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Edo APC Crises: Oshiomhole Supporting EPM Is Disobedience To Benin Monarch – Publicity Scribe

Published

6 years ago

January 6, 2020

The crises rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State remains unabated as Factional Publicity Secretary of the party in the state, Joseph Osagiede, says the national chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, working with Edo Peoples Movement (EPM) is against the wish of Oba of Benin.

Edo Peoples Movement (EPM) is a group alleged to have been given birth to by the faction loyal to the national chairman and whose members are alleged to be working against the state governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki.

Osagiede said, “I believe that the national chairman will also learn some lessons from what is going on because, for His royal majesty, the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II to have led Benin Traditional Council to meet with the president on this matter.

“Once the Oba expressed a wish about anything, it becomes a command to we that are Edo people. So, the Oba’s wish is to command that there should be peace in this political imbroglio and for Adams Oshiomhole to still be harbouring these descendents who led the captain and they are forming EPM (sic) and he is supporting them, he is working against the wish of the Oba.”

Accroding to him, the APC remains a formidable party in the state that has no faction, stressing that the party has one chairman, one Secretary and leader who happens to be Obaseki.

“We have only one chairman in APC, Anselm Ojezua and one publicity secretary, Joseph Osagiede, and governor Godwin Obaseki as the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo state”, he added.

While disclosing reason the Obaseki faction rejected the reconcilation committee set up by the National Working Committee (NWC), Osagiede noted that the governor’s faction was ready for reconcilation but with neutral body.

He therefore recommended neutral body from the Presidency or Benin Traditional Council as reconcilation committee in order for the crises to come to an end.

“We have always said that we are willing and ready for reconciliation but you see, you can not be constituting a reconciliation body when you are an interested party in the issue. We expect that a neural body for instance, the presidency or Benin Traditional Council can setup a committee for reconciliation. It is not for us to say we want to reconcile when we are the aggrieved party and that is why we rejected the committee setup by Adams Oshiomhole because most of the members have interest in the issue.

“For instance, it was the deputy speaker of the house that presided over the decision that they should come and take over Edo House of Assembly. Now, he is a member of that committee to reconcile aggrieved members and the national chairman, how can we have confidence in him?”, he questioned.

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Tinubu Orders Defence Minister To Relocate To Kebbi State Over Abduction Of 25 School Girls

Published

1 hour ago

November 20, 2025

Editor

President Bola Tinubu has asked the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to relocate to Kebbi State over the abduction of 25 schoolgirls in the state.

This was contained in a statement signed by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Thursday.

Matawalle, who was formerly governor of Zamfara State, was asked to remain in the state to monitor security efforts to secure the release of the abducted students.

Gunmen abducted 24 students of Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga town, Kebbi State, around 4am on Monday.

Matawalle, who is expected to arrive in Birni-Kebbi on Friday, gained some experience in dealing with banditry and mass kidnapping during his tenure as governor of Zamfara State from 2019 to 2023.

On 26 February 2021, armed bandits abducted 279 female students aged between 10 and 17 at the Government Girls Science Secondary School, a boarding school in Jangebe, in Zamfara State. The bandits released all the hostages on 2 March 2021.

President Tinubu had postponed his scheduled trip to Johannesburg, South Africa, and Luanda, Angola, as he awaited further security briefings on the kidnapped Kebbi schoolgirls and the attack on Christ Apostolic Church worshippers in Eruku, Kwara State.

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Nigeria Now Deadliest Place On Earth To Be Christian – Nigerian Bishop Laments

Published

2 hours ago

November 20, 2025

Editor

Catholic Bishop of Makurdi Diocese, Benue State, Most Rev. Wilfred Anagbe, says Nigeria has become the deadliest place on earth to be a Christian.

Bishop Anagbe made this statement on Thursday while testifying before the US House of Representatives Subcommittee on Africa, which is investigating Trump’s redesignation of Nigeria as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’, CPC

Speaking before the US Congress, the Bishop said that the controversy escalated after President Trump designated Nigeria on the CPC list on 31 October 2025.

He alleged systematic persecution of Christians in the country, saying “Attacks by Fulani militants and Boko Haram have intensified, targeting Christian communities with impunity.

“More believers are killed there annually than in the rest of the world combined, yet perpetrators face little accountability.

“Violence is spreading, displacing millions and destroying farmland, creating a humanitarian crisis worsened by food insecurity. Without urgent intervention, Christianity risks being wiped out in Northern and Middle Belt Nigeria.

“Nigeria, already designated a Country of Particular Concern, must now be met with decisive action,” he said.

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Christian Genocide: Back Nigeria CPC Redesignation With Action, Nigerian Bishop Begs Trump

Published

2 hours ago

November 20, 2025

Editor

The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi, in Benue State, Wilfred Anagbe, has appealed to President Donald Trump of the United States to match its renewed designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, CPC, with concrete action.

Bishop Anagbe made this call on Thursday, while testifying before the US House of Representatives Subcommittee on Africa, which is investigating Trump’s redesignation of Nigeria as a CPC

He said, “On behalf of millions of Christians in Nigeria and in the diaspora, we want to thank President Donald Trump for his bold leadership in designating Nigeria as a CPC. I commend you and this subcommittee for ongoing efforts on this matter.

“It is a vital step, but must be backed by serious action. One, use the Magnitsky Act for targeted sanctions against Nigerian government officials and others tolerating or condoning Islamic violence in the country.”

The cleric also called on lawmakers to tie security and humanitarian aid to measurable improvements.

“Expand humanitarian support for IDPs. The IDPs must return to their ancestral homes, and this requires security guarantees from the Nigerian Government,” he said.

Bishop Anagbe told lawmakers that many Christian victims in Benue remain traumatised, adding that one priest he knows cannot walk after surviving a terrorist attack.

‘Deborah Samuel’s murderers remain free’ – US defends designation of Nigeria as CPC
He accused the federal government of downplaying casualty figures and abandoning survivors of repeated assaults.”

Anagbe also argued that President Donald Trump’s earlier CPC designation “aimed to stabilise Nigeria” but “worsened the safety of Christians.”