Social Reporters News Service, published by IOE Publishers - CAC/BN/3400383

The Office of the Governor of Edo State has in the past few days been inundated with various public comments, criticisms and (in some cases) opportunistic posturing by the political opposition party regarding a “Grazing Bill” currently said to be under consideration by the Honourable Members of the Edo State House of Assembly. The Government would wish to make the following facts clear to concerned members of the public:           (i)      The Government has absolutely no knowledge of or participation in the said bill particularly as same is certainly not an Executive Bill and did not emanate from Government House;           (ii)     Preliminary enquiries indicate that the said “Grazing Bill” is a private member bill currently undergoing consideration by the Legislature in furtherance of its power and responsibility in that  regard. Whilst the Executive arm fully respects and recognizes the vital role of the Legislature in the Law making process, Government is concerned at the fa

*As Court Sentence Mother of Four to 15yrs Imprisonment By: Patrick Ochoga, Benin City A notorious human trafficker, Vivian Ehioze, her brother, Pastor Endurance Ehioze, of Heavenly Ambassadors Ministries Inc, both specialises in trafficking of young girls from Benin City to Russia for Prostitution have been arrested by men of the Nigeria Police Force, Edo State Command. Endurance who is based in Benin is said to use the Church as a fertile ground to lure young girls in search of greener pastures into prostitution with the collaboration of the sister in Russia. Their arrest was made possible based on a tip-off by an Edo based Non-Governmental Organization, Initiative for Youths Awareness on Migration, Immigration, Development &Re-integration, IYAMIDR, which deals with issues of illegal trafficking. One of the trafficked victim, Miss Florence Abu, (24) who was recently reunited with her family is currently seeking urgent assistant from spirited individual and government said af

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state has denied having a hand in the Anti-Grazing Bill, which has passed its second reading, at the Edo House of Assembly, noting that the government’s position on the bill would be made known at the public hearing. This was according to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr John Mayaki, who also explained that comments from the opposition party, People’s Democratic Party (PDP), were severely misguided and stemmed from lack of proper investigation. Mr Mayaki said, “What PDP, in its characteristic manner, has failed to realise is that the Anti-Grazing Bill in the House of Assembly, which they have declaimed so much on, did not emanate from the executive, and is even a Private Member’s bill. “The government is well-aware of the terror concern in the state, but we are also making swift security moves to address the situation. The governor has called security meetings and even attended one in Abuja recently, to ensure that lasting s

By John Mayaki Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, on Friday, brought to the fore the need for Nigerians to continue to live in unity despite their political affiliations, while also emphasising that the difference in the ruling parties of both Delta and Edo States does not divide them. This was in Asaba where Governor Obaseki attended the inauguration of Bridge FM, a radio station aimed at uniting people and bridging every divide in the society, which was commissioned by Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor of Delta State. Continuing, Governor Obaseki explained that political affiliations should not be considered more important than the unity the people of both states shared because in spite of their differences, both states shared the same heritage and were one. He said, “Edo and Delta people are one. We used to be one state (Bendel). So political affiliation cannot divide us.” Meanwhile, he commended the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Radio station, Dr Henry Nzekwu for the st

The blame for what Nigeria has become falls on you and me. Not Buhari, not Jonathan, not Obasanjo and definitely not Abacha. Our wickedness stinks to the heavens as we go about our daily lives, pulling down everyone and everything to become rich. We import substandard products, fake drugs and expired baby food unfit for human consumption and we have the nerve to complain about leadership? We even steal from widows, orphans, and refugees. We take their food and sell it for profit. No conscience. Nothing is sacred. No one is spared. We build substandard roads, schools, houses, hospitals, all for profit at the expense of human life;an invaluable item which all our profit and contract sum cannot buy. One would think this behavior is reserved for urchins but it would surprise you that this is the character of many decent looking people who appear to be normal but are not any better than Boko Haram members. They are church members, Muslims, husbands, wives and sadly youths. We pervert ju

Former Vice President and Chieftain of All Progressives Congress, Atiku Abubakar commends the resolution of the APC Progressive Governors Forum which called for restructuring and true federalism, saying that the issue transcends religion and ethnicity. The former Vice President also describes as patriotic the convergence of positions around restructuring by leaders and stakeholders from diverse regions of the country noting that it confirms that he (Atiku Abubakar) was not just a lone voice in the wilderness in the inevitability of restructuring of Nigeria for the good of all. The former Vice President, in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday by his Media Office, explains that the agitations for secession would not have arisen if the country had shown sincere readiness to address the underlying problems that feed the agitations by separatist forces. According to the Waziri Adamawa, the restructuring debate transcends the ambition of any single politician in Nigeria, and that any at

