Edo 2016: A message to Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

Gov. Oshiomhole

By Prince Kelly O. Udebhulu

As a concerned Nigerian and party faithful in Edo State, I urge Gov. Adams Oshiomhole to allow a level-playing field in and during the governorship primary election for all aspirants in Edo State. Being native of Urohi, ward 8, Esan West Local government of Edo state, and member of the ruling party, and social media blogger, it is important to put things right at this stage.

The only time I was privileged to ex¬change greetings with the Governor was during the campaign period as I accompanied APC`s Edo Central Senatorial district candidate, Chief Uzoya, but the best advice comes when it is accurate, honest, unflinching and is given whether or not there’s much chance of the recipient listening.

Sometimes, hard things are best said by an outsider so that those close to you don’t have to venture it first, but can say “Well, he might have a point”. The APC`s Governorship candidate must be a popularly accepted candidate if the party wants to win the next Edo State governorship seat!

The Nigerian politics is entangled with money politics. Politics in our dear country, Nigeria, is money and a harvest time for both the electorates and party leaders. Ears are rented. They chant aloud and sing praises when they clearly can’t understand or hear the campaign speech being delivered by the candidate or never visited or read the candidate’s political manifesto.

To have imposition of an APC candidate on the electorates by selected party leaders or the Governor to impose his preferred candidate that is unpopular will be a disaster in the forthcoming Edo State Gubernatorial election. The opposition party in the state, PDP, will capture the state surprisingly if APC features an un¬popular candidate and allow disunity to envelop or engulf the party after the party primaries.

In the past, the Governor and godfathers were always right and remained the “Alfa and the Omega” of our parties. We were helpless. The body language of the Governor, Godfathers and the following phrases remained sacrosanct; “the Governor said”, “the Godfather said”, “Governor’s candidate”, “Godfather`s candidate”, “Her Excellency’s candidate”.

Upon this, the state deteriorated morally, politically, economically and environmentally, only an insignificant cabal criminally excelled in all ramifications just because they were loyal to their respective godfathers. Thank God today, you are a listening Governor and this is a history to some extent in our dear state, Edo.

Avoid dancing to the gallery as your leadership qualities already speak for you even in high places. It is not news or a surprise happening that potential aspirants by now put on sale their houses and other proper¬ties belonging to them at give-away prices in major cities. This is because of huge financial demands of political campaigns, with the voters and party delegates stretching opened hands to receive cash and other resources from competing sides during party primary elections or voting days.

This could be likened to the “game theory” in political terms where both parties aim to win by exploiting weaknesses of an opposing side. The party`s primary election dictates how much aspirants and candidates can go in the spending spree.

It is expected that there should be free level-playing ground in the governorship election. There should be no restriction, everyone who is interested in contesting the governorship election under APC should be allowed to do so and as our governor, you have the right to support any aspirant, but this must be a popular person, fit and proper to govern the affairs of the state and who will win with the highest available votes.

I therefore urge Governor Oshiom¬hole to ensure that there is no imposi¬tion of candidate, and that due process be allowed to take place in the emergence of a preferred candidate as the Edo governorship election draws near. It will be a legacy that Oshiomhole’s successor is from the party.

•Prince Kelly O. Udebhulu is a social media blogger.

Cracks in Edo APC, PDP over 2016 guber election. Edo South vs Edo Central.

political players

WITH barely one year left for him to leave and about seven months to governorship election, agitation for who succeeds Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State dominated political activities in theEdo state as politicians and groups sand different tunes on where his successor would come from between Edo South and Edo Central. Oshiomhole is from Edo North.

A leader of the People Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Odion Ugbesia, disclosed at the weekend that political leaders in Edo Central zone had conceded the position to Edo South thereby foreclosing the agitation of Ken Imansuagbon and former Governor Oserhiemen Osunbor, both of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to succeed Oshiomhole. They are both from Edo Central.

Ugbesia made the remark during the inauguration ceremony of new PDP Secretariat in Benin City where he also called on the party leadership to provide a level playing field at the primary for the best candidate to emerge if it was serious in winning the 2016 governorship.

But in a swift reaction yesterday, Imansuagbon described those working against Edo Central producing the next governor as “enemies of Esan land” who cannot win any free and fair elections.

“Those who said Esanland cannot have the governorship are enemies of Esan land. Since Jonathan lost the 2015 election it is now clear to them that they cannot win any election and that is why they are coming up with evil plans against Esan people. They know I am going to become the next governor and that is why they are panicking. They cannot call for such meeting in the open because they know the people will stone them

“The 2016 governorship election in Edo is in God’s and Edo peoples’ hands and not any godfather. Because equity and justice demand that it should be the turn of Edo Central. The Binis have had their turn so it is only proper that we are allowed to have our own turn. If we are denied the opportunity, it will trigger hate and disunity in the state.”

