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Edo 2024: Open Letter To Edo People — Mortars And Pestles Are Made From Hardwood, Not Pulpwood or Softwood

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Asue Ighodalo

By George Etakibuebu

My dear people of Edo State,

Greetings. I hope this short letter meets you in perfect peace. Kindly permit me to state first that we are at the threshold of history. It is, therefore, with a profound sense of duty to our great state, present and future generations that I write to you today.

I want to respectfully remind you, peradventure, you have forgotten that our people say: “we use only the wood that is fit and proper to produce mortars and pestles.” In other words, mortars and pestles are made from the hardest species of wood. If you allow me, I would mention the Iroko, Oak and the Cypress as good examples of such wood. Mortals and pestles are never made from pulpwood or softwood.

The reason is simple and straightforward — mortars and pestles are supposed to be resilient, durable and able to withstand the constant tests of pounding in the morning, afternoon and evening. And they must be resistant to attacks by termites and worms. They are also meant to withstand severe negative impacts of all weathers and the elements — be it rain, sunshine, cold winds, harmattan or hot air throughout the year and for many years.

In 27 days time, we will be electing another Governor to lead Edo State for the next four years. Let us elect the best candidate. We all know what it means to lead about 7 million people. Not just lead them but provide the roadmap , the vision and the dream of where, as the governor, he wants them to be economically, socially and politically.

It is not a job for a man who is glaringly incompetent and lacking in capacity. It is not for the man who is untested, a man who is shy and withdrawn because he is intimidated by his own inadequacies due to his lack of proper and sound education and social exposure.

But I rather plead with you all to kindly invest in a mortar and pestle that is made from the finest of hardwood. In this regard, I make bold to recommend Dr Asue Ighodalo, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 21 governorship election.

Ighodalo fits perfectly the bill. He is the most competent of the lot. He has the capacity. He has the vision. He has outlined the vision in his “Pathway to Prosperity for All” manifesto.He is compassionate and determined to serve you faithfully and conscientiously with all the talents that God has given him. He has been tested in several places and found fit for purpose everywhere.

Ighodalo has offered to lead in the pursuit of an enduring chapter of greatness that will serve as a reference point for all times in Edo State.
Don’t let anybody deceive you, through lies and propaganda .
Ighodalo knows where the shoe pinches. And he has the soothing balm that will bring lasting relief, comfort and succor to our state and our people.

I can confidently declare, and many of you will attest to this fact, that Ighodalo is the best man for the job. He stands, from shoulder upward, taller than the rest candidates.

Ighodalo is ready to lead the charge to birth a prosperous, flourishing, secured and attractive Edo State that will be the destination of choice for businesses and for leisure.

On September 21, we have the opportunity to write a profound and an enduring chapter of rapid infrastructural development in Edo State; of building social cohesion, of creating the enabling environment for small and medium scale enterprises to flourish; and birth a first world sub-national sovereign in Nigeria by voting PDP and by extension, Ighodalo.

Thank you for reading.
God bless you all,
God bless Edo State.

*George Etakibuebu, Benin City*

Baptist Church charges Government to intensify efforts in fight against corruption

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The National President of Men’s Missionary Union of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, Dr. Soye Peniel Asawo, has charged governments at all levels to intensify efforts in the fight against corruption and be seen fighting corruption as it is the only way they could restore confidence into the system and move the nation forward.

Asawo gave this charge while briefing journalists at the ongoing 44th National Congress of the Nigerian Baptist Convention Men’s Missionary Union (MMU), and 3rd Leadership Summit at the secretariat of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Asaba.

According to him, government must work round-the-clock to fight against corruption that has bedeviled the nation and has eaten deep into the nation.

He said “our political leaders who should lead by example have not demonstrated the same sacrifice they expect Nigerians to pay which they themselves are unwilling to pay.”

He noted that the cost of governance and the level of wastage in the country is second to non globally and except those in power begin to trim down and make the sacrifice they expect the common Nigerians to make there won’t be any headway and the situation will remain unchanged.

The MMU president commended the Tinubu -led government for the steps towards the autonomy of the local government which he said has been dragging for a while as there has not been the political will to implement it over the years.

He hoped that by the Supreme Court’s judgement the implementation process will begin and it will be surely implemented.

He also enjoined those at the grassroots, including the council leaders to take their destinies in their hands in terms of binding infrastructure and other programmes of public interest.

Asawo decried the economic situation of the country noting that it is at the lowest point and ordinary Nigerians are at the receiving end of the economic mess.

He admonished government to do something urgently to mitigate the situation of the economy particularly the naira devaluation.

He said innovative ideas and whatever policies government needed to initiate to ensure that the value of the naira is enhanced will be a welcome development.

In his words: “We don’t want to go into specifics of whether fuel subsidy or no subsidy. At the end of the day what Nigerians want is that they should be able to use their money to buy what they need.

“Otherwise, even the adjusted salary with the new minimum wage will definitely not take people home if the value of the Naira does not improve. So, whereas government is working out to attend to these issues we expect them to do more.

“So, we are calling on government to fight corruption and be seen to be fighting corruption as well as its twin, insecurity.

“These have remained a major challenge as farmers in many places cannot go to their farms. This has resulted to food scarcity and all other effects of travelling within unsafe zones. All these are major challenges and we expect government to fight all of these issues head on.”