By John Mayaki “How was my presentation?” Gov Obaseki asked his Press Crew. "Hope you followed through?" It is said that a picture is worth ten thousand words. However, a cursory look at the picture accompanying this article will not reveal the entire story herein portrayed. The setting was the boardroom of Edo State Government House where His Excellency, Governor Godwin Obaseki had just finished a mind-blowing PowerPoint presentation to the management team of Bank of Industry, BOI, led by MD/CEO, Olukayode Pitan, on Wednesday, June 21, 2017, convincing them on why Edo was an investment destination of choice. As is customary, visitors are accompanied downstairs by His Excellency for a group photograph. However, on this rare occasion, the governor “abandoned”, as it were, an entourage of top bankers with money to plough into industrialization of the state. He walked up to his Press Corps to have a brief chat with them. Then he asked: “How was my presentation? Hope you

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has advised against placing advertisements across the various media platforms to celebrate his 58th birthday on July 1st this year, urging friends and well-wishers, who may want to do so to donate the expenses to WeCare Trust. In a statement endorsed by Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. John Mayaki, it was revealed that Governor Obaseki was unhappy with the rate of helpless children in the state and he had been making moves to curb the spread and rectify the social damage. The statement read, “Governor Obaseki has been worried and taking steps to end the societal stigma of helpless children living of the streets and witnessing the worst parts of life before they have even had a chance to live. He will not rest until he has addressed this satisfactorily. “He has met with religious leaders and has tried to upswing education in the state, he has also decided that funds that should have been directed to advertising felicitations for his b

A 42 year-old father of six, Babangida Garuba, is now in police custody in Katsina for having sex with a goat. Garuba, a Goldsmith at the Kasuan Mata area in Funtua, was allegedly caught in the act by his wife who raised the alarm that attracted residents who eventually handed him over to the police. Garuba was among other suspects paraded at the headquarters of Katsina State police command on Thursday for various offences. He told journalists he could not say exactly what pushed him into committing the act, though he confessed that it was the second time he engaged in such an act. Garuba said in Hausa, “Yes, it’s true, I had an affair with a goat. My wife caught me while doing it and she shouted. It would be the second time I would do it, but I don’t know why I did it; I have six children while my wife is still pregnant.” The state Police Commissioner, Aliyu Abdullahi, confirmed the incident, adding that Garuba would soon appear in court.

- 175 Nigerians have returned from Libya - The returnees arrive Lagos on Tuesday June 21 around 7.50p.m - They were brought back by the International Organisation for Migration Another batch of One Hundred and Seventy-five (175) Nigerians voluntarily returned from Libya on Tuesday aboard a chartered Nouvelair aircraft with registration number TS-INA. The aircraft landed at 7.50p.m at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. The returnees were made up of of 34 males, 122 females, 10 children and nine infants. They were brought back by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the Nigerian Embassy in Libya. They were brought back by the International Organisation for Migration The returnees were received at the Hajj Camp area of the airport by officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the Police. Also on ground to receive them were officials of the National Emergency M

By Comrade Onaivi Cephas It was another interesting moment two weeks ago when the Appeal Court decided the case brought to it by the People’s Democratic Party and its candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, against the victory of Governor Godwin Obaseki of the All Progressives Congress in the September 2016 Edo State Governorship Election. In appealing the judgement of the Tribunal, the petitioners raked up many claims that turned out to be figments of their feverish imagination. This piece captures the core of those erroneous contentions and the positions of the appellate court on them. In dismissing the appellants’ case, the trial judge notes that having perused the issues formulated by the appellants along with the grounds of appeal, it is very obvious that the appellants engaged in prolixity and proliferation of grounds of appeal and issues. But the Supreme Court has consistently emphasized the fact that the success or failure of an appeal is not dependent on the quantity of the gro

BY Sanusi Lamido Sanusi Tribalism is not our problem. Tribalism and religion are artificial problems created by selfish leaders for their own personal interest. There are only two major tribes in Nigeria. The Elites and the Masses. Once you make lots of money, you belong to the elite tribe. When you are a commoner or suffering, you belong to the tribe of the masses. If you are an elite, and you need more power, or elective position, you sow seeds of tribalism and religion among the masses, so as to sway their emotion for your personal victory. This happens at both the national and state level. Unfortunately, after the election when they have won and joined their “sworn enemies” to drink and party, the gullible masses continue to fight each other. Even smart people who belong to the masses, sometimes will sow seeds of tribalism and religion among the masses, and then the masses will carry them up until they belong to the elite class.  It is a classic strategy used over 3000 years ago

