’s recently concluded ward delegate congress which took place simultaneously across the State, but for the sake of clarity, it is important to state that the rabble-rouser is an impostor and is not known to the PDP in Edo State.



More so, signing off the statement from an address that is not known to be the address of the Edo PDP Secretariat, further gives him out as a meddlesome interloper and an agent of destabilization, who should be ignored by all party members and other stakeholders.



In all modesty, the recent congress, held last Sunday, stands as one of the best congresses ever organised in the recent history of the State, but Vasco would not know that as he has never participated or witnessed a congress before, It was peaceful and credible with party members electing their delegates with keen supervision of the Committee set up by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Party.



It is also important to clarify that the materials used for the delegate election across the State came from the 3-man Ad-hoc Ward Delegate Electoral Committee led by Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, and its distribution was handled at the PDP State Secretariat, hence Vasco's claims are not only unfounded but divisive and misleading.



If he was a genuine member of the party, he would know the location of the party secretariat and would have been able to see the materials when they came because all eligible members of the Party have access to the Secretariat , while the Delegate Committee from the Party’s National leadership were the ones in custody of the materials.



Is it not even perplexing that some aspirants are opposed to the Congress? Were they contesting as delegates themselves? And who appointed Ogie Vasco as the spokesperson of the aspirants if not for mischief and the crumbs that may fall from the table of any of the aspirants?



If Vasco was by any means informed, he would have known that Congress proceedings are determined by the party's national leadership, not the aspirants. Rather than showcasing his dorkiness, he should go and study the guidelines as issued by the National Working Committee in line with the Party’s Constitution.



We are however not surprised at the antics of Ogie Vasco and his ilk who are working with counter forces to weaken the party. We know that their game is to undermine the party in pursuit of their pecuniary interests.



Their attempts to derail us from retaining Osadebey Avenue will not succeed. We are aware of their anti-party agenda; the same antiparty activities witnessed during the State House of Assembly election which PDP members gallantly quelled and eventually retained the maximum seats in the House.



I want to inform Ogie Vasco and his paymasters that the same gallant party members who defeated them in the past remain resolute and united, and are surefooted and ready to batter them to submission again in the coming governorship election in the State.



Signed



Dr BOLAJI OJEBUOBOH

ASST. STATE PUBLICITY SECRETARY



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Opposition politics not cynicism, Edo govt tells Tenebe

We are perplexed to learn of the quite laughable and incredibly ridiculous tantrums attributed to the new acting chairman of the Edo State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Jarret Tenebe where he made baseless and spurious allegations on the fiscal management of our dear State by the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led government.

Obviously pained by the achievements of the State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki across all sectors of the State over the past seven years – which he and his co-travelers are trying hard to deny - Tenebe has been on a frenzy looking for lies to tell since he assumed office as Acting Chairman. Rather than focus on reawakening his completely comatose party, which is unable to provide constructive criticisms expected of a viable opposition, he has resorted to spreading misinformation in a desperate attempt to curry cheap popularity.

In his infertile rambling, Tenebe made wild and completely off-the-mark comments suggesting that Edo State is owing $35 billion. Even if that was what was written for him, he should have known that the figure is wrong and can't be true.

In reality, our debt stock is not a secret and in fact, we are ‘under borrowed’. Emperor Tenebe would have known this if he understood the economics of governance, fiscal responsibility and debt-to-GDP ratio.

The recent facility approved by the State Assembly was to amongst other projects, enable the State Government procure electric buses to enhance the state’s transportation system.

You will recall that Edo State Government introduced free bus rides for its residents five months ago. The free transport scheme has benefitted over 3.4 million Edo residents. The procurement of the electric buses will further cushion the impact of the fuel subsidy removal by the APC-led FG, on the people of the State.

The procurement of these buses further demonstrates the State Government’s commitment to the welfare of Edo people.

Tenebe’s undoing is that he and his party have been so used to looting of the people’s treasury and cannot bear the pain that they would never have access to the State’s purse with which the governor has continued to pursue developmental projects across the state.

It is even more saddening that a party’s chairman only thinks about brick and mortar projects when it comes to development.

