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Edo 2024: Obaseki’s Ex-Aide, Ex-gov’s Daughter, Ogbemudia, Join Forces With Imansuangbon To Rescue Edo

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…Obaseki Challenged To Account For Over N1trillion

…Ogbemudia Decries Decay In Edo Public Schools

The political fortune of the Edo State chapter of Labour Party, LP, Thursday, swelled as former commissioner for Youths and Special Duties, Andrew Enwanta alongside daughter of former governor of defunct Bendel State, Amen Ogbemudia formally declared for the party.

The duo formally defected to the party when they accompanied Barrister Ken Imansuangbon to pay a visit to the state executive committee of the party in Benin, the Edo State capital.

Imansuangbon had penultimate week joined the party, and consequently registered his membership with the party at his ward 2 Esan South East Local Government Area of the State on Tuesday.

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The trio of Ken Imansuangbon, popularly known as the ‘riceman’, Ewanta, Ogbemudia and other defectors were received at the party’s secretariat located at Ogbelaka Street by the state chairman of the party ,Kelly Ogbaloi and his exco.

READ ALSO’ How Imansuangbon’s Defection Boost Labour’s Party Fortune

Imansuangbon, who addressed party faithfuls at the secretariat, recalled his sojourn in party politics.

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He declared that his defection from the PDP had put an end to “painful years of deceit in the hands of political godfathers whom he lamented never meant well for the state.”

He declared, “My eyes are now opened and I have decided to take my case to God almighty and to Edo people. I don’t want to put my case in the hands of the godfathers anymore.

“I’m tired of the oppression of the godfathers; tired of the pain and deception; I want to now take my faith and destiny into God’s hand and the good people of Edo state. With God and Edo people my 2024 is sure.”

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READ ALSO: [BREAKING] Edo 2024: ‘Riceman’ Imansuangbon, Dumps PDP

Also speaking, Enwanta, who resigned his membership of the PDP last week, challenged Governor Godwin Obaseki to give account of trillions of naira accruable to the state since 2016, noteing that the time for propagandas and MoU’s are over.

 

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Lampooning Obaseki for imposition and destruction the PDP in the state, the former commissioner accused him (Obaseki) of occupying the position of godfatherism in the state.

“In 2020, when the governor came into the PDP we had people like the Dan Orbihs and the others, but because of lack of relationship skills, these people have been ostracized from the party; little wonder the party performed abysmally.

“At the first ballot in February this year, the 9 federal constituencies PDP won zero, senatorial election, PDP won zero. It has never happened in the history of PDP in Edo state that a party in government will perform abysmally. for me that was a referendum in government.

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READ ALSO: Imansuangbon: Re-encting The Ali’s Education Policy

“Over N3billion have been spent on Observer and Edo Broadcasting Service, EBS, all kinds of consultants have performed surgeries on Nigerian Observer Newspapers and EBS and nothing to show. The government that since it came on board, it has received over one trillion and nothing to account for; it is the height of fraud”

On her part, Ogbemudia, a one time Executive Director under former governor Adams Oshiomhole, decried the state of decay and rots in public schools in the state.

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She promised that Labour Party’s administration will right the many wrongs in the state.

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N’Assembly committee Approves New State For S’East

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The Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Constitution Review has approved the creation of an additional state in the South-East geo-political zone.

According to a statement by the media unit of the committee, the resolution was reached on Saturday at a two-day retreat in Lagos, where it reviewed 55 proposals for state creation across the country.

The session, chaired by the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, and co-chaired by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, resolved that, in the spirit of fairness and equity, the Federal Government should create another state for the region.

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READ ALSO:Nigerian Troops Rescue 17 Kidnap Victims, Including Four Chinese Nationals

Kalu, who joined other lawmakers to champion additional state creation for the region, argued that a new state would give the people a sense of belonging.

When created, the South-East will be at par with the South-South, South-West, North-Central, and North-East zones, each having six states.

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The South-East is the only geo-political zone with five states comprising Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo.

READ ALSO:American Pilot Kidnapped In Niger Republic – Report

The North-West comprises seven states: Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Jigawa.

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According to the statement, Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) moved a motion for the creation of the new state, which was seconded by Ibrahim Isiaka (Ifo/Ewekoro, Ogun State) at the retreat.

“The motion received the unanimous support of committee members and was adopted,” the statement read in part

READ ALSO:Reps Move To Regulate Cryptocurrency, POS Operations

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Similarly, the committee also established a sub-committee to consider the creation of additional states and local government areas across all six geo-political zones, noting that a total of 278 proposals were submitted for review.

Speaking at the event, Jibrin urged members to rally support among their colleagues at the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly to ensure the resolutions sail through during voting.

We need to strengthen what we have started so that all parts of the country will key into this process.

