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Edo People Deserve Free, Fair And Credible Election – PDP

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State has once again emphasized that the electorate in the state deserve free, fair, credible and peaceful election, stressing that nobody, either security agencies or INEC should subvert the will of the people.

The party added that, to achieve this, it will follow the September 19 governorship election up from multiple angles, and make sure that people freely express their choices without fear of intimidation.

The party chairman in the state, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, disclosed this in Benin on Sunday while updating newsmen on the party’s campaigns so far, and their preparation for the governship election.

Aziegbemi noted that anyone who deprives any human being from constituting their fundamental human rights is just as bad as enslaving or killing.

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READ ALSO: Edo 2020: APC Alleges Attacks On Her Youths In Esan Central

” Anyone who deprives any human being from constituting their fundamental human rights is just as bad as enslaving or killing them and as such do not deserve anything less from the law,” he said.

The Chairman who disclosed that Edo people have shown their preference for the PDP and its candidate for the governorship election, arising from multiple opinion polls conducted by independent bodies and organizations, called on INEC and security agencies to be neutral in line with their oath of office.

He added that anyone who deviate from such oath and do otherwise should face the wrath of the law.

“Edo people have clearly shown their preference for the PDP and its candidate for the forthcoming September 19th 2020 election.

READ ALSO: Edo Poll: INEC National Commissioner Colluding With APC, Oshiomhole To Subvert Edo Electorate Will, PDP Alleges

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“From multiple opinion polls conducted by independent bodies and organizations, the PDP has the support of 80% of the electorate while all other parties have 20%.

“Flowing from the above, we hereby demand, in the strongest terms possible, that INEC and the security agencies carry out their statutory responsibilities based on the oath of office they swore to, which is to be NEUTRAL.

“However, anyone who deviates from this sacred oath which he or she willingly swore to, knows that we will ensure that the most extreme hand of the is meted out to them,” Aziegbemi noted.

READ ALSO: Just In: Edo Poll: LG Secretary Raises The Alarm Over Assassination Attempt On His Life

While lamenting that with the numerous attacks on his members by the opposition but no arrest has been made, the PDP Chairman called on the Commissioner of Police and other security agencies to step up their efforts before the elections, especially on the day of the election.

He further called on the parents of all the ad-hoc staff that will be engaged in the election, to call their wards to order.

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He said, ” I call on all the other security agencies to step up their efforts before the elections, especially on the day of the election, 19th of September 2020. They should justify the salaries they earn from taxpayers’ money (SIC).

READ ALSO: Edo 2020:Obaseki’s Re-election Bid Receives Boost From Arewa Youths In Edo

“We call on the parents of all the ad-hoc staff that will be engaged in this election, to call their wards to order. Edo people deserve a free, fair, credible, and peaceful election, and nobody, whether in the security agencies or in INEC will be allowed to subvert the will of the people”.

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Why ERA Is Against Multinational Oil Companies’ Divestment – Chima Williams

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By Joseph Ebi Kanjo 

The Executive Director, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), Barrister Chima Williams, has explained why his organisation is leading the campaign against the divestment of multinational oil companies operating in the Niger Delta.

He said his organisation is leading the campaign because of the negative impacts of such divestment on the people (hosting communities) and the environment.

Williams, who spoke during a webinar meeting on International Oil Companies Divestment from the Niger Delta, said it’s unacceptable for multinational oil companies to have destroyed the area (environment) they operated and thereafter walk away without doing something about the destroyed environment.

READ ALSO: ERA, Others Want Coca Cola, Others Held Accountable For Plastic Pollution

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He said: “Oil companies have caused a lot of damage to our communities and environment, so they cannot leave us destroyed after they have carted away billions in dollars from our environment.

“Of course, oil companies are at liberty to dispose their assets as permitted by the law, but as assets that have caused damage to the people and the environment, there are requirements that must be met. The environment must be returned to the status quo. The livelihood of our people must be restored.

“They must settle the divide and rule style they have introduced to our communities. Before their adventure, our people were living peacefully, but they came and divided our communities; you see brothers fighting themselves. All these are their antics to make sure we do not speak in one voice.”

READ ALSO: CSOs Condemn FG’s Suspension Of Green Taxation On Single Use Plastics

He lamented that rather than oil to be a blessing to Nigeria as obtainable in other oil producing countries, it’s rather a curse.

Chima said this was one of the reasons why his organisation embarked on the campaign: ‘Leaving Oil in the Soil’.

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“Our campaign on Leaving Oil in the Soil was as a result of the negative impacts of oil exploration in our environment and climate change. If oil companies are doing the right thing, there wouldn’t be need for such.

“Look at other oil producing countries such as Saudi Arabia, things are done properly. The oil companies are doing what they are expected to do, so they are impacting lives of the people positively. Even our own Libya here in Africa, before the death of Gaddafi, the citizens were enjoying the dividends of oil exploration in the country,” he said.

According to the Executive Director, multinational oil companies are going into divestment in order to move from the onshore to offshore where their activities cannot be monitored.

