The Eagle Gate

Author: Admin

  • EDO SOUTH LEADERS MEET, HARP ON UNITY, CHART PATH TO REGION’S DEVELOPMENT

    In a bid to foster unity and strategies for the sustainable development of Edo South Senatorial District, prominent leaders, and other stakeholders in the senatorial district converged on Benin City, the Edo State capital, to chart a course for the region’s advancement.

    Presenting the eight-point communiqué reached at the end of the meeting to journalists in Benin City, former Governor of Edo State, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun said the parley became necessary to set an agenda for the unity and sustainable growth and development of the senatorial district.

    The communiqué reads: “The meeting was convened at the instance of a core group led by His Excellency, John Odigie-Oyegun (past Governor, Edo State), with His Excellency Godwin Obaseki (Governor, Edo State) and His Excellency, Lucky Igbinedion (past Governor, Edo State) as co-hosts.

    “In attendance was an impressive cross-section of Edo-South sons and daughters from the public and private sectors, different professional and social backgrounds, and cutting across political divides.

    “There was a consensus on the underlying objective to meaningfully interrogate, articulate, redefine, and refocus the collective interests of all the people who constitute the population of the Edo-South Senatorial District within the context of Nigeria’s prevailing political and economic realities.

    “After exhaustive engaging and productive discussion of different perspectives to the stated objective, a number of resolutions were arrived at.”

    It further noted, “It was resolved that a broad-based elite consensus be engendered to enable us strategically leverage on the competitive advantage of our demographic strength, and the unique creative and productive potentials of our people in order to reverse the progressively diminished relevance and influence of our people in all spheres – national and sub-national.

    “It was further resolved that, in pursuit of our stated goals of seeking to effectively reposition the Edo-South Senatorial district for the critical challenges that lie ahead of our State and the nation, we must rise above political partisanship in all its ramifications. Our singular focus must be the interest of Edo-South.

    “Also resolved was the decision to engage, and where feasible, cooperate with other similar groups within and outside Edo State to the extent that such engagement results in the promotion of our stated objective.

    It added, “As the platform for the aggregation of the interests of the Edo South Senatorial District, the meeting will be held on a regular basis.”

    Other leaders at the meeting include former Health Minister Dr. Osagie Ehanire, Prof. Dennis Agbonlahor, DIG Parry Osayande (Rtd), HRH Enogie of Evbuobanosa, Prof. Greg Akenzua, Dr. Tonnie Iredia, Engr. Greg Obeifun, former Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Elizabeth Ativie, Sen. Neda Imasuen, Market Women Leader, Blacky Ogiamien, and Dr. Victor Enoghama, amongst others.

  • Edo ’24: Ojezua, the Man to Beat

    Edo ’24: Ojezua, the Man to Beat

    With barely ten months to the election into the exalted office of the governor of Edo State at Osadebey Avenue, the heat is on, and many aspirants in different political platforms are exploiting media spaces to galvanize the electorate for support and votes.

    Election into various positions in the Nigerian democratic system requires the conduct of Primaries to pick the best in an array of qualified men and women under a political affiliation. This may be through voting or consensus.

    As the day draws near to pick the gubernatorial flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Edo State, one man stands out in the pack. He’s an astute political juggernaut, a self-effacing and altruistic personality with no mean repute! A lawyer by profession and a listening ear. He is Anselm Ojezua (Esq.). This sound mind is a loyal party man who had  served diligently and worked assiduously for the ascension of past and present governors of Edo State.

    Barr. Ojezua is an altruistic leader. I recall he shared his first salary he earned as a commissioner in Adams Oshiomhole’s administration. I got a percentage of it. Not all politicians are selfless. He is not like others who don’t pick calls. A friend came to me requesting my assistance to help him secure a lecturing job at Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma.  Anselm Ojezua was the first person I called, and he responded  swiftly. Long story cut short; my friend today is an academic staff of the AAU. It was Ojezua’s handiwork! And so many instances like that. He is a good man with a heart of gold.  Indeed, Anselm Ojezua is a rare breed.

    So, as the PDP prepares for the primaries soon, it’s expedient to zone the governorship seat to Edo Central senatorial district for equity. It’s the turn of Esan people. It’s incumbent on the party leadership  to consider this gentle giant and hand over the ticket to him as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party.

    Anselm Ojezua is the best among equals and deserves to lead Edo State as a governor.

