The Eagle Gate

Tag: Edo State

  • 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

  • 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

  • Edo State: Who approved this school?

    Edo State: Who approved this school?

    This is a “Private school” in Akoko-Edo. Who approved it? What’s the standard for approval?

    The name of the school is Solid Foundation Nursery/Primary School, Ibillo, Akoko-Edo, Edo State.

    Operates in a most dehumanizing structure not fit for a Poultry. 

    The language in use is Pidgin. 

    Apart from the hazards posed to the children, we may just have a training ground for future criminals and possible terrorists. 

    It’s pathetic that this type of place is approved by government without inspections. 

    Education is the key to development and must be taken very seriously.

  • The Uncommon Legislator Sergius Ogun is at it again!

    The Uncommon Legislator Sergius Ogun is at it again!

    • REHABILITATION OF EWOHIMI WATER WORKS BEGINS, COURTESY OF BARR. SERGIUS OGUN

    Barr. Sergius Ogun is a member of the House of Representative for Esan North-East/South-East Constituency elected for a second term on the platform of the PDP.

    In continuance of his good works through his first term Barr. Sergius Ogun has embarked on the project to bring pipe borne water to the people of Ewohimi. 

    The attached photos capture the desilting of the water. 

    In no distant time, the sad tale of the death and dearth of public water supply in Ewohimi Town will be confined to the dustbin of history as Barr. Sergius Oseasochie Ogun is bringing back the good old days of free pipe borne water for all.

    Representation is all about meeting the basic needs of the people.

    Expect much more from the promise-keeping federal lawmaker!

    No dull moments, more positive actions and impacts all the way!

    Team Sergius Ogun

  • POLICE PRESS RELEASE – VERIFICATION AND CONFIRMATION OF 2019 GENERAL ELECTIONS SENSITIVE MATERIALS

    POLICE PRESS RELEASE – VERIFICATION AND CONFIRMATION OF 2019 GENERAL ELECTIONS SENSITIVE MATERIALS

    AZ:5250/EDS/PRD/VOL.23/212

    19/02/2019

    No. 004

    POLICE PRESS RELEASE

    VERIFICATION AND CONFIRMATION OF 2019 GENERAL ELECTIONS SENSITIVE MATERIALS

         The Command wishes to inform the general public following the appeal of the Chairman Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), that the Nigeria Police Force, Heads of other sister security agencies, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) member of the various registered political parties, the branch Controller of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Benin City met today 19/02/2019 at the CBN for the verification and confirmation of the 2019 General Elections sensitive materials that was safe kept at the CBN office Benin 

         The Commissioner of Police in charge Election duty in the State, CP DanMallam Mohammed Psc, fdc, who had earlier met with all the Heads of other sister security agencies in his office at the Police Headquarters, Benin City where they further brainstorm on 2019 General Elections strategies, moved with the officers to the Central Bank of Nigeria Benin for the verification and confirmation exercise.

         On arrival, the CP and other sister security agencies in company of the members of the registered political parties in the State moved to the office of the branch Controller of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Benin City, whence all stakeholders moved to the CBN leading Bay room where all the INEC sensitive materials for 2019 General Elections were kept. The materials were inspected, verified and confirmed to be well secured by the CBN, Benin.

          Thereafter, it was unanimously agreed by the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner Benin, the Commissioner of Police, other Heads of sister security agencies, members of registered political parties and the branch Controller of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Benin that all the 2019 General Elections sensitive materials would on Thursday 21st February, 2019 leave the CBN for Local Government Areas of the State in readiness for the conduct of the General Elections on Saturday the 23rd February, 2019.    

          Commissioner of Police DanMallam Mohammed Psc, fdc assures the INEC REC and the members of registered political parties the protection of lives and the sensitive materials to the designated areas, stating that adequate security measures have been put in place. The Commander 4 Brigade Headquarters of the Nigeria Army, Benin Brig. Gen. J.O. Omorogbe supporting the Commissioner of Police stated that his men at the various L.G.A in the State will join force with other security agencies in beefing up security where the Election sensitive materials will be kept.        

    DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, Police Public Relations Officer

    FOR: Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command