He added that since 2021 that Nigerians became aware that they (oil companies) can be held responsible for their operations and damage done to the environment through the law, they started looking for a way to move to an area where their activities cannot be monitored.

Williams, while calling on the government to reject all applicable for divestment by oil companies, urged Nigerians to join hands in the campaign against such divestment without doing the needful.

READ ALSO: ERA Chides Shell For Slow Response To Multiple Crude Oil Spills In Bayelsa Community

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He further called on the National Assembly to enact a law that will spell out pathway for any oil company that wants to go into divestment.

We are asking our legislative arm to enact a law that will spell out a step by step approach to any move for divestment,” Williams added.

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Shaibu Impeachment: Panel Fixes Date For Commencement Of Sitting

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The seven-man panel set up by the Chief Judge of Edo State, Daniel Okungbowa, to probe the impeachment petition against deputy governor of the state, Philip Shaibu, has fixed April 3, 2024 for the commencement of its sitting.

Administrative secretary of the panel, George Odidi, disclosed this in a statement dated March 28, 2024 and made available to newsmen in Benin City.

Odidi said the panel would hold its sittings at Judges Conference Room, New High Court Complex, Benin City.

READ ALSO: CJ Has Seven Days To Set Up Panel On Shaibu – Edo Assembly

He said parties or their counsel are expected to be present while the complainant is expected to be ready to present its case.

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The statement reads, “Take notice that consequent upon the inauguration of the above panel by His Lordship the Hon. Chief Judge of Edo State, Hon. Justice D.I. Okungbowa in line with section 188 subsection 5 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, the said Panel shall commence sitting at Judges Conference room, New High Court Complex, Benin City on Wednesday 3″day of April, 2024 at 10:00Am prompt.

READ ALSO: Again, Shaibu Loses Bid To Stop Impeachment

“Parties and /or their counsel are expected to be present on that day while the complainant is expected to be ready to present it’s case on that day.”

The Chief Judge of Edo State, Daniel Okungbowa, had on Friday, March 22, 2024, constituted a seven-man panel to investigate the allegations in the impeachment notice served on the deputy governor of the state, Philip Shaibu, in line with the resolution of the State House of Assembly.

Members of the panel are Justice S.A. Omonua (rtd), Professor Theresa Akpoghome, Oghogho Ayodele Oviasu, Surveyor Andrew Oliha, Idris Abdulkareen , President Aigbokhian and Mariam Erakhoba Ilavbare.

 

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I Was Tied For Three Days, Abducted Lagos Editor Recounts Ordeal

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The abducted Editor of FirstNews Newspaper, Segun Olatunji, on Thursday, recounted his ordeal at the hands of the military personnel who abducted him from his Lagos home.

Military authorities had earlier on Thursday, yielded to pressure and released Olatunji, who was abducted from his home in Lagos State on Friday, March 15, 2024.

The PUNCH confirmed that he was released to some media stakeholders, including Yomi Odunuga of The Nation newspaper and Iyobosa Uwugiaren of Thisday Newspaper in Abuja after sustained pressure from the media.

They were asked to guarantee that they would make Olatunji available if needed again.

The International Press Institute, the Nigeria Guild of Editors, and Olatunji’s employers had in separate statements faulted his incarceration, asking authorities to either release the editor or charge him to court.

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Narrating his ordeal after his release at a press briefing organised by the leaderships of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Nigeria Union of Journalists and IPI in Abuja, Olatunji said he was blindfolded and flown to the Federal Capital Territory where he was moved to a cell in handcuffs and leg chains for almost three days.

He said, “Someone came claiming to be from the military. He identified himself as Colonel Lawal. Immediately, he seized my phones.

“I went to the room to dress up. By the time I got downstairs, I saw soldiers inside the compound taking positions. Outside the gate, I saw about three vehicles with Air Force personnel, Army, Defence Intelligence Agency, and others all fully armed.

READ ALSO:Israel Bombs Gaza, Fights Hamas Around Hospitals

“I was handcuffed and taken straight to the office of the National Air Defence Corps where we waited for three hours. I did not know that they were waiting for an aircraft to pick me up to Abuja.

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“When the aircraft landed, I was blindfolded and moved to the aircraft, and we landed in Abuja shortly. I was leg cuffed also. They removed my clothes and I was left with my boxers. I was taken to Cell 9.

“There, I was left with leg and handcuffs. And at a point, one of the officers came and tightened the right leg and the right hand, and I was there groaning in pain. They did not loosen it until about two or three days after.

“Up till now, I could still feel the pains in my hands and legs.”

READ ALSO: Man Stabs Four To Death In US

Olatunji said those behind his ordeal were close to the government based on the questions he was asked.

He added, “They were asking me questions about certain stories that FirstNews had published.

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“They first told me that I was one of those abusing the Chief of Defence Intelligence (Major General Emmanuel Undiandeye). They did not say much about that.”

He said they also asked him about a story FirstNews had published about the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu (Mr Femi Gbajabiamila), which he described as a “major thing”.

“That is why I told some people earlier that those behind my arrest are people in the corridors of power who are not happy with FirstNews is doing and are bent on taking their own pound of flesh,” he added.

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