Author: Iduozee Efe Paul

Edo State Deputy Governor, Mr. Philip Shaibu, has said that his insistence on running for the governorship of the state in next year’s election is because he had received an assurance from God that he would be governor. Shaibu, who spoke in Benin when he hosted members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) at an end-of-year party, said God had authorized him to speak on this matter and that whatever God had asked him to say never came to nothing. Shaibu had been at loggerheads with the incumbent Governor, Godwin Obaseki, over his aspiration. Obaseki, whose tenure runs out…

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has approved the release of the sum of N1billion to cover free health insurance for pensioners and vigilantes in the state. The director-general of the Edo State Health Insurance Commission, Dr Rock Amegor, who disclosed this in Benin City, said the initiative was to address the health needs of senior citizens and government’s commitment to ensuring quality and affordable healthcare delivery. He said it will also reduce the burden of citizens who have to pay for healthcare services from their pockets in these difficult economic times, saying the scheme would enhance the effort to…

A frontline Edo 2024 Governorship aspirant on the platform of the People Democratic Party, (PDP) Dr. Asue Ighodalo, has said vowed that if elected governor of Edo state, he would improve on education, roads and other infrastructure and amenities that would make life easy and meaningful for the people. Ighodalo made the statements during interactive session held with members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State Council at the Union’s secretariat, GRA, Benin City, Edo state. He asserted that his priority is to build on the achievements of past governments. He said, “l remain neutral and l would…

Former President of Nigerian Bar Association and governorship aspirant of Labour Party (LP) in the 2024 Edo State governorship election, Olumide Osaigbovo Akpata, has said the party must field a strong candidate if it wants to win the election. Akpata, who was a guest speaker at the 2023 Press Week of Edo State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), said LP “must put forward a candidate that can match up to the opponents we know we will confront at the election.” The former NBA president, who said he is the candidate that can deliver for the party, urged the…

Chairman of the Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) in Edo State, Samson Isibor, has called on the state government to give out the state’s share of the federal government palliatives. He made the call while giving awards to some distinguished personalities “who have contributed immensely to the social-economic growth of Edo State and impacted many citizens particularly the downtrodden, the less privileged in our society both spiritually and physically.” He said, “Give us our fuel subsidy federal government palliatives of food items and other items inclusive. We are hungry give us our rice, beans, cooking oil or share our…

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has declared that his embattled deputy, Philip Shaibu, is as free as air to aspire to any political office of his choice. Obaseki, who spoke to journalists after a closed-door meeting with his Bauchi State colleague, Senator Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir, at Ramat House in Bauchi on Thursday, said that he is not stopping Philip Shuaibu from contesting any office in Edo State. According to him, “He is a Nigerian, and by the Constitution of Nigeria, he is very free to aspire. I am not stopping him; he has the right to aspire anywhere in the…

A university don, Prof Ernest Ugiagbe, has said that the rising wave of drug abuse in society is encouraged by bad management of national resources, unemployment and inequitable distribution of wealth among citizens. Ugiagbe stated this in a keynote address he delivered at a Stakeholders Dialogue On Gender-Based Violence, Human Rights Violation and People Who Use Drugs in Benin City The dialogue, which had as its theme: No To Stigmatization and Criminalization, Enhance Prevention And Human Reduction, was organised by Securing The Creative Goldmine In Youths Initiative, a Benin based NGO. Prof Ugiagbe said drugs have destroyed so many marriages…

The Benin Traditional Council (BTC) has clarified that the Enogie of any community in Benin is not a traditional ruler but a palace chief appointed by the Oba of Benin to represent him in that community. Making the clarification at a press conference in Benin, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, SAN, on behalf of the palace chiefs, said there is only one traditional ruler in Benin kingdom and that traditional ruler is the Oba of Benin. The clarification came three months after the Benin Traditional Council (BTC) issued a statement on “Clarification on the Structure of the Benin Traditional Institution,” in response…

Edo State deputy governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu has said that nothing can stop him from winning the 2024 Off-Cycle Governorship Election in the state. Shaibu, who recently declared his intention to run for the governorship on the platform of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), has been having a running battle with Governor Godwin Obaseki over his ambition. He said even though he has been pressed but not crushed, persecuted but not abandoned, badly hurt but not destroyed, he is resolute with the tireless and irrepressible spirit of the Edo people, and by the grace of God, nothing and no one…

Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin last weekend defeated league table toppers Lobi Stars of Makurdi 1-0 in one of the Match Day 11 fixtures of the Nigeria Premier Football League. Miracle took place in the field as the substitute Osaghae Jr scored the only goal of the match in the 95th minute to end their goal drought and sealed a 1-0 victory for the Benin Arsenals over Lobi Stars of Makurdi The match played at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium, Benin looked condemned to another stalemate after the six minutes extra time added by the match officials was drifting away…