Responding to questions about miracles, Dr. Asawo noted that as a church, Baptists believe in the Bible but stressed that the God that the God he serves is a God of miracles.

Dr. Soye Peniel Asawo (middle)

“We also believe that the greatest miracle is the transformation of the life of an individual. Though we sometimes devalue that miracle, however, as a nation, that is the miracle we need the most.

“By the way, the leaders we produce in this nation are the reflection of the country. We do not import our leaders, our leaders are elected from amongst us and you can not give what you don’t have.

“Thus, the greatest miracle that we need is the miracle of a transformed life. If we have transformed lives, we will have transformed leaders and Nigeria will move in the right direction.

The MMU president urged Nigerians to be part of positive and peaceful engagement as single individuals cannot find solution to their problems.

He said in the midst of chaos, there cannot be progress, noting that there are many countries that have done a lot of chaos in the name of fighting bad governance but are now licking their wounds.

He said chaos may have temporary relief wherein the government may do a few things but most times those things are not deeply suited as they are only but splashes in the pan.

He added that “if we need lasting solutions as a nation then citizenship engagements should be taken seriously and we must be able to deal with the issue of compromise.”

Dr. Asawo insisted that it will be difficult for leaders to follow the part of corruption if they do not have people cooperating with them.

He said someone who is not a public office holder cannot steal public funds if the treasurer and director in the ministry do not cooperate with him.

He added that Nigerians do worst than what they accused the politicians of doing to their citizens.

He urged all parties to behave better and ensure they are not compromising in the spaces that God has put them to share the light wherever they are placed particularly to Christians.

According to him, if you go out on Sundays every corner of the street is a church and then Monday to Friday you begin to wonder where are the Christiabs?

He said the situation has gone bad that there is an urgent need for all to sit up and take morallity seriously as a people and the need to positively engage the people.

He added that churches should not only be about spirituality but should take up responsibility.

The Men’s Missionary Union (MMU), is the ministry arm of the Baptist Church that takes care of the men and boys ministry.

The National Congress is an annual event that comprises over 30 conferences across the 36 states of Nigeria including the Federal Capital Territory Abuja.

The National Congress is an annual event organized by the Baptist Church of Nigeria.

The National Congress of the Nigerian Baptist Convention Men’s Missionary Union (MMU) and 3rd Leadership Summit which commenced from Tuesday August 20th to end Friday August 23rd 2024 had emphasis on introducing the wonder working powers of God to humanity.

SHAMELESS DELTA APC APOLOGISTS IN FRESH PROPAGANDA PRANKS

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Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori

By Godslove Preye

The M.O.R.E. Reality Group (MRG), devoted to supporting the well thought out and well intentioned M.O.R.E Agenda, acronym for: Meaningful Development, Opportunities for All, Realistic Reforms and Enhanced Peace and Security, of the Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori for the people, has watched with keen interest the series of buffeting releases in recent times by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta, through some of its delusional surrogates like Ogaga Ovasa, aimed at undermining the efforts and good work that the Governor is doing.

MRG is sickened by the disingenuous disposition of these cretins to obfuscate issues and try to pander to emotions, through dishing out propaganda in the name of Press Releases just to confuse and possibly get unwary Deltans and the general public, who are daily assaulted by the very bad economic policies of the APC-led Federal Government to swallow its deceptive narrative.

Of course, MRG is not in any way amazed by the persistent eccentricity of the authors of the puerile taunts and comic roles; these have always been their stock in trade as they have positioned themselves as sworn enemies of Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori and his administration.

Rather than bury their heads in shame and mull over the hunger, pain and all the suffering and trauma that the maladministration that the APC Federal Government has plunged Nigerians into, these extremists and fundamentalists have continued to issue press releases, numbering about four in one week, thus exposing how detached they are from the pathetic condition that the deliberately suffocating policy of the present Federal Government has put Nigerians and businesses into at this time.

Among the many claims of the clueless propagandists thrown against the administration of the M.O.R.E Apostle, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori are words like: “misgovernance”, “economic mismanagement”, “financial recklessness,” which they have quite callously dumped on the door step of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration to “crippling debts that successive PDP administrations have driven Delta State into,” which they draped the PDP with, up until the Governor Sheriff Oborevwori just over one year tenure.

As observers of these diatribes, MRG seeks first of all, to set the records straight about the worthless brouhaha, which has been made over the debt servicing/repayment initiative of the Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration.

First, renowned economists all over the world, will confirm that debt repayment or servicing is one of the most strategic policies to reduce Interest Costs by freeing up funds that can be allocated to other areas such as infrastructure, healthcare, education, or social welfare programs, just as the administration of Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori is doing presently.

Second, Debt repayment also improves the credibility of any administration in the global financial community as a serious minded and progressive administration, which will enjoy the respect and attention of financial institutions, since its only a well run economy that can embark on debt servicing and still maintain its developmental vision and focus for the welfare and well being of its citizens, as well as encourage and attract investors to the State.

Again, debt repayment/servicing not only stabilizes the economy by reducing the risk of a debt crisis that could negatively impact the implementation of the plans of the administration, prioritizing debt repayment, as against the penchant of borrowing, demonstrates fiscal responsibility and discipline and it is on record that the Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration has not borrowed money since it assumed office on May 29, 2023.

