CDA BAN: COMMUNITY YOUTHS PLEDGES SUPPORT, SUES FOR PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE

CDA BAN: COMMUNITY YOUTHS PLEDGES SUPPORT, SUES FOR PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE

By Eben Enasco Kingsley, Benin

The youths otherwise called the ‘Ighele’ of Egbirhe Community in Iyekogba, Oredo Ward II Benin City has pledged support for the pronouncement made by the Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare II  prohibiting all activities of the Community Development Association, CDA across the eight local government Areas of the state.

The prohibition came at a time when some of the CDA chairmen misused, misappropriated resources belonging to the community to acquire personal wealth with their positions and impoverish the people.

Since the ban, some members of Egbirhe community have expressed satisfaction over the decision taken by His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare II to curb the excesses of these under-performing leaders while pledging unreserved loyalty to the Monarch.

Speaking to newsmen in Benin City during one of its visit to the palace of the Omo N’ Oba lately, the Oka-ighele of the community, Mr. Vincent Aghahowa Agbonifo disclosed that the youths are aware of the positive implications of the ban; while urging those who are perpetual trouble makers to shun violence and embrace peace as it is the only catalysts to development.

“I want to use this opportunity to call on all those fermenting trouble to quit and support us. This is a new era. I will use this position to attract development to our community. I also want to call on state government to build Egbirhe and its environs road to help us channel our farm produce to the circular oba market. Again I want to appeal to BEDC to look into poor electricity supply to our community as it affects us. Lastly, we are ready to partner any organization to bring development,” he explained.

Agbonifo however expressed willingness to extend hand of fellowship to all sons and daughter in home and abroad to join the crusade of advocacies to develop the community as Egbirhe is now one and safe to leave.

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PFN Conference: Osinbajo, Obaseki, Omobude Charges Christians on peace, love as religious killings looms

PFN Conference: Osinbajo, Obaseki, Omobude Charges Christians on peace, love as religious killings looms

from left Omobude, Osibanjo Obaseki and wife Betsy

By Eben Enasco Kingsley, Benin City

Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state and Rev. Dr. Felix Omobude were among others who admonished Christians in the country to continuously preach the love of Jesus Christ despite religious killings in the country. 

The trio spoke during the opening ceremony of the 14th National Biennial Conference of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) in Benin on Tuesday.

Speaking on the topic "Our Greatest enemy is Hate" the acting President said that the greatest enemy the country has is "Hate".

Reflecting on the Chronicle of religious and ethnic crises in the country since the 1970s, which he attributed to hatred, he said that the answers to the crises could only be found in gospel of peace.

He said that killings and suicide bombings had continued to increase despise efforts by previous administrations to proffer solutions to religious and ethnic crises in the country.

The acting President however faulted the judiciary for its inability to convict perpetrators of the wicked killings in the country adding that it was unfair to say that the Federal Government was silent about the issue of the southern Kaduna killings.

On his part, Omobude urged Christians to embrace peace and work for the unity of the country.

Earlier, Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo expressing delight to hosting the conference, urged Nigerians to see religion as a life changing tool.

According to him, "As the present economic situation takes full toll on the social system, causing ethnic and religious conflict, as Christian, we must not allow emotions to take a better part of us but rather we should deploy religion as a tool for peace, national unity and development.

"I look forward to the Nigeria of our dream where Christians, Muslims and all adherents of different religions will live together in peace and unity. 

According to Obaseki, “I thank you for the opportunity of affording our State the privilege to host this year’s conference. The relationship between Edo State and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) goes back to the pioneering era of Archbishop Benson Idahosa, of blessed memory, the first President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN). So for us in Edo State, this is home coming”. 

Obaseki, who acknowledge PFN’s overwhelming support and prayers for Nigeria in general and the people and Government of Edo State in particular especially in this season economic challenges said, “By the abiding grace of Almighty God and the indomitable power of the Holy Spirit, may we achieve the economic prosperity that we all pray for”.

He said the title of this Conference ‘From Glory to Glory’ emphasizes the goodness, fullness and continuity of God’s thoughts and plans for His children adding that “the Conference once again affords us an opportunity for a sober reflection on some critical aspects of our national development. We are challenged daily by the hydra-headed evil of socio-economic and political avarice, lack of respect for private and public property as well as the sanctity of human life. 

“We are confronted with the failure of institutions charged with the preservation of law and order because the hearts of men have become more desperately wicked. Laws alone are therefore not sufficient without a deeper appeal to the minds of people through authentic religion.

“Therefore, this is an appropriate time to remind us that religion holds the key to the hearts of people and that to change society, we must deploy true religion as a life changing tool. Hence Albert Einstein, a great philosopher and scientist, exhorts us to combine insights from religion with scientific discoveries to advance humanity.

“My meeting last weekend with religious leaders across the State has revealed that many social scourges can be curbed and eliminated if we express our faiths responsibly and if government actively partners with religious bodies. I assure you that my government is committed to this ideal.

“As the current economic recession takes its toll on the social fabric of our society by causing ethnic and religious tensions and recriminations, as Christians, we must however not allow emotions take the better part of us but rather we should deploy religion as a tool for peace, national unity and development

“It is just and christianly for men of God to guide political leaders in the right direction without necessarily playing partisan politics. I urge all Nigerians not to allow religion tear us apart. 

“On behalf of the people and Government of Edo State, I welcome you all to this Conference. I look forward to the true Nigeria of our dream in which Christians, Muslims and adherents of other faiths will live together peacefully and united. I wish us a successful conference and a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit. May God’s blessings for Nigeria, Edo State and everyone in attendance be from ‘glory to glory’”.

