Politics
Who But Ighodalo Can Make Edo People Smile Again?

By Elvis Osarogiagbon
When the lawyer and development savvy technocrat, Dr Asue Ighodalo, told his media dominated gathering that his decision to rest his plump positions in different blue chip organisations to contest the Edo governorship seat was deliberate and well-thought out, not one person in the audience had a single doubt in their minds that he wouldn’t be able to use his thoughts and ideas to help Edo State hit the ambitious socio-economic development targets he had set.
Boldly stating his desire to move Edo State from her status as a third world subnational into the first world is as daring a campaign statement as they come.
And with recent political events where the main opposition party in the state demonstrated political rudderlessness and an embarrassing lack of tact as an unrepentant godfather selected his unprepared godson; one is led to believe that the political runway is now clear for Dr. Asue Ighodalo’s ambition to serve Edo people, to take off.
The intrepid reader is enjoined to look around; for a moment. Now answer this: Who among these aspirants – without any bias – has the national and international exposure like the frontline PDP aspirant to deliver on their verbose promises? Which of them can boast of higher levels of competence or compassion?
READ ALSO: Gale Of Endorsement, Testament Of Ighodalo’s Public Acceptance
Apart from Ighodalo, who among them has shown the tenacity and clarity of vision needed to govern successfully in times as difficult as these?
While the so-called opponents, have no verifiable credible socio-economic development achievements in whatever manner particular, either in the local, national and international arenas, Ighodalo’s avalanche achievements speak volumes of his capacity and capabilities to deliver any day on his set goals and objectives.
There is an adage in Bini that says it is that man who is overfed and has enough to throw around that will show willingness to share. Obviously, Ighodalo – bursting at the seams with experience and intellect – is the quintessential Edo man that typifies the adage.
Yet Barr. Ighodalo is the model of humility. There is no air of entitlement around him. Perhaps that is why he appears to be the only aspirant reaching out to meet the people where they are – in their markets, schools, churches, weddings, funerals. Like the popular MTN advert, one finds him ‘everywhere you go’.
READ ALSO: Edo PDP Explains Why It Rejected Ighodalo’s Endorsement
So perhaps it is this cornucopia of characteristics; his humility, competence, capacity and compassion; that have propelled the former Chairman of Sterling Bank Plc and Nigerian Breweries into the hearts of Edo people as they prepare to elect their next governor on Sept.21.
Asue Ighodalo’s penchant for success through cutting edge tech solutions, became visible once again when he assumed board membership of the Okomu Oil Palm Company PLC.
Variable statistics show that
in the first nine months of 2023, the company’s profit after tax grew to N20.9 billion from N18.1 billion in the same period of 2022.
According to Mr. Chukwuebuka Omerole, the company’s secretary, turnover increased to N60.1 billion from N50.2 billion
Only a man with the midas touch such as Asue Ighodalo, unquenchable drive to excel, is ready and willing to bring such expertise in the area of corporate and project financing, securities and capital markets, energy and natural resources, mergers and acquisitions and banking and securitization to turn the fortunes of Edo around for the better.
Politics
Agege LG Chairman Resigns

Agege Local Government
Mr. Tunde Azeez Disco has stepped down as the Executive Chairman of Agege Local Government, citing persistent health challenges as the reason for his resignation.
The former chairman submitted his resignation letter to the Agege Local Government Legislative Arm.
He noted that his health status had significantly impacted his ability to effectively discharge his official duties.
The legislative house, while acknowledging Azeez Disco’s dedication to public service, quickly accepted the decision. Following a thorough deliberation, a unanimous resolution was passed, accepting the resignation with immediate effect.
READ ALSO:JUST IN: Tinubu’s Minister Resigns Amid Allegations
The council wished the outgoing chairman well in his future endeavours, with the event underlining the necessity for public officials to prioritise personal health and well-being.
Ganiyu Obasa, son of the Speaker, Lagos State Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, is the Vice chairman of Agege Local Government.
In May, residents of Agege, under the banner of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the local government election in Agege.
They claimed that Obasa allegedly plans to foist his surrogates as candidates in the local government and councillorship elections.
READ ALSO:APC Disowns Members Calling For State Secretary’s Resignation
In a meeting held in response to the announcement of candidates for the chairmanship and vice-chairmanship of the Agege Local Government and Orile-Agege Local Council Development Area (LCDA), the aggrieved residents alleged that those shortlisted as candidates to represent the area were handpicked by Obasa.
They said the process was void of internal democracy and collective participation.
Addressing the media, Kamardeen Sabitu, chairman of the PCC for Agege and Orile-Agege, alleged that Obasa did everything possible to manipulate the political structure in the area for personal gain.
During the protest, demonstrators carried placards reading “Red Card, Obasa O to ge, (it is enough). They also chanted songs such as “Enough is Enough, this suffering is enough, Tinubu, rescue us.”
READ ALSO:Elon Musk’s X CEO Resigns
Sabitu added that the people have endured years of political marginalisation under Obasa’s influence. He recalled that the movement against imposed candidates began in 2018, during which one of the protesters died and 11 others were jailed.
“There is no true democracy in Agege. Since 2018, we’ve been resisting Obasa’s control. We salute everyone standing up to this political imposition. One person cannot dominate Agege politics,” Sabitu said.
He emphasised that while the group remains loyal to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and is also appreciative of the party’s leadership, they will not accept candidates imposed on them without proper consultation.
Politics
JUST IN: Reps In Rowdy Session, Reject Key Motions