Finally, it is also important to educate the illiterate APC spokesperson and other armchair critics, that debt repayment has created a systemic fiscal leverage, which the administration has been utilizing for investments in public infrastructure like the completion of ongoing projects, the robust infrastructural development going on across the three Senatorial zones in the state and the amazing construction work by the renowned Julius Berger firm of the three flyovers in the Warri axis, already progressing with impressive speed.

It has also given the Oborevwori administration the latitude to embark on and support critical and selected social programmes like the M.O.R.E Grants Scheme, the D-Cares and other empowerment programmes and emergency events and schemes which have already impacted positively on hundreds of thousands of Deltans and will continue to position Delta State in the top tier of the most favoured and attractive states in the country.

All these point to the incontrovertible fact that the Governor Sheriff Oborevwori administration, in maintaining the debt repayment/servicing obligation, has exhibited commendable and prudent financial management of its funds, by not only ensuring fiscal fluidity and stability, but most importantly, doing so by sustaining an impressive balance with other economic considerations, such as promoting growth, maintaining public services, and addressing social needs.

It is based on the above economic paradigms and truism that MRG sees the misapplied use of the word ‘misgovernance’ as laughable, especially coming at this disquieting times when there’s a groundswell of national outrage from Nigerian youths and adults; men and women, with a call to #EndBadGovernance, unleashed by the President Bola Tinubu-led APC Federal Government, on Nigerians.

The protest exposed the APC-led Federal Government’s underbelly as a government that lacks initiative on how to resolve the challenges bedeviling the nation; challenges that were deliberately imposed on Nigerians by one statement, uttered in one bellicose moment of pseudo-rational, unscripted, egomaniacal narcissism; challenges that have debased the person of every Nigerian and made life difficult for the people.

Ogaga Ovasa did not see anything abnormal with the APC being in power for over nine locust years, which has clandestinely transformed Nigeria into a country overrun by waves of insecurity that have left farmers languishing in IDP camps and driven away from their ancestral homes.

It means nothing to the yeye propagandist that its Federal Government that announced the removal of fuel subsidy, is bereft of the know-how about what to do to cushion the effect of the subsidy removal; the same person who sponsored and led the #OccupyNigeria protests in its vainglorious effort to cripple the President Goodluck Jonathan administration, over the same fuel subsidy removal, which they have come full circle to implement.

Today, the chickens have come home to roost Nigerians are miffed that the Federal Government had to unconscionably float the Naira in an economy that is neither productive no innovative but has continued to stumble from one experimentally damaging policy to another, thus leaving millions of our people in pain and hunger.

Indeed, Nigerians know that the APC, after its disastrous nine years of “Saint” Buhari is no longer a Party to be taken seriously not only because it lacks the moral impetus to accuse the Delta State PDP Government of misgovernance, but most unfortunately for the sheer shameless impunity and misleading audacity with which Ogaga Ovasa attempted to bypass the retrogressive years of the Buhari administration and vilify the Goodluck Jonathan administration, for Nigeria’s woes.

For Nigerians, APC, a party whose Federal Government is now dispensing wickedness and maladministration is the one that its clueless propagandists are engaged in tell tales of “misgovernance” against a well focused PDP administration in Delta that has brought measured peace and tranquility to the State.

The Delta PDP Publicity Secretary, Engr. Dan Ossai in his very cerebral, articulate and well researched response to an earlier verbiage by this same APC extremist, detailed quite robustly, how the Buhari administration ruined Nigeria, as presented by its own officials first Zainab Ahmed, the former Minister of Finance under Buhari, who openly admitted in 2021 that, revenues were low and so were federal allocations to the States and Local Governments.

She said: “The crash of the crude oil prices really hit us very hard in terms of revenue. We have very low revenues, we have very high expenditures. What we have done so far is just to provide some stability to make sure salaries are paid, pensions are received every month; that we send funds to the judiciary and the legislature; that we meet our debt service obligations. That’s what we are doing. It also means we have had to borrow more than we have planned.

“It is a very difficult time. I cannot explain to you how difficult it is, not just for the Federal Government but also for the States. We see increasing reductions in our FAAC revenues. So, FAAC reduces and whenever FAAC reduces, it is a very difficult situation.”

Indeed, not only did the federal government try to sustain the economy purely on loans and more loans which were not applied to productive sectors nor effectively and equitably to infrastructural development, it also resorted to printing money which is the worst style of economic management.

The current Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, during a Senate Committee hearing in March 2024, regaled Nigerians with the sordid picture of how the APC mismanaged the national economy, from 2015 to 2023.

Listen to Wale Edun: “It came from eight years of just printing money not matched by productivity. It’s not like when you earn dollars, and you free the naira alongside it. We are going to audit even the N22.7 trillion printed aimlessly. The consequence of the eight years of printing money without productivity is high inflation confronting the country now,” he said..

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has decided with great political determination and authority not to borrow, but is also at the same time, paying up and reducing the financial obligations of Delta State in order to safeguard the State from the kind of debt service burden that has crippled the nation under the leadership of the APC. Governor Oborevwori has saved over N205 billion through financial efficiency and gone on to reduce the State debt profile by N180 billion.

Such commitment is not only noble, but can only be executed through a deep sense of leadership responsibility and financial prudence as Oborevwori is demonstrating and it is these achievements in the financial management of the State that the APC is quarreling with.

