Metro

OPINION: Edo 2024 Is ‘Eghe Esan’

Published

2 years ago

September 29, 2023

By Victor Ofure Osehobo

A few years ago, it was the norm in Edo politics, since the South had the Governor, for the North to have the Deputy Governor and for Central to have the speaker’s position. It was the custom of the ruling PDP then that to promote oneness and give all districts in the state a sense of belonging, it was better to observe this unwritten code.

This is why from 1999- 2007, when the PDP was in power, the governor was from the South, his deputy from the North and the Speaker from Central. It was the same picture during the 18-month PDP tenure from May 2007 – November 2008, when the governor was from the Central, his deputy was from South and the Speaker from the North.

But this worthwhile development which made for peaceful, harmonious co-existence and brotherhood in an ethnically diverse state like Edo was set aside when the APC found itself in power first in Edo in 2008. The governor was from Edo North, deputy, South and Speaker, South. In 2012, while the governor was from North, the deputy remained in the South and the Speaker remained in the South.

Thus from 2008, Edo Central has been left out in the scheme of things. In 2008, with the governor from Edo north, deputy from the South, it was said that the party had a greenhorn in the legislative branch who could not occupy the high office of Speaker.

Despite the hue and cry of the Central folks Edo south clung to the two vital slots from 2008 till the dying minutes of 2016, when reluctantly the Speakership was left for the Central district.

Those who expected this vital change in 2016 to survive as if to rectify a fault or correct an anomaly were shocked when the Central was stripped of the Speakership midstream in favour of the South again.

And for the political gains anticipated the South reluctantly donated the Speakership to the Central, during the campaigns, tele-guided the office while it went to Central and even worked against the occupant, before the run of unhealthy events saw the the North take the office back.

Since 2016, Edo has had a governor from the South, a deputy from the North and a Speaker from the North, leaving the Central empty. From 2020 till now, it is the same scenario. Unfortunately this very ugly trend now reverberates through the state government apparatus in Benin City.

Key state government establishments embark on the deliberate removal of Edo Central folks from key positions and offices they were appointed into on the basis of qualification and competence and are replaced with South and North counterparts.

The reason is that the people of Edo Central or the modern Esan nation are part and parcel of Edo. We are citizens who left the Benin Empire and formed communities and kingdoms thereafter. We were not slaves before or after. History is clear on this.

As 2024 approaches, there is once again desperate moves to sideline Edo Central. Political Leaders from North and South, who ought to know better are either aspiring themselves or busy sponsoring aspirants from their zones to rob Edo Central of this rare opportunity.

This should be avoided. This is how it happened in the recent past with the office of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly. The goat will bite when faced with no escape but pushed to the wall. This attempt to blank out Edo Central must stop.

My name is Victor Ofure Osehobo. I am making Common sense

Metro

My Husband Fought, Abandoned Me Cos’ I’m Barren, Woman Tells Court

Published

4 hours ago

August 23, 2025

Editor

A woman, Wasilat Saka, has pleaded with a Grade 1 Area Court in Kubwa, Abuja (Federal Capital Territory), to dissolve her marriage to her husband, Tajudeen Jimoh, over alleged abandonment and conflicting faith beliefs.

Wasilat told the court that she got married to Jimoh under Islamic Law on July 30, 2022, adding that their marriage did not produce any children.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), she alleged that Jimoh, who claimed to be a Muslim, abandoned her for months shortly after they got married while refusing to perform necessary Islamic rites.

“My husband does not observe the five daily prayers and the Ramadan fast.

“We always quarrel and fight for these reasons.

“I beg the court to grant my request of divorce,” Wasilat said.

Jimoh was absent in court despite being served with the hearing notice.

The judge, Ibrahim Rufai, adjourned the case.

Metro

Our First Child Beat Me Blue And Black After My Wife Turned Them Against Me —Man

Published

4 hours ago

August 23, 2025

Editor

…That was the easiest way I made him pay their fees —Wife

Grade A Customary Court, Court 2, sitting at Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, has given judgment on a divorce suit brought before it by a man, Tajudeen, who dragged his wife, Kafayat, to court, accusing her of showing him no love or affection.

He added that she was troublesome and violent and that she refused to let him have peace of mind.

Tajudeen stated that Kafayat was defiant and never listened to him nor took instruction from him.

The plaintiff explained that the defendant was brutal and always sought every opportunity to fight and hurt him with any dangerous object within her reach.

He added that she refused that he give their children proper training, and that she turned them against him.

According to him, the eldest of their children beat him till he was almost unconscious in the presence of his wife and she saw nothing bad in it.

Tajudeen explained that Kafayat constantly came to his office to fight and disgrace him.

The plaintiff stated that he was fed up with his wife’s unruly behaviour and thus pleaded for divorce.

Kafayat refused that their union be dissolved, stating that she and her husband jointly built their house.

The defendant did not deny being defiant and in the habit of fighting her husband even in his office.

According to her, that was the only way she made her husband commit to his responsibilities in the home and, more importantly, pay their children’s school fees.

Tajudeen, in his evidence, said, “My wife and I got married under Islamic Law and I paid her bride price.

“My marriage to my wife is void of love and care. She made our home a hell to live in.

“I no longer have a say in our home because my wife is rebellious. She never listens to me nor takes orders from me. She would turn every argument between us into a fight.

“Kafayat being a violent person always hits me with dangerous objects within her reach. The scars on my body tell the story.

“Much worse is the fact that my wife refused that I train our children and always instigates them against me.

“The strain in the relationship between our children and me led to our eldest child beating me till I almost fainted.

“My wife was present at the scene and she neither restrained our son nor rebuked him.

“My wife is still not satisfied and would come to my office to fight and disgrace me.

“My lord, I have had enough of my wife and children’s waywardness and cannot take it any longer.

“I pray this honourable court to end our marriage and grant me custody of our children so that I can give them proper training.

“I also request an order restricting her from coming to my office to fight me.”

Kafayat in her response said: “What my husband said is not totally true.

“We met in 1997 and he impregnated me.

“I started living with him although no marital rites were carried out on my behalf. He in addition did not pay my bride price.

“My lord, I do not agree to divorce because we both contributed towards building the house we are living in.

“It is true that I fight him even in his office. I discovered that was the only way I could force him to be committed to his responsibilities in the home and especially paying our children’s school fees.”

Ruling, the court president, Mrs. O. E. Owoseni, said there was no marriage to be dissolved since no customary marriage was held and no bride price was paid.

Metro

My Wife Harasses, Slaps Me All The Time —Husband

Published

4 hours ago

August 23, 2025

Editor

…He’s a liar —Wife

A businessman, Raphel Chima, has dragged his wife, Joy, before a customary court in Jikwoyi, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), because she always beat him.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Raphael made the allegation in a divorce petition he filed against Joy before the court.Newspaper-inspired merchandise

“My wife physically abuses and harasses me.

“She slaps me at the slightest chance. She abuses me mentally,” he said.

He also told the court that his wife was disrespectful to his parents.

The petitioner told the court that his wife had long abandoned their only child and that he had been the one caring for him.

He prayed the court to dissolve the marriage between him and his wife and grant him custody of their child.

The respondent, Joy, denied the allegations.

The presiding judge, Dada Oluwaseyi, advised the couple to explore reconciliation.

He then adjourned the case.