Author: nationalpoint

By Wole SoyinkaI arrived home from external commitments just over a week ago to an extraordinary homecoming gift. It took the form of a movement — sometimes angry, sometimes entrancing, poignant, sometimes strident, certainly robust in expectations but always moving, visionary and organized. That movement demanded an end to brutality from state security agencies, focusing on a notorious unit known as SARS. But, of course, SARS merely stood for the parasitic character of governance itself in all ramifications. That dimension – albeit not in those very terms of course – was acknowledge by the first formal response of government, delivered…

The ACTION GROUP ON FREE CIVIC SPACE strongly condemns the shooting spree at the Lekki tollgate on Tuesday night in Lagos where scores of protesters have been reportedly killed and injured. We make bold to state that the Lagos State government has FAILED in its obligation to protect the lives and properties of citizens. We regard the taking away of the CCTV cameras at the Lekki toll gate before the shootings as evidence of a premeditated attempt to use extreme force to quell the protests and inflict grievous bodily harm on protesters. This is a sad proof of a closed…

By Iduozee Paul, BeninThe special assistant to the Edo State governor on Entertainment, Iselobhor Miyake Airemen has congratulated Governor Goodwin Obaseki for emerging winner in last Saturday, September 19 governorship election.Airemen in a press briefing with journalists in Benin city, said the Edo State Resident Entertainers are solidly behind the governor and will work with him as appealed to the governor to fulfill promises, he made when the body met him.Said he: “We the Edo State Resident Entertainers want to use the medium to thank Governor Goodwin Obaseki on his victory.“We have been part of his struggle and believe in…

Country head of the Inter-Continental Initiative, Prince Stafford Bisong has queried the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the malfunction of card- readers, late arrival of materials on the September 19 just held governorship election.He urged INEC to first test run the card-readers before using it on election day starting from the Ondo governorship poll, stressing that there is need for the commission to enhance its integrity process.He stated that the Edo governorship election was marred with vote buying.Bisong blamed INEC for breaching the Electoral Act by refusing to paste the voters register on various polling units before the commencement…

Gov. Godwin ObasekiThe Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday, September 22, 2020, gave the Certificate of Return to Governor Godwin Obaseki, who emerged winner in the September 19 governorship election in Edo State.The certificate was presented to the governor and his running mate, Philip Shaibu by May Agbamuche-Mbu, INEC national commissioner supervising Edo, Rivers and Bayelsa states, at the commission’s office in Benin City.May Agbamuche-Mbu thanked all stakeholders and Edo people for their contributions and commitment towards the credible and safe conclusion of the election process in Edo State.Receiving the certificate, Godwin Obaseki said President Buhari would be remembered…

By Iduozee Paul, BeninAs the electorates gather together to cast their votes, the coordinator for Girl’s Power Initiative, May Ekido, disclosed that most women do not participate in politics is because of the violence and assault they experience from their male counterparts.Ekido made the statement at a press conference in Benin City, and lamented that, women participation in politics in Nigeria is low as a result of the violence and abuse. She said what they are doing is to encourage women to come out and be involved in politics for good governance.“The conveners of the Stop Violence Against Women in…

By Iduozee Paul, BeninThe deputy executive director, Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice ( ANEEJ), Comrade Leo Atakpu, says the highest number of migrants from Nigeria to Europe are from Edo State.Comrade Atakpu who made the disclosure in a press conference entitled: “Migration and Related Issues In Edo State’s 2020 Governorship Election,” in Benin city, said the reason people migrate is because of lack of infrastructural development.“The fact shows that a disproportionately high amount of all emigrations from Nigeria to Europe are from Edo State with the state contributing an estimated 50 per cent of all Nigerian migrants in…

By Dave Okpogadie, AsabaDelta State commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Chief Patrick Ukah, has commended Total Upstream Company and its partners for their collaboration with the state government towards driving infrastructural development in the education sector in the state.Chief Ukah, made the commendation in Onicha-Ugbo, Aniocha North Local Government Area, during the official commissioning of a science laboratory and equipment built by Total and its partners.The commissioner, who was represented by the permanent secretary in the ministry, Comrade Samuel Diateke, said it was heart-warming and a thing of encouragement to receive corporate social responsibility support from Total Upstream Company…

By Dave Okpogadie, AsabaNigerians have been advised to shun drug abuse in order to avoid the disastrous health effects associated with such abuse.The national chairman, Association of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacists of Nigerian, Dr. Kingsley Amibor gave the advice in Asaba while speaking with journalists as part of programmes lined up to mark this year’s World Pharmacists Day with the theme: “Transforming Global Health; The Role of Pharmacists”.Dr. Amibor said the only way out of drugs abuse and other related effects on those who indulge in it is to dismantle what he called, “open drugs market” nationwide.He said once this…

By Dave Okpogadie, AsabaDelta State Governor, Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa (3rd Left),his Deputy, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro (3rd right), Senator James Manager (2nd right), Speaker Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori (1st right), and the State PDP Chairman, Barr. Kingsley Esiso and his wife Beauty, (1st and 2nd left ) during a victory thanksgiving Service by the State Chairman of the (PDP) in SapeleDelta State governor, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa, has urged Nigerians to support the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to take over governance in the country in 2023.The governor made the call on Sunday in Sapele at a…