Even God knows that the APC-led Federal Government is wicked. The clue that APC Federal Government is run by heartless persons can be found in the Book of Proverbs 29: 2, where God said: “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when a wicked man rules, the people groan.”

Since APC stole and has continued to steal Nigeria’s Presidency through a well orchestrated abracadabra and the subsequent magical realism of electoral and judicial conjurations, Nigerians have been groaning.

Sadly, the administration of Muhammadu Buhari, as terrible as it was, never never received any criticism from the then National Leader of the party, now President Bola Tinubu. Never did he ever rein in the Buhari administration with a view to calling it to order against malevolent policies of the administration. Instead, Tinubu, during his presidential campaigns, promised to continue from where Buhari’s administration stopped.

Today, Nigerians have now seen how President Bola Tinubu has fulfilled that campaign promise and are feeling it first hand in their homes, in their pockets, and their lives. Nigerians are now wiser, seeing the Tinubu administration dispensing policies without human face, leaving the millions of our teeming masses to groan in hunger and abject poverty.

One had expected the APC propagandists to at least show remorse to Nigerians; but no, they will not. They prefer, out of sheer cluelessness, obdurate arrogance, diversionary misinformation and a provocative attempt with puerile insults, to try to distract Nigerians and Deltans with talks about “misgovernance” when their Party is the very epitome of “misgovernance”, to use their word.

It is the height of mischief for the APC propagandists to speak of “misgovernance” by the PDP in Delta State, when a critical appraisal of the archive will reveal a stretch, replete with records of the good and beneficial deeds of the successive PDP administrations in the State.

The Chief James Onanefe Ibori administration transformed the State from its fledgling underdeveloped status akin to that of a glorified Local Government, into a State worthy of the name and description, empowering the workforce and opening up the three Senatorial districts with roads and other sectoral infrastructure. Higher institutions were established to ease admission bottlenecks of Delta youths eager for tertiary education, and Delta bubbled as the big heart of the country.

Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan came and upped the ante of development with his administration’s three-point agenda which successfully addressed the issues of peace and security; human capital development and infrastructure improvement and became the rallying point for socio-economic development which impacted positively on lives of Deltans. He then initiated the futuristic template of Delta Beyond Oil; an initiative which had the vision to deploy and appropriate earnings from oil to develop the infrastructure and other non-oil sectors in the economy which will inturn, provide multiple strings of income for the State and for the people.

Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa built on transforming the State further with the Five-Point Agenda and Delta, as well as Nigeria, was well on the path of building on the already developmental platforms laid down by the PDP government and achieving tremendous national growth and global recognition, and then Buhari and the APC happened to us like the 10 plagues in biblical Egypt and Nigerians were plunged into increasing hardship and suffering, as we groped from one disaster of misgovernance to another until we got to where we are today.

The concern and expectation of Deltans and Nigerians is that they want to be eased from the harrowing economic hardship foisted on them by the bad policies of the APC-led Federal Government, in the last Nine years which have come increasingly draconian with Nigerians starring at a bleak future in the months and years ahead.

This is the main issue that has brought Deltans and people of Nigeria into cries and lamentations against the Emilokan administration of the APC-Federal Government, so much so that many Nigerians go hungry without meals for days, while transportation costs are unaffordable because of the high cost of fuel imposed on the nation through a not well thought out policy of subsidy removal. All these culminated in the recent #Endbadgovernance protests which was a very loud cry of despair, anguish and frustration from Nigerians.

Propagandists like Ovasa Ogaga and his ilk should not carry their deception too far by trying to distract Nigerians from the misrule and shame of the APC-Federal Government. They should rather show patriotism and solidarity with Nigerians by bringing pressure on the administration of the former APC National Leader, now President Bola Tinubu to end the cruel administration’s strangulating economic policies that has reduced Nigerians to a shadow of themselves.

As for what Delta State is doing to justify its allocation, we’re glad to note that at least the likes of Ogaga Ovasa have admitted that Okpanam/Ibusa bypass and of course the Emevor/Orogun road and of course the Ultramodern state-of-the-art Federal High Court Complex have all been commissioned.

And to educate them further, only recently the Delta State Exco in pursuit of ensuring meaningful infrastructural development across Delta State, as enunciated in the MORE Agenda, approved the construction, reconstruction and rehabilitation of a number of roads across the state ensuring that the new projects are distributed in such a way that all parts of the state – all Senatorial Districts and virtually 23 of the 25 Local Government Areas got at least one project.

The list of the projects speaks volumes of Sheriff’s commitment to fairness, equity and even distribution of projects.

1. Reconstruction of Ohoror-Bomadi Road: Ughelli North/Bomadi/Burutu LGAs;

2 . Construction of Olomoro-Igbide Road: Isoko South LGA.

