News

EndSARS: Embrace Peace, Dialogue, Obaseki Appeals To Youth

Published

6 years ago

October 22, 2020

Editor

Edo State governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has appealed to the youth to embrace peace and dialogue for the interest of the state and the nation, just as assured them that 60 percent of those he would appoint to work with him would be persons of 40 years and below.

Obaseki who made the appeal during a meeting with civil society groups in the state, commended them for calling for an end to police brutality.

While expressing displeasure over the protest being hijacked by hoodlums, he further reviewed the 24-hour curfew to 4pm to 6am, adding that he would consider a further review subsequently should the youth embrace peace.

Obaseki who narrated how he came into office as governor of the state the second term through the help of the youth, said the government has always been against police brutality and that it will always stand with the masses.

“I will not have returned back to the government house but for you. I know the sacrifices a lot of you made, I know the hard work, the risk you took. I am aware of the roles you played, a lot of people brought money and either drove them away or collected the money and do the right thing.

“So, I am very clear in my mind how I came into where I am today. I came back on your back.

“You have no doubt in your mind, I am in your side, totally in your side.

“When this crisis started, I have taken some time off to go and relax after the electionairing period but I have been in touch. I have always been in touch with the deputy and with the secretary to the government.

“And our position as government has always been, we are in support of EndSARS because your demands are legitimate.

“Anybody who says that your people are not patriotic doesn’t love Nigeria. You are not asking for anything unusual, we have always argued and even during my electionairing, I made it clear that we need to fix this country, we have no choice and we started warning when COVID19 broke out, that COVID19 was going to unravel this country and that it is time that we stopped the indulgence and begin to take ourselves seriously and do things properly across the board.

“I can tell you this, my biggest fear in my election, my prayers was that, they should not temper with the election of September 19 and if they had done so, this crisis would have started that day.

“God had our prayers. So, when this crisis started with EndSARS, I was not surprised at all. We have been anticipating it. Things are not right in Nigeria and we need to fix it and we have the capacity to fix it.

“So, your position on EndSARS and the reform of the police system in this country is total. Like somebody said, it is time up for just talking and talking and rhetorics. It is about time to implement”, he said.

One of the speakers, Solomon Idiogbe, while speaking on the vandalisation that took place at the Nigeria Custom Service warehouse at Aduwawa, Benin City, said the incident was a conspiracy and that there was no way such could have happened without the help of an insider.

Idiogbe added that being that such has happened, the government should encourage the security agencies in the state to embark on a house-to-house check with the view to mopping up the arms and ammunition that were carted away by the hoodlums from the Custom warehouse so that the citizens could be safe.

He alleged that some people carted away arms and ammunition from the Custom warehouse at Aduwawa.

Another speaker, Phil Aroje, said the ENDSARS protest might not end unless the president addresses the nation.

He called on the president to address the nation.

News

Edo NLC Crisis: Caretaker Committee Drags Rival Exco, Govt To Court

Published

44 minutes ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The division in the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), took a new dimension on Wednesday as Prof. Monday Monday Lewis Igbafen-led caretaker committee approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Benin Judicial Division, seeking to affirm its authority and restrain a rival executive from parading itself as the council’s leadership.

Joined in the suit are the Edo State Government, the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

In a suit marked: NICN/BEN/12/2026, and filed before the court in Benin, the claimant, Igbafen, acting for himself and on behalf of the NLC Caretaker Committee in Edo State, is challenging the continued occupation of the union’s secretariat and control of its assets by members of the Bernard Egwakhide-led factional State Executive Council.

The claimants are asking the court to declare that the caretaker committee (Igbafen-led faction), constituted on August 11, 2025, by the NLC national leadership, remains the only lawful authority to administer the affairs of the Edo State Council pending fresh elections.

They further seek a declaration that the continued occupation of the NLC secretariat located at No. 1 Teboga Road, Benin City, as well as the retention of union assets, financial records, and official instruments by the defendants, is illegal and void.

The suit also prays for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from parading themselves as officials of the NLC Edo Council or interfering with the functions of the caretaker committee.

In addition, the claimants are seeking a mandatory order compelling the defendants to immediately hand over the secretariat, vehicles, financial documents, cheque books, and all other properties belonging to the union.

The caretaker committee further urged the court to restrain the state government and its officials from interfering in the internal affairs of the union, alleging undue support for the dissolved executive.

The claimants further demand N50 million as general and exemplary damages against the defendants for alleged unlawful usurpation of office and acts prejudicial to the administration of the council.

According to court documents made available to our correspondent, the crisis followed the dissolution of the Edo State Council by the NLC National Executive Council on February 27, 2025, over allegations of misconduct, anti-union activities, and constitutional violations.

However, the matter has yet to be assigned a hearing date.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

6 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

7 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.