Tag Archives: Edo State

Politics

Edo APC Crisis: Obaseki to Reconcile With Oshiomhole

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Edo state Governor, Godwin Obaseki has assured that the rift between him and the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole would soon be resolved.

Obaseki who spoke at the thanksgiving for the 80th birthday celebration of a former national chairman on APC, John Odigie-Oyegun in Benin city, the Edo state capital on Monday said he has no fundamental differences with his immediate past predecessor except what he described as handiwork of third parties.

“I thank you very much for the remarkable homily by Archbishop Augustine Akubeze, Catholic Archbishop of Benin Metropolitan See. I listened very attentively and I have taken every word in your remark to heart and very seriously. I want to assure you that we are in pursuit of peace and we will have peace in Edo State.

“We have met – me and my predecessor in office – and fortunately, we do not have any fundamental issues. And because we do not have any fundamental issues, I believe that whatever third parties are trying to propagate, I am sure we can talk over it. I assure you that very soon things will return to normalcy in Edo State” he said.

The governor announced that the soon-to-be completed Civil Service Training Centre will be named after Oyegun in recognition of his contributions to the state and country.

 

He said, “For your contributions and what you have done for our dear state, I have decided to name the public service academy, which is under construction, after you. We know your passion for public service; we know and acknowledge the contributions you made to the public service in Nigeria. Therefore, we have decided to name this edifice, which will be completed within the next 60 days, by the grace of God, after you. President Muhammadu Buhari will come and commission the academy, with you standing beside him. It will be known as the John Odigie-Oyegun Institute for Public Administration.”

The institute, according to the governor, is on “three floors and is made up of large training rooms that will host 220 people. Two halls hold 118 people each. There are seven training halls that will host 58 people each.  There is a library, a sick bay, a cafeteria and 12 offices. This facility at any point in time can hold and train a minimum of 900 people. It will be the largest facility for training public servants in Nigeria.”

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Nigeria, Politics

Oyegun Hails Obaseki, Says those Fighting Him Want to Undermine Good Governance and Destabilize the State

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A former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), John Odigie-Oyegun has commended the governor of Edo state, Godwin Obaseki for his developmental strides in the state. 

Oyegun who spoke at the weekend in Benin City when he addressed newsmen ahead of his 80th birthday celebration said Obaseki is bringing development to even forgotten parts of the state. 

He said; “The Governor has done well. This has led to the general approval of his performance by the people. I have experienced it and people have talked to me about it as well. This is the reality on ground. Anywhere I go, there is this positive vibe about his accomplishments. Obaseki is bringing progress to forgotten areas across the state.”

On the running battle between Obaseki and the National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, Oyegun said those condemned moves to remove the governor by those he called detractors. 

“What is happening is a mystery to me and for funny reasons, we have been unable to get the story behind the story. All I know is that we have a government and the voice of the people says Obaseki deserves all the support that he can get.

“If anyone wants to remove him and destabilise the state, it’s wrong. The governor is delivering good governance to the people. They should wait until the party primary. I call on everyone to continue to support the governor” he said. 

He insisted that he never interfered in the affairs of the state when he was the National chairman of APC. 

He said, “I have never interfered in the running of the state but strangely same is not the case and it’s sad as people fail to realise we have two sovereignties: that of the president which reflects the nation and also the governors that reflects the state. Anyone that fights the governor undermines the sovereignty of the people of the state.”

Oyegun described as shocking the ultimatum issued to the governor by the National Assembly, adding that such undermines the sovereignty of the state. 

“The issue in contention is before a competent court of law. Thank God we have a constitution that binds everybody. I am amazed that the National Assembly or anybody would issue instructions to a sovereign Governor. I am shocked and amazed but I believe that in the coming weeks and months, the law will prevail.”