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has announced the appointment of Professor Julius Ihonvbere as Chairman, Strategic Planning Team, Governor's Office, a statement endorsed by the Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie said. In addition the governor named Chief Osaro Idah as Special Adviser on Political and Community Matters, Mr Crusoe Osagie as Special Adviser, Media and Communication Strategy, Prince Joe Okojie as Special Adviser, Agriculture and Food Security Programme, Mr Joseph Eboigbe as Special Adviser on Economic and Development Planning, Hon Gowon Yakubu, Special Adviser on Special Duties and Dr Joan Oviawe, Special Adviser on Basic Education. A statement from the Office of the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor said the governor was in line with a promise made during an interview with Channels TV, which he granted after the Appeal Court judgement in Edo State, to announce major political appointments in his administration. The statement revealed that

By Idemudia Oviosun (PhD)  Well-groomed and full-looking moustaches make people look serious, even when they are telling lies. It therefore is no surprise that one anonymous fellow, sporting a particularly intimidating upper lip adorned with the most delightful crop of moustache this side of the hemisphere, painted the town red with a video of terrible lamentations, and was ultimately taken seriously.  This inciteful fellow, whose identity remains to the public as much a mystery as that one-shoed belle of fairy tales, Cinderella’s identity remains a mystery to the equally fairy tale Prince Charming, directed an unpolitical and impolitic address to Governor Obaseki of Edo State, via the social media, accusing him of black negligence and lack of a father’s compassion.  In his address, he claimed that he was encouraged by the governor’s campaigns in both the United States and Europe to relocate to Edo, his alleged state of origin, and set up a farm to feed the people of the state, whom

The Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Canada has been chosen as the host country for the Women Deliver 5th Global Conference! This groundbreaking conference will bring over 6,000 world leaders, influencers, advocates, academics, activists, and journalists from more than 150 countries to Vancouver 3-6 June 2019. The Women Deliver 2019 Conference – the world’s largest of its kind – will present new knowledge, promote solutions, and serve as a fueling station for accelerating action on the health, rights, and wellbeing of girls and women and achieving a more equal world. Prime Minister Trudeau and Katja Iversen symbolically announced the Women Deliver 2019 Conference in front of the ’Women are Persons!’ monument on the grounds of Parliament Hill in Ottawa. They were joined by Minister of International Development and the Francophonie, Marie-Claude Bibeau; Minister of Status of Women, Maryam Monsef; Deliver for Good influencer, Madame Sophie Grégoire Trudeau; as well

Anambra state born kidnapping kingpin, Evans, who is also a billionaire, has been arrested. The Inspector-General’s Intelligence Response Team (IRT) led by ACP Abba Kyari on Saturday said the suspect was arrested at his Magodo residence in Lagos. “IRT headquarters in Abuja is celebrating the arrest of the most wanted brilliant and notorious high profile kidnapper in Nigeria. “He has collected several billions of Naira as ransom in the last seven years as the kingpin of kidnappers. “He was arrested at about 1.00p.m on Saturday in his residence in Magodo Estate, Lagos,” Kyari said. He commended the Force Headquarters for mobilising the resources to go all out against the “richest and most notorious kidnapper” in the history of Nigeria. Kyari said the Inspector-General had directed that the suspect should be paraded before newsmen on Sunday in Lagos. Evans was said to have masterminded kidnapping operations in Anambra, Edo and Lagos, with Lagos placing a 30 Million Naira bounty on

By Dyepkazah Shibayan Kayode Soremekun, vice-chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), has accused Ayodele Fayose, governor of Ekiti, of threatening his life. Speaking with journalists on Friday, Soremekun said Fayose had been after his life since serving as the chief returning officer in the Edo governorship election where Godwin Obaseki of the All Progressives Congress (APC) defeated Osagie Ize-Iyamu, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The vice-chancellor alleged that during the polls, Fayose put pressure on him to favour Ize-Iyamu. He accused the governor of trying to destabilise the university by supporting union leaders against him. Soremekun also alleged that on one occasion, Fayose personally tore the banner of the university’s convocation. “He (Fayose) ordered his convoy to stop and tore the banner of our convocation. He said it was not properly done, he alighted himself and tore it by himself before proceeding on his journey,” the vice-chance

