No going back on Edo poll, says INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday said the Edo State governorship election will hold on Saturday as planned.
The electoral agency noted yesterday’s  protest by students who complained that the poll will clash with the General Certificate Examination (GCE) organised by the West African examination Council (WAEC).
INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu’s media aide Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, who spoke on telephone, said the commission, the political parties, security agencies and other stakeholders were ready for the poll.
He said while the INEC sympathised with the affected examination candidates, the poll cannot be shifted because the stage is already set.
Oyekanmi recalled that during the last stakeholders meeting in Benin City, the state capital, involving INEC officials, security agents and representatives of parties, the Edo State Commissioner of Police raised the issue.

Why Edo should vote wisely, by Obaseki

Obaseki and Ize-Iyamu

The people of Edo State will decide on the future of the state on Saturday. They have two options; either to vote for Godwin Obaseki of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the continuity of progress or endorse the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu. Group Polical Editor EMMANUEL OLADESUwrites on the succession battle in the Southsouth state.
Who should succeed Governor Adams Oshiomhole among the 14 candidates eyeing the Edo State Government House? This is the question on the lips of observers as the people prepare for the Saturday poll. The answer to the puzzle is not elusive. To resolve the puzzle, three factors are important; what has happened in the past, what is happening now and what the people expect in the future.
Eyes are on two parties; the ruling All Progressives Congres

‘Edo can become another Lagos’

Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has urged the people of Edo State to troop out and vote for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Godwin Obaseki on Saturday for the continuity of the people-friendly policies and programmes.
Speaking at the grand rally of the APC  at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, Ambode said Edo, being the heartbeat of the South-south region, has all it takes to become another Lagos, but the people must play their part by voting for Obaseki to build on the successes recorded in the last seven and half years by Governor Adams Oshiomhole.
Ambode who is the Chairman of APC National Campaign Council for the Edo governorship election, said without any controversy, Edo State under Governor Oshiomhole had witnessed the best developmental progress more than any other period in the last 17 years, saying that a vote for APC in the coming election would be another sure way to greater progress.

IGP deploys DIG, AIG, 3 CPs, 25,000 personnel, others

The Ag. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris has deployed a Deputy Inspector General of Police, (DIG), an Assistant Inspector General of Police and three commissioners of police to Edo State for the governorship election.
The election is scheduled for Sturday.
The senior officers are expected to coordinate the security operations, supervise the deployment of personnel, to facilitate the electoral process throughout the state.
The police boss also deployed additional 25,000 police personnel comprising the Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter Terrorism Units (CTU), anti-bomb squad, marine Police, conventional policemen, armament units, personnel from Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID), Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) and the Sniffer Dog Section.
The IGP noted that police aerial surveillance helicopters, gun boats, armoured personnel carriers and 550 patrol vehicles would be deployed to cover all the polling units.  The deployment according to the IGP, is to ensure that the election is conducted in accordance to electoral law and in the atmosphere of peace and security.

This is contained in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday by the Spokesman of the Force, DCP Don Awunah.
The force further said  that Idris would convene a peace meeting of all the political parties, candidates, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials, election observers and other stakeholders in the state.
According to the statement: “This meeting will focus on the overall desirability of peace during the election and adherence to the rules of the game.
“All police personnel and other complementing sister security agencies are under strict instructions to be professionally polite and civil, but firm in the discharge of their statutory duties,” he said.
The police explained that the meeting was part of measures aimed at guaranteeing a credible election.
He also advised political parties, traditional rulers, community leaders as well as parents and guardians to prevail on their members, supporters, subjects, children and wards to be law abiding.
“The law will be fully applied on any person or group of persons found violating the Electoral Act,’’ he said.
Idris assured the electorate and all law abiding citizens of the state, of adequate security throughout the election and enjoined them to cooperate with the police in the discharge of their duties as the security personnel will operate within the framework of democratic policing.

We believe Obaseki ‘ll do better in Edo, says NUT

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Edo State has said it believed candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, will do better in terms of teachers’ welfare and state of education in the state.
It said it was happy with the current state of education and absolved Governor Adams Oshiomhole of owing them salaries.
Chairman of NUT, Comrade Mike Uhunwangho, stated this during an interactive with Obaseki.
Uhunwangho urged Obaseki to sustain the regular payment policy in the state, as well as provision of buses for teachers.
Obaseki assured the teachers that he would not take them for granted and promised to hold frequent teacher’s conference to address problems of teachers in the state.