Politics

Oshiomhole Wants to Destabilize Edo, Impeach Obaseki- Speaker

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The Speaker of Edo House of Assembly, Frank Okiye has blamed the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole for the crisis rocking the state’s Assembly. 
Okiye who spoke in Thursday in Benin City when he fielded questions from journalists said Oshiomhole wants to takeover the Assembly and impeach the governor, Godwin Obaseki. He said he has recruited the National Assembly in the plot to destabilize the state. 
“The truth is that the Edo State Assembly and my office as the speaker are not the real targets of this crisis. The plot is actually aimed at Governor Obaseki and the endpoint is to stop him from getting a return ticket as governor next year.
“Comrade Oshiomhole is actually after Obaseki, the state Assembly was only a smokescreen to his plans. The idea now is to take over the house, destabilise the state and possibly impeach the governor. The Edo Peoples Movement that originated this crisis has boasted that they will ensure that the governor does not come back for the second tenure” he said. 
“I have said it before on several occasions that we know who is beating the drum for them in the National Assembly. They have found themselves in the position of stooge to make it look like they cannot think outside the box, it’s unfortunate” he added. 
Okiye while calling on the remaining lawmakers-elect to regularize their documentation so that they will be sworn in, said the National Assembly was wrong for threatening to takeover the Assembly since it has been operating properly after inauguration.
“We have been sitting as a parliament. I just drove out office after the plenary session. Lawmakers are going about their committee work. We just invited Commissioner for Works to appear before the House over a matter of public importance.
“The door is open for the remaining lawmaker-elect, they should come to Assembly, complete and regularize their documentation and they will be sworn in.
“The constitution says when the House is unable to sit, that means when it cannot perform the function it was supposed to perform. And this notification was supposed to be given or declared by the governor who will say that there is no one to clear my commissioners, oversee my legislative requests and so on. That was what the constitution contemplated, not the National Assembly sitting over a state Assembly as if we are a colony under them.”

Politics

Edo Assembly Crisis: Speaker Sues National Assembly Over Move to Takeover House

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The Speaker of the Edo House of Assembly, Mr Francis Okiye, on Wednesday filed a suit stopping the National Assembly from taking over the state assembly’s functions at the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

In an originating summon and a motion on notice for interlocutory injunction with suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/815/2019 filed by the speaker and the state’s assembly, the plaintiffs asked Justice Nkeonye Maha to restrain the National Assembly from going ahead with its plans pending the hearing on the matter.

The suit was instituted against Mr Mohammed Sani-Omolori, the Clerk of the National Assembly (first defendant), and the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (second defendant) on July 17.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state’s seventh assembly was inaugurated in controversial circumstances on June 17, when nine out of 24 members-elect during inauguration elected Okiye as the speaker around at 9 p.m.

However, besides the House of Representatives that threatened to take over the assembly should Gov. Godwin Obaseki fail to issue a fresh proclamation for the assembly’s inauguration recently, the Senate had, on Tuesday, passed a resolution giving the governor a week to issue the proclamation letter or risk the takeover of the state’s legislature.

The matter, which was brought before Justice Maha on July 23, was adjourned until July 31 for hearing since the parties were yet to be served.

However, the lead Counsel to the plaintiffs, Ola Olanipekun, SAN, on Wednesday, told the court that after the defendants had been properly served as ordered by the court, the Senate on Tuesday, July 30, still went ahead and passed a resolution for the takeover of the assembly if the governor fails to comply with its resolution.

He explained that the defendants, through their lawyers, had on Tuesday served the plaintiffs a counter affidavit to their motion and written address and also filed a memorandum of conditional appearance.

He said it was disheartening that despite that the governor had already issued a proclamation which was duly gazetted officially and that the members of the state assembly had duly been inaugurated, principal members elected and the house has since been performing its functions, the federal lawmakers directed Obaseki to issue a fresh proclamation.

The judge adjourned the case until Aug. 7 to enable the complainants respond to the counter affidavit and written address filed by lawyers to the National Assembly.

The judge, however, asked the parties to respect the sanctity of the court as the matter was still pending in court.
NAN

