News

Arrest Thugs Destroying Billboards, Aiyedatiwa Orders Police, Others

Published

2 years ago

March 2, 2024

The Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has ordered the security agencies to investigate and arrest those who allegedly destroyed the billboards of some state governorship aspirants and attacked members of the All Progressives Congress during the visit of President Bola Tinubu to the state.

The President had visited the family of late former Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, and the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Ogunoye in Owo as well as the national leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, in Akure, on Wednesday.

During Tinubu’s visit, both the Olusola Oke Campaign Organisation and the Wale Akinterinwa Campaign Organisation accused Aiyedatiwa’s supporters of destroying the posters and billboards.

Aiyedatiwa, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Ebenezer Adeniyan, on Friday, denied the allegation and condemned violent activities.

He said, “As the governor has said repeatedly, any political campaign that disturbs the peace in the state is unacceptable and must be met with the decisive actions of law enforcement agencies.

“It is pertinent to make it clear that nobody associated with the governor or the government of Ondo State was involved in any of the reported activities ascribed to ‘political thugs’ during the President’s visit to Owo and Akure.

“The governor has therefore asked law enforcement agencies in the state to arrest and prosecute anyone found to be engaged in such violent activities. The governor urges politicians and their followers to ensure that their campaigns are issue-based, devoid of blackmail, spreading falsehood, inciting the public and intimidating opponents.”

The Administrative Secretary of the Oke Campaign Organisation, Mr Courage Oladele, on Friday, said, “What was supposed to be a rousing welcome and celebration of the visit of Mr President was turned into a theatre of violence and bloody attack on our supporters and other APC members who were waiting for the arrival of the President.

“We have thought that the dark days of thuggery and politics of violence are over and may the day never come when a supposed leader of men will re-enact the gory experience of the past.

“It is in the light of the above and the need to call the attention of Mr Governor to the shameful and undemocratic actions of these elements who wore vests and caps with his (Aiyedatiwa) photograph and name to attack my supporters.”

Similarly, a statement issued by the Director of Publicity of the Wale Akinterinwa Campaign Organisation, Mr Segun Ajiboye, said many of the APC members were injured by the suspected thugs after destroying the billboards of Akinterinwa.

“The thugs, who brazenly fired gunshots into the air to confuse, went on a destruction spree as they attacked property, while billboards of other gubernatorial aspirants were defaced, pulled down or out rightly destroyed.

“Party members perceived to be loyal to all gubernatorial aspirants save for Governor Lucky Ayedatiwa sustained varied and diverse degree injuries resulting from the attacks unleashed on them. T-shirts, faze caps and other insignia worn by members of the targeted aspirants were torn to shreds.”
PUNCH

News

Grassroots To Global Podium: Edo Sports Commission Marks Enabulele’s First Year In Office

Published

4 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Editor

The Indoor Sports Hall in Benin City came alive on Wednesday as the Edo State Sports Commission rolled out the drums to celebrate the first anniversary in office of its Executive Chairman, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele. Management, staff, coaches and athletes gathered in an atmosphere charged with pride, reflection and optimism.

The colourful ceremony drew executives and members of various sports associations, officials of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), coaches, athletes and other key stakeholders in Edo sports.

In her welcome address, the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Commission, Mrs. A. P. Amenze, praised Hon. Enabulele for what she described as focused and purposeful leadership. She said the past year had seen renewed confidence, discipline and energy return to the state’s sports ecosystem.

Adding excitement to the event were exhibition bouts and demonstrations by the Kung Fu, Karate, Taekwondo and Judo associations, staged in honour of the Executive Chairman.

Speaking for SWAN Edo State, Chairman Comrade Kehinde Osagiede commended Hon. Enabulele’s open-door leadership style and consistent support for sports development. He noted that the Commission had effectively driven Governor Monday Okpebholo’s “Catch Them Young” policy through practical grassroots programmes that identify and groom young talents across the state.

In recognition of his contributions to sports development and media relations, Comrade Osagiede conferred the Patronship of SWAN Edo State on Hon. Enabulele and presented him with a special anniversary card.