Meanwhile, the Benin Leaders of Thought (BLT) led by the Enogie of Obazuwa and younger brother to the Oba of Benin, Prince Edun Akenzua, yesterday declared that the appointment of a Minister of Benin extraction, in the person of Dr Osagie Ehanire by President Muhammadu Buhari, would not stop the Binis from producing the next governor of the state in 2016.

The BLT was reacting to comments from some leaders of the APC from Edo Central who are agitating that the governorship ticket be ceded to the Central District since the Minister is from Edo South district.

A statement signed by the Chairman of the BLT, Prince Akenzua, commended Buhari for appointing Dr Ehanire as a Minister asserting that “this is the first time a proper representative of the people of Benin is being nominated for appointment to the office of a Minister. Hitherto in the past 16 years, a politician outside Edo South would patronizingly recommend any Benin person for appointment.”

President Buhari’s appointment of Dr Ehanire to represent Edo State has set tongues wagging in some quarters. Some politicians in Edo Central are saying that the nomination rules out Edo South from next year’s gubernatorial race. They say elective offices are zoned and Edo South got the Ministerial slot, it should therefore not get the gubernatorial slot.

“The statement is baseless. It is fallacious. There has been no zoning policy by any political party in the state. In Chief Obasanjo’s Presidency, Edo Central had four Ministers, namely: Chief Tony Anenih, Odion Ugbesia, Dr Itoto (Late) and Architect Onolenmeme. They succeeded each other. President Jonathan removed the only Benin man he met as Minister, even though he was a “Junior Minister”. In his six years as President, he did not include a Benin person in his cabinet.

“Why are they now talking of zoning, as if it had been there and that they had applied it to Edo South during the PDP days? Politics they say, is a game of number. In other words, in democratic politics the majority carries the votes. The minority will always have their say but the majority will have its way. National Census gives Edo South about 52 per cent of the population of Edo state; Edo Central has about 17 per cent. Why will a minority group continue to take the lion’s share”, the statement queried.

DAUGHTERS ARE PRECIOUS TO PARENTS. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO PRINCESS SUCCESS EHINOMEN KELLY

Princess Ehinomen

TRUE LIFE STORY: On the first day of their marriage, wife and husband agreed not to open the door for ANY visitor! 

That same day, the husband’s parents came to see them, and knocked on the door. Husband and the wife looked at each other,  the husband wanted to open the door, but since they had an agreement, he did not, so his parents left. 

After a while, the same day, the wife’s parents came visiting. Wife and husband looked at each other, and even though they had an agreement, the wife with tears on her eyes whispered:-

 "I can’t do this to my parents", and she opened the door! Husband did not say anything. 

Years passed and they had two boys. Afterwards, they had a third child which was a girl. The father planned a very big and lavish party for the new born baby girl, and he invited everyone over.

 Later that night, his wife asked him what was the reason for such a big celebration for this baby, why we did not do so for the brothers?

 The Husband simply replied:-

 "because she is the one who will open the door for me!" Daughters are so special.

Your little girl will hold your hand for only a little while but will hold your heart for a life time.

 It's 'DAUGHTER'S WEEK', and if you are a daughter OR have a daughter who makes life worth living, by just being around - and you love her as much as your own breath,  if you are proud of your daughter, or being a daughter, join me to say Happy birthday to Princess Ehinomen Kelly as I just did. Daughters are angels! 

By prince Kelly O. Udebhulu
(Father)
🌹

EDO CENTRAL WILL GET ACTIVE REPRESENTATIVE SOON: Chief Inegbeniki ‘ll reclaim mandate at tribunal, say activists –

BENIN—Niger Delta Oil Producing Communities Agenda, NIDOCA, has expressed confidence that the All Progressives Congress, APC, senatorial candidate for Edo Central in the last National Assembly election, Chief  Francis Inegbeniki, would reclaim his mandate at the tribunal.

Spokesman of the group, Mr. Emmanuel Akpovoka, who gave the assurance at Abuja, said the people of Edo Central voted massively for Inegbeniki on March 28 election, alleging that the election was rigged and results manipulated by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The group also urged the people of Edo Central to remain steadfast and hopeful that the judiciary under President Muhammadu Buhari will certainly do the right thing, give them justice and Inegbeniki will emerge victorious.

Beyond Party Lines: When Legislators Fight. We are dealing with individuals, who are putting their interests ahead of the people. Article.

NIGERIANS may get a better glimpse of the direction of our democracy when the leadership of the National Assembly is elected today. Ordinarily, it should be the members who should elect their leadership, but it is obvious that there are more external influences than any of the parties would be willing to admit.

Religions, regions, politics of the formation of the All Progressives Alliance, APC, the politics of successions in 2019, have all coalesced into the confusion that is attending a simple exercise that held in the past 16 years without much attention on the external influences that marked it. Today would mark the first major fight in APC after the election, and a test of the party’s capacities to manage fall-outs of success.