Nigeria

Edo Assembly Crisis: Government Reacts to Senate’s Ultimatum  

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The Edo state government has said the Senate’s resolution directing the state governor, Godwin Obaseki to issue fresh proclamation for the inauguration of the state Assembly within one week or risk being taken over by the National Assembly was flagrant breach of court orders. 
The government while reacting to Tuesday’s Senate resolution in a statement issued by the Secretary to the state government, Osarodion Ogie said the directive was illegal and such illegality will not stand. 
The statement read in part: “ (it) watched with alarm today (Tueday) as the distinguished Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in a step that was not totally unexpected, purported to pass a resolution in the following terms: – Directing the governor of Edo State to issue a fresh proclamation for the inauguration of the Edo State House of Assembly, and ordering a fresh inauguration of the Edo State House of Assembly within one (1) week from the date of the said resolution.
“As earlier mentioned, this move was not unexpected in the light of the enormous political pressure which had been brought to bear on the officers and members of the distinguished Senate by the highly placed and powerful persons who are intent on foisting their will and choices on the good people of Edo State.
“This is borne out by the recorded statements made by one Seid Oshiomhole (a member-elect and younger brother of the National Chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole) wherein he boasted that the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, have been instructed on what to do in this matter.
“The government of Edo State wishes to observe that the chairman and members of Ad-Hoc Committee of the Senate which visited Edo State were made aware of the existence of at least three (3) suits pending before various courts wherein the factual and legal dispute regarding the Edo State House of Assembly inauguration have been submitted to the courts by both contending parties for resolution.
“The ad-hoc committee also failed to inform the Senate of the existence of a valid injunction in suit No FHC/B/OS/70/2019 wherein the Federal High Court restrained various parties from interfering in any manner with the activities of the Edo State House of Assembly which said order had been brought to their attention in the course of their visit to Edo State.
“In point of fact in Suit No. FHC/PH/CS/159/2019 the National Assembly, the Clerk of National Assembly, the President of the Senate and Speaker of House of Representatives amongst others were specifically ordered by the Federal High Court to maintain the status quo as at 25th July, 2019.
“It is unfortunate that the Senate would act in flagrant breach of these various court orders and purport to come to factual and legal conclusions concerning a matter in which the parties are already before the courts and therefore subjudice”.

Politics

Okorocha Backs Obaseki, Says National Assembly Should not Ridicule Itself By Interfering in Edo Assembly Affairs

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A former governor of Imo state and the Senator representing Imo West senatorial district, Rochas Okorocha has said the National Assembly cannot issue an ultimatum to Governor Godwin Obaseki on the crisis rocking the Edo State House of Assembly.

Okorocha who was reacting to Tuesday’s Senate’s resolution that directed Obaseki to reissue proclamation order within a week or risk the National Assembly taking over the state Assembly said the resolution was not proper since there was no proof that the assembly was not functioning. 

He said, “It is like we are eager to take over the Edo State House of Assembly. Looking at the report of both the party and the facts, it looks like a family affair of APC which the leadership of APC should find a way to solve.”

“There is no proof whatsoever that the Edo State House of Assembly is not functioning”.

“We can’t be talking of three weeks ultimatum if the governor does not do that. I was once a governor. It is not proper for us to say if governor does not issue a fresh proclamation, we are going to take over the Assembly”.

“So I think we should look into this before we bring ourselves to ridicule by interfering in a matter we shouldn’t have interfered in”. 

The Senate had on Tuesday adopted the report of the Ad- hoc Committee on Edo State House of Assembly headed by the Deputy Chief Whip, Senator Sabi Aliyu Abdullahi (Niger North) and resolved that it will take over the Edo Assembly if the governor fails to comply to the one week ultimatum it issued. 

Politics

People Fighting Us are not on Ground – Obaseki 

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Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki has said that the people fighting his administration are not on ground in the state. 

Obaseki who spoke in Lagos on Saturday when he briefed newsmen said his administration has the backing of Edo people and has continued to transform the state since assumption of office. 

He said, “One of the greatest problems we faced was human trafficking, and our youths were just travelling to Libya, coupled with the high level of crime.

“The Educational system was on the verge of collapsing.

“But we worked to discover where the gaps were and we also prioritised. We trained about 12, 000 teachers, and in just one year, our children were able to learn what they couldn’t learn in three years.

“We introduced many initiatives to ensure that government measures worked, particularly improving the Education Sector through rebuilding the teachers”.

While downplaying report of rift between him and his immediate successor, the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole,he said his administration has focused on building infrastructures across the state and developing local industries. 

“Every month since I was a governor, on the 26th of the month, the workers’ alerts must come. We have been able to change the way people think in Edo.

“The state has become an economic and technology hub in the nation. Benin is the most-connected city in the country at the moment. We have 400 kilometres of fibre in the state, covering Benin City, which has been extended to Ekpoma and Auchi.

“You can now build a house in Edo with local materials to the tune of 80 per cent. We have rubber, limestone Oil and Gas, and many other endowments.

“What brought our APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole and I together is the Edo Project. Edo people are backing us. Our party won all the 24 seats in the House of Assembly.

“People fighting us are fighting us in the media. They are not on ground in Edo,’’ he said.