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“By the time we get to the actual voting, we should already have the buy-in of all stakeholders—from both chambers and the state Houses of Assembly,” the Deputy Senate President was quoted as saying.

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PDP Unveils 13-member Screening Panel For National Convention

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According to a statement issued on October 25, 2025, by the National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC) and signed by its Chairman, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, who is also the Governor of Adamawa State, the screening exercise will take place on Tuesday, October 28, 2025.

The committee will be chaired by Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), a former Ondo State governorship candidate and respected legal luminary.

He will be assisted by Hon. Mohammed L.S. Diri (SAN) as Deputy Chairman, while Mr. Asue Ighodalo, Esq., will serve as Secretary. Jacob Otorkpa was named Deputy Secretary.

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READ ALSO:Jonathan’s Ex-aide Dumps PDP For APC

Other members of the committee include: Emmanuel Enoidem (SAN), Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Chief Mrs. Aduke Maina, Iyom Josephine Anenih, Achike Udenwa, Haj. Maryam Inna Ciroma, HM. Felix Hassan Hyat, HM. Zainab Maina, and Chinedu Nwachukwu, who will also serve as Administrative Secretary.

The statement noted that the selection reflected the PDP’s commitment to transparency, integrity, and internal democracy in the build-up to its national convention.

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The NCOC notes and expects that the exemplary conduct and strict adherence to rules and regulations during this very crucial assignment will justify the confidence reposed by the Party in members of the Committee,” the statement read.

READ ALSO:BREAKING: PDP Dismisses Anyanwu’s Forgery Claim, Says He Signed Convention Letters

Fintiri assured party members that the screening process will be conducted with the highest standards of fairness and impartiality, underscoring the PDP’s resolve to strengthen its democratic institutions ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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“This exercise is crucial in ensuring that only credible, competent, and loyal members emerge to steer the affairs of our great party,” Fintiri stated.

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Why I Refused To Endorse El-Rufai As My Successor — Obasanjo

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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed how he turned down a suggestion to endorse former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, as his successor.

Speaking on Friday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, during the second edition of the annual Ajibosin Platform symposium themed “Importance of Leadership in Governance”, Obasanjo disclosed that former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, had recommended El-Rufai for the presidency, but he rejected the idea.

Chidoka, who delivered the keynote address at the event, had earlier narrated how El-Rufai introduced him to Obasanjo at the age of 34, an encounter that led to his appointment as the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

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Addressing the audience, Obasanjo took a playful jab at Chidoka for leaving out the El-Rufai story.

“Let him tell you. He didn’t mention that. He was pushing when I was leaving government that his friend, El-Rufai, should be brought in as my successor,” Obasanjo said.

READ ALSO:Four Miners Feared Dead, Others Trapped As Illegal Mining Site Collapses In Plateau

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Turning to Chidoka, who was seated among the panelists, he asked, “No be so (Is that not true)?” The former minister nodded in agreement.

Obasanjo explained that he dismissed the suggestion because he believed El-Rufai still needed time to grow politically.

“I did not yield to the pressure. Later, he said, ‘I suggested this person, why didn’t you agree?’ I said El-Rufai needs to mature. You remember?

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“When I left government and, many years later, he saw the performances of El-Rufai, he came back to me and said, ‘You’re absolutely correct. El-Rufai needed to mature.’”

The former president, however, commended Chidoka, El-Rufai, and other former aides for their “special attributes,” which he said contributed to the success of his administration.

READ ALSO:Nigeria Not Difficult To Govern If… – Obasanjo

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Speaking further on leadership, Obasanjo emphasised character, exposure, experience, and training as essential qualities of effective governance.

Obasanjo said, “It’s only in politics that I found out there is no training for leadership. Even among armed robbers, I was told there is apprenticeship.

“But it’s only in politics that there is no training in leadership. That’s not good enough.”

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El-Rufai served under Obasanjo’s administration as the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) before becoming the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) between 2003 and 2007. When Obasanjo was leaving office in 2007, he instead backed the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua as his preferred successor.

In his address, Chidoka blamed Nigeria’s development setbacks on excuses and what he described as the politics of alibi.

READ ALSO:Provide Evidence Of My Third Term Ambition’, Obasanjo Challenges Nigerians

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“Leadership finds its true measure not in speeches or charisma but in the systems it leaves behind.

“Moral conviction must translate into the everyday machinery of governance—rules, routines, and institutions that make competence predictable and corruption difficult.

“Nigeria’s problem has never been a shortage of ideas; it is the absence of systems strong enough to outlive their authors,” he said.

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He urged leaders to prioritise accountability and measurable results.

“We must therefore make leadership accountable not to rhetoric but to results: measure by building national dashboards and accountability systems that track every promise, every budget, every outcome. Monitor by strengthening the institutions that evaluate government performance and expose complacency,” he said.

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