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Edo APC Leaders Deny Oshiomhole’s Involvement In Mock Primary, Challenge Obaseki To Prove Allegation

Published

5 years ago

May 7, 2020

Demand Gov To Account For N350bn

Some leaders of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Edo State have denied allegation by governor of the state Mr. Godwin Obaseki that former governor of the state, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, was involved in a purported mock primary that recently held in the state.

A statement signed by the leaders, which was made available to INFO DAILY, also refuted the governor’s claim that, against his government’s directive, over 50 persons attendanded the meeting now misconstrued as mock primary.

Edo State government had accused the national chairman of organising a “mock primary” of the party in the state on April 30, purportedly to pick a candidate for the gubernatorial election in the state.

The statement jointly signed by Engr Chris Ogiemwonyi, Dr Pius Odubu, Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (Rtd), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, among others, the governor was challenged the governor to prove his allegation of a crowded “meeting of more than 50 persons.”

The statement reads in part, “We hereby vehemently deny any involvement of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole in our activities. We also state emphatically that there was no crowded meeting of 20 persons or more by this body of APC Leaders anywhere in Edo State in recent time. We hereby challenge Mr. Godwin Obaseki to prove his allegation of a crowded, “meeting of more than 50 persons” by releasing a video of such event.

“A look at the list of those who issued this statement on behalf of our teeming members will expose the rudeness in describing us as puppets of Oshiomhole by Mr Obaseki in the statement under reference.”

According to the leaders in the statement, the twisted narrative by Mr Obaseki was meant to drag the National Chairman of the party’s name into their activities in order to blackmail him, adding that the blackmail attempt is already ongoing.

While confronting the governor with evidence of bad governance, the leaders noted that no form of intimidation by Obaseki’s “hackneyed bashing” would deter them in the state.

“The twisted narrative by Mr Obaseki, is meant to drag the National Chairman, Comrade Oshiomhole’s name into our activities in order to blackmail him. This is an ongoing, but over used strategy for his ill-fated campaign for second tenure. We state unequivocally that we are not intimidated by Mr. Obaseki’s hackneyed bashing of and disrespect for the former Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, whose excellent performance in government remains the selling points for our party till date.

“Contrary to the resort to personalise attacks by Godwin Obaseki on the National Chairman, who is not contesting any election, we are confronting Mr Obaseki with the evidence of bad governance, mindless embezzlement of state funds, destruction of democratic culture, wicked demonization of those on whose backs he rose to power, and systematic destruction of APC, the platform that brought him to power,” they added.

Speaking on the huge spending by governor of over N300bn, the leaders said there are practically no projects to justify the expenditure of the huge receipts, lamenting that “it has all promises, celebrated signing of MoUs, deceptive adverts inviting tenders, etc”

They continued, “As at April 2020, Edo State Government under Godwin Obaseki has netted about N350bn (Three hundred and fifty billion Naira). The bulk is made up of Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) disbursements and Internally Generated Revenue, all amounting to about N300bn, Bail Out fund N17.5bn and Paris Club Excess deductions Refund, enhanced by exchange rate differentials, making up the balance.

“Against this huge funds, never seen before in Edo State, there are practically no projects to justify the expenditure of the huge receipts. All promises, celebrated signing of MOUs, deceptive adverts inviting tenders, and even inviting the Vice President on state visit to flag off construction of INDUSTRIAL PARK, came to nothing. There is not a single project worthy of commissioning as Mr Obaseki moves towards the end of his tenure.”

Reacting to the governor’s claim that he had spent N1bn on the fight against COVID-19, they, and the entire state was shock when the governor announced he has spent such huge amount, stressing that none of the claimed projects by the governor on COVID-19 has been executed in the state.

“Even in the current fight against Covid-19, he does not care about the sufferings of the people, but he is busy converting the opportunity for embezzlement, embarking on political campaign in the 192 wards under the guise of personal sensitization campaign against coronavirus. The state was shocked when he announced they had already spent over One billion Naira on the pandemic within two weeks. Till today there is no lockdown in Edo state in order to avoid spending on palliatives. Yet he moved markets to school premises in the entire state with a promise to fumigate the markets statewide.

“No fumigation has been carried out and the school premises are fast becoming Refuse dumps. Huge crowds are crammed into whatever space in the schools without social distancing. He ordered people to wear face-masks but his government did not provide any for the poor masses. The number of infected people is growing exponentially, he doesn’t care”, they lamented.