Change could start with the National Assembly, where the numbers are not so clear to give one party the majority. The growing interest in leadership of the National Assembly, unfortunately, would not be for the benefit of Nigerians. From the political parties to the principal holders of political powers, who mostly operate from the background, the contests for the leadership of the National Assembly are beyond interests in law making.

In the absence of resolutions to the factions, internal crises, irreconcilable differences, open disagreements among members of the same party, the National Assembly would take off in its most factious and fractious state since 1999. Internal party discipline is weak, the passion of those vying for the leadership is strong enough that disagreements within APC may have more consequences for the party outside the working of the National Assembly, Nigerians are aghast at these developments.

Party manifestoes and positions would take a second place in these contentions, meaning that factions would grow in APC. Parties are now ordinary platforms through which personal desires are actualised, rather than vehicles for delivery of services to the people. While the parties made promises to us during the campaigns, we are dealing with individuals, who are putting their interests ahead of the people.

None of the contestants for the National Assembly is discussing provision of leadership that would cater for the interest of Nigerians. The elections in the National Assembly would pass, even if they turn chaotic. Another way of looking at what is going on is that Nigerians can use the contests to assess the leanings of those they have elected. A National Assembly that from its constitution considers its interests ahead of the country’s poses further danger after the deep divisions that the elections created.

Our dysfunctional political party system, without clear-cut programmes is the main cause of the squabbles we are witnessing in the National Assembly, squabbles that are more widespread than they appear.

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Culled from Vanguard

Edo State Bans Revenue Collection Agents Like Akugbe Ventures, the Road Transport Employers Association, Drivers Welfare Scheme and National Union of Road Transport Workers.

Oshiomhole

BENIN CITY- Edo State Government on Monday, 1st June, 2015, has banned agents who collect taxes and levies from artisans, market women and drivers on behalf of local government councils.

Chairman of Edo Internal Revenue Services, Chief Oseni Elamah, who disclosed this at a press briefing in Benin, also announced the disengagement of Akugbe Ventures, a private company which was responsible for collecting levies from commercial drivers in the state on behalf of the state government.

Elamah also disclosed that unions like the Road Transport Employers Association, Drivers Welfare Scheme and National Union of Road Transport Workers, were barred from collecting union dues on the high way forthwith, adding that existing extant laws forbade government from engaging agents for the purpose of collecting taxes and levies from citizens.

He said revenue accruing to the government at all levels were supposed to be collected in a prescribed manner and not through agents or consultants.

“The law gave government the power to generate revenue to render services to the people. The provisions there is that nobody has the power to mount road blocks in whatever name on the highway to collect revenue.

“We have written to the police to enforce this cashless revenue collection of the Edo State Government. We are implementing the federal government law which forbids anybody from mounting roadblock under the guise of collecting revenue. Any member of the public that is being harrass or intimidated should immediately report such person to the police.

“We urge the police to arrest such persons because the laws do not allow the collection of revenue on our highways or streets. Whenever you pay, demand for government official receipt to be issued to you.”

Chief Elamah explained that all eligible tax payers were expected to comply with relevant tax laws by filing annual tax returns on the basis on which they would be assessed on what to pay, adding that no cash payment was allowed except through designated banks.

He therefoe urged commercial drivers to report anybody that harasses and intimidates them to pay money to them.

Chief Elamah also disclosed that the state government has begun implementation of the Presumptive Tax Regime which targets the informal sector.

He said those in the informal sector would be encouraged to document their income over a period of one year to enable tax authorities ascertain their income because taxes are paid on income earned.

I Belong To Everybody And I Belong To Nobody – Buhari

No Paying Off Of Old Scores, Past Is Prologue  •Relocates Military Command Centre To Maiduguri  • Ends Niger Delta Amnesty Programme December.

taking the oath of allegiance

President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to be president of all Nigerians and had no scores to settle with anyone.   Buhari made the declaration on Friday while taking the oath of office and allegiance at the Eagle Square, Abuja to become Nigeria’s fourth democratically elected President, in this Four Republic.

The oath of allegiance was performed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) before a large crowd of Nigerians, African Heads of State, and his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan.

Noting that he took his oath with the Holy Book, Buhari assured Nigerians that he would serve as President of all Nigerians.

“I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody. A few people have privately voiced fears that on coming back to office I shall go after them. These fears are groundless. There will be no paying off old scores. The past is prologue,” he declared.

As his immediate priorities, he also pledged to strengthen the war against insurgency in Nigeria, tackle persistent fuel scarcity; tackle corruption and provide jobs for the youth.

The most pressing of them all, he said, was Boko Haram, and he acknowledged that although progress has been made in recent weeks by the security forces, “victory cannot be achieved by basing the Command and Control Centre in Abuja. The command centre will be relocated to Maiduguri and remain until Boko Haram is completely subdued.