    Kelly Odaro

  • THE CAPTIVATING VIRTUES OF ANSELM OJEZUA

    THE CAPTIVATING VIRTUES OF ANSELM OJEZUA

    By Ambassador Vicky Larg

    Barr Anselm Ojezua is a man with so many virtues that is needed as a leader to bring about positive and lasting developments. Note that the below virtues he has demonstrated over the years as a leader makes him distinguished and suitable as the PDP Edo Governorship Candidate come 2024.

    Anselm Ojezua is a humble and dependable leader, he is trustworthy, he has been assessed and found worthy by his people.

    Anselm Ojezua is a humanitarian. His empowerment schemes cut across all ages, groups, and communities in Esan.

    Barr Anselm Ojezua has relationships, contacts, and connections to attract foreign investors to boost our economy and thereby create job opportunities for the skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled.

    Anselm Ojezua has the virtue to consolidate on the development of  the present administration. He shares the same Vision with Mr. Governor (His Excellency Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki), and he will work on, and consolidate what the Governor has done. Anselm Ojezua is a mobile intellectual, one single individual with multiple competencies, which we cannot afford to miss in Edo State come 2024.

    Anselm Ojezua is a true party man; He has the uttermost respect for the hierarchy of the party.

    He is a vibrant, talented, pragmatic, and patriotic man that satisfies the desire of the youth, and the kind of personality Edo People need as their Governor in 2024. Let us join hands together as we support Anselm Ojezua for this vision and Mandate.

    ©️ Ambassador Vicky Larg

  • Edo Queens Crowned Champions of Third Edition of BOWFT

    Edo Queens Crowned Champions of Third Edition of BOWFT

    • Beats Bayelsa Queens 4:3 on penalty after regulation time draw

    Edo Queen Football Club of Benin has defeated Bayelsa Queens by four goals to three on penalty shootout after one all draw after regulation time at the final of the third edition of the Betsy Obaseki Women Football Tournament (BOWFT) at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.

    Performing the ceremonial kick at the final, the First Lady of Edo State, Her Excellency, Betsy Obaseki, who expressed satisfaction on the success recorded so far in the tournament, said this year’s edition has the highest number of First Ladies watching the final game at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.

    She noted that this year’s tournament focused on addressing Gender-Based Violence in the country through football. She added that every year, the tournament seeks to fight against social vices ravaging the society.

    “Every year, we seek to fight against different social vices in the society and so far, we have made tremendous success in the fight.

    “We thanked everyone that has travelled from around the country to Edo State to watch the tournament. This year, we have the largest number of first ladies watching the final, we are really grateful.”

    Per the match, Bayelsa Queens took the lead in the 12th minute while Edo Queens equalized 40 minutes into the first half of the game. In the second half of the game, Suliat Abideen lost a penalty at added time, pushing the game into a penalty which Edo Queens won 4 goals to 3.

    The best coach of the tournament went to coach of Edo Queen Moses Asuku, while Suliat Abideen won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament. Robo FC player, Folashade Damilusi, won the Golden Boot award with 6 goals. The best goalkeeper of the tournament went to Bayelsa Queens goalkeeper Oniyan Okeke.

  • THE BURNT BRIDGE

    THE BURNT BRIDGE

    By Omololu Ojehomon

    It’s no longer news of the recent happenings in Edo State. Mostly with the attitude and behavior of the deputy Governor Philip Shaibu. For some time now I have held my peace on the matter, but after reading many articles and watching video clips I decided it was time to express myself and provide my view and opinion on it.

    The first test is loyalty and how many of us view it. Everyone believed that Philip Shaibu was loyal to Governor Godwin Obaseki. It as also believed that the Governor was not loyal to Oshiomhole and that he betrayed him. I do not share this sentiment and never have. Governor Godwin Obaseki trusted Philip Shaibu to handle the political matters and dealings with Comrade Adams Oshiomhole while they were in the APC. Philip Shaibu misadvised the Governor concerning the Comrade which led to the problems between both men and the eventual exit from the party by the Governor. We all saw how it played out.

    As we all know, Adams and Philip are brothers and anything Philip wanted politically Adams gave it to him, no questions asked. I also know that Adams listened to Philip and hardly finalized any decision without his input. It was strange that Philip claimed to have begged Oshiomhole and he did not agree with him on Governor Obaseki’s matter. Even stranger when he began to make statements publicly against Oshiomhole, perhaps proof of his loyalty to Governor Obaseki and to gain his trust. One thing was sure Philip had a personal agenda that was sinister, wicked, and selfish.