While ago alleging that thugs are deployed at will and agencies of government are sent as hounds to make life miserable for persons, the said anyone who disagrees with Obaseki in the state is being endangered.

“Anyone who disagrees with Obaseki in Edo State is endangered. Thugs are deployed at will and agencies of government are sent as hounds to make life miserable for such persons. Bombs have been thrown into people’s homes resulting in massive destructions, but curiously no arrests were made”, they said.

Efforts to speak to Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Mr. Cruseo Osagie proved abortive as calls put across to him were not through, and SMS sent to him was not replied.

News

Anambra Directs Residents To Repaint Houses

Published

1 hour ago

June 20, 2025

Editor

The Anambra State Government has directed residents and occupants of dilapidated buildings defacing the environment in public view areas across the state to repaint their structures, adding that regulators will be embarking on field operations to enforce compliance beginning from July 1.

In a press statement released on Thursday, the state Commissioner for Environment, Dr Felix Odimegwu, said repainting of buildings with particular emphasis in Onitsha, Awka, Nkpor, Nnewi and Ekwuluobia areas, respectively, will commence with immediate effect with the aim of achieving a clean, beautiful and eco-friendly environment.

Odimegwu said concerned residents and corporate organisations in the areas mentioned are required to repaint their houses/buildings, especially those that have not been repainted in the last 10 years or buildings whose current paint is defacing the environment.

He said the exercise is aimed at strengthening the existing building structures, improving the aesthetic ambience, and the green space of the state as enshrined in the Anambra State Environmental Management, Protection and Administration Law 2024, Part 4 sec 79 (1-7).

The statement partly read, “Notice is hereby given to all residents and occupants of buildings which are in public view areas of the state with particular emphasis on Onitsha, Awka, Nkpor, Nnewil and Ekwuluobia respectively, that general house hold inspection on dilapidated and unpainted structures defacing the environment shall commence with immediate effect.

“This exercise is aimed at strengthening the existing building structures, improving the aesthetic ambience, and the green space of the state as enshrined in the Anambra State Environmental Management, Protection and Administration Law 2024, Part 4 sec 79 (1-7).

“Hence, residents are enjoined to fully maintain, repaint (if necessary) their residential and commercial premises which are in public view (anyaora) areas.”

He added that the Anambra State Environmental Management Protection and Administration Law 2024 provides the legal framework for beautification and aesthetic face-lifting of the state.

“Regulators will be embarking on field operations starting from July 1, 2025, for this particular purpose. Therefore, concerned individuals and corporate organisations within the purview as stated above are required to repaint their houses/buildings, especially those that have not been repainted in the last 10 years or buildings whose current paint is defacing the environment.

“A clean, beautiful and eco-friendly Anambra is possible if we join hands together to improve her aesthetic ambience,” the statement added.

News

Umahi Terminates Benin–Warri Road Contract, Seeks Refund

Published

1 hour ago

June 20, 2025

Editor

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has terminated the contract awarded to Levant Construction Limited over its failure to deliver on the Benin–Sapele–Warri road project.

The road, a major federal highway, is being reconstructed under the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme.

Speaking in Abuja after a meeting with contractors handling various sections of the project, Umahi accused Levant of abandoning its section of the road despite multiple warnings and a final termination notice.

According to a statement signed by his media aide, Orji Uchenna, on Wednesday, the minister disclosed that despite intervention by the Edo State Government on the worst sections of the road, Levant failed to mobilise to its portion of the site, leaving critical areas unattended.

“We even begged the Edo State Governor to fix the worst-hit parts while Levant handled the remaining. While the governor delivered on his 23km stretch for N35bn, Levant abandoned its section.

“They received multiple warning letters, including a final notice, but chose not to return to the site,” Umahi said.

Umahi directed the Permanent Secretary to finalise the contract termination, initiate a joint measurement for completed works, and write to the company’s bank for the recovery of the Advance Payment Guarantee.

He warned that failure to refund the public funds could lead to prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

In contrast to Levant’s performance, the minister praised Geld and SKECC for agreeing to return to the site following renegotiations.

He noted that a project review has been approved to accommodate inflationary pressures, including the rising cost of asphalt, now pegged at ₦30,000 per square metre from a previous ₦9,000.