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Edo Assembly passes N153.2bn appropriation bill for 2017

Edo Assembly passes N153.2bn appropriation bill for 2017

The Edo House of Assembly on Monday passed the state’s 2017 budget proposal of N153.18bn.

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo had on December 19, 2016 presented a budget proposal of N150bn to the Assembly for consideration and passage.

The budget consists of N75.11bn for capital expenditure, while the proposed recurrent expenditure stood at N74.9 billion

The Assembly increased the appropriation bill with about N3bn, representing 0.1 per cent increase.

The Chairman, Assembly Committee on Appropriation and Project Monitoring, Mr. Damian Lawani (APC Etsako Central), said the budget reflected the needs of the people and was designed to consolidate and complete all ongoing projects.

During the consideration of the bill, N76.6bn was allocated for capital expenditure, while N76.5bn was allocated for re-current expenditure.

The breakdown of the proposal showed that N18.5bn, N7.2bn, N3.6bn and N6.034bn were allocated for the recurrent expenditure of the administrative, economic, law and justice and social sectors, respectively.

Also, N5.68bn, N47bn and N1.84bn and N22.09bn were allocated for the capital expenditure for the administrative, economic, law and justice and social sectors, respectively.

The Assembly, after the consideration of the document with amendments, passed the bill.

The Speaker, Mr. Justin Okonoboh, directed that the clean copies of the bill be sent to the governor for his assent.

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PDP, Ize-Iyamu’s witnesses blame “human frailty”, “human error” for conflicting reports

PDP, Ize-Iyamu’s witnesses blame “human frailty”, “human error” for conflicting reports 

By Eben Enasco, Benin City

 Witnesses of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and her candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu in the September 28 governorship election on Monday told the Election petition Tribunal sitting in Benin City that the conflicting report and discrepancies noticed in their deposition statements as against the result sheets they deposed to were due to “human error”.

The witnesses being cross-examined were Engineer Festus Owu and Chief Kashimawo Austin Ajakaiye, who claimed to be a businessperson. They both claimed to have painstakingly perused the election result sheets before documenting their witness statements, which they swore on oath to be the truth and nothing short of it.

During cross-examination, Owu testified that although he was not posted to all the units, he visited all the units. He also added that it was based on figures, which he listed in his deposition that he concluded that there were cases of multiple voting and over-voting during the election.

When he was informed that he did not indicate in his written deposition that he visited any units, and that even the results he wrote in his deposition did not tally with what was in the election result sheet, he blamed ‘human frailty’ for the discrepancies. 

He also added that he could not write everything that happened during the election in his statement. He said if the figures he allocated to the various parties in his witness statement was wrong, it does not invalidates the conclusion of his claims.

In unit 1 of his written deposition, Owu allocated 51 votes to PDP but the result sheet indicated that PDP scored 50 votes. In unit 9, Owu allocated PDP 177 votes, but the result sheet for that unit read 117 votes. 

Owu then said, “I am subject to human frailty” when he was shown the discrepancies and errors in his witness statement as against the units result sheets.

Similarly, another witness testifying for the petitioners, Chief Kashimawo Austin Ajakaiye, from Owan East also had it put to him that his written deposition as well as that of Engineer Owu were duplicative and contained similar errors for which he blamed “human error”.

In his witness statement, he said 352 people voted in unit 16, but when shown exhibit PO 97 (16) – unit 16 result, he said 517 people was recorded to have voted. When asked the reasons for the discrepancies in his witness statement and the unit results, he stated, “It could be human error”.

When confronted with exhibit PO 97 (17), the result sheet for unit 17, he said 234 persons voted but in his deposition, he stated 239. Also, for accredited voters, he stated in his written statement on deposition that 247 persons were accredited but exhibit PO 97 (1) proved to the contrary – it bore 435. 

So also, in unit 12, the witness had stated in his witness statement on oath that the total number of accredited voters was 274 whereas, in the result sheet it bore 391, thereby rendering his deposition at complete variance with the documents he adopted to pursue his case – voters register, result sheets among others.

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46th Uniben Matric: 10,690 Offered Provisional Admission, as VC charges Matriculants on Ethical Values

46th Uniben Matric: 10,690 Offered Provisional Admission, as VC charges Matriculants on Ethical Values

By Eben Enasco Kingsley, Benin City

The 46th matriculation Ceremony of the University of Benin, UNIBEN, was today held at the Akin Deko Main Auditorium Ugbowo campus in Benin City as ten thousand six hundred and ninety Matriculants offered provisional admission out of Hundred thousand applications thus received for 2016/2017 academic Session.

The Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Faraday Orumwense made the disclosure on Friday in his welcome address on the occasion of the matriculation ceremony.

Prof. Orumwense disclosed that the matriculation ceremony was not only very relevant to the tradition of the university but marks the formal admittance of fresh Matriculants whilst also availed them the opportunity to pledge allegiance to University authority through oath subscription.

He said the institution, as results of its academic strides, has continued to receive large numbers of applications for admissions annually.

While congratulating the Matriculants, for being among the few lucky students who have been offered admission, he urged them to be law abiding students of the university adding that matriculation was a milestone and an important component of their academic sojourned in the university, stressing that it is also the hallmark of their educational career and they should not gamble with it.

In his words, “I am urging you all to obey the university rules and regulations as the authority has zero tolerance for any nefarious act and will apply sanctions against defaulter.

“I encourage you all to be decent and shun evil vices like exam malpractices, drug abuse, cultism, prostitution and immoral activities that may mar your academic activities in this institution,” he said

Meanwhile some of the matriculating students, commended the institution for the opportunity given them to study and promised to be law abiding

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