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The time has come for Edo state PDP and the government of Mr Godwin Obaseki/ Deputy Governor, Rt Hon Comr Phillip Shaibu to win the hearts of Edo North people ahead of 2023/2024 polls by ensuring that development is brought to the door s steps of the Edo North Senatorial district, such as good  network of roads in all the six local government areas, good healthcare, building and equipping the schools and provisions of other social amenities as promised during their electioneering campaigns. Afemai land is seriously crying for massive development at the moment. To this end, we are appealing that the Ekperi Riverine  Communities deserved good network of roads as promised by our Wake & See Governor, Mr Obaseki Godwin/his Deputy Governor, Rt Hon Comr Phillip Shaibu. It will be recalled that during the rainy season, most of these Riverine communities in Etsako Central Local Government Area would not be accessible by motorists or even cyclists due to the deplorable nature of these roads.

The Chairman, People's Democratic Party, Edo State Branch, Rt. Hon. Dr. Tony Aziegbemi today receives an appreciation award from Esan Coalition Group. Presenting the Award, the Coordinator of the Group who happened to be a former Vice President, National Association of Nigerian Students (National Affairs) and Special Assistant to Governor Godwin Obaseki on Youth and Special Duty, Comrade Joewealth Ikhuomose Ehimemenn noted that, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi is a true Ambassador of Esan Nation. According to Comrade Joewealth, the State Chairman has further proven that, when an Esan son or daughter takes a responsibility, they deliver on their mandate to specification. He said that, Edo PDP had suffered for over 13 years of not wining election but surprisingly return to wining ways as soon as Rt. Hon. Tony Aziegbemi took over as the State Chairman. He stressed that, the magic did not just happen over night except for the prolific managerial ability displayed by Dr. Tony Aziegbemi in terms of m

The Chief of Staff to the President, Ambassador Ibrahim Gambari, is leading the federal government delegation to the meeting. The six Governors and leaders in the zone in a common position presented by Chairman of South South Governor's Forum, Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa, made the following demands: 1. Immediate relocation of headquarters of oil multinational to their operational bases in the South South region. 2. Immediate relocation of government -owned oil subsidiaries from Lagos and Abuja to the South South region. 3. Immediate completion of East-West road under construction. 4. Immediate privatisation of the two refineries in Port Harcourt and the one in Warri for effectiveness. 5. Call for release of all funds due NDDC and that henceforth, all NDDC projects MUST be done in consultation with State Governors. 6. Reactivation of sea ports in Calabar, Port Harcourt and Warri. Then, the Lagos to Calabar railine. 7. True federalism, resource control, fair revenue sharing and State Police,

  Senator Eyinnaya Araribe, Senate Minority leader, has once again accused the Buhari-led Government of not recognizing citizens from the South East, saying that the only person from that region in the Aso Villa is a photographer. Abaribe said this on Friday as a guest on Channels Television’s programme Sunrise Daily in reaction to Governor David Umahi’s defection from People’s Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC. Araribe had earlier in the week said the PDP was unfazed by Umahi’ defection and also believes the governor’s movement will be gauged properly when it’s time for the 2023 elections. His words: “Let us assume Governor Umahi is bringing the South East, as he says, into the mainstream because that was what I heard yesterday. What is the mainstream? Is it the Aso Villa that belongs to all of us that you cannot find a single person from the South East, except a photographer?   “Before every part of this country was represented in the Aso Villa, so when you