“But we cannot claim to have defeated Boko Haram without rescuing the Chibok girls and all other innocent persons held hostage by insurgents. This government will do all it can to rescue them alive.”

Buhari promised to continue to invest in the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme but sought for the support of the leaders and people of the region to cooperate with government’s plan to streamline the projects for better effectiveness.

The new President further pledged not to interfere with the operations of the two other arms of government -Judiciary and Legislature – and assured Nigerians of reasonable and accepted control over functions of states and local governments.

He charged lawmakers to quicken the process of lawmaking and attending to important bills, and for the judiciary to do same in matters concerning corruption cases.

According to him; “the judicial system needs reform to cleanse itself from its immediate past. The country now expects the judiciary to act with dispatch on all cases especially on corruption, serious financial crimes or abuse of office. It is only when the three arms act constitutionally that government will be enabled to serve the country optimally and avoid the confusion all too often bedeviling governance today.”

“Elsewhere, relations between Abuja and the States have to be clarified if we are to serve the country better. Constitutionally there are limits to powers of each of the three tiers of government but that should not mean the Federal Government should fold its arms and close its eyes to what is going on in the states and local governments. Not least the operations of the Local Government Joint Account.”

“While the Federal Government cannot interfere in the details of its operations it will ensure that the gross corruption at the local level is checked. As far as the constitution allows me I will try to ensure that there is responsible and accountable governance at all levels of government in the country.”

He thanked his predecessor, Jonathan for acting in a statesmanlike manner in the aftermath of the presidential elections, saying that such conduct showed it was possible for Nigeria to show the world that despite the perceived tension in the land the people can remain united and capable of doing what is right for the nation.

“Together we co-operated to surprise the world that had come to expect only the worst from Nigeria. I hope this act of graciously accepting defeat by the outgoing President will become the standard of political conduct in the country”, he added.

Immediately after taking the oath of office, jubilant youths numbering over ten thousand on Friday, defiled heavy security blockade mounted by a combined team of the Nigerian Police,the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC)the Federal Road Safety Commission(FRSC) and a detachment of military personnel to celebrate the new President .

They chanted solidarity songs,”Say Baba,say Buhari”, While a good number of them carried brooms and danced to musical tunes from northern musicians.

Prior to the inauguration proper, all routes leading to the Eagle Square were cordoned-off with only security officials and VIP dignitaries allowed to drive close to the venue.

Access roads to the Eagle Square had been restricted from the previous day. As early as6am on inauguration day, as visitors had begun to converge within the vicinity of the Square, which had of course, been already heavily secured by various arms of the nation’s security agencies.

MY APPEAL TO OUR NEW PRESIDENT, MOHAMMADU BUHARI.

portrait of Buhari

By Prince Kelly O. Udebhulu.

I pledged our new President, Mohammadu Buhari to make positive policies toward migration issues that will encourage our Nigerian professionals work and stay in the country.

From my experience as a Nigerian in Diaspora and an investigative journalist, what I know that bothers me is the issue of professional Nigerians in abroad contributing greatly towards the growth of Europe, Asia and America to the detriment of my country, Nigeria.

Nigeria as the most populous country on the continent and most populous black nation in the World grapples with a wide range of migration issues, from internal migration to massive intra and inter-regional/continental migration. As you know, there are more PhD holders from Nigerian origin in Europe, Asia or in America than in Nigeria - There are more Nigerian Doctors, Nurses and Engineers in Europe, Asia and in America than in Nigeria. So, let’s the new government of Nigeria know that it is the system ( flaws in security system, corruption, electricity, selfish bureaucracy in government`s institutions, etc ) in Nigeria previously that encouraged massive migration for a better working packages and living.

Thank you President Buhari.

Anchored by Prince Kelly O. Udebhulu.
Prince Kelly O. Udebhulu is a trained journalist from the AIU (USA), resides in Spain; a blogger and special correspondent; news media international.
Twitter: @princekelly75
Facebook: prince kelly o.udebhulu
Skype: princekellyudebhulu
google hangout: princekellyudebhulu1

President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday received the hand over notes from the outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja.

THE PRESIDENT-ELECT PERUSING THE HANDOVER NOTES AS PRESENTED BY PRESIDENT JONATHAN

BOTH PRESIDENTS DURING DURING PRESIDENTIAL VILA TOUR

The President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, arrived Aso Rock accompanied by aides and some members of the All Progressive Congress

The presentation was done inside the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, shortly after Jonathan conducted Buhari round the seat of power. Vice President Namadi Sambo had also similarly conducted the Vice President-elect, Yemi Osinbajo, round his wing of the villa.

He presented an executive summary of his hand over notes and a copy of the National Conference report to Buhari in the presence of All Progressives Congress chiefs who witnessed the event.

The outgoing President, who spoke after the presentation, said his administration had done its best for the country.

On his part, the President-elect said he would not make an official statement until after studying the handover notes. He commended Jonathan for conceding defeat in the March 28 presidential election.

