The 4 Brigade of the Nigerian Army with headquarters in Benin city, has urged journalists to uphold professionalism and objectivity in their reportage of activities in and around the state.
It also said that men of the Brigade in collaboration with sister security agencies are ready to ensure a hitch-free governorship election in the state.
Commander of the Brigade, Brigadier-General Benbella Raji made the remarks when he received the leadership of the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) led by its chairman, Sir Roland Osakue.
“Be assured that we will always provide security for all; there is already a code of
conduct for our men and also rules of engagement; training is currently going on for those that will be deployed so that they will know how to operate, “ Brigadier-General Raji said.
Earlier, Osakue said the visit was to build synergy between the army and journalists to ensure peaceful co-existence and to avoid friction while on the line of duty.
He emphasised that the army and journalists are supposed to be partners in progress while they both work for a better Nigeria.
Soldiers, Policemen and other sister security agencies had jointly carried out what was described as a “show of force” round Benin City at the weekend to let the populace know of the preparedness of the security agencies to protect and safeguard them during the gubernatorial polls in the state.
The Commanding Officer of the 4 Brigade, Brig-General Raji who spoke at the end of the exercise, urged the people of the state to come out and vote during the governorship election, assuring them of adequate protection.
UPP flags off campaign, promises stable power in 34 months
From Tony Osauzo, Benin
Governorship candidate of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Adviser Nowamagbe, at the weekend flagged off his campaign in Benin, with a promise to provide stable electricity through solar power to the people within 34 months of his administration.
Reading from his manifesto, the UPP standard bearer said his government would make Edo a conducive state to live in as he plans to provide more security through a law from the State House of Assembly to legalize Vigilance groups in the state.
He criticised the APC governorship candidate’s promise to create 200,000 jobs, saying that, that could only be possible if there was security and stable power supply.
Nowamagbe also promised to create new cities by linking adjourning communities around Benin to the city, just as he promised to eliminate corruption.
Besides, he promised to empower and encourage farmers, ensure regular payment of salaries to civil servants, provide interest-free loans to market women and men, empower Okada riders and artisans, as well as take care of traditional rulers.
He described PDP and APC as two bedfellows that have failed to develop Edo State and urged the people to vote according to the dictates of their conscience and not based on monetary inducement.
In his speech, Founder and National chairman of UPP, Chief Chekwas Okorie who extolled the progressive nature of Edo people in politics, described the crowd of the party’s supporters as a “movement”.
He later presented the party’s flag to Nowamagbe to officially confirm him the party’s candidate.
…As PPA candidate slams PDP, APC for campaign of calumny
In a related development, the candidate of the Progressive People Alliance (PPA), Mr. Thomas Sadoh, also at the weekend, flagged off his campaign in Benin, calling on the people of the state to “change the change that is not good”.
Sadoh, a journalist by profession, kicked off his campaign at the premises of the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Benin.
Criticising the big parties- APC and PDP for engaging in campaign of calumny, Sadoh explained that one of his programmes is to ensure that the Edo man is happy and has food on his table.
He promised to provide jobs for the youths and to focus on agriculture through the empowerment of farmers in the state.
He also promised to develop Gelegele Sea Port, to grant local governments autonomy, to empower women and to use security votes to develop the state as against the practice of many governors who pocket such funds.
The PPA governorship hopeful while disclosing that Edo State has only 13 science teachers, promised to ensure effective learning in the state.
In a goodwill message, Chairman of the Edo State Council of the NUJ, Sir Roland Osakue said as a member of the Union, the NUJ will identify with and support the aspiration of Thomas Sadoh.
Highlight of the event was the presentation of the PPA’s flag to Sadoh by the party’s National Vice-Chairman, South, Mr. Eddy Okonkwo who said: “this is the time for the youth to take over governance”, adding that Sadoh’s ambition was achievable once the people believe.
Refund all deductions from local governments, Orbih tells Oshiomhole
Edo State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Dan Orbih, has called on Governor Adams Oshiomhole to refund all alleged illegal deductions he made from statutory allocations due the local government councils in the state to enable them commence payment of all arrears of workers’ salaries.
Addressing journalists in Okada, Ovia North East local government area, Chief Orbih said it was untrue for the governor to say his government has not been tampering with local government funds.
“It is common knowledge that every month, the governor’s office deducts millions at source from allocations due the local councils, leaving them with just enough to meet the basic needs of their councils. All the deductions can finance the arrears of salaries.
“If the councils were left to manage their money by themselves, including internally generated revenues which many of the councils have depended on over the years to sustain themselves without the deductions, the problem of paying salaries would not have gone this bad”, he said.
According to Orbih, the governor should be courageous enough to tell the truth about local government council finances to the Edo public, because allocations due the councils in Edo as published is often different from what they get at the end of the day.
The PDP Chairman also challenged Oshiomhole to publish the total amount he has paid to the local governments from the internally generated revenue of the state since he assumed office eight years ago.
Chief Orbih regretted the untimely death of Peter Oriabure Ayewoh 53, from Esan North East who slumped and died while protesting the non payment of his salaries. He prayed for the repose of his soul and hoped his death, which he likened to the ultimate sacrifice won’t be in vain.
He used the opportunity to appeal to local government workers in the state to protect their Permanent Voters Card, PVC, so that on September 10, they can vote out the APC, adding that with Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu as governor, councils and their workers will not only get their full allocations but their salaries as and when due.
You’re favoured in Esanland, Monarch assures Obaseki
The Onojie of Igueben kingdom, His Royal Highness, Ehizogie Eluojierior 1, has assured the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Godwin Obaseki, that he is the most favoured among other contestