Esan Mega Forum flags off Community Policing Scheme, Present #50,000 to Association of Hunters.

Following the rising wave of herdsmen attacks and rising insecurity in Edo Central, Esan apex  socio-cultural  organization,  "Esan Mega Forum"  has formally launched the much talked about Esan Community Policing Scheme with the presentation of the sum of Fifty Thousand Naira (#50,000) to Esan West Hunters Association Ekpoma over the weekend.

While making the presentation of the cash grant to the hunters, the head of Esan Mega Forum`s delegation, Mr. Kingsley Ohens enjoined the association to make judicious use of the money while promising that  EMF would continue to support them from time to time.

Reacting to the good gesture of EMF,  the chairman of the association, Mr. Samuel Okosun Odumbele thanked Esan Mega Forum for the noble and laudable gesture while appealing for more supports to enable them acquire operational vehicle, reflective jackets, safety boots, application for registration and fortification of members with traditional bath.

While responding to his requests, Mr. Ohens promised that the forum would give the association an operational vehicle in the next meeting even as he vowed that EMF would strive to meet all their demands and extend same empowerment packages to all the vigilante groups and hunters` associations across the 35 kingdoms in Oto-Esan.

From the good gesture of EMF, it is important to point positive fingers to those behind such positive initiatives on behalf of EMF to honor their pledges and vows to these hunters associations. On the list are Comrade Kingsley Ohens who doubles as leader EMF and charismatic president of Esan Youths Movement, he is everywhere ranging from television houses to community meetings, seminars, royal palaces, etc, agitating for the good of Esan people and the development of esan land. He is popular  with the mindset that "ESAN DI FURE".  Also to be mentioned is Mr. Innocent Omonzokpia, who is in charge of operations, administration and publicity, a good coordinator and a good vocalist. Another young man to be mentioned is Comrade Ehim Barak, the protocol officer in charge of strategies, mobilizations and finance. He is the quiet type but remains as the brain box of EMF. There are so many others whose services and roles cannot be overlooked but would be published in subsequent publications. Kudos to you all.

 The Chairman of the association and others members enumerated the following as their immediate challenges;

*operational vehicle
*welfare
* Registration
* encouragement
* reflective jacket, safety boots
* traditional defence /bath.

POLITICS: I will anchor my administration on transparency and accountability that would return Esan West L. G to its Place of Pride - Kelly O. Udebhulu.

Kelly O. Udebhulu

BENIN CITY-A frontline chairmanship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State, Kelly O. Udebhulu has promised to anchor his administration on transparency and accountability if elected as chairman of Esan west local government of Edo state by God's grace.

Mr. Udebhulu who gave the assurance while fielding questions from journalists on Thursday at his Benin residence, stated that one of his major priorities would be to enhance the infrastructural development of the area, and to boost the human capacity base of the people, through youths and women empowerment.

“I am propelled by a profound desire to return Esan west local government to its pacesetter status among the league of local governments in Edo state.

"To achieve this, however, I intend a consolidation of the good works and legacies of late Prof. Ambrose Alli; for I am sincerely convinced that they constitute necessary foundation stones in my vision to take Esan west local government to new frontiers of development,” he said.

He stated that there are factors that predispose people, particularly the youths to crime, disclosing that he will tackle the issue of crime through the massive empowerment of the youths, who form the bulk of those involved in violent criminal activities. He sees those engaging in armed robbery, kidnapping and other sundry criminal activities as frustrated members of the community who should be assisted, through empowerment.

Mr. Udebhulu disclosed that he will set-up community policing by encouraging and supporting vigilante groups in all wards in the Local Government who will liase with the police to check crimes.

He concluded that infrastructures and facilities such as good roads, health centers and general enabling social/economic environment will be provided to attract investors to the area.

Politics: Governor Obaseki's victory at the Supreme Court is a tiding of good hope for the state-Elder Omonfuma.

Elder Pius Omonfuma

EKPOMA-Elder Pius Omonfuma, owner of GT Foods, has congratulated Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state on the affirmation of his electoral victory by the Supreme Court.

In his chat with journalists yesterday, Elder Omonfuma said that the verdict of the apex court on the case of the governor Obaseki and Ize-Iyamu was a victory for democracy and a vindication of the people's struggle for justice, adding that it is also a tiding of good hope for the state.

He commended the governor for being the custodian of a divine mandate given to him on 28th September, 2016, which represents the will and aspiration of the people of Edo state and thanked the apex court for ensuring that the mandate remains sacrosanct.

In his words; "one of the lessons we all should take from our governor's experience of emerging from election which were rancorously contested up to the highest court in the land, is to ensure that politicians repay our citizens with best governance and prove to them that their confidence in them were not misplaced."

He thanked the people of Edo State for standing behind the governor and heeding his call for calm and patience all through the duration of the litigation and appealed to all citizens to blur the lines of political differences in the interest of the development of the state.

Elder Omonfuna also commended Governor Obaseki for being transparent in all his political appointments so far saying that “with these,  the state has the right mind of developing every nook and cranny of Edo state as he congratulated Engr. Amiolemen Osahon from Esan west local government as the newly appointed commissioner for Infrastructure ( formally known as Ministry of Works and Transport).

He, however, charged commissioners from Edo central  senatorial district never to let down the trust reposed in them as history would not forgive them if they allow selfishness to becloud their call to serve, pointing out that ‘’opportunity missed may not be recovered’’. He warned.

In his conclusion, he expressed hopes that the governor would remember the plight of his people especially the residents of Ekpoma over the dilapidated roads and other infrastructure in the town.

Living in Ekpoma is Suffering and Smiling because the Government is far from the Town.

Ekpoma dilapidated  road

By Prince Kelly O. Udebhulu.

"All the roads are totally dilapidated; there is no exemption."

Ekpoma, the commercial nerve centre and the university town of Edo state, is lying prostrate, in ut­ter ruins. It is in shackles, bruised and battered. And no one seems to care. Worse still, the government representatives from the area have been unarguably weak. So, they see no evil and speak no evil because they are afraid of the instincts that they serve. Ekpoma has fallen from grace to grass. It has lost its former glory that dressed it in the admirable robe of the Bendel state's university town. There is no side you can mention and say it is better than the other in Ekpoma.

Late Prof. Ambrose Alli weeps daily from Heaven as he sees his legacies buried in a hurry. The vibrancy that defined the town is gone and the once thriving town is a shadow of itself. Today, Ekpoma is a terrible and indescribable sight. Anyone who knew Ekpoma when it was blazing in glory would weep at the present state of things. Indeed, words are not enough to capture the present state of the once famous town.

“They (pictures) speak for themselves.” And, as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.
The popular Ekpoma market is an eye sore. One of the heart-rending scenes is in Ekpoma roads around market round about and union bank where traders display their wares amid the putrid seepage from rotten wastes overflowing the road. There, maggots and flies dance on vegetables and other edibles on sale. Take this: Epidemic is imminent in Ekpoma as sewage flowing down dirty streets is a common sight. It is a wonder how human beings do business under such atmosphere especially when it rains. But they have no other options.

Dilapidated roads: Coming into Ekpoma, you soon discover that something is wrong. To start with, it is not a tea party entering into the town from any point, as all the roads linking it are in terrible condition. The Benin/ Auchi/Okene road is deplorably bad. As soon as you enter Ekpoma axis of the road, you begin to navigate through the valley of the shadow of death. And the fear of evil will be your portion be­cause the area is criminals’ den. In fact, the road is impassable, so drivers drive with the belief that the government is far from Ekpoma.

In the rainy season, Ekpoma is floating, so to say. Most of the roads are flood-prone because there are no drainages and where they exist, they have been blocked.

So, with nowhere to go, the ensuing floods take over the streets and es­cape into homes and business premises. As a matter of fact, some streets have turned to river in Ekpoma. One of the ‘rivers’ is found on the Ihumudumu road by GTbank which leads to Ujemen and Iruekpen towns.

On a rainy day and several hours after the rains, a speedboat can conveniently ply the roads and while the flood lasts, traders at Ekpoma close shops, otherwise their wares will be submerged and destroyed. Many sources disclosed that many people have lost their lives in the potholes while several others had sustained debilitating injuries.

Today, going to Ekpoma through any road is an agonizing experience because a journey of few minutes can last for hours because of the terrible condition of the roads, resulting in traffic bottleneck. The popular Opoji junction along Benin /Auchi road is a scene from the pit of hell.

Like most parts of Ekpoma, you cannot wear shoes when leaving homes. The reason is that all the surroundings are flooded. The only way out is to remove your shoes and fold your trousers, wrappers or skirt to knee length and trek. In fact, when the heavens open up, bike riders disappear because, if they don’t, their motor bikes will be submerged.

At Big Joe motor park and J5 junction near former university guest house at Ikhiro road junction along Benin /Auchi road, it should pass as one of the worst pothole roads on the face of the earth. There, vehicles are trapped every day. In fact, only trucks and other big vehicles ply the road. A car can easily be buried in the gullies on the road and when it happens, the army of jobless young men in the area will jump into the muddy water and push out the trapped vehicle for a fee. They call it, ‘self empowerment or Devel’. Borehole road junction near Esan west local government secretariat also needs a special mention in ignominy.

We have Senator. We have House of Representatives and State House of Assembly members. Ekpoma has produced so many successful people in various spheres of life. Ekpoma is not supposed to be abandoned just like that.

So, I’m begging the State and Federal Government to come to our aid because Ekpoma is an important town that has the potential of turning around the fortunes of the country in terms of manpower and technical know-how in agriculture.

Esan West LG Poll: Elect Trustworthy Candidate – Aspirant.

Julius Udin reports.

BENIN CITY-A member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Prince Kelly O. Udebhulu, on Tuesday, urged Esan west local government residents to elect only candidate that is ready to work with the people into office in the yet to be announced local government elections in the state. He expressed sober concern on the deplorable road and other infrastructural decay in the local government area especially the dilapidated roads around Ekpoma, the headquarter of the council.

Kelly Udebhulu, a chairmanship aspirant in the council area, told the newsmen in Benin city that politicians, especially at the grassroots, must be passionate about the plight and welfare of the people. He said that the welfare of the people and security remained the primary responsibility of any leader in government.

“Government at the grassroots must listen to the yearnings and demands of the people and find ways to actualize them “We need to be taking everything back to the drawing board with the people. We need to develop people from the grassroots.

“It is not good to sit in our offices not knowing what happens in various communities, not inviting the people concerned —  the immediate community, to ask what are their needs,” Udebhulu said.

The aspirant said that if the party leaders and the people gave him the opportunity to serve as the chairman of the council, he would be committed to their needs. The avoidable infrastructural decay around Esan west local government areas would be issues of the past.

According to him, no decision affecting communities should be taken without recourse to the people.
 “I am coming to make Esan west local government a home for all, where everybody will belong and benefits from whatever comes from the government.

“I have seen and studied the local government in and out, the external and internal generation of revenue, its problems and solutions, so I know what it is to be a chairman in Esan west Local Government,” he said

he aspirant urged party stakeholders to ensure that exposed and capable candidate is fielded in the election once the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) fixes date.