3. Construction of Emevor-Ivrogbo-Orogun Road Phase 2: Isoko North/Ughelli North LGAs.

4. Otekpo Road, Ellu: Isoko North LGA.

5. Idumu-Etiti Street with a spur to Market Road, Owere-Olubo: Aniocha South LGA.

6. Rehabilitation and asphalt overlay of failed sections of NNPC Housing Complex Road: Uvwie LGA.

7. Ekeye-Ovedhe Close, Okumagba Layout: Warri South LGA.

8. General Hospital Road, Oghara: Ethiope West LGA.

9. Old Sapele/Warri Road from Amukpe Junction to Ikwuehu, with a spur to Ayemidejor Close: Sapele LGA.

10. Orerokpe-Okulohor-Oviri Road: Okpe LGA.

11. Osubi- Okuokoko Road and environs, Phase 1: Okpe/Uvwie LGA.

12. Internal roads and drains in Kurutie/Kurutie internal roads phase 2: Warri South West LGA.

13. Construction of Obitobon-Elolo-Ajaokurogbo-Orubu Road Phase 2, Ogidigben: Warri North LGA.

14. Iyke Oputa Street, Aboh: Ndokwa East LGA.

15. Construction of Issele-Azagba-Otulu Road: Aniocha North and South LGA.

16. Reclamation of gully erosion site along Okpanam-Ibusa bypass Road for the sustainability of the new road: Oshimili North LGA.

Exco also approved the renovation of over 150 Primary Health Care Centres across the state, and the purchase of two Computerized Tomography (CT) scanning machines, one each for the Central Hospital, Warri, and the Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH), Oghara, meaning that several wards and Communities in virtually every Local Government Area would benefit from the health improvement investment and our people will no longer have to go to Onitsha or Benin to get first hand and first class medical attention and treatment.

In the same vein the Exco presided over by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori approved N3.55bn as counterpart funding for the 2024 Universal Basic Education Programme which is sure to benefit so many communities in all the Local Government Areas and Senatorial Districts.

Deltans are indeed lucky that, against this backdrop of APC national misgovernance over the years, we now have the baton holder of the administration today in His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Governor of Delta State, who is doing marvelously well with his M.O.R.E. Agenda and for which Deltans and residents are pleased.

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has demonstrated a stoic determination to manage Delta into a debt-free State and the relative increase in oil production output, spearheaded by the Enhanced Peace and Security component of the MORE Agenda has established sustainable peace and ensured efficient management of relations with oil producing communities.

Deltans know that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori is working very hard, especially in this early stage of his administration, and they are seeing the good governance in valuable measure.

Governor Sheriff will definitely do M.O.R.E for Deltans as the tenure unfolds.

■ Elder Godslove Preye,
National Chairman,
M.O.R.E. Reality Group,
Wrote in from Ojobo, Delta State.

Edo 2024: Oshiomhole and the politics of character assassination

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By George Etakibuebu

In Edo State, former governor and current sitting senator, Adams Oshiomhole, is easily the master of the politics of character assassination. He does it with a closed, dead mind, damning whatever the consequences could be, both for him and whoever he chooses to attack.

Janus faced, forked tongued, smooth talker and highly unpredictable, Oshiomhole displays an uncommon negative energy, inherent vindictiveness with uncanny petty jealousies whenever he is possessed by the evil demon of running others down.

When it comes to politics, Oshiomhole is as slippery as an eel and as dangerous as a serpent. No lie is too big for his twisted tongue and no propaganda is too bizarre for his warped imagination.

Endowed with the gift of the garb, the pint sized former unionist, talked his way into Osadebey Avenue, seat of the government of Edo State in 2008. He rode on the waves of discrediting party elders and leaders with his tongue, labelling them “godfathers” and insisting that but for them, the state could have long been a paradise. In his usual deceptive manner, presented himself as Joshua sent to lead the people of Edo into the promised land. But while in Osadebey Avenue, he systematically and cunningly discarded his trademark Khaki which he had adorned all years as a symbol of a pseudo revolutionary.

On a particular occasion, he manifested his true double self when he infamously told a poor, struggling widow to go to hell openly in front of cameras. Confiscated her meagre wares and bundled her into a taskforce truck, making a public show of her in a terribly disgraceful manner. He was happy to mock her disadvantageous condition. Satisfied that he had placated his uncontrollable rage and tongue, and following a public outcry and strong condemnation, the hypocrisy in Oshiomhole showed up. He apologized. Invited the woman, got her before cameras to plead for forgiveness. That was after he had openly disrobed her in public, shamelessly prancing up and down to show that he is a “man of action”.

Soon, eight years were done and a successor was now needed. He discarded his deputy, Chief Pius Odubu like an unwanted tissue paper. He found Godwin Obaseki worthy of being the chosen one. He immediately started playing the “godfather” which he had bad-mouthed like there was no tomorrow. Having kicked Odubu out of the way, he characteristically, sang the praises of Obaseki to high heavens. But in doing that, moved against another in the meanest way imaginable. He literally destroyed Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu with his forked tongue. He said a lot about the ‘Man of God’, the majority of which are simply unprintable, including how he held The Bible during the day and carried an AK 47 at night. In fact, he so badly damaged Ize- Iyamu with his mouth that it took only the grace of God to keep him still standing on his feet today. Ize-Iyamu lost the election. Obaseki won.

Oshiomhole was happy. He went about with the air of an uncommon godfather. But his bid to play the godfather backfired spectacularly as Obaseki refused to be dictated to. He asserted that he was his own man.

