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Be Diplomatic In Your Approach To Societal Issues, Edo Deputy Governor Tasks Youths

Published

1 year ago

May 1, 2023

Editor

The Edo State deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, Monday, tasked the Nigerian youths to adopt a more diplomatic approach in handling societal issues rather than conforming with the old ways in driving home their demands.

He gave the task at the maiden edition of Comrade Dinner and Award Night put together by Owis Event alongside the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS)held in Benin City.

Shaibu, who stated how he developed interest in politics, said that the era of barricading the roads in protest should be over as there could be other ways they can still make their presence known on issues that bother on the well being of Nigerians by activating their consciousness.

“For us to have an egalitarian society, all comrades must activate that consciousness in them. We must stop to lament for lamentation is not our portion.

“I became a politician courtesy of an engagement that I had with late Bola Ige. While we were accusing him for joining Obasanjo’s government, we said we were going to de-comrade him and that, why must he join Obasanjo’s government?.

“In one of those conversations, he invited us for a discussion to explain why he has to join Obasanjo’s government.

“That discussion changed my thinking. That was the day I made up my mind that I am going to go into secular politics.

“And he said, young men, I know your bodies are hot and I know your bodies are really scratching you to fight.

“When you scratch your body the way it scratches you, you will injure yourself and meet blood but the method must change now.

“During the military, we engaged our leaders at the level of barricades but now, we have transited from that era of militancy to an era of democracy where the people you are now engaging with are elected by the people and not the military that superimposed himself.

“So, if you say a democratically elected government that we have been struggling to have, we should not participate in it, you are indirectly telling us that you do not want good people to go into politics.

“He said, if good people consistently refused to be in politics because they say it is dirty, dirty people will continue to rule over us and good people will continue to lament.

“So, which do we choose? Do we encourage good people to be in for us not to lament or we encourage bad people to continue to exist and the good people continue to lament? That statement actually changed my orientation”, Shaibu said.

The deputy governor further admonished them to strive to build institutions that work rather than building individuals.

“An average comrade wants a system that works. Our charge as comrade is to have an institution that works, to build an institution and not to build individuals, when you build an individual, you build a superman but when you build institutions, you have a system that works for you and that is the way to go”, Shaibu said.

Earlier, the chairman Advisory board of Comrade Dinner and Award Night, Comrade Salami David, said the Comrade Dinner Award was conceived and birthed out of the resolute request to celebrate the monumental strides that have been produced by the student comradeship, adding that the ceremony is not to ego-fit any of them but it is to spur them into doing more for the students community.

News

Edo Police Break Silence On Operatives Fighting Dirty In Viral Video

Published

10 mins ago

May 18, 2024

Editor

By Joseph Ebi Kanjo

The Edo State Police Command says a trending video showing two operatives of the command engaging in a fight is a handiwork of mischief makers.

In the video which has gone viral on the internet, two policemen are seen fighting themselves, while a voice commentary in the background claims they are from the Igueben Decisional Police Station headquarters in the state.

A writeup also attached to a version of the video sighted by Info Daily also claims that the policemen were fighting because of sharing formula of money collected from motorists on the highway. The writeup also claims that the incident happened yesterday, May 17th, 2024.

But reacting to the viral video in a statement issued by SP Chidi Nwabuzor, Police Public Relations Officer, the command said contrary to the claim, the incident happened in 2020, adding that disciplinary measures were taken against the erring policemen.

The statement which issued electronically to newsmen in Benin on Saturday evening partly reads: “Edo State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that it’s aware of a video trending on the internet showing two policemen that engaged themselves in a fight in public spaces and wishes to state as follows that;

“The now trending video happened in April 2020 in a community called Ebelle in the Igueben local government area of Edo State.

“The two erring policemen, namely; (i) F/NO.491112 CPL Ozimeade Aidonojie and (ii) F/NO. 516384 PC Salubi Stephen were attached to Ebelle Police Divisional Headquarters.

