Politics

APC Expresses Dissatisfaction Over Governance, Says Obaseki Has Mortgaged Edo Future

Published

4 years ago

January 19, 2022

Editor

… Edo Has Retrogress 50 Years Back – APC

… Describes Obaseki As Insensitive

By Joseph Kanjo, Benin

The All Progressives Congress, APC, Edo State chapter on Tuesday expressioned dissatisfaction over governance in the state, raising the alarm that the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led PDP administration has mortgaged future of the state and generation unborn.

The party said with the present manner at which Obaseki is governing the state, he had taken the state backward to 50 years term, further describing the government as being insensitive to the yearnings of the people.

Peter Uwadiae, Esq. , state Publicity Secretary of the party who raised the alarm in Benin while briefing newsmen, said the Obadeki-led administration is not just constructing projects in the state, but also destroying legacy projects built by previous administrations in the state without building new ones.

The APC publicity scribe who lamented that Edo people were unfortunate for having Obaseki as governor, said the promises of providing qualify healthcare, education and other infrastructure were not just unmet, he is rather destroying the ones he met on ground.

He said: “The present day Edo State is experiencing the worst adminstration in this forth republic.This is the worst government Edo people have ever experienced since the state was carved out of old Bendel State. And I will say this for the record. That we are very concerned as a party, we have made the Federal Government known that apart from the fact that he is destroying the legacy projects, the local government today is no longer there.

“The legacy projects that were built, from the time of Lucky Igbinedion’s administration till when Obaseki came on board, most of them have been destroyed, and not only destroyed, they have been rendered disfunctional, and comatose by this government.”

He continued, “When the library at Sapele Road was built, it was a legacy project in Edo, it is only a government that is insensitive to the people’s educational pursuit that can sacrifice such an edifice for an economic enterprise. I do not think Edo people will know the negative impact of that destruction until few years to come.”

On the demolition of the state-owned Central Hospital, Uwadiae said, “We have find out that the Central Hospital has been mortgaged for commercial entity, as against the very significant impact our health sector. It is very disheartening and most unexpected of a government that said it would build for the people the best health infrastructure.

“With the demolition of the edifice, it shows that this government does not set its priority right. A government that said it wants to revamp the health sector, now demolishing an existing central hospital and using it as a park shows that the government is a directionless government, government that has nothing to offer the people.”

While alleging that the Edoline Transportation in Port Harcourt, Bayelsa and Abuja have been sold out to private enterprise, the APC state Publicity Secretary asked where the funds from sales and other inernally generated revenues are and what they have been used for.

On education he said, “Obaseki has been talking about EdoBEST, there are no teachers in most government owned schools particularly in the villages. instead of buying laptop to students in the village where there is no network in the name of whatsoever, why not employ teachers so they could have a one-on-one interface with these students.”

On Security, he said contrary to Obaseki’s Commissioner’s claims, there have been series of killings and kidnapping in the state, recalling that a whole community was recently invaded by herders few weeks ago.

“No state governor that is being owe his Security Vote every month. Edo State Government, from available resources, collect nothing less than N750m as security vote every month from the Federal Government, how is Edo State Governor utilizing that security vote?”

He further accused the government of excess borrowing without a commensurating work or project in the state.

He further lamented: “We have been Mortgaged, there is borrowing left and right, and in all these borrowing, there is no accountability. You don’t just borrow money for the sake of borrowing, when you borrow money, you channel it to a particular project. There is no project tied to the borrowing this present Edo Government is doing.

“If you compare Edo with other neighbouring states in terms of infrastructure, you will find out that we are 50 years back. No state is being managed as Edo State is being managed by Obaseki.”

He continued, “The Internally Generated Revenue has increased yet we don’t see the impact in our state. No road is being constructed.

“Today, an average market woman including pure water seller is make to pay for four to five tickets, and it is so arranged that the fund goes directly to the government confer.

“The Internally Generated Revenue of Edo State has skyrocketed, where is all these money being utilised on.

“This government has not only fail, it is hacken to a dictatorship. It is a government that does not have the intellectual capacity to lead the state. A government that has taken us aback, the government that does not respect the rule of law, it is a government that does not respect the yearnings and aspiration of those who brought them on board.”