Following the dissolution of the Ebonyi State Exco of  our great party, the National Working Committee (NWC) has constituted a state caretaker committee to pilot the affairs of the party in Ebonyi state in line with the provisions of the constitution of the PDP. Members of the Ebonyi state caretaker committee are; 1. Hon. Fred Udeogu     - Chairman  2. Barr. Luke Nkwegu  - Secretary 3. Dr. Gideon Osi          -  Publicity Secretary 4. Hon. James Alaka  - Organizing Secretary  5. Mrs. Amaka Igboke  - Women Leader  6. Barr Mudi Irenede   - Legal Adviser 7. Barr. Ibeshi              - Youth Leader The decision of the NWC in this regard is pursuant to the powers conferred on it by the provisions of the PDP Constitution (2017 as amended). All our leaders, members and teeming supporters in Ebonyi state and the southeast are by this guided accordingly. Signed: Kola Ologbondiyan National Publicity Secretary

*PDP is not unfair to South-East Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi quest to be All Progressives Congress presidential candidate and not alleged injustice meted on the South East by the Peoples Democratic Party, has been blamed for his defection. Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, who made this assertion, said committed members of the PDP   were not surprised that Governor Umahi on Tuesday formally defected to the APC, which he has for a while been fraternising with. Governor Wike, said ordinarily he would not have been perturbed by Umahi’s decision to defect to the APC, but, he felt offended by his attempt to justify his decision on the purported injustice meted on the South East by the PDP. The Rivers State governor accused Umahi of being unfair to the PDP which gave him governorship ticket in 2015 against all odds, and repeated same feat in 2019. He noted that while Umahi has a right to move to the APC, but for him to attempt to blackmail the PDP and paint it in a bad light w

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says that the Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. Dave Umahi, left our party for personal reasons, which Nigerians will come to know at the fullness of time. Our party thanks Governor Umahi for services rendered to the people of Ebonyi state, as the State Chairman of Ebonyi PDP (2003 to 2007); deputy governor of Ebonyi state (2007 to 2015) and two term governor of Ebonyi  (2015 till date), all elected on the platform of the PDP. As we wish Governor Umahi all the best in his adventure, we call on the members of our party to remain calm and committed to the ideals of our party as no individual is bigger than the PDP. Signed: Kola Ologbondiyan National Publicity Secretary

In the face of apparently soaring of mounting security threats, especially violent crimes in almost parts of the country, Bar. Ken Immasuagbon, popularly known as Rice Man, is advocating again the need for Community Policing. While talking to press men recently from his base in Abuja, he said, "Community Policing is the way to go as there have been recorded upsurge in violent crimes recently. The current concept of 'police' in Nigeria which is part of the colonial imports is no longer tenable as we are faced with very serious and growing security challenges. Locally based policemen or government trained and sponsored vigilante groups would develop ties with community leaders when recruited to be part of the security architecture, and this will bring security closer to the people in communities, whether they are urban or local based communities. These additional security men will work in their own communities or where they are residents because it is easier to understand yo

Our party takes law and order very seriously. We are committed to the provision of adequate security and are proud with the way Governor Obaseki's PDP government is tackling the security challenges Edo is facing today. At this point we must reiterate that the issue of restructuring in the country is not only restricted to resource control. The security  command structure imperfections are exposed especially at times like this. The "CSO" of a state, the Governor, has no power to command, instruct or deploy the state police command no matter the opinion he holds. He is handicapped because of the provision of the constitution that at best confers on him the ceremonial title of Chief Security Officer. However, Governor Godwin Obaseki is coordinating a combined effort of security operatives to arrest the ugly security situation in Edo State. Right from the moment security in the state was compromised by hoodlums during the #ENDSARS protests, the governor knew there could be an

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has approved the appointment of Osarodion Ogie Esq., as Secretary to the State Government. In a statement, Governor Obaseki said this was the only political appointment to be made for now. He added that all other appointments are deferred to the first week of February, 2021.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rejects an increase in the pump price of fuel to N170 per liter by the All Progressives Congress (APC) government, describing it as wicked, unbearable and unacceptable, particularly given the prevailing excruciating economic crunch already foisted on Nigerians  by the Buhari administration. The party insists that this increase in the pump price will worsen the already suffocating economic situation in the country.  Such hike will also be an additional log tied on the economic neck of Nigerians. The PDP holds that the APC and its administration have no justification to increase the cost of fuel to anything above N100 per liter talk less of N170, when there are practical options to maintain affordable price given our production capacity and potentialities. It is evident that the continuous increase in the pump price of fuel under opaque and nebulous indices is a product of incompetence and large scale corruption being perpetrated by a few individuals in