Tenebe’s attention must be drawn to the fact that opposition politics is not cynicism. Opposition politics requires intelligence, tact and not childish tantrums.

Edo people know better and are too intelligent to be swayed by such antics, smear campaigns and cheap blackmail. We urge Tenebe and his ilk in the APC to stop chasing shadows but rather funnel those energies to reawakening their comatose party ahead of the September 2024 governorship election.


*Chris Osa Nehikhare*
Honourable Commissioner for Communication & Orientation

Edo kicks off reaccreditation exercise for vigilante personnel
[b][/b]
The Edo State Government has commenced the reaccreditation of over 6500 personnel of the State’s Security Vigilante Network (ESSVN).

In a statement, the Coordinator of ESSVN, Col. Kole Omomia said the profiling and training will be held between Friday, February 2 and Sunday, February 4, 2034.

According to him, the reaccreditation exercise is only for trained vigilante operatives in the State.

The statement reads: “Following Governor Godwin Obaseki's directive, the Edo State Security Vigilante Network (ESVN) has started the reaccreditation and training of 6,500 ESVN operatives in the State.

“The profiling which commenced today, Friday, February 2, 2024, will hold as follows:

“Friday: Oredo, 8-11am; Ikpoba-Okha, 12-2pm, and Egor, 3-5pm.”

Omomia noted that on Saturday, February 3, 2024, the exercise will take place in Ovia North East between 9 and 11 am and Ovia South East from 1 to 3 pm.

The reaccreditation will end on Sunday, February 4, 2024 in Uhunmwonde between 9 and11am and Orhiomnwon from 1 to 3 pm.

Subsidy Palliative: Over 3.4m Edo residents benefit from Obaseki’s free bus scheme in five month

The Managing Director of Edo State Transport Authority (ESTA), Mrs. Edugie Agbonlahor, has said over 3.4 million Edo residents have so far benefitted from the free bus service introduced by the State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, to cushion the impact of the fuel subsidy removal on the people of State

The free transport scheme was introduced five months ago (September 2023) to run for an initial two-month period and was extended by three months till February 2024, in furtherance of the government’s commitment to the welfare of Edo people.

However, it has been extended to April 2024, following the success recorded in the first two phases of the free transport scheme.

The free transport service covers all intra and intercity routes operated by the State-owned Edo City Transport Services (ECTS), including Auchi – Igarra – Ibillo–Ososo; Uzebba–Ikhin – Otuo, and Abudu-Ubiaja, Abudu-Urhonigbe and Ewohimi to Ewatto.

The intra-city routes are Ramat–Kingsquare; New Benin–Kingsquare; Kingsquare – Ekenwan Road; Kingsquare–Airport Road; Kingsquare–Sapele Road and Kingsquare – Adesuwa, Kingsquare–Ogida; New Benin – Upper Mission; Kingsquare–Ugbowo; Kingsquare–Agbor Road; Kingsquare–Upper Sokponba; New Benin – Ugbowo and New Benin–Aduwawa.

In a statement, the Managing Director of Edo State Transport Authority said the beneficiaries include 95,812 intercity passengers and 330,8157 intra-city passengers.

According to her, “The free bus service introduced by the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration to cushion the impact of the fuel subsidy removal on the people of Edo State has continued to record success with over 3,403,969 people benefiting from the scheme in the first five months.

“The 3,403,969 beneficiaries between September 11, 2023, and January 31, 2024, include 95,812 intercity passengers and 330,8157 intra-city passengers.”

“We are glad with the impact of the scheme which has now been extended till April 2024, to continually ease the pressure and transport burden on the people of Edo State, amid the current economic realities.”

Agbonlahor, while reassuring the government’s commitment to the welfare and wellbeing of Edo citizens, urged Edo people to take advantage of the free bus service scheme.

Obaseki reforms: Edo IGR grows by N17bn in 2023, hits N62bn

_*…figures reflect over 40 percent growth from 2022, driven by formal sector*_

_*…EIRS boss links revenue growth to gov’s investment drive, others*_

Despite challenging economic crisis fueled by the removal of fuel subsidy, Edo State Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) grew by over 40 percent in 2023, recording N17bn increase from the N45bn generated in 2022.

