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Trouble in the House of Edo

Published

4 years ago

August 8, 2020

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

All is not very well with both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and their rivals, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State as the September 19, 2020 governorship election draws dangerously close. The intrigues associated with the build up to the election has signified that whoever emerges winner after the elections would be the one who plays a dirtier card.

While many were believing that both parties were finally settling down to meaningful politicking, a new twist was introduced when 14 hitherto non-inaugurated members of the state house of assembly in league with three others, impeached the sitting speaker, elected another and thrived under the protection of the Commissioner of Police in the state

The new drama, which played out in the Edo State House of Assembly on the day reported impeachment of the speaker, Frank Okiye, by the 17 lawmakers.

Earlier, Crusoe Osagie, the spokesperson of Governor Godwin Obaseki, had announced that some police officers brought into the state from Abuja had taken over the assembly complex which is under renovation. He suggested that the police officers were there to do the bidding of ex-governor Adams Oshiomhole who enjoys the support of the 17 members in his bid to ensure Mr Obaseki is not re-elected.

However, Mr Okiye, who now enjoys the support of only six other members of the 24-member assembly, said he and the other lawmakers had unrestricted access to the assembly complex.

But the twist of fate that has suddenly engulfed the battle for the soul of Edo State seems not to concern or hinge on ability to provide good governance any more, but has a lot to do with ego. The PDP, which against all odds suddenly found themselves bearing the tag of the ruling party in the state, on one hand, against the APC, which in the same vein, suddenly lost the garb of ruling party, on the other hand. Secondly, it is a game of another level of supremacy and ego between the incumbent governor, Obaseki and his former godfather, and disgraced for party national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole. Both men are lurked in a battle to outwit each other.

As it stands today, there are two factions of state assembly leadership led by Frank Okiye, loyal to Obaseki, and Editor, who is loyal to Oshiomhole.

The renewal of hostilities in the assembly started after the deputy speaker, Yekini Idiaye, openly declared support for Ize-Iyamu, who is sponsored by Oshiomhole. He was promptly impeached. In retaliation, the Oshiomhole camp hastily gathered fourteen of those lawmakers who were not inaugurated as lawmakers and whose seats were controversially declared vacant by the minority 10 lawmakers led by Mr Okiye.

However, three of Mr Okiye’s nine supporters, including the deputy speaker of the assembly, Yekini Idiaye, later joined the 14 lawmakers to make a total 17 against Mr Obaseki’s re-election plan.

Okiye is still talking tough though, accusing Oshiomhole and some governors of the party of queuing behind Idiaye “to commit an illegal act,” stressing that he is still in charge.

The sad part of the brouhaha in Edo is that most governors have abandoned their constitutional duties to join in the war in the state. The Edo government has accused Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma of masterminding most of the troubles that have been erupting in the state, and Kano governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, of hitting up the policy with his utterances.

Again, the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has also been fingered as being the brain behind the police invasion of the assembly complex, which provided cover for the Oshiomhole lawmakers to hold parallel plenary, leading to the Impeachment of Odiye. Reports had it the minister directed the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to provide security for the inauguration of the 14 members-elect and three other members of the Edo State House of Assembly on Thursday.

In a period of crisis, senior officers of government are looked upon to provide an atmosphere of peaceful co-existence, but what we have here is a bunch of top functionaries running mischievous errands like motor park urchins, and as usual, President Muhammadu Buhari is silent, and may in the days ahead, come and express his shock when things have gone haywire.

The officers are busy crafting a prelude to what September 19 may look like. We fear for the lives of the regular citizens.

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Stay Away from CBT Centres, JAMB Warns Parents, Threatens Arrest

Published

7 hours ago

April 18, 2024

Eric

As this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) begins on Friday, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has vowed to arrest parents found near any Computer-Based Test (CBT) centre during the 2024 UTME exercise.

The directive was issued at the final briefing of the CBT centre owners, which was held virtually on Wednesday, 17th April, 2024.

The spokesman for JAMB, Fabian Benjamin, said this directive became necessary following the intrusive disposition of some parents during the Board’s previous exercises.

Benjamin, who quoted JAMB Registrar Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, said any parent, who disobeys the order would not only be arrested but his ward would also be disqualified from sitting for the examination.

Oloyede explained that this measure became necessary as it has been discovered over time that many of these intruding parents are facilitators of examination infractions while others have, by their actions, disrupted the Board’s examinations in the past.

He added that some miscreants also disguise as parents to infiltrate the centres to perpetrate all forms of infractions.

“The Board’s helmsman noted that going by the extant national policy on education, a candidate for the examination must have attained the age of 17 years.

“Therefore, it is evident that these parents had not allowed their wards to pass through the classes as defined in the document, hence the desperation to follow their wards to the examination venue with the aim of compromising examination officials.

“At any rate, it is clear to any discerning observer that these parents deserve to be sanctioned as they had obviously ‘smuggled’ underage children into the ranks of those scheduled to sit the examination,” the Board note through a statement.

Furthermore, the Registrar said all arrangements have been concluded for the conduct of the 2024 UTME, which will be held in over 700 CBT centres across the nation.

He disclosed that the Board expects a seamless exercise but it has nevertheless made adequate provision to tackle any technical glitch that might occur in the course of the examination.

He, however, warned that if a session experienced any technical challenge, candidates in subsequent sessions would be allowed to sit their examination as scheduled while the candidates in the challenged session would be rescheduled for the last session for the day or the following day or even further depending on the centre schedules.

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Oyo Govt Demolishes Operational Base of Yoruba Nation Agitators

Published

7 hours ago

April 18, 2024

Eric

The Oyo State government, on Wednesday, demolished a building serving as the operational base of the Yoruba Nation agitators led by Modupe Onitiri-Abiola, in Ibadan.

Onitiri-Abiola, one of the widows of late Bashorun M.KO Abiola, had declared the creation of the so-called Yoruba Nation in a video posted online, which has been widely condemned.

Last Saturday, some armed men in military uniforms invaded the Oyo State Secretariat, with the motive to forcefully take over the State House of Assembly, before they were dislodged by the combined efforts of police and troops for the Nigeria Army 2 Division..

Mr. Fatai Owoseni, Special Adviser on Security Matters to Governor Seyi Makinde, confirmed the demolition of the house located at Toye Oyesola Street in Ibadan South West Local Government Area.

Already, no fewer than 29 suspects – including a lecturer – arrested in connection with the foiled armed invasion were on Wednesday arraigned by the police before a Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan.

In a case with charge number Mi/520c/2024 between the Commissioner of Police and the 29 suspects, they were accused of a seven-count charge of treasonable felony, unlawful society, illegal possession of firearms, and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.

Inspector Bakare Rasaq, the Investigative Police Officer (IPO) at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku, Ibadan, said the offence contravenes, and is punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.

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PDP BoT Queries Damagum, Anyanwu’s Continued Stay in Office

Published

8 hours ago

April 18, 2024

Eric

The Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party has queried the continued stay in office of the party’s acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu.

Recently, many party members have raised concerns about the ongoing tenure of Damagum and Anywanwu in their respective positions.

Previously serving as the PDP National Deputy Chairman (North), Damagum assumed the role of acting National Chairman following the court’s suspension of the party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, in March of the preceding year.

With the National Secretary being selected as the PDP candidate for the Imo State 2023 governorship election, the South zone has been grappling with nominating a replacement. Despite this, he, along with other party leaders, contested and retained the position of party secretary after losing to Governor Hope Uzodinnma.

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