News

Group Cautions Against Ceding Of Edo Lands To Biafra

Published

1 year ago

December 1, 2024

Editor

A group on the platform of Great Benin Descendants (GBD), has cautioned against an attempt to cede any parts of the Benin lands to the Biafra, saying such a move will be resisted.

The group gave the warning during a stakeholders’ meeting with the theme: “Unity: A stimulus for our collective greatness” in Benin.

The group, in a 12-point communique read by its Coordinator General, Izoduwa Imasuen, said the Benin Kingdom, over the years, has been so magnanimous to strangers who came to settle in their land.

He said in recent times however, it seems that this act of kindness is being taken for cowardice as the settlers now claim ownership of the land.

Imasuen who listened to various complaints of marginalisation and intimidations against the various persons who have their ancestral roots from the Benin Kingdom at the meeting, came up with the following resolutions aimed at addressing the issues and foster unity among them.

The statement reads in part: “There is an urgent need for total unity and backup from the center (Benin kingdom) through our royal father to all Great Benin People.

“There is a need for Language Unification. All ethnic nationalities that migrated from great Benin are to henceforth imbibe the culture of naming their children great Benin names

“Houses of assembly of all great Benin descendants states to pass a law to ensure the Edo Language is thought in all schools and Edo Language added to school curricular.

“To plead with the Oba of Benin to accommodate the ethnic nationalities from Benin for a royal visit to his palace and to be their voices especially as regards marginalization from the Igbos.

“No part of Benin land no matter the propaganda and threat will be ceded to the imaginary Biafra.

“Great Benin people are one and equal people.

“That henceforth, it is resolved that Great Benin Kingdom and any other nationalities that traced their ancestry to Benin will work as one and speak in one voice as injury to one is an injury to all.

“That going forward, there will be entertainment and sporting activities in all kingdoms that traced their origin to Benin as a sign of solidarity and affinity. These activities will be mixed with our culture.

“Great Benin Descendants -GBD to liaise and work with all social cultural groups of our sister kingdoms and groups that have same vision with her.

“Continuous and unending alliance the center -Benin Kingdom to all other ethnic groups from great Benin including their festivals.

“Continuous sensitization from GBD on who we are as a people by regular meetings, press briefings and circulars to enable our people have consciousness of where they came from.

“Visitation to the palace to let our monarch know what is happening in Rivers state and other ethnic nationalities from the great Benin”.

Speaking also, the Rivers State coordinator of GBD, Mr. Kenneth Orgwu urged all those who could trace their ancestry to Benin to always learn to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the Benin wherever they are.

He said such can be done by attending a function and dressing in the way and manner the Benin people dress so as to help drive the message of oneness further.

News

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

Published

2 hours 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

7 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

8 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.