The Chairman, Edo Taskforce on Internally Generated Revenue, Hon. John Osagie Inegbedion, disclosed this at a press briefing after the 2024 EIRS Management Performance Review (MPR), in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

Inegbedion said the 2023 IGR, driven by the State’s formal sector, stood at N62billion, noting that the N17bn growth by Edo State in 2023 accounts for the combined revenue generation performance for 12 States in 2022.

Describing the growth as unprecedented in the history of the State, the EIR boss linked the feat to the business and economic reforms of the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration which has continued to attract investments into the State.

According to him, “In 2022, 12 States did N17b total IGR collection. Thus, Governor Obaseki’s economic reforms and investment drive has propelled Edo economy to grow by the value of what 12 states struggled to collect.”

He said, “The total IGR generated in Edo State for the year 2023 by EIRS, Ministries Departments and Agencies stood at N62,079,123,288.37k. When compared with the 2022 total revenue collection of N45,062,587,439.92k, indicates a growth of N17,016,535,848:46k which was not associated with the informal sector but from the formal sector which occurred within a year.

“This is the first time in the history of revenue administration in the State that revenue will be grown by forty percent (40%) over the preceding year”.

Giving insights to what led to the increased IGR recorded, the EIRS boss noted, “The Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) tax contributed a total of N26.9 billion which indicates N9.44billion over the previous year from the formal sector.

“Withholding Tax collection for the year 2023 was N4.8 billion with a resulting increase of N1.8b over the previous year.

“Other revenues grew by N1.46billion while Ministries Departments and Agency (MDAs) had a growth of N1.8 with a collection of N8.3billion.

“On the contrary, the informal sector wherein most businesses such as the Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprise (MSME), traders, artisans and self-employed operators, had a collection of 1.9billion with a reduction of 312million when compared with 2022 collection of N2.2b.”

The implication of the shortfall, according to Inegbedion “is that EIRS was relaxed on taxing self-employed individuals from the informal sector as individual business owners had some reprieve granted by the Edo State Governor who understands the pains business owners go through as a result of the harsh economic situation and therefore insisted that taxes do not overburdened them”.

He noted that 95% of the increase however came from the formal sector while the informal sector recorded a decline of N312 million.

Inegbedion further noted, “The Governor’s strategic and economic revolution is really having impactful positive growth. Whilst States are struggling to grow their IGR due to the current economic crisis occasioned by removal of fuel subsidies, Edo State economy is flying high due to the foresight of the Governor who long before now has been raising alarm about the impending economic disaster we are currently experiencing. However, he took the initiative and made the necessary wise economic decisions to position Edo for the challenges ahead.”

He added, “We commend the Governor as his investment and economic reforms are showing results as new investments are now paying their PAYE and WHT taxes which are deducted at source. The revenue space is being expanded by the new investment opportunities, we are growing our revenue figures, and we now have more persons coming into the tax net. We encourage Mr. Governor to continue in attracting new investors to the State.

“As a Service, we are making the necessary improvements in tax administration. We have deployed the ERAS technology to make taxpayers’ services, enquiries, tax assessments and payments seamless using electronic means.”

*AFCON 2024: Obaseki celebrates Super Eagles over 2-0 victory against Cameroon*

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has congratulated the Super Eagles of Nigeria for their 2-0 victory against Cameroon in their AFCON round of 16 clash on Saturday night.

In a statement, Obaseki said, “I heartily congratulate the Super Eagles of Nigeria for their well-deserved victory against Cameroon in their AFCON round of 16 clash, securing a spot in the quarter finals of the tournament.

“The Super Eagles have continued to give an excellent account of themselves, showcasing exceptional talent, resilience and the indomitable Nigerian spirit."

“We celebrate your exploits and genius and are confident that you will bring the laurel home,” the governor added.

https://www.godwinobaseki.com/News/afcon-2024-obaseki-celebrates-super-eagles-over-2-0-victory-against-cameroon