    It is customary that in a merger between the incoming group and the accepting party that all positions are shared, both in government and politically. The balancing in government would have been in all fairness that the deputy governor came from the accepting party, which in turn would have been receptive to harmonization and integration. With Philip Shaibu remaining as the deputy governor, brought anxiety and disapproval to many in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The members did not understand how this could be. It was definitely a difficult position for the governor, perhaps to reward Philip for his assumed loyalty and his need for him to assist handle the political matters. (As the saying goes, ‘it is better to deal with the devil you know than the angel you just met.) It was in the dealings that in conclusion Chief Dan Osi Orbih accepted to the vice Chairman South-South and both sides joined together to unanimously affirm him at a congress held in Port-Harcourt.

    Let’s fast forward. In November 2020 an article surfaced just after the governor was sworn into office, “Philip Shaibu for Governor 2024”. I was thrown by this article and contacted the writer to understand what he meant by it. I quarreled that the governor had just been sworn in and by no means should such an article be put out or even discussed at this time. However, it alerted us to the ambition of the deputy governor which was of great concern to us. We knew that if our intuition was right, it would not take long for Philip to show himself like the proverbial tortoise who named himself ”All-of-you” at the party in the sky forgetting he got there on borrowed feathers. Philip Shaibu swung into action; he got the governor to concede Edo North to him to handle the political matters. He called himself the governor of Edo North and his wife the first lady. Philip’s first agenda was to sideline all PDP members there, he made sure that nothing got to the Leaders of party, he literally grounded the party there, leaving its leaders aggrieved. His wife, Mariam called several meetings in Owan West concerning women where she excluded the PDP women. I was called on several occasions and asked why I was not in such a meeting and why PDP women were not a part of it. Of course I did not know. Finance did not get to the PDP. Philip made promises of financial support to us that till date was not kept. He disregarded us and kept leaders waiting at meetings scheduled by him and never showed. Akoko-Edo and Owan were insignificant to him and treated them as such. He did everything to completely dismantle our structure, but we held on to it knowing that Governor Godwin Obaseki had no hand in it. Everyone known or perceived to be loyal to the Governor were targets and everything was done to see that we were grounded by all means, while being termed betrayers and traitors. It was a brutish experience.

    When he and his wife were disgraced in the first election 2023, for the first time he with tears in his eyes called for meetings in Akoko-Edo and Owan, just to tell us to unleash violence on our people that he was the government, and we had his backing. Pity!

    He failed woefully. He had made himself the godfather unleashed on us in Edo North. We had been choked by this man and his wife. Everything was taken away from us. Any resemblance of development and progress in our areas was thwarted by Philip and diverted to his village.

    Now, when he made the statement to our faces, that he followed the governor to PDP and was not a member of the party on several occasions, and also repeatedly told us that he didn’t need us to win his election, we realized we had a fight on our hands. Yet he enjoyed the office of the DG on our platform. He replaced PDP members for positions with members from the APC or those he felt were loyalty to him like his laundry man and driver and any persons willing to be in servitude to his wife and do anything they were asked, even if it meant killing their mother. He disregarded the PDP leaders and took decisions solely on his own. Things were falling apart.

    When he threatened to leave the party he claimed not to be a member of, for the Labour Party (LP) on Channels television, the entire process failed woefully because the Governor told him firmly that he was not going to be a party to that and was forever grateful to the PDP. Shaibu wanted government and without government he had no value so he remained.

    Today, Philip is found wanting. He has shown his hand by attempting to take over the office of the Governor. The truth has come out. PDP will survive like it always does. We are resilient.

    My advice. Rather than wait for the courts to give judgement on a preemptive basis on a nonexistent matter. RESIGN HONORABLY FROM THE OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY GOVERNOR. Let all end well.

    PDP – Power to the People

    God bless Governor Obaseki

    God bless Edo State

  • THE PAIN DAN ORBIH CAUSED

    THE PAIN DAN ORBIH CAUSED

    Chapter Three

    As Chief Dan Osi Orbih continued to pilfer the party funds, he left the PDP Edo State at great disadvantage. We continue to expose this monster in our mist, so that we know exactly what we are dealing with. Keeping quiet has done us no good. We want to win, and we must have a fighting chance.