And that was the ‘mortal sin’ Obaseki committed. As a sitting governor he was pronounced unqualified by a diminutive and pint size party chairman with a megalomaniac sense of self importance.
A man who doesn’t care to yank off his nose just to spite his own face, Oshiomhole shamelessly became the campaigner-in-chief and literally the spokesman of Ize- Iyamu in 2020 when he dumped his former party, the PDP and crossed to the APC.
In a rare case of coincidence in politics, Obaseki and Ize- Iyamu had to face each other for the second time for the same office from opposite parties this time. It was the direct result of the manipulation of the process by Oshiomhole.

As a master of character assassination, Oshiomhole went to work, digging up all sorts of dirty allegations against Obaseki and at the same time shamelessly dry-cleaning Ize-Iyamu whom he had literally assassinated four years earlier as a guber candidate. Obaseki, nonetheless, triumphed over oshiomhole’s diabolical shenanigans.

Another four years is here and Oshiomhole is at it again. In his avowed quest to foist mediocrity on Edo State while playing godfather, has simply thrown caution to the wind, dancing naked, as it were, in the market square. Just now, he is spewing all sorts of godforsaken lies and propaganda from his dirty, twisted mouth.

Oshiomhole, sore afraid of Dr Asue Ighodalo, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 21 governorship election in the state and knowing for sure that he remains the biggest nemesis to his party the APC and candidate, Monday Okpebholo, has resorted to
his well known trade mark of character assassination. He now uses every opportunity to make direct attacks of wild and unsubstantiated claims, shamelessly lying and peddling unfounded allegations against Ighodalo.

Oshiomhole is advised to market his unsellable and uninspiring candidate and stop his character assassination against Ighodalo, who is generally loved and has been accepted by the people of the state. Edo people have made up their minds to support and vote for him. No amount of lies told by Oshiomhole will change that. Ighodalo is God’s project for Edo State. It’s for this reason that he remains fully focused on his “Pathway to Prosperity for All” manifesto which he has since unveiled. His victory over all evil machinations spearheaded by Oshiomhole is as sure as daybreak.

*… Etakibuebu, a public affairs analyst, wrote in from Benin City.*

UNIDEL VC Commends DOPF For Coverage Of Varsity’s  Activities, Seeks Greater Partnership

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Members of DOPF in a group photograph with UNIDEL VC, Prof Stella Chiemeke

Delta Online Publishers Forum, on Thursday, visited the University of Delta, Agbor, to rub minds with the authorities of the institution on possible areas of collaboration that will benefit both parties.

Receiving the DOPF delegation, led by the Chairman, Mr Emmanuel Enebeli, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Stella Chiemeka, commended the online publishers for adding value to the visibility of the institution through effective reportage.

Prof. Stella Chiemeke

Prof. Chiemeka said she was impressed with the wide publicity the Forum was giving the activities of the University, which she noted had helped to popularize the institution and make it the preferred choice of admission seekers.

The professor of Computer Science pledged the readiness of UNIDEL, known for academic excellence and good sporting records, to partner with DOPF in taking the institution to greater heights, expressing optimism that the synergy would work.

While saying that the admission quota of the University was dependent on the limit set by JAMB, the VC revealed that the number of applicants seeking admission to the University had increased from about one thousand to over eleven thousand, while all the 74 programmes of the institution had been accredited by the National Universities Commission ( NUC) in the past three years.

She added that the institution’s medical courses were currently undergoing accreditation, with bright prospects of being fully accredited by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, pointing out that the State Governor, Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, had approved the use of the Trauma Centre, Agbor, for the teaching of medical programmes to boost the quality of products of the College of Medical Sciences.

Prof. Stella Chiemeke receiving DOPF proposal from Mr. Emmanuel Enebeli

Speaking on behalf of the Forum,  the Chairman Mr Emmanuel Enebeli congratulated the Vice Chancellor on her appointment and lauded her for the monumental achievements recorded within three years of her administration.

Mr. Enebeli solicited a more robust DOPF partnership with UNIDEL through the publication of stories on the activities of the University community, assuring the VC that the institution would be better for it.

The visit featured the presentation of souvenirs to the DOPF delegation.

Members of DOPF in a group photograph with UNIDEL VC, Prof Stella Chiemeke

Tomori bags chieftaincy title of Giwa Iyalode of Owu Kingdom

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By Abel Johngold

The Palace of the Olowu of Owu kingdom was agog with celebration as former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Nigeria’s first elected female Speaker and former Speaker of Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Chief Mrs) Titilayo Oseni, members of the Univerrsity of Ibadan Alumni Association (UIAA) worldwide graced the installation ceremony of the new Giwa Iyalode, Chief (Dr) Oyinade Olujimi Tomori, JP, as ‘Giwa Iyalode’ of Owu kingdom in Ogun State.

She was installed alongside eight others at the Palace of the Paramount ruler of the ancient Owu Kingdom on Thursday, 1st August, 2024.

This explained that since assuming the throne of his forefathers, HRM (Prof) Saka Adebola Matemilola Otileta VII, The Olowu of Owu Kingdom has continued to build bridges of peaceful co-existence and national unity.

The Conferment of this title on Dr. Tomori by the Owu Kingdom is a further testimony to that people appreciate Dr. Tomori’s contribution to national development and humanity in general. The title should further reinvigorate Dr. Tomori to do more for posterity”.

Explaining the significance of the ‘Giwa Iyalode’ title, HRM (Prof) Saka Adebola Matemilola Otileta VII The Olowu of Owu Kingdom, said it was reserved for merited people who have shown strong abilities and with traits of becoming emerging leaders and providing leadership and direction for the people.