Meanwhile, everything seemed to be set for the inauguration as the President-elect Muhammadu Buhari who travelled to the United Kingdom last Friday returned to Nigeria early this morning in company of some of his aides ahead of his inauguration as President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria on Friday.

We gathered that Buhari and some of his aides arrived for the tour of the Presidential Villa at exactly 11:00 am scheduled time and was holding a meeting with the outgoing President his office preparatory to the commencement of the tour as at the time of filing in this story.

The tour is expected to be followed by inauguration dinner to be attended by the President elect, members of the diplomatic corps, the outgoing President and members of his cabinet among others later this evening.

The inauguration is gradually bringing life back to Abuja where social economic activities have been at very low ebb for some weeks now as a result of persistent scarcity of petroleum products.

Already, the Eagle Square venue of the inauguration has been a beehive of activities with the military perfecting their parades and other preparations for the various activities they will be engaged in during the inauguration.

Nigeria flags have been mounted on electricity polls in the capital city to signify the momentous occasion which will be attended by over 50 world leaders.
John Kerry, the United States Secretary of State who is leading the delegation from his country is expected to arrive in Abuja with members of his delegation.

President Barack Obama has last week released the list of the White House delegation which included Nigerian, basket ball star, Hakeem Olajuwon.
Other members of the presidential delegation include Hon. James F. Entwistle, U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Department of State, Hon Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Department of State, and General David M. Rodriguez, Commander, U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) Others are Hon. Grant T. Harris, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Affairs, National Security Council. Reports indicated that the US delegation is expected to arrive at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja in the afternoon.

Also expected at the inauguration is President Alpha Condé of Guinea who is already in Nigeria, while Chinese President Xi Jumping’s Special Envoy, Agriculture Minister Han Changfu, will lead the delegation from China to attend the inauguration as announced by the Asian Foreign ministry spokeswoman, Hua Chunying, on Tuesday.

President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe is also expected to arrive in Abuja for the inauguration today.

Chairman of the Media and Publicity Sub-Committee of the Presidential Inauguration Planning Committee, Chief Edem Duke, had revealed that over 50
Presidents and Heads of Government are expected in Abuja for the inauguration. Solomon Arase, the Inspector General of Police on Wednesday ordered his men to deploy tight security at the Eagle Square, hotels, key and vulnerable places within the capital city ahead of the inauguration.

In the same vein, the Police Chief also directed that Tactical Operation Points be mounted on all roads leading into and out of the FCT in a statement issued on his behalf in Abuja yesterday by the Force Spokesman, Emmanuel Ojukwu. On its part, the Federal Road Safety Corps said it has deployed 23,000 personnel to designated routes during the swearing-in.

According to the Commission, over 150 patrol vehicles, 15 ambulances, 35 motorbikes and seven towing trucks have been deployed to designated routes of Abuja as part of measures to ensure seamless traffic flow in Abuja during the inauguration ceremony.

FRSC added that it has also strengthened its collaboration with other security agencies along the Gwagwalada, Nyanya, Zuba, Lugbe and Kubwa corridor through routine patrols and rescue services in addition to traffic control on major intersections of the city.

Etsako West Local Government Area : Oshiomhole swears-in, suspends new LG chairman.

Oshiomhole

Reports By Esan People News Crew.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has sworn in Mr. Alhassan Mohammed as Chairman, Etsako West Local Government Area and immediately suspended him for two months.

The new Chairman was sworn-in, following the death, last Friday, of the former Chairman of the Local Government, Alhaji Hassan Kadiri.

The Governor directed the new Vice Chairman of the Local Government, Mr. Busari Yusuf, to act as the interim Chairman pending the findings of a panel of inquiry to investigate the allegations against the new Chairman.

Speaking today Tuesday 26 May 2015, at the swearing-in ceremony, the Governor said: “I have just performed the task of swearing in the Vice Chairman of Etsako West Local Government as the substantive Chairman of the Local Government following the death of the Chairman, Alhaji Hassan Kadiri who passed away last week Friday.

“This afternoon I have performed a task with mixed feelings. On the one hand, I had the privilege of having to swear in a Chairman and on the other hand I am pained by the loss of someone who worked so hard for this party and who believed so much in his community but what made me even more sad is the fact that there were controversies as to what happened the very day that Hassan passed away.

“Some disgruntled elements whether they were masquerading as student union government officials or they were just touts and thugs, were hired by some persons to organize a protest that was almost turning violent such that they had to bring in the police and even the army to intervene to restore peace in the local government.”

Oshiomhole continued, “I am informed that the purpose of this protest was that Hassan on his sick bed should be relieved of his duties as Chairman so that the Vice Chairman could take over his job. I do not think human beings should play God. Today, I am hale and hearty and I thank God for being here to be able to sign what I have to sign, this is not by my strength, it is only by the grace of God. What will become of me in the next one hour I cannot say, I can only pray that I remain strong and healthy and I guess my story is the story of every human being.

