The Catholic Bishop of Uromi Diocese, Most Rev. Donatus Ogun, has commended the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, for ensuring violence-free conduct of the presidential and National Assembly elections in the state.
The bishop gave the commendation while delivering a homily at the thanksgiving Mass, in celebration of Prof. Emmanuel Emovon’s 90th birthday, at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, in Benin, yesterday.
The bishop expressed delight at the peaceful atmosphere in the state after the conduct of Saturday’s elections. “We just completed a phase of the 2019 general elections, and I’m happy about the way and manner Edo State electorate conducted themselves and maintained peaceful disposition throughout the state. I thank the governor and all his men for ensuring a peaceful election in the state.
“We’ll continue to pray for governor Obaseki and all those working with him, for ensuring peace in the state, unlike in some other states across the country,” he said.
On his part, the governor described the celebrant as an Edo icon, who has made Benin people proud.
Obaseki noted that Emovon represents hard work, humility, stewardship, honesty and accountability.
“He represents the best, as he has been a teacher, professor, university administrator, minister and a chief.”
Meanwhile, the Edo State Government has urged continued support from community leaders, corporate bodies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other well-meaning stakeholders, to deepen efforts at rolling back the effects of deforestation and ensuring sustainability of forest reserves in the state.
Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability, Dame Omoua Oni-Okpako, made the call while commissioning 39 newly acquired motorcycles, to aid in the patrol of the interiors of the state’s forest reserves, especially sections that are inaccessible to vehicles.
She said: “Deforestation and its resultant effects are creeping on us. We either salvage our forest now or lose it forever. Our focus now is on planting of trees and conserving the existing ones. So, this ministry will not tolerate any form of illegalities that would further degrade our forest and jeopardise the ecosystem.”