The plenary session of the House of Representatives on Tuesday turned rowdy after members voted against some motions of urgent public importance, which bordered on the protection of lives and key government assets.
With the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, presiding, the session became rowdy, as members dissolved into a closed-door session to restore order.
It all started when the member representing Somolu Federal Constituency, Lagos State, Ademorin Kuye, drew the attention of his colleagues to what he called the illegal allocation of lands within the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex and prayed the House to refer the matter to the Committee on Public Assets for investigation.
Kuye, a member of the All Progressives Congress is the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Assets.
READ ALSO:JUST IN: All Enugu Reps Defect To APC
Proposing an amendment to the prayers, Delta lawmaker and Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Francis Waive, argued that though the matter brought before the Green Chamber is urgent enough, the Committee on Commerce, not Public Assets, should be in charge of the investigation.
Waive was supported by Akwa Ibom lawmaker, Mark Esset, who argued that “It is the Committee on Commerce that should take responsibility on this matter.”
On the other hand, Yusuf Gagdi representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency, Plateau State, supported Kuye, stating that the Public Assets Committee should be allowed to take charge of investigating the allegation of illegal land sale and submit a report to the House.
With no end to the back-and-forth argument in sight, Gbefwi Gaza (SDP, Nasarawa) on the advice of Kalu, proposed the constitution of an Ad-hoc Committee comprising members of both Committees (Public Assets and Commerce) to conduct the probe.
READ ALSO:Reps Move To Regulate Cryptocurrency, POS Operations
When subjected to a voice vote, almost an equal number of lawmakers voted in support and against the motion.
Not sure whose voices were louder, Kalu gave it to the nays, sparking unrest in the chamber.
Next on the order of urgent motions was Mohammed Bio representing Baruten/Kaima Federal Constituency, Kwara State.
Bio who lamented the worsening security situation in his constituency, prayed the House to urge the military to establish a base in the crisis-prone areas to stem the tides of attacks.
READ ALSO:List Of 46 Proposed New States Submitted To House Of Reps
This time, more lawmakers voted against the motion, to the surprise of Kalu and the Kwara lawmaker.
It became clear to Kalu that members had resolved to frustrate the day’s session owing to the rejection of Kuye’s motion.
So, when again voices thundered against Ayodeji Alao-Akala’s motion which drew members’ attention to the need to address Nigeria’s description as a “Country of Particular Concern” by the United States President, Mr Donald Trump; Kalu allowed the motion to pass, forcing members to openly oppose the decision.
Voices of dissent rent the chambers and the plenary was suspended for a closed-door session.
…Details later
Politics
Obaseki’s Media Aide Tackles Edo Information Commissioner Over Alleged ₦600bn Debt

A former Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has denied leaving a debt of N600bn, urging the Monday Okpehbolo-led administration to crosscheck from the Debt Management Office (DMO) before “spewing lies.”
The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, had on Monday in Benin claimed that the immediate past administration in the state left a whooping ₦600bn debt.
Reacting to Afegbua’s claim via video call on Tuesday, Obaseki’s Media Adviser, Crusoe Osagie, challenged the current administration in the state to visit the DMO to see whether Edo drew such debt.
Crusoe, who said no government at whatever level has capacity to draw loans or enter into any debt arrangement without the knowledge and approval of the DMO, said lies being spewed by the Okpebholo’s administration is giving the country a bad image.
READ ALSO:PDP Crisis Worsens As Party Suspends BoT Chairman, Adolphus Wabara
He said information of such gives the impression that the state is being governed by people who don’t understand what it means to run a government.
Crusoe described the claim as false and outrightly out of place.
On the planned probe of Mosium of West Africa Arts (MOWA), Crusoe noted that MOWA remained an international brand that entered into a business agreement with Edo State with all T’s crossed and all I’s dotted.
He insisted that every record about the transaction between Radisson Hotel and the Edo State government was contained in the transition report.
READ ALSO:Obaseki: Leader, I Know How Pained You Are,’ Wike Apologises To Oshiomhole
He said: “MOWA is an international investment drawing funds from the German government, the United Kingdom’s government, and the French government for its development. You think such an investment will be put on a land that was not ceded to that organization by the state.
“These people just come out there and toss all kinds of irresponsible information out there. At the end of the day what happens is that all of these turn around to form the intelligence that gathered out of Nigeria by the international community.
“It makes these countries think that the country is a failed state and the place is not being governed.”
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