“So for me, it is absolutely unacceptable that anyone will be so desperate as to instigate another to protest against a man that is bedridden and admitted in the hospital fighting for his life. Our jobs are worthless without life and all of us we have our dates to depart this planet earth. So, for anyone to organize protest against someone who is bedridden that he should be forced out of office so that another person will get promotion is unethical, and absolutely unacceptable and to publicly organize protest against the sick making unprintable statements, disturbing the public peace and mobilizing people to do things that are capable of leading to riots with the possibility of even death, that, for me, is the height of irresponsibility and I do not think any civilized government will condone that.”

The Governor said, “Therefore in exercise of the powers vested in me as the Governor of Edo State under the Local Government Amended Acts, where there are weighty allegations against Local Government Officers, I have powers to carry out a thorough investigation on those allegations because we know for a fact that to allege does not necessarily mean to prove. Allegations must be proven before any further actions.

“I do not have all the facts as to whom and who are responsible for these protests but I know there was a protest that could have easily destabilized the entire local government with serious implications for community relations. However who is behind it, though we know the characters that were on the street, at least some of them, we do not know the characters behind those who were on the street. As our people say, for every bat that is dancing on the road, there is someone beating the drum in the bush nearby. It is those drummers that we now must go for.

“The name of the former Vice Chairman who is now the Chairman has been mentioned by several persons as being responsible for financing and instigating students who are supposed to be on vacation and who are on vacation to come back like a general purpose vehicle to carry out those protests in order to force the resignation or the removal of the Chairman that was bedridden.

“As a matter of conscience, therefore, I have decided that these allegations have to be investigated and under the Local Government Amendment Acts, while these investigations are going on, the Chairman has to be suspended. I have served him his suspension letter, he stands suspended with immediate effect and I will be announcing a Commission of Inquiry that we investigate all the issues that led to that protest. Until then, depending on the findings of the Committee, the Vice Chairman that has just been sworn in will act as the Chairman of Etsako West Local Government Area in accordance with the Local Government Amended Act”.

Appealing to the people to maintain calm and ensure peace in the local government, Oshiomhole said, “I want to appeal to our people, let no one do anything to undermine the peace and stability of Etsako West Local Government. If anybody does anything that leads to any crisis, be assured that I have the political will to get the police not only to arrest but to thoroughly investigate and the person will be diligently prosecuted and if convicted he will go to prison in accordance with the laws of Edo State.

“This government will not submit to political sentiments. We must respect people even on their sick bed and anyone who seeks to profit from the misfortune of others does not have my backing. So I want to appeal to all concerned to maintain the peace, we have an open mind, we will select men and women of integrity as members of the Administrative Panel and their report, when forwarded to me, will be submitted to the State House of Assembly which has the responsibility to go through it together with my recommendations and they will decide the way to have this matter finally settled.

“This will last for a period of about two months in accordance with the provisions of the law. In our culture and religion, when you have lost someone known to us, we don’t celebrate, we don’t presume, it is a moment for sober reflection, it is a moment to remind us that all of us all candidates but we do not know when our moment will come and he who laughs today might be the one to cry tomorrow, so let nobody jubilate nor should we also go rioting because someone has passed on.

“I have acted in good faith and I believe that our people in Etsako West should not doubt my sincerity of purpose. I have a duty to maintain peace in every part of the state and this action is meant to show that this government will not reward those who wish ill for others. We should be our brother’s keepers”, Oshiomhole stressed.

 

ESAN PEOPLE, CHIEF TONY ANENIH AND EDO STATE GOVERNMENT.

Buhari

By Prince Kelly O. Udebhulu, Director, Media & Publicity, APC Nigeria, Spain Chapter.

The head of a camel would eventually pass through the eye of a needle for any Edo central`s candidate to be able to convince the Benins and the Edo North people to concede the governorship seat to Edo Central (Esanland) on the basis of  justice and fair play. Tell the prophet or prophetess that he/she lied to you politically anchored upon the Nigeria`s political perspective!

It should be cleared to the Esan people (Edo central) that the leadership of the APC would like to zone the governor seat to Edo South Senatorial district, though political analysts are yet to deduce from the body language of the governor who succeeds him. It is obvious that only Governor Oshiomhle and he alone can determine the next governor from the array of aspirants scrambling for the seat. No two ways about it.

The 2016 governorship election is going to be direct fight between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Interestingly, with the victory of the APC in the 2015 polls and the massive defections that have confronted the PDP in Edo state plus the alignment and re-alignment of famous politicians and party big wigs who where hitherto in the other side of political divide, and their supporters engaging in what could be regarded as political re-alignment under the APC platform; joined with  the APC in the state to win majority of the state House of Assembly seats in the just concluded general elections make the party the preferred platform for aspirants who want to succeed Comrade Governor Adams Oshiomhole because the battle can best be viewed at the favored direction of APC`s candidate securing enough supports and votes at the poll results  of  Edo state governorship election, 2016. 