Politics

2027: Details Of Jonathan, Peter Obi Meeting Emerge

Published

3 hours ago

September 13, 2025

Editor

Details have emerged regarding the recent closed-door meeting between former President Goodluck Jonathan and former presidential candidate Peter Obi.

The two leaders are reportedly discussing strategies for a unified front in the 2027 presidential election.

The meeting took place on Thursday, with Obi disclosing insights about the engagement on his Facebook and X accounts.

The meeting was a continuation of previous conversations between the two leaders over strategies for the 2027 race.

The National Coordinator of the OBIdient Movement, Dr Yunusa Tanko, confirmed this in a statement on Friday.

“They (Jonathan and Obi) have been friends for a long time. The meeting was for them to fraternise and discuss how to rescue Nigeria.

“But for us in the OBIdient Movement, it would be great if Jonathan remains the respected statesman he is known for. He has done his best as President, he is respected, and this is the time for him to support his brother,” Tanko told Daily Trust.

Tanko further alleged that some politicians were plotting to use Jonathan against Obi but maintained that the Obidient Movement would not allow such a plan to succeed.

“We are aware of such moves, but we strongly believe they will not succeed.

“Many Nigerians believe the next president should come from the South, and for fairness, the South East should get the chance. Peter Obi is the ideal candidate,” he added.

Politics

Tinubu’s Mandate Accomplished In Rivers — Ibas

Published

12 hours ago

September 13, 2025

Editor

Rivers State Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd.), has stated that the mandate given to him by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been “sufficiently achieved” with the restoration of democratic governance at the grassroots.

Ibas made the remark on Friday at Government House, Port Harcourt, during the presentation of the report on the recently concluded local government elections by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).

He recalled that Tinubu, on March 18, 2025, directed him to stabilise the state, re-establish its institutions, and return Rivers to full democratic governance following his appointment as sole administrator.

According to him, the successful conduct of the polls and the swearing-in of elected chairmen and councillors across the 23 local government areas marked the fulfilment of that mandate.

“Mr. President’s mandate to me was clear: to stabilise the state, create an enabling environment for the re-establishment of its institutions, and return Rivers State back to full democratic governance. With the successful conduct and swearing-in of local government chairmen and their councils, I believe we have decisively achieved the mandate that we were given,” Ibas stated.

He praised RSIEC for what he described as a credible and transparent election, noting that the exercise was free of harassment and voters freely expressed their choices.

Ibas added that the government would review the RSIEC report and issue a white paper in due course. He also commended his team, security agencies, and state officials for their contributions.

RSIEC Chairman, Dr Mike Odey, who presented the report earlier, described the election as a “historic achievement” for Rivers and the country. He stressed that it was organised, coordinated, and concluded within 30 days — an unprecedented record in Nigerian electoral history.

Politics

2027: Jonathan, Obi Hold Closed-door Meeting

Published

1 day ago

September 12, 2025

Editor

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, on Thursday, held a closed-door meeting with former President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja.

Obi, who disclosed the visit in a post on his official X handle on Thursday, described Jonathan as his ”elder brother, a statesman, and leader,” adding that they had a fruitful meeting and discussed the state of the nation.

“Today in Abuja, I met with my very dear elder brother, statesman, and leader, former President Goodluck Jonathan. We had a fruitful closed-door meeting and discussed the state of our dear nation,” Obi wrote.

Although details of the meeting were not made public, the development comes amid ongoing conversations about Nigeria’s political direction and the state of governance under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Jonathan, who led Nigeria between 2010 and 2015, has in recent years positioned himself as a mediator in national and continental issues, particularly in conflict resolution and democratic strengthening efforts across Africa.

Obi, on his part, has continued to engage stakeholders following his strong showing in the 2023 elections, where he came third behind Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party.

The meeting is the latest in Obi’s series of consultations with key political figures as discussions around Nigeria’s future political realignments intensify.

Attempts to obtain clarification from Obi’s former campaign spokesman, Dr Yunusa Tanko, and leaders of the Obidient Movement were unsuccessful as calls and messages went unanswered.

Thursday’s meeting is the latest in Obi’s string of high-level engagements, signalling what observers believe could be the early stirrings of a new political coalition.

Speculations became rife of Jonathan’s possible return after the Peoples Democratic Party zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to the South.

There have also been reports that the PDP had been wooing Obi to return to the party, as he is seen as major force capable of challenging President Bola Tinubu in 2027.