    • In the 2015 general elections, Chief Tony Anenih made a case for the aspirants in Edo state for their money used in purchasing nomination forms be returned to them, since we did not have a governor. The national body obliged and sent Three Hundred Seven Million Naira to Dan Orbih for onwards return to the aspirants, so that they could assist the party in the elections. Dan Orbih took the money for himself.
    •  Senator Matthew Urhoghide expressed surprise in a stake holders meeting when it was disclosed that the party was owing rent in arrears for its headquarters. The Senator had sent money to Dan Orbih to assist with the payment of rent for same.
    •  Delta state governor, Okowa revealed that he gave Dan Orbih Five Million Naira monthly to run the party, provision was to be made to pay salaries and smooth running of the State secretariat, money sent to the LGA and Ward Chairmen to hold bi-monthly meetings. Every single LGA Chairman during the period of 3 years since 2016 will attest that they never received money from the state. Dan Orbih once again has never accounted for such money not even to his Exco. When Governor Okowa found out that not even the salaries of the staff at the party secretariat had been paid for a period of 6 months, he stopped making provision to the state.
    • In 2015 during the presidential elections Eight Hundred Million Naira was sent to Edo State for the presidential elections before it was postponed to a later date. Dan Orbih claimed that he had already distributed the funds and another Seven Hundred Million was sent. However, every LGA Chairman during period knows that no money was sent to them.
    •  During the 2015 general elections, the sum of Seven Hundred Million was released to Edo State for the House of Assembly elections. 10 million Naira was to be given to each of the party’s candidate for his/her election. Rather the rumor was spread that the then president did not provide money for the election because he lost his. It is the Seven Hundred Million Naira that Dan Orbih faces money laundry charges in court brought by the EFCC.
    •  On the day of the Supreme Court judgement between the PDP Governorship Candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu and Godwin Obaseki, Dan Orbih collected the sum of Five Hundred Million Naira from Chief Tony Anenih to service the case. It turned out to be a big fraud. Chief Tony Anenih insisted on him refunding the money until his death. Dan Orbih, because of that never went to see Chief Anenih in his last days.
    • Many of us may recall when Governor Nyesom Wike of River State attacked our leaders in Edo State claiming that he was the owner and the leader of the PDP Edo. This met with serious opposition and challenged by them. Governor Wike revealed that he had been giving Dan Orbih Twenty-Five Million Naira monthly for the servicing of the party structure and the running of the party. Our leaders were surprised to know this, they too had been giving money to Dan Orbih upon his request to meet with the needs of the party.

    Chief Tom Ikimi accused Gov. Wike of funding his friend, Dan Orbih when Wike claimed to have spent billions on PDP Edo State through Dan Orbih. Never once did Dan Orbih account for the money to the party and all went to his pocket.

    You will note that Dan Orbih as a State Chairman never won elections in Edo North on the field. Dan Orbih was also used to field APC members in elections and when they did not win returned to the APC. To win his unit in the 2019 election, Dan Orbih was given sixty million naira, while loyal party men were given One Hundred Thousand Naira, with some units even less.

    One thing is sure, Dan Orbih has never supported any aspirant that can win elections for the PDP. In 2015, against all sense of reasoning, Dan Orbih forced his stooge, Barr. Paschal Ugbomeh on the party as its Edo North Senatorial candidate instead of the more popular Abubakar Momoh. Of course, we lost the elections. He didn’t stop there, then imposed Hon. Johnson Abolagba on the people of Owan West in the last elections, claiming an inconclusive election against the party constitution of a simple majority.

    Even as he left, Dan Orbih left the party in crisis and divided. He conducted the worst congresses the party has ever had planting failures like himself in the state working committee.

    The National Assembly and BOT members of the party in Edo state did not attend the state congress because of the irregularities perpetuated by Dan Orbih. Today, there are 9 cases in courts concerning the congress. As a failure he has left no legacy. Instead he continues to dare the Leaders of the party even as a past state chairman by having the Edo South senatorial chairman, Barr. Nosa Okunbor-Ogieva call a meeting contrary to the decision of the Party by claiming zoning for the governorship 2020. A gathering that insults Super Leaders like Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, former Governor of Edo State, and many others who hold the party together at all levels and hailing from the Edo South Senatorial District.

    His accomplices continue to threaten party members who refuse to do his bidding. They are relentless in breaking the party and selling it to the highest bidder in the next elections. This time there will be a reaction.