“I’m pleased with Geld’s commitment. For their other job on the Lokoja-Abuja road, we’ve agreed to a price review. The same applies to the Itoki–Ikorodu road. We are happy to see movement again,” he said.

He also lauded the efforts of Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, and Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, for stepping in to fund critical sections of the federal road.

“We are grateful. These governors are doing very beautiful work,” he said.

Reacting to recent claims by some Northern groups accusing the Tinubu administration of favouring the South in road projects, Umahi described the allegations as “malicious and uncharitable”.

He stressed that project distribution under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda has been fair, inclusive, and based on inherited commitments and current needs.

“In this ministry, we don’t count regions. We follow the President’s example—he inherited projects and chose to continue them irrespective of location,” Umahi said, citing the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano road project as a case in point.

He noted that under the NNPC Tax Credit Scheme alone, Niger State accounts for 26 per cent of the project portfolio, while the South-West and South-East combined barely get 9 per cent.

In his detailed response, Umahi listed several ongoing projects in the North, including the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano road (Sections I & III) worth N252bn, with 30 per cent already paid.

He said, “Section II of the same highway, 164km long, valued at N525bn, with another 30 per cent (N152bn) already disbursed. Sokoto–Zamfara–Katsina–Kaduna 750km road at N825bn, started under President Tinubu.

“There are Dangote-backed Tax Credit projects in Borno, including 49km in Bama and 52km in Dikwa. The N958bn dual carriageway project in Kebbi, with a second phase heading to FEC for approval. The 439km Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe superhighway is being redesigned to a six-lane concrete pavement on Tinubu’s directive.”

He added that under the Renewed Hope legacy projects, the North is receiving 52 per cent of the investments, while the South gets 48 per cent.

On the controversial Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, Umahi said the project is not designed to favour any region, explaining that comparable investments are being made in the North with the same quality and cost standards.

“For instance, the Kebbi section alone, with just one carriageway, is costing about N958bn. When the second lane is approved, that’s nearly N2tn—comparable to Lagos-Calabar segments,” he said.

Addressing criticisms on the slow pace of work on the Eleme–Onnexis of the East–West Road, Umahi said the contractor, RCC, has since improved performance after initial issues. He clarified that asphalt work being done on a completed lane was to maintain traffic flow around flyover sections.

“Let the critics go and verify. We’ve done one carriageway. Where asphalt is being reapplied, it’s around flyover intersections for smooth movement,” he said.

The minister reaffirmed his commitment to restoring public confidence in Nigeria’s road infrastructure, saying, “We want Nigerians to feel the impact of governance.

“President Tinubu is investing heavily in roads—North, South, East and West—because he understands the economy runs on infrastructure. I have never seen such a unique President.”
(PUNCH)

News

542 Senior Military Officers Retire

Published

1 hour ago

June 20, 2025

Editor

A total of 542 senior Non-Commissioned Officers retired from the Nigerian Armed Forces on Thursday after 35 years of service.

The retirement ceremony, held at the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre in Oshodi, Lagos, included 362 soldiers from the Nigerian Army, 134 from the Navy, and 46 from the Air Force.

Speaking at the event, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, represented by Major General Aligbe Obhiozele of TRADOC, praised the retirees for their dedication.

Obhiozele stated, “Today we celebrate your courage, discipline and selfless service to our great nation. Your 35-year journey embodies the finest military traditions of resilience and patriotism.

“As you transition to civilian life, we urge you to uphold these values and become pillars in your communities.”

He also urged the retirees to avoid financial mismanagement and neglect of their health, warning that society expects them to continue to uphold the discipline they displayed during service.

NAFRC Commandant, Air Vice Marshal Bashir Mamman, said the centre had trained over 53,000 personnel since its establishment.

Mamman thanked President Bola Tinubu for approving major improvements such as bigger starter packs for retirees, digitisation of records, e-learning upgrades, and new workshop equipment.

“These interventions have significantly enhanced our capacity to prepare servicemen for civilian life,” Mamman noted.

Retirees, who were trained in various vocational skills, received discharge certificates to the cheers of their families. Some described the moment as emotional, but hopeful.

Sergeant Musa Bello said, “The training has prepared me well for civil life. I was trained in farming. I hope to invest my gratuity in it. I am proud of my service years.”

The event ended with the traditional lowering of flags, marking their formal exit from military service.