He enjoined Dr Tomori to remain good Ambassadors of the kingdom. He stated that all through Owu kingdom, she will be revered, accepted and recognized as title holders, and treated as a recognized daughter of Owu Kingdom.

The revered monarch described Dr. Tomori as a woman with strong and exceptional character difficult to find in many people. He said as panache as Tomori was, she has mingled and served in her endeavors in the interest of humanity and people have only glowing things to say about her.

Responding to questions from pressmen shortly after her installation, Chief (Dr) Oyinade Olujimi Tomori, JP thanked HRM (Prof) Saka Adebola Matemilola Otileta VII The Olowu of Owu Kingdom for considering her worthy of the title.

While pledging to live up to the integrity, prestige and expectations of the Giwa Iyalode title, the UIAA Worldwide Treasurer promised to always stand for women, children and human development.

Congratulating the new Giwa Iyalode of Owu Kingdom, the immediate past President of UIAA Worldwide, Prof. Elsie Olufunke Adewoye said “Chief (Dr) Oyinade Olujimi Tomori, Giwa Iyalode of Owu Kingdom !!! I salute you ooo!!! Bi e tie pe wa. Congratulations!! Oye a mori o! More wins o!!”

In his congratulatory message, the former Worldwide Secretary of UIAA, Mr. Sam Obinyan, said “Congratulations my Worldwide Exchequer, Chief Dr Oyinade Olujimi Tomori, JP on your installation as the Giwa Iyalode of Owu Kingdom. You truly deserved the honour as you have practically shown your sense of duty and commitment to all your assigned engagements both in public and private concerns, especially your knack for volunteerism. I wish you more of these accolade and recognition. Pls, keep the flag flying. I know you have not gotten to your peak yet. You still have more to offer in enhancing our human civilization.
Once again, I say congratulations to our ever smiling and pretty Exchequer.”

Also congratulating her, the Secretary of Isoko Chapter of UIAA, Dr. Clement Adjekpiyede, said “The Isoko chapter of the Association celebrate Chief (Dr) Mrs Tomori on the recent installation as the Iyalode of Owu Kingdom. You shall continue to attain greater heights on your earthly journey.”

On his part, the Worldwide Publicity Secretary of UIAA, Publicist Abel Johngold, stated that he was convinced that the decision of the Paramount ruler of Owu Kingdom to confer the Giwa Iyalode title on Dr. Tomori was well thought out, timely and a reflection of the mood of the nation. He said this honour should serve as a source of encouragement to her to continue to serve the country and humanity.

The ceremony was witnessed by a large crowd from within the kingdom, Ogun State and across the Country, family, the UIAA Community in Ogun State led by its Chairman, Rev’d Kayode Ajibare and numerous well wishers.

High light of the occasion was the installation of Dr. Oyinade Olujimi Tomori, JP, the Worldwide Treasurer of the University of Ibadan Alumni Association as The Giwa Iyalode of Owu Kingdom by HRM (Prof) Saka Adebola Matemilola Otileta VII The Olowu of Owu Kingdom. Dressed in the Yoruba royal traditional regalia, a royal crown was placed on her head with a staff of office handed to her.

The Youruba cultural troupes thrilled the crowd at the occasion with different traditional dances.

It was indeed a blend of royalty and culture at its peak.

PRESS RELEASE: NOA DELTA STATE DIRECTOR, COMRADE MRS. TRACY OMAMODE IKOLOMI DISSUADES DELTANS FROM PROTEST; HARPS ON SUSTAINED DIALOGUE AND ENGAGEMENT WITH GOVERNMENT.

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By Cmr Wilbet Ijeoma

The State Director of National Orientation Agency, Delta State Directorate, Comrade Mrs. Tracy Omamode Ikolomi has dissuaded Deltans from the planned nationwide protest, while persuading the masses to give dialogue a chance for peace, security, development and safety of our nation as the Holy Scripture rightly puts it that; “Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.” Proverbs 11:14.

This is against the backdrop of the planned nationwide protest over the recent economic hardship faced by Nigerians slated for 1st to 10th August 2024. Speaking to the Press in the State Directorate’s Office at Federal Secretariat Complex, Asaba, the State Director appealed to the conscience of Deltans in particular and Nigerians in general especially youths who have higher manipulative tendencies in the planned protest, adding that protest in recent times had not recorded laudable results in Nigeria but chaos, anarchy and destruction; no thanks to hoodlums and ill-meaning Nigerians who take undue advantage of the liberty in protest.

Speaking further, Ikolomi who doubles as the Secretary of Nigeria Women of Journalists (NAWOJ) Delta State Chapter told Journalists to rise to the occasion and inform Nigerians accurately of the vulnerability of protests and better alternatives at their disposal to ventilate their concerns.

“It is granted that protest is the constitutional right of every citizen; it is good but has to be conducted within the confines of the law in a manner free from lawlessness. But considering the extent of moral decadence and lawlessness especially amongst some Nigerian youths, protest seems to be unfashionable in the Nigerian clime because it has a higher propensity to turn volatile as witnessed in the infamous #ENDSARS Protest in 2021 which recorded casualties and destruction of public infrastructures”; Ikolomi expressed, as she opted that Nigeria cannot afford to suffer another loss in a similar magnitude to that of #ENDSARS.