    CONCERNED MEMBERS IN DIASPORA

  • DAN ORBIH THE PDP TRADER

    DAN ORBIH THE PDP TRADER

    Chapter Two

    It wasn’t long after becoming the State Chairman for PDP Edo that Dan Orbih sank his teeth into the coffers of the party. PDP became Dan Orbih’s private enterprise, and nobody could stop him. Like a wounded lion and the liar, he is, he went to work to create discord, division and pilfer party money. He used his office to dupe the party and PDP state governors cornering several millions of naira meant for the party into his private pocket.

    This Dan Orbih is said to be different from the small-town liar everyone knew him to be. A child almost moron-like had suddenly emerged from dinner with the devil. A demon with an enlarged stomach and a shinning stick in his hand. Built him a satanic chair where Satan visited from time to time. Acquired him a political wife who did his bidding with the dark forces. Together they were unstoppable, the stage was set. He is never at peace; he is drunk from morning till night as though to fade out the spirits that hunt him daily. A pedophile, who spends nights with girls younger than his daughter. No wonder his naked image showed up on the internet further disgracing the party.

    When Dan Orbih took over power in 2009, the PDP had 16 State House of Assembly members, 18 Council Chairmen, 9 House of Reps members, 3 Senators and a governor. At the time he left office in March 2020, the party now has 4 House of Reps members and 2 Senators with none from his senatorial district.  We have lost all our ward council seats, all of the state assembly seats, and no council chairman.

    It is on record that throughout his stay as the state chairman, Dan Orbih never won any election for the party. Not even at his ward level. He has repeatedly expressed himself that he prefers the party in opposition, because without a governor, he continued to be in control of the party’s resources with which he can do what he wants. The reason he was determined to bring in a State Exco that will continue to do his bidding by sharing the party’s resources to the downfall of its members.

    Like a hyena, he pays young men on social media to insult and blackmail our leaders who mean well for the party, causing them to sit back and watch this evil man do his worst.

    Let us take a close look at the tenure of Chief Dan Orbih as the state chairman of the PDP from 2009 to 2020.

    Dan Orbih betrayed the trust of the party and those who believed in him. A few will suffice.

    1. When the then LGA PDP chairman of Esan Central, Adekunle was kidnapped, Chief Tony Anenih gave Dan Orbih the total sum of Six Million Naira to take care of the problem. Five Million Naira was to pay the ransom for his release and One Million Naira given to Mr. Adekunle Oboh for treatment. Dan Orbih never did, but for Hon. Patrick Ikhariale, Mr. Oboh would have been killed. Chief Anenih found out about the fraud a couple of years later. Till date, Dan Orbih never returned the money to Mr. Adekunle Oboh.

    2. The former Minister for Works, Arc. Mike Onolememen sent Five Million Naira every month for 8 years to Chief Dan Osi Orbih for the running of the party. That also was not accounted for. He owed rent for the state secretariat and owed the staff salary for up to six months at a time. The secretariat or the structure of the party was not serviced as required.

    3. In the 2012 Governorship elections between Gen. Charles Airhiavbere vs Adams Oshiomhole it is known that he collected money from Oshiomhole to help crash the PDP from within. Dan Orbih was also known to have gone into a deal with Oshiomhole to come to the PDP after he secured the seat for a second term. The reason the party did not go to court with Gen. Charles Airhiavbere. We all know that Oshiomhole never came to PDP after securing the seat. We lost many party people after that election and Dan Orbih was happy to see them go, claiming we did not need them. It might interest you to know that Dan Orbih throughout the tenure of Oshiomhole in office consistently received patronage from him to throw elections in favor of the APC. On Election day, the State Chairman does not vote, he stays home in Ogbonna drinking champagne to stupor, totally unconcerned.

    As a State Chairman he never won his unit, ward, LGA or Senatorial District, how much more the state. He was a complete failure regarding elections. The seats we won were usually given to us by the court and the determination of the individual involved. A hopeless situation for us to expect such a man to win the state for the party.

    The cash-n-carry State Chairman was always available to the highest bidder.

    To be continued…

  • Engr Gideon Ikhine Tours Edo North

    Engr Gideon Ikhine Tours Edo North

    Engr Gideon Ikhine started his campaign tour of the Local Government Areas on Wednesday, June 10, 2020 in Edo North. His visit began in Akoko-Edo LGA where he was received by the leaders and all the delegates of the local government. He believed that the townhall meetings will have the people know him better and having an interactive session with them proved that. Owan East and Owan West proved same. The people were delighted to have an aspirant who identified with them and the needs of their local government.