‘Ize-Iyamu envious of my achievements’

oshiomole

Governor Adams Oshiomhole says the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, is jealous of his achievements. He achieved a feat which the PDP government failed to do in 10 years.
In a response to Ize-Iyamu’s allegation that the Oshiomhole government caused the flooding on Ugbowo road, Benin City, the governor, through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Peter Okhiria, said: “We note that Mr Ize-Iyamu is still living in the past; a past filled with emptiness and incompetence which was displayed by the Government of Mr Lucky Igbinedion in which Ize-Iyamu served as Chief of Staff and Secretary to Government.
“It is laughable that Ize-Iyamu has come out to make such a wild allegation of flooding on Ugbowo road. The same road on which many people were washed away by flood during their eight years of crass incompetence and cluelessness.

‘I ‘ll not be a puppet to any godfather’

•Obaseki

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said he would not be a puppet to any godfather, if elected governor. Obaseki made the declaration during a live programme on TVC monitored in Benin-City yesterday.

He said: “I will not be a puppet to any godfather or godmother if I become governor of Edo State”. The APC candidate said if he needed to be a puppet to anybody, he would rather be a puppet to the good people of Edo State, whose mandate are required to become the governor. Obaseki described  Governor Adams Oshiomhole as a true democrat who, according to him, does not like the concept of godfatherism, let alone expecting someone else to be his puppet.

He commended the great achievements of the administration of which he was an integral part, and promised to work on the good template already set by the governor to move the state to greater heights. Obaseki promised to make a more positive difference in governance and deliver more dividends of democracy to the good people of the state.

Catholic men drum support for APC

A head the governorship election, the Catholic Men Organisation has endorsed the All Progressives Congress  (APC) candidate, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, and his running mate, Hon. Philip Shaibu.

The body, which described the two candidates as worthy ambassador in their chosen careers, explained that it has started mobilising it people across the 18 local government areas to support Obaseki and Shaibu.

At a reception in honour of Shaibu in Auchi by the Catholic Diocese of Auchi, the body said as a recipient of the prestigious catholic men ambassador award, Shaibu is assured of their supports during poll.

Shaibu donates bus to Edo North

Philip Shaibu

The joy of the Catholic Women Organisation of Edo North (Auchi Diocese) knew no bound yesterday when the deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Mr. Philip Shaibu donated an 18-seater brand new bus originally bought for his campaign to the group.

While announcing the donation, his wife, Mrs Mary-Ann Shaibu, said the gesture became necessary when she found  out that only the Edo North CWO did not have a bus in Edo State.

During a programme in Benin last month, she discovered that only the Edo North CWO did not come with a bus of its own and God ministered to her she vowed to provide the bus for the Catholic women.

“In fulfillment of the vow, she urged  her husband to donate the bus to the organisation.

Responding on behalf of the women, the President, Mrs. Felicity Izobo, expressed gratitude to the donor, stressing that she was overwhelmed with joy.  The president said, mobility has been their biggest challenges.

Presidency denies poisonous rice importation

Femi Adesina, President NGE

IT is uncharitable for anybody to link the Federal Government  and Dangote Group with a plot to ‘flood’ the country with Genetically Modified (GMO) rice, the Presidency said yesterday.

The government was reacting to some individuals on social media to link the importation of killer-rice to the government and the company.

In a statement, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said that the Federal Government in 2014 signed a $1 billion Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for investment in integrated rice project  with Dangote Industries Ltd.

The statement clarified that in line with the agreement, Dangote Industries Limited this year cultivated over 8,000 hectares in Hadejia, Jigawa State, creating over 10,000 direct and indirect jobs for farmers who are the major beneficiaries of the scheme.

It reads: “In consolidation of the rice project of the Federal Government, President Muhammadu Buhari administration is also in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and other reputable companies to tap into the vast potentials in the private sector and broadening the economic base of the country.

Three aspirants petition against APC primary’s result

THE Appeal Committee set up by the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee confirmed yesterday it received three petitions from aggrieved aspirants on the conduct of Ondo State governorship primary.

Its Chairman, Mrs. Helen Bendega, said the committee would look dispassionately into the petitions, and promised that justice will be dispensed in the matter.

Former National President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Chief Rotimi Akeredolu was elected winner of the primary, supervised by Jigawa State Governor Badaru Abubakar.

Some APC stakeholders have rejected the election, alleging that the list of delegates used was not the same list given to them by the party’s national leadership.

An aspirant, Akinwale Akingbade, told reporters in a telephone interview that some people who came to the venue as delegates were not on the list they were given.

Wanted journalist Salkida released

Salkida

Less than 48 hours after he was taken into custody by the Department of State Security Service(DSS), a journalist, Ahmed Salkida, has regained freedom.

He might be allowed to renew his international passport to be able to rejoin his family in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

It was learnt that Salkida was released because there was no incriminating allegation against him.