“They defaulted, tried in an orderly and upon conviction dismissed from the Force for the offence of discreditable conduct contrary to Paragraph ‘E’ Sub Section 111 of the Police Act and Regulations 370 Cap. P19 of Federation of Nigeria 2004.”

Nwabuzor in the statement reiterated the state Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye, commitment to “making Edo State a desired secured state where the law abiding citizens and the general public go about their lawful businesses in making Edo State economic hubs of Nigeria without fear or intimidation.”

News

Excitement, Dance As ‘Looted Ancestral Stools’ Return To Oba Of Benin

Published

1 hour ago

May 18, 2024

Editor

It was a moment of joy, excitement and dance at the palace of the Oba of Benin as the revered monarch, Oba Ewuare II took custody of two looted royal stools from the German government.

They were handed over to the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, NCMM on behalf of the Nigerian government by the German authorities in 2022.

The Director-General of
National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Mr Olugbile Holloway made the presentation on behalf of the Federal Government on Saturday May18, 2024 in Oba of Benin Palace, Benin City.

According to history, the artefacts — Bronze and wooden Royal stools (Ekete), made during the reign of Oba Eresoyen and Oba Esigie several Centuries ago, were looted from Oba Palace during the punitive expedition in 1897.

Addressing the Benin Throne during the presentation of the artefacts, Mr Holloway, pledged on behalf of NCMM, to work-hand-in hand with the Benin Royal Court in uplifting and displaying Edo heritage.

He revealed that as the Benin Bronzes and other art works are gradually making their way home (Nigeria), “NCMM will join hands with the Royal Court to create a befitting destination for people around the world to come and appreciate these works”.

“What you see before us were originally taken away from the Royal family in 1897.

“We have a stool made of Bronze and a wooden stool.

“I speak for every member of my team, to say that we remain loyal to the Royal Court. And if there is anything we can do, we will do to support this laudable initiative.

“This heritage is not just Benin heritage, but Nigeria’s heritage.
When we speak of Benin heritage, there is nobody that doesn’t know the great works of ours.

“I appreciate you, we will always do what we can do with our powers to make His Royal Majesty lineage in memory”, he said.

After unveiling the repatriated Artefacts, Oba of Benin, who danced joyfully to Benin traditional rendition in dramatic dance steps, with excited Chiefs and members of the Royal family, offered prayers to Almighty God and his ancestors.

The traditional ruler, who was visibly overwhelmed with joy, appreciated the German government and the Federal Government and the NCMM leadership for their efforts.

The royal father, thereafter, in a historic move, sat in one of the royal stools (Ekete), and personally presented a chunk of white, which, according to belief, symbolizes peace and blessings to the Director-General of National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Mr Olugbile Holloway.

Oba Ewuare II also prayed for Mr Holloway and his team, accompanied by the Curator, National Museum, Benin, Mr Mark Olaitan, Director, Legal Services, NCMM, Barrister Babatunde Adebiyi on the visit where Royal Drummers gave a good account of their stewardship.

News

50-year-old Man Dies While Watching Football Match In Lagos Bar

Published

3 hours ago

May 18, 2024

Editor

A yet-to-be-identified man has died allegedly watching football in an open bar along Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway in Lagos.

It was discovered that the deceased, a man in his fifties, was a frequent patron of the open bar prior to the incident and had visited on May 15, 2024, to watch a football game.

But problems arose when it was later found that he was sleeping and that attempts to wake him up were unsuccessful.

The Lagos State Police Spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident by saying that on May 15, 2024, at approximately 7:00 PM, the owner of the open bar came to Elere Division to report that the same day, one of his male customers—whose name and address are unknown—died while watching a football game.

In an additional explanation, Hundeyin stated that when detectives from the division visited the scene, they saw the deceased lying lifeless on the chair without any signs of violence.

“His body has been taken to the mainland general hospital in Rusty Yaa for an autopsy,” he continued, “We are still trying to find his family.”