BRONNIE WARE  For many years I worked in palliative care. My patients were those who had gone home to die. Some incredibly special times were shared. I was with them for the last three to twelve weeks of their lives. People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality. I learnt never to underestimate someone’s capacity for growth. Some changes were phenomenal. Each experienced a variety of emotions, as expected, denial, fear, anger, remorse, more denial and eventually acceptance. Every single patient found their peace before they departed though, every one of them. When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again. Here are the most common five: 1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me. This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have

The police in Lagos on Thursday arrested a pastor allegedly beheading a seven-year old boy and burying his head at the church’s altar. The command’s spokesman, Olarinde Famous-Cole, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) confirmed the arrest to newsmen, stressing that the suspect was arrested with an accomplice at Ikorodu. Famous-Cole said the policemen arrested one Eric, whose confession led to the arrest of the pastor and the recovery of the boy’s body. “On investigation, one of the suspects, Eric confessed to the crime. He led a team of policemen to Odokekere/ Odogunyan in Ikorodu area to apprehend Oyekan, who later led the team to where the seven-year-old boy was beheaded and his head buried. “They hid the body inside canal. The two suspects involved have been arrested and the body and the head of the boy were brought to the station. “Investigation has commenced and the case would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Pan

Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, on Friday, praised the judgement of the Court of Appeal, which upheld his victory at the September 28, 2016 Governorship Election, alongside former governor Adams Oshiomhole, who branded the petition and the appeal against its dismissal as a futile attempt to smuggle through the judiciary. The Court of Appeal, on Friday morning, dismissed the election petition filed by both the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, noting that the Tribunal did a painstaking job and should be commended for its judgment. Commending the appellate court’s verdict, the governor said that the truth would always prevail and he was prepared to appear at the Supreme Court over the case because he won the election and both God and his ancestors had reaffirmed that he won so they (PDP and Ize-Iyamu) could not change the truth. In addition, the governor appreciated the support of Edo citizens, assuring them that his administration was not distracted

The Court of Appeal sitting in Benin City to hear Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and People’s Democratic Party (PDP’s) Appeal against the Election Petition Tribunal Judgement on the September 26 election passed judgement on Friday, upholding the declaration of Governor Godwin Obaseki of All Progressives Congress (APC) as Governor of Edo. Counsels to both parties had argued their briefs on May 30 this year, where Obaseki’s counsel, led by Wole Olanipekun, SAN, urged the court to dismiss the Appeal, saying that the grounds of the appeal were watery. Striking out the appeal, the court, led by Hon. Justice Dongban-Mensen, ruled that the Justice Ahmed Badamasi-led Tribunal did a pain-staking job in its judgement, and so deserved commendation, adding that the Tribunal should be commended for properly evaluating all the witnesses’ evidence and ascribing “probative value” to it. It would be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared the All Progressives Congres

The Federal Government on Sunday said that it will not relent until it has exposed those behind the fake news phenomenon in the country and bring them to justice. In a statement in Abuja, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said that those behind the fake news had the intention of destabilising the polity and causing disunity among the country’s various ethnic and religious groups. The statement was signed by Mr Segun Adeyemi, the Special Adviser to the Minister. The minister urged Nigerians to be extra vigilant in view of the worsening cases of fake news being spread by the unscrupulous persons. Mohammed noted that over the weekend alone, several major cases of fake news were recorded, each of them capable of causing panic, triggering chaos or setting one group against the other. He said that a gory video of a blast that occurred many years ago was being circulated along with the false news of a bomb blast in Abuja, while news of a non-existent bomb blast

Senator Dino Melaye has frowned at the operations of Commercial Banks in Nigeria, saying most of their operations are not in accordance with the laws of the land. Dino Melaye who is a Senator representing Kogi West was introduced as an Advocate for Human Right when he appeared as a guest on a radio program in Abuja last week. Responding to some questions asked, the controversial Senator expressed his utmost dissatisfaction about how female staff in most commercial banks are being objectified and coerced to do all manners of things in other to meet the targets giving by the bank and get more money for the banks. Dino Melaye who recently launched a book ‘Antidote of Corruption’ described the act as "outrageously calamitous" and said Nigeria is too civilized to tolerate such callous act, “There is no point why this discrimination will continue in a very civilized society like ours. I am also pledging that we must advice non-governmental organizations to cut in heavily here to