    On Thursday, June 11, 2020 he toured Etsako East, Etsako Central and Etsako West where he was well received by all. His articulation of the issues and the interactive session brought delight to those involved.

  • BREAKING NEWS: Obaseki Set to Decamp

    BREAKING NEWS: Obaseki Set to Decamp

     “Whether you’re incumbent or not, we shall be very thorough with the screening of the original certificates of our aspirants because of our bayelsa experience.” ~Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, APC National Chairman

    Adams Oshiomhole made this statement for a purpose and the purpose is very clear and loud: it is alleged that Governor Obaseki has problems with his results and would not be able to scale through the APC screening process supervised by the APC National Screening Committee.

    Finally, since Adams Oshiomhole made this statement, the Obaseki’s camp has been running from pillar to post to find an alternative platform.

     N3 BILLION NAIRA SCANDAL EXPOSED:  It is however shameful that some elders of PDP Edo State (aka Abuja Politicians), who don’t win their units have negotiated the said sum with an upfront paid to them early last week in Abuja to get Obaseki into the PDP Gubernatorial race. In as much as we are ready to resist this effrontery by this so called shameless leaders in PDP, we must sound an advanced warning that if this is done, not only will Adams Oshiomhole expose Gov. Obaseki’s result issues to nail PDP if he is adopted, Oshiomhole will also expose these leaders of PDP who will sell a soul for shekels. (Source: APC Faithfuls.)

    PDP have some of the finest aspirants, let’s stick to them and get the best from them to help rescue Edo people.

     Afasho Tina, Ward 2, Akoko-Edo PDP

  • DAN ORBIH’S EVIL ENTRANCE INTO PDP

    DAN ORBIH’S EVIL ENTRANCE INTO PDP

    Chapter One

    This is how it all began.

    There were Parallel Congresses held simultaneously across the state. One was led by Late Chief Tony Anenih, which produced the Chief Dan Orbih led State Executives and the other by Sen. Prof. Osereimen Osunbor which produced the Barr. Edward Sadoh led Executives. The National body of the party recognized the Barr. Edward Sadoh Executive. They took over the PDP State Secretariat. This led to the opening of another State Secretariat by the Dan Orbih Executives. It is of note that the parallel PDP State congress at that time led to the removal of Sen. Prof. Osereimen Osunbor as Edo State Governor (The lying tongue & evil schemes of Orbih that led to Osunbor’s removal:  The beginning of PDP woes – details in  the coming  chapter)

    Some PDP leaders went to court to challenge the existence of Orbih led Executives. This development created bad blood among party members which led to the dissolution of both Executives by the National body of the Party. The National body called for harmonization between Late Chief Tony Anenih and Sen. Prof. Osereimen Osunbor. At the point of harmonization, the position of State Chairman was conceded to Chief Tony Anenih while the position of Deputy State Chairman and State Secretary was given to the Prof. Osunbor group. It was the harmonization that brought in Late Hon. Barr. Samson EKHABAFE as Edo PDP State Chairman.

    From the day Ekhabafe became State Chairman, he never knew peace in the hands of Dan Orbih (the birth of evil scheming). As Ekhabafe was busy reconciling aggrieved party members and speaking to those in court to withdraw from court, he was at the same time reporting to some leaders that Dan Orbih was not happy with his new position as State Chairman. He complained about Dan Orbih’s attitude towards him till his mysterious death by ghastly accident.

    He was on his usual political visit to Edo North, when on his return to Benin the news of his death came as a shock. He died together with his Son (a lawyer), his driver and orderly. Immediately Ekhabafe was buried, Chief Dan Orbih began to lobby Late Chief Tony Anenih to allow him succeed Late Samson Ekhabafe using some leaders that were close to Chief Anenih. At last, Orbih had his way. When he discovered some party leaders were heading to court to challenge his emergence he hurriedly rushed to Port- Harcourt out of his desperation to take his first oath of office as State Chairman.

    Sometime in 2009, Chief Dan Osi Orbih came on board as PDP State Chairman, heralding the beginning of failure, sellout of votes to APC and on the payroll of Adams Oshiomhole (details in the coming chapters). This was only possible after the sudden and untimely death of Hon. Barr. Samson EKHABAFE in a mysterious way. The way and manner his death came is still a nightmare to so many political players and the general public.

    Chief Dan Orbih’s era as State Chairman brought woe & setback to PDP in the last 11 years – the time for PDP to move forward without a trace of Evil is now.

    To be continued…