The NOA Delta State Director affirmed that the National Orientation Agency has a mandate to advocate good governance at all levels, sensitize and conscientize Deltans and Nigerians at large to give dialogue and peace a chance, adding that the present government both at federal and state level is barely one year in office and need more time to get Nigeria in the right trajectory. Ikolomi noted that the Delta State government policies anchored on the M.O.R.E. Agenda of the Governor H.E. Rt. Hon (Elder) Sheriff Oborevwori are laudable and gradually coming to fruition, while the federal government has been deliberate in its policies in quick response to the yearning of Nigerians, adding that the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), the New Minimum Wage regime, Local Government Financial Autonomy, Nigeria Youth Investment Fund (NYIF) are just but a few policies the federal government has rolled out in quick and desperate response to the yearnings of Nigerians.

“There is justification to be patient and give both the state and federal government a little more time”, the Delta NOA helmsman noted, as she harps on constructive dialogue and strategic engagement of critical stakeholders with the government at both state and federal level, as the only veritable means to seeking lasting solution to the collective challenges of Nigerians.

DIDA DG, Elekeokwuri Woos Investors, Partners To Delta

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Delta State Investment Development Agency (DIDA), has intensified its drive for enhanced partnership with local and multinational companies for direct investment in the state economy.

Director General of the agency, Hon Anthony Elekeokwuri, made the call on Sunday July 28, 2024, in Asaba, the State capital while addressing members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), during the Journalists Hangout.

The former lawmaker who represented Ika northeast at the Delta State House of Assembly (DTHA), reiterated the Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori-led administration’s resolve to jumpstart the state economy.

He noted that Delta, is the next destination for investment which is known for peace, highest return on investment, insisting that the State was the next destination and best place for investment for now.

According to him, “we must change the narrative and bring investments into this State. We are looking at our natural resources, Delta State has the potentials and we are very rich in oil and gas.

“And often times, we hear that we want to diversify but while we are diversifying, we will not lose sight of what we have because we have a comparative advantage over other States.

“A State that produces over 30 percent of the crude oil that they export in this country, why are we not supposed to benefit?

“If you look at the agricultural sector, you will also discover that we have over 65 percent of Deltans in that particular sector while the oil and gas industry employs only five percent even with huge marginers.

“While we are trying to encourage agriculture, we are also looking at the high profit and high turnover that we are seeing in the oil and gas industry.

“To diversify is good. It is good for us to be able to enlarge our taxnet but it is not just about IGR but it is about employment of our resources ; human capital and natural resources.

“If we look at the tourism and aquaculture industries; not just the oil and gas industry, we are looking at the mineral resources we have in this State.

“It will interest you to know that in this State, we produce glass and glass is made from Celica. Celica, is a natural resource that we have in Ughelli, Warri and environ”, pointing out the foreign-direct investment would come when there are export elements in them.

He stressed the need for whatever is produced in the State to start and end here, that is, from cultivation, to planting, to harvesting and processing, to packaging, “in this value chain, people get employed.

He disclosed that the strategies of DIDA under his watch, is to create enabling environment and jobs for Deltans, which would result into a multiplier effect for the people.

Anioma State Creation Bill: Aniocha-Oshimili Elders Association Takes A Position

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Izu-Ikei of Aniocha-Oshimili therefore call on all ethnic nationalities to join hands and ensure the realization of Anioma State and other praiseworthy projects for the benefit of Anioma people in particular and Nigeria in general.

Click the link below

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cqYAVXAhOWLURoXyOcsIOVol3THexO4M/view?usp=sharing

 

Senator Joel-Onowakpo Distributes 432 Bags of Urea Fertilizers to Farmers in Delta South

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Bags of fertilizers

Senator representing Delta South Senatorial District, Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, has distributed 432 bags of 50kg Urea fertilizers to farmers in the eight Local Government Areas of Delta South Senatorial District. The distribution took place on Monday at the Senatorial District Constituency Office along Emede-Oleh Road, Emede in Isoko South LGA of Delta State.

Joel-Onowakpo Thomas

Speaking during the distribution exercise, Senator Joel-Onowakpo, who was represented by his Senior Special Adviser on Special Duties/Social Welfare and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Andrew Egunoma, said that the fertilizers were crucial in boosting food production, improving soil fertility, enhancing food security, and promoting economic growth in the senatorial district and the country at large.

While urging the farmers to make good use of the fertilizers, he commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for releasing the items to members of the 10th National Assembly for distribution in their respective constituencies across the country.

“The distribution of these fertilizers is very important, considering the food shortage crisis being experienced today across the country. These fertilizers will provide essential nitrogen to crops, which will ultimately lead to increased yields and better quality produce.

Bags of fertilizers

“May I also inform you that the fertilizers will help maintain soil fertility and reduce the need for frequent soil replenishment. This will enhance food security and boost economic activities in our senatorial district as well as the country.

“I charge you not to take this gesture from Mr. President for granted. Our dear President, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, is highly committed to enhancing food security in the country. I urge you to make good use of the fertilizers to achieve this agenda.

“Let me appreciate Mr. President for releasing the Urea fertilizers to legislators. This move will ensure that the fertilizers reach the grassroots across all constituencies in the country,” he said.

Joel-Onowakpo Thomas
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