  *Obaseki, Shaibu take oath office amid cheers, jubilation* The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has been administered ‎the oath of office as governor for the second term in office. The event which is being held at the Tennis Court of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, marked the inauguration of the governor and his deputy, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu. The colourful event was graced by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Edobor Iyamu and Governors of Sokoto, Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa States, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, Nyesom Wike and Duoye Diri respectively. Others present are Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire; Vice Chairman of PDP South-south, Chief Dan Orbih; former Minister of Works, Mike Onolememe; Speaker Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA), Marcus Onobu; Chief Judge of Edo State, Esther Edigin and the Commissioner of Police Edo State, Johnson Kokumo, among others.*

…prioritises capacity building, hiring professionals into civil service to boost efficiency The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has presented a N153.4 billion budget proposal to the Edo State House of Assembly, for the 2021 fiscal year, representing a 9.7 percent increase from the revised 2020 budget. Obaseki, who presented the budget to the Assembly sitting at the old Legislative Chambers in Government House, Benin City, said the budget comprises N94.8 billion for recurrent and N58.6 billion for capital expenditure. The governor said the document christened ‘Making Edo Great Again (MEGA) Budget,’ is exclusively pinned on robustly responding to the dislocations caused by the coronavirus pandemic, whilst building a workforce of the future. He noted that the N94.8 billion recurrent expenditure estimate for 2021 fiscal year represents a 24 percent growth from the N76.6 billion actual expected in the 2020 fiscal year. According to him, “The main driver of this growth is increase in

...To Prosecute 92 for arson, stealing, murder, others 253 persons arrested by the Police for criminal offences in connection to the #EndSARS protests in Lagos State are to be released immediately for non-disclosure of a prima facie case against them by the Police.  A statement released earlier today by the Office of Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, explained that the Nigeria Police forwarded  40 case files in respect of the 361 persons arrested for criminal offences in connection with the #EndSARS protests to the Directorate of Public Prosecution for Legal Advice, between 4th and 5th of November, 2020.  According to the statement; "Legal Advice has been issued in respect of all the 40 case files received, and as at 6th November 2020, the Directorate had been able to despatch Legal Advice in respect of 81 persons, who are being charged to the various courts, while others will be despatched to court on Monday, 9th November 2020.  &q

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, on Saturday joined youths in the state on a state-wide clean up exercise to clear debris that amassed in the wake of the brigandage that greeted the hijack of the #ENDSARS protests in the state. The exercise was part of activities lined up for the inauguration of the governor and his deputy for a second term in office, which will be held alongside the fourth edition of the Alaghodaro Summit. The exercise which held simultaneously across the state was coordinated by the chairmen of the 18 local government areas, the Ministry of Youths, Edo State Waste Management Board, the state’s Social Investment Office, Edo State Skills Development Agency (EdoJobs) and the Edo Volunteer Voters Assembly (EVVA), among other youth groups. Other top government officials who participated in the clean up exercise in Benin, the state capital were the Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Marcus Onobun; Commis

USA election despite that opposition candidate Jeo Biden is leading with a wide margin, I have never heard that any citizens has been killed or properties has been burnt down by the ruling candidate supporters Donald Trump, neither the soldier and police are taking part in the election to favour the ruling candidates or the opposition candidates, just because of their personal interest. But in Nigeria and Africa at large the case is usually different, because they don't have plans for the nation and its citizens, hence the reason of violence to grab power at all costs. Furthermore the least any aggrieved party would do is to go to court and challenge the process immediately, just the way President Donald Trump has done by heading to Supreme Court to challenge the process, , rather than sending thugs to kill and destroying of properties all in the name of politics. My advice to Nigerians and Africans is for them to take a cruel from the USA election for we not to continue living in