He was also said to have made “honest and frank” suggestions to the government in the past on how to resolve the abduction of the Chibok girls through dialogue.

According to a top source, Salkida was released on Tuesday after he told his interrogators that all his stories were “only in line of duty as a journalist.”

Council of State okays Buhari’s recession plans

•President Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari’s measures to take the country out of recession have received the support of the Council of State.

After being briefed at yesterday’s meeting – the second to be called by Buhari since he assumed office on May 29, last year – members endorsed the measures after making some suggestions.

The meeting also ratified the appointment of Ibrahim Idris as Inspector General of Police (IGP), pending the Senate’s ratification.

The Police Council had on Wednesday confirmed Idris’ appointment.

Idris has been acting IGP since the retirement of Solomon Arase last June.

Five feared killed as Hausa, Fulani clash

A man injured during the clash receiving first aid treatment...yesterday

No fewer than five persons were yesterday feared killed and many others injured as some Hausa and Fulani men clash in Lagos

The cause of the fracas in Abbattior/Kara, Agege, was the alleged robbery of some Hausa men by some Fulani boys at a hotel in Kogiri.

The police confirmed the clash but said only one person died in the violence that lasted for many hours.

The area was tension-soaked in spite of the heavy security presence and the deployment of an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) by the Rapid Response Squad (RRS).

There were many accounts of the incident as recounted by those who claimed to have knowledge of it.

A trader who gave his name as Usman said the Hausa boys complained to their brothers and a complaint was filed before the Seriki Fulani, Bello Damobapa, who allegedly took no action to sanction the boys.

Angered by the alleged silence of the Seriki, the Hausa boys were said to have stormed his palace on Tuesday night and vandalised three Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) belonging to him, his deputy and secretary.

By yesterday morning, it was learnt that a crowd of Fulani boys armed with sticks, bottles and cutlasses trooped to the railway lines where Hausa scraps collectors operate and started attacking people.

Usman said: “I usually sleep here but last night something just made me go home and I did. So I came out here around 7am and one woman told me to go back that Hausa and Fulani men were fighting.

“But I crossed to the other side and I saw a large number of Fulani people. They were carrying sticks with which they rear cattle, cutlasses and bottles. They were marching down, attacking anyone in sight

“The retreating Hausa men regrouped and confronted the Fulani group. The Hausa group called their kins from other markets for reinforcement. They came from Katangura, Agege and other markets. They chased the Fulani back into the abattoir complex.

“By that time, the police and soldiers had not come.  When they chased the Fulani people back, the Fulani went into the market and started attacking anyone they saw. They attacked even people who are not Hausa.

Police spokesman Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent (SP) said four persons had been arrested.

She said the fight erupted following the assault of a Hausa girl by a Fulani man.

“The command’s operatives from Area G, RRS, and Abattoir Division moved in to quell the crisis. Normalcy was restored. Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni has directed that a peace parley be held with leaders of both groups. We shall also intensify the patrol of the area.

“Value of properties destroyed are  yet unknown, one person died, four suspects were arrested,” she said.

DSS, police to INEC: shift Edo governorship election

DSS

Citing terrorist threats during the forthcoming Sallah celebrations, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the police yesterday jointly asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone Saturday governorship election in Edo State.

At a joint media briefing, which lasted less than five minutes at DSS headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, police spokesman Don Awunah and Garba Abdullahi of DSS stated that the move became necessary because of intelligence reports about insurgents’ plans.

Abdullahi and Awunah, who read a prepared one-page text on behalf of the two security agencies, refused to take questions from reporters.

“The Nigeria Police and Department of State Services wish to inform the general public that credible intelligence availed the agencies indicate plans by insurgent/extremist elements to attack vulnerable communities and soft targets with high population during the forthcoming Sallah celebrations between 12th and 13th September, 2016.

“Edo state is amongst the states being earmarked for these planned attacks by the extremist elements.” Awunah stated, emphasising that the issue deserves to be treated with seriousness.

INEC keeps parties, others in suspense over Edo poll

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chair Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu yesterday convened a stakeholders’ meeting in Benin, the Edo State capital, after receiving the security advice that Saturday’s governorship election should be shifted.

Leaders of political parties, civil society and traditional rulers attended the meeting, which sparked a huge debate and suspense.

Yakubu told the impromptu gathering that the call for postponement had nothing to with the preparation for the election. He said INEC was ready for a successful poll.

He is to meet with security agencies for more details about the threat and how it could affect the election.

A decision will be taken today on whether the election will go on or not, Yakubu said, adding that the independence of INEC is guaranteed.