News

Infrastructural Deficit: Oshiomhole Tasks Edo Indigenes On Active Participation In Politics

Published

3 years ago

September 24, 2023

Editor

As community pleads for FG’s attention

Senator Adams Oshiomhole has charged Edo State indigenes to be active in politics in order to attract development to the state.

The former Governor made the call at the weekend when a group under the umbrella of Weppa Wanno Pyramid Club of Nigeria, had the club’s 8th biennial retreat in Lagos as the community pleaded with the Federal Government, FG to pay attention to a city, Agenebode in Etako East.

Speaking on the theme: ‘Poltics as a veritable tool for community development,’ Oshiomhole who was represented by Prof. Marcel Okhakhu from the department of Mass Communication, University of Benin said: “You must be active in politics. Politics is not for card carrying members alone, everybody is a politician. And those that you have sent by a way of mandate must not be left alone even after you have voted for them.

“You must call them to account, give them a shopping list of what is possible, you may not know what they know, that’s why you must have a town hall meetings so as to brainstorm, share ideas and prioritize the things that need to be done, no man is an island, nobody knows it all. They need ideas, support, information and they too should be willing to carry your message further so that the world can know that the world doesn’t stop in Lagos or Abuja.”

Also, the club regretted that the area lacks the basic infrastructures such as a linking bridge to Ida, Kogi state, tertiary institutions and good road networks all that have hindered development in that part of the state.

Okhakhu explained that the state government has not given attention to that part of the state.

He said: “Agenebode is almost like a back town because it’s the last of the towns in Edo State particularly in Etako East. The next community to us is Ida which is in Kogi state and it’s the body of water, the river Niger that separates us from Kogi and that on its own has a specific disadvantage for the people.

“If we had a bridge across the water, from Agenebode to Kogi, we will see more development.

“Another thing is that there is no tertiary schools in the place, the schools we have are the secondary schools established in 1967 and pockets of private schools. Even the few schools that exist have no teachers, we do community service to pay PTA teachers.

“The General Hospital in the area was built by people, clubs like this, donate items from time,” Okhakhu said.

Earlier in his speech, President of the club, Dr. Austine Aipoh said that the theme of the retreat was relevant at no better time than now in the “life of our nation, taking into consideration that a new administration came into being about four months ago.”

He added: “Politics affects all facets of our lives, and all sectors of the economy are subjected political power play and control, community development being no exception.”

Also, one of the past Presidents of the club, Mr Kenndy Izuagbe said: “We lack basic infrastructure. We believe that the federal government of Nigeria should take our cry for bridge linking us with Ida in Kogi as a matter of priority. It will open up Edo state and Kogi as commerce will improve.

“About 10 years ago, Edo state government established the school of agriculture and we started engaging the government to upgrade the institution to University but, sadly the institution had been closed down for the past four years,” Izuagbe added.

VANGUARD

News

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

Published

3 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

8 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

9 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.