Politics

Edo 2024: Why ‘I’m Running On LP’ – Ex-Rep Member Joins Guber Race

Published

2 years ago

December 13, 2023

By Joseph Ebi Kanjo

As the 2024 Edo State governoship election gather momentum, a former member, House of Representatives, Sergius Ogun, has joined the race on the platform of the Labour Party.

Ogun said he decided to join the race through the LP because he believes in the common man, adding that this is exactly what LP stands for too.

Ogun, who represented Esan North East/South East in the 8th & 9th National Assembly, made his intention to run for the governorship known on Tuesday at the state secretariat of the LP in Benin.

The former Lawmaker who disclosed that he has been working behind the scene in the party for long, said he so much believes in the party because through it (LP) Edo people “will be liberated.”

“Most of you might be aware that I have been a member of this party for so long. We worked behind the scene and later attack the issues of the campaign of February 2023 openly.

“I am pro-people; I believe in the people, and Labour Party stands for the ordinary people; the ordinary Nigerians, the commoners, the downtrodden of this country. So, we must use the Labour Party platform to liberate the common man in the street. Labour government in Osadebey Avenue will liberate the common man in this state. We are here to work on the ordinary people, and we are going to do that through the local government councils,” he added.

Ogun said under his government, the 18 local government councils in the state will be given autonomy, adding “whatever money due to the local government councils, they will get. Where the state government needs to collaborate with the local government councils, we will do that. When we have functioning local government councils in this state, life will become bearable in this state. Local government councils must be allowed to function because they are more closer to the people, and they know what the people in the rural areas are passing through.”

While promising standard health care for all when he becomes governor, Ogun said no government official under his watch will use public fund to travel to abroad for medical checkup.

He said: “We will not allow government officials to use public funds for medical trip abroad. Will make sure all our health facilities are put in good shape. We will make sure we have good health care system. Our primary healthcare centres in rural areas will be fixed to make sure they function well. We will make sure they have basic equipment.”

He continued: “We will make sure our schools are in good shape. We will, by the grace of God, remunerate our teachers well for a good service delivery.”

On food security, the governorship aspirant said: “We will make sure farmers go to their farms without fear so that they can bring farm produce to the urban areas. This will help to bring down the cost of living. I am aware that farmers are losing their produce due to bad roads and the cost of transportation. They spend so much to clear the farms, and they still spend a lot in transporting their produce. I will ensure access roads to farms in our state. I did it as a Lawmaker, so being an executive governor, it is more easier.”

Politics

Obasanjo, Atiku, Obi Meet In Abuja

Published

17 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Editor

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi met in Abuja on Saturday.

The trio were among prominent political figures who attended the Tambuwal Colloquium, titled “Leadership, Service and Statesmanship at 60,” held at the New Event Hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, in honour of the 60th birthday of former Sokoto State Governor and Senator, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.

Atiku confirmed his presence at the event in a post on his X handle, stating that he had arrived at the venue for the colloquium organised to mark Tambuwal’s milestone birthday.

The former vice president also shared images of himself, Obasanjo and Obi at the event.

The event attracted political leaders, statesmen and stakeholders from across the country.

Politics

PANDEF Wades Into Rivers Crisis, Sets Up Seven-member Mediation Team

Published

22 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Editor

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has intervened in the political crisis in Rivers State, calling on all actors to sheathe their swords and embrace peace in the interest of the development of the state and the region in general.

Expressing concern that the political disagreement involving the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the State House of Assembly might degenerate to total lawlessness, the Board and National Executive Committee of PANDEF set up a seven-member reconciliation team to resolve the issues.

The team, which is headed by a former Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Kanu Agabi, has six other members.

They are Senator Obende Domingo (Vice Chairman); Chief Essien Nduese; Dr Timiebi Koripamo-Agari; Chief Mike Ejiofor; Mrs Nella Rabana-Andem, SAN; and Prince Godwin Okotie, the Deputy National Secretary of PANDEF, who will serve as the secretary of the team.

Politics

Wike: Why Removing Fubara Will Be Difficult – Ex-Commissioner

Published

2 days ago

January 9, 2026

Editor

A former Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Austin Tam-George, has said that attempts to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara would be difficult to sustain, citing what he described as the governor’s performance record and the lack of concrete allegations against him.

Tam-George made the remarks on Thursday while speaking on Prime Time on Arise Television, arguing that the impeachment process being initiated against Fubara was to scuttle his chance for a second term.

According to him, Governor Fubara has continued to place the needs of the people at the centre of his administration, with visible interventions in rural development, housing, education and healthcare.

He said this, in his view, has made it difficult for opponents to justify moves to remove the governor from office.

Tam-George also called on the All Progressives Congress, APC, to intervene, arguing that the party should not allow what he described as the humiliation of a sitting governor.

He said: “Well, all I think he needs to do is to do exactly what he’s been doing from the beginning, which is to place the people at the center of gravity of his administration, prioritize the needs of the people, so that the people can see the direct impact of government action in their lives.

“And that’s exactly what he’s doing in terms of rural development, in terms of housing sector transformation, which I mentioned that he is doing the same in education sector and in health.

“So if he continues, if he persists in placing the people’s need at the center of focus of his administration, there is no way they are going to be able to justify this kind of shenanigans.

“Because, if you look very carefully at the so called articles of impeachment, you will see that there is no specificity in terms of any infraction by the governor or his deputy.

“What they are trying to do is to make sure they scuttle the administration so that the governor doesn’t then get to the point where he will be seeking a second term.

“Let me be clear, just two days ago, Nyesom Wike was at one of the local governments, and he made it clear in a moment of epiphany, he made it clear that, look, if Governor Fubara were to get a second term in office, it will amount to his own political burial.

“So all of these things that we are seeing the so called impeachment proceedings they’ve initiated, it’s actually an effort to try to scuttle the prospects of the governor coming for a second term, and I don’t see how they will succeed.

“If you look at the so called articles of impeachment, as I said, they lack specificity in terms of the kind of infraction that they allege that the governor has committed. He has done nothing wrong, and they will see how the process will play out.

“My sense, and in fact, if I were to advise the governor, my sense is that he should just maintain the people, retain the people at the center of gravity of his administration, meet their needs, run a transparent administration as he always done, and then the truth will come out, and he will be able to defend the administration.

“I think the the governing APC should also step in because they can’t possibly allow the governor of the office with probably one of the best performance records in the country to be humiliated by some of these members of the assembly.”