Goodwill messages followed from Executive Directors of the Commission, including Hon. Frank Ilaboya (Edo North), Coach Baldwin Bazuaye, MON (Edo South), Barr. Anthony Ikuenobe (Edo Central), and Mrs. Sabrina Chikere, Executive Director, Sports Development and Operations. Representatives of coaches, athletes and sports associations also took turns to acknowledge the progress recorded under the current leadership.

In his stewardship address, Hon. Enabulele expressed gratitude to Governor Monday Okpebholo and Deputy Governor Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa for the trust placed in him, noting that their backing and shared vision had driven the Commission’s achievements.

He highlighted Team Edo’s third-place finish at the 9th National Youth Games in Asaba, where the state recorded its best-ever outing with 79 medals—33 gold, 18 silver and 28 bronze—reinforcing Edo’s reputation as a national sports powerhouse.

The Chairman also pointed to the impact of inclusive and grassroots sports programmes, citing Favour Ojeabu, a visually impaired para-cyclist who won three gold medals to emerge Africa’s champion at the African Track Para-Cycling Championship in Egypt.

Other milestones listed included outstanding performances by Edo para powerlifters on the international stage, historic achievements in cricket, weightlifting, cycling, judo and deaf athletics, as well as structural reforms such as the repositioning of Bendel Insurance FC and deeper investment in grassroots sports development.

Cultural performances added colour and tradition to the celebration, as stakeholders closed the event united in their assessment of the past year as a truly transformative period for sports development in Edo State.

News

Otuaro Tasks Media On Objective Reportage

Published

13 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Editor

The Administrator, Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) Dr. Dennis Otuaro has charged media practitioners particularly members of the Ijaw Publishers’ Forum to promote ethical journalism through their reportage.

He gave the charge in Warri on Wednesday during the 2nd Annual Ijaw Media Conference organised by the Ijaw Publishers’ Forum (IPF).

Represented by Princewill Binebai, spokesman, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, Otuaro while stating that the Niger Delta stories have been told in such a way that is quite different from what is obtainable in the real sense, said this, IPF must do everything possible to correct.

The administrator added: “I am happy that Ijaw journalists have boldly come out together to champion the Ijaw struggle in a very dynamic perspective”.

“The Ijaw story was misrepresented over the years, but IPF’s emergence had corrected this error and the story is gradually changing for better.”

Otuaro, however, challenged Ijaw media practitioners to be objective, truthful, accurate and fearless in their reportage to correct many years anomalies of the Ijaw struggle.

He admonished members of IPF to see themselves as brothers and love one another in the discharge of their activities to achieve a common goal.

News

Police Confirm Edo Tanker Explosion, say No Casualty

Published

13 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Editor

The Edo State Police Command has confirmed tanker explosions that rocked Auchi, the administrative headquarters of Etsako West Local Government Area of the state.

The Command’s Police Publice Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, who confirmed the incident via the phone, said the explosion occurred at about 6:30 p.m. following the fall of a fuel tanker along the road.

Ikoedem said the incident occurred on Wednesday evening at about 6:30 p.m. following the fall of a fuel tanker along the road.

She explained that spilled fuel seeped into underground tunnels, which later ignited and caused three explosions in different parts of the Auchi community.

According to her, officers from the Auchi Divisional Police Headquarters and the Area Command were mobilised to the affected areas and successfully cordoned them off to prevent loss of lives.

She added: “No casualty was recorded. Our men on ground were able to cordoned the affected areas.”

It was gathered that three separate explosions rocked the town simultaneously in different parts, which led to properties worth millions of naira destroyed.

A resident who does not want his name in print said via the telephone that the blasts occurred along Igbei Road, Igbo Shade, and along the Auchi–Okene Road, close to Winners Junction.

The resident, who alleged the explosions appeared to have been coordinated, called for a thorough investigation into the incident to prevent future occurrences.

Calls put across to Mr. Monday Edogiawere, Chairman, Red Cross, Edo State, were not picked.