 November 4, 2020 The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rejects the moves by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its administration to regulate and strangulate social media in our country, describing it as unconstitutional, anti-people and a suppressive design to asphyxiate Nigerians. The PDP asserts that the renewed frenzy to censor the social media is ostensibly targeted at muzzling outspoken Nigerians, particularly the youths, media and civil society organizations, from demanding for accountability and competence, as well as exposing the widespread corruption, unbridled treasury looting, barefaced injustice, human right abuses, constitutional violations and divisive actions of the APC administration. Our party rejects the claims that the regulation bill is targeted at checking fake news. This is because our nation already has enough implementable laws to counter the dissemination of fake news and punish offenders. It is clear that the APC administration is rather xenophobic of crit

The 55MW CCETC-Ossiomo Independent Power Plant in Benin City has commenced power supply in the state with the lighting up of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, a feat that has now opened up the electricity market in Edo State to drive industrial growth and attract private investors. Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said the commencement of power supply from the plant in Ologbo, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area has set the state on a path to becoming a hub for high-impact industries that require stable power to perform optimally. He said, “The Edo State Government is excited to announce that the 55MW CCETC-Ossiomo IPP has commenced power supply in the state with the lighting up of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium. This is a major feat. The Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) between the government and investors has effectively kicked off, setting off a ripple effect that will see the influx of power-intensive industries into Edo State.” Aside th

  By Hon. Ozimah Joseph Odemokpa The insecurity in Edo state and Nigeria at large is currently turning to something else, as the residents of Benin City are now crying daily of being victimized by harm robbing in their various homes, even when walking or driving on the roads phones and cars are being snatched from the owners. The time has come for the state government and federal government to call on Nigeria 🇳🇬 police and all other security agencies to take up their responsibility in a professional way, to protect life and property. We are aware that Nigerians citizens did not called for end police but total reform of the entire Nigeria police, which does not mean they should all abandon their responsibility, while they are still earning their monthly salary and other benefits attach to the job.  . If we all decide to be watching the bad situation of insecurity in our dear state and Nigeria at large, who knows next? Hence the need for the State government and Federal government to q

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike,  has described the allegation that he ordered the Nigerian Army to kill Igbos in Oyigbo Local Government Area, as a politically motivated falsehood. He maintained that curfew was imposed in Oyigbo to restore calm after members of proscribed Indigenous Peoples Organisations of Biafra (IPOB) killed 6 soldiers, 4 policemen and destroyed all police stations and court buildings there. Governor Wike gave the explanation on a live television programme in Port Harcourt on Monday. He said the narrative that Igbos were being killed by the military is intended to shift attention from the despicable activities of IPOB in Oyigbo, which is a boundary area adjoining Abia State. "I know that this is not the first time, IPOB has used Oyigbo as launching ground. The security agencies are aware. IPOB added a new dimension this time.  They killed 6 Army Officers and burnt one.  They killed four Police Officers. They destroyed all the Police Stations and Cour

The swift operation by the United States to rescue her citizen held hostage by bandits on Nigerian soil has further confirmed that the Buhari Presidency can neither secure the territorial integrity of our nation nor arrest the wave of insecurity ravaging our country under its inept watch. The party describes the situation where the United State had to come on our soil to pull a rescue, as an international embarrassment and shows how low the Buhari Presidency had fallen in its failure to guarantee the safety of lives and property in our country. Moreover, the fact that under President Muhammadu Buhari, bandits and abductors from neighboring countries now freely cross into our nation to use our soil as detention camps further shows the failure of his administration to secure our national borders and territorial integrity. It also shows that contrary to claims by the Buhari administration, parts of our country are still under the control of bandits and insurgents. It is indeed grossly dis