For Edo central to gain, we must lobby or ask for the seat of a deputy governor that will be best positioned as a credible governorship candidate after the tenure of his principal. Without doubt in my mind, the deputy governor will do his or her best to bring development to Esan land just as our deputy governor today, Odubu who is commitment to the development of his local government in particular and attracted a number of road projects, pipe borne water, electrification projects and the construction of the Ogan/ Ugo/Orhomikhe /Urghonigbe 57 kilometer stretch of road to his people.  This must be our concern now or never as Esan people must know that the era of playing politics blindly or non-digital is over, we cannot afford to play the role of opposition to any ruling government at this modern day Nigerian politics, as the political wind blows, we must follow in order to gain unlike the era of late Prof. Alli and Jakande, when and where opposition to the ruling party gained. We must have concrete plans to project and position ourselves accurately.

We should remember our icon in politics in Nigeria, Chief Tony Anenih, founding member of PDP just resigned from active politics and his enormous roles he played in the party for the past 16 years both in the human and political development in Esan land and Nigeria in general must be emulated by any person or persons that will ever rise to such height in Nigeria politics. Ironically, some major clan or clans in Esan land must desist from the myopic reasoning that they only can produce a very better person for Esan development; any clan should be allowed enough playing fields politically for any rising Esan person or persons into the State and Nigeria politics. Saul was known to be at longer head with Christians but later turned to Paul and a leading member of the Christian family.

2016 governorship election turns out to be a joker card for edo central inhabitants and must be handled maturely. It is now or never as where two elephants fight, the ground suffers.

CHIEF TONY ANENIH RESIGNS AS PDP BoT CHAIRMAN.

The National Working Committee, NWC, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said it has received the resignation of the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the party, Tony Anenih.

In accepting the resignation, the NWC noted the outstanding contributions of Mr. Anenih in the party over the years especially in his capacity as the Board of Trustees Chairman.

“As one of the founding fathers of the PDP, the NWC appreciates Chief Anenih’s guiding role in the party in the last 16 years and wish him well in his future endeavours,” the party said late Wednesday.

The party in a statement by its national secretary, Wale Oladipo, also said “consequent upon the resignation, the Secretary of the Board of Trustees, Senator Walid Jibrin holds forth pending the election of a new BoT Chairman”.

The party said Mr. Anenih resigned “on personal grounds”.

The PDP has been hit by a wave of crisis since losing the recent national elections.

Its national chairman, Adamu Mu’azu, resigned earlier on Wednesday.

EDO CENTRAL SENATORIAL DISTRICT & ITS APC`S GOVERNORSHIP FRONT RUNNERS 2016. Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor & Barrister Kenneth Imansuagbon (The Riceman).

A Review by Prince Kelly O. Udebhulu

“A leader is one who knows the way, shows the way, and goes the way; where and when you board your flight never really matter, a successful landing at destination counts…Kelly Udebhulu (2015).”

Before  General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won the presidential election in Nigeria, at the March 28th 2015 Presidential poll, these great sons of Esan land have been at their respective private lives, became APC loyalists which arose calculations across the country of their predicted defections to APC anytime. Today, these great personalities defected and their ambitions to rule and put in their best towards the development of Edo state remain firm and strong.

Though we have capable minds from Esan land who are in APC today, like minds as Chief (Dr) Francis Inegbeniki, Mr Joe Okojie, Mr Victor Eboigbe, Hon. Thomas Okosun, and host of others, these two personalities below have in the past, shown interests and still illuminate such ambitions to become the next Edo state governor after the incumbent Governor, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole.

Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor:

Born on Friday, October 5, 1951 in Iruekpen in the present day Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State to Mr. Abraham A. Osunbor, a retired teacher and politician and Dame Felicia E. Osunbor, a retired teacher.

On May 29, 2007, PDP produced Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor as the governor of Edo state. He served as the Civilian Governor of the state from May 29, 2007 to November 11, 2008 after the court nullified his election. On March 2008, the Edo State Governorship Election Tribunal declared that Prof. Osubor’s election was invalid, and asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw his certificate and declared Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole of the Action Congress (AC) Party the winner. On November 11, 2008, a Federal Appeal Court sitting in Benin City upheld the ruling of the state’s election petitions tribunal, declaring Oshiomhole to be the governor of Edo state. The decision was based on several voting irregularities.

Former Governor Oserheimen Osunbor, Professor of Law and the immediate past governor of Edo State, is a major pillar of the PDP in Edo Central Senatorial district before his defection with his teeming supporters to APC on Tuesday, March 7, 2015.

His defection to APC did not come to many as a shock owing to the fact that despite he was the National Chairman of the Nigeria Law Review Commission under the Jonathan’s administration because many felt he had overstayed in the PDP over alleged illegality that characterized the conduct of the PDP governorship primaries at Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia’s stadium in 2012 where he lost. More often than not, Osunbor prior to his defection had stayed away from activities of the PDP, an indication that his days with the party were numbered. 

Osunbor, who is from Edo Central senatorial district is touted to contest the 2016 governorship election, may have capitalized on the agitation from the people of the zone that it is their turn to produce the next governor for the state. Part of the agitation was that Osunbor only served for 18 months in office between 2007 – 2008, when the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal declared Osunbor election invalid. 

The former governor had in a previous encounter disclosed that he had been under pressure from friends and associates to contest the 2016 governorship election. He was received into the APC by governor Oshiomhole. Oshiomhole, while welcoming Osunbor into the APC family stated, “I will be working with a respected Professor of Law like you and many of you supporters. We thank God for what he has used us to achieve. I appeal to our people to vote for our APC House of Assembly candidates because they will help me to develop our state rapidly and with the APC government at the top, the sky is our limit”.

Barrister Kenneth Imansuagbon (The Riceman).

Kenneth Imansuangbon is a man of many parts. A lawyer, politician, busi­nessman, philanthro­pist and the chairman, of Abu­ja-based Pace Setters Group of Schools. Born on May 4, 1966, into a humble background in the rustic Ewohimi community in Edo State, he rose to fame by dint of diligence, transparency and open-mindedness.

He began his educational pur­suit at the St. John’s Catholic School Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State and proceeded to Ago-Iwoye Second­ary School, also in Ogun State. Though he passed out in flying col­ours in 1981, owing to poverty, the young Imansuangbon had to take to menial job as a technical assistant with the Federal Capital Develop­ment Authority (FCDA) Abuja. He worked with some great expatriates who spotted his exceptional bril­liance and talent and advised him strongly to return to school. Ken did not dismiss that idea with a wave of the hand. While at FCDA, he gained admission to study law at the University of Ife (Obafemi Awolowo University) Ile-Ife.

After a stint as a lawyer during which he established Imansuang­bon and Co. Company, a legal firm of which he is a principal partner, he veered into education when he set up Pace Setter Schools. As Chairman of the Schools/Academy with more than three campuses in Abuja and one in the US, Imansu­angbon has for years now offered scholarships to children of mili­tary/police and other security of­ficers who lost their lives in active service.

In quest to promote grassroots sports and youth education, Iman­suangbon has annually organised sports and essay writing competi­tion for secondary schools across the country.In continuation of his philan­thropic gestures, Imansuangbon has for seven consecutive years shared bags of rice on the streets of Edo State every Christmas, a ges­ture which has endeared him to the people and earned him the alias, “Rice Man.

In spite of his contribution to the educational sector in the country, the educationist turned politician threw his hart into the governorship ace way back in 2007 on the platform of the Action Congress (AC), alongside Hon. Charles Idahosa, and Matthew Atama, as the front liners. He left the party in anger and went to the PDP when he lost the AC ticket to Oshiomhole. It was learnt that Imansuagbon, a major financier of the party played a critical role in what has today metamorphosed into APC. In 2012, he again contested for the governorship ticket on the PDP platform in a party primary that as reportedly skewed by party leaders in favor of Major General Charles Airhiavbere.

Before now, Imansuagbon, can be said to be a member of the APC. He was said to have left the PDP in December 2014, over what he attributed to lack of justice, equity and fairness by leaders of the party. He was reported to have predicted a revolution which would sweep the PDP out of power in the 2015 general elections, a prediction that has come past.

The governorship hopeful, who also hails from Edo Central senatorial district, is confident of clinching the APC governorship ticket come 2016, recently revealed to the press why he jumped the PDP sinking ship to work for the APC, in an interview. 

He said, “if you observed, by the time Mr. President visited Benin I was not at the stadium, I was conspicuously absent. In December, I granted an interview where I said I foresaw a revolution in Nigeria.

And what that means was change and I predicted that Jonathan was going to lose the election. So, when Jonathan visited Edo I had resigned my membership of the PDP.

“In PDP, what made them lose the election basically was because there was lack of fairness, equity and justice within the party and even in Edo State majorly. You saw the primaries of 2012, if it was free and fair I would have won the primaries and of course the story today would have been different”.

“I supported Buhari at the general election, thought I was out of the country. My coming to the APC was not about the party but about the honesty of Buhari, I am a Nigerian and what influences me is my love for my country. I saw that Buhari will represent the interest of the Nigeria people better, so I supported him. Even, though I was outside the country then. I asked my people to vote for APC and that was what happened. I supported APC with money tactics and logistics and we delivered APC. I am happy to tell you that I delivered APC against the tyranny of a few”, he declared.

He also expressed confidence that despite he is from Edo central senatorial district, the people of Afemai in Edo North and the Bini’s of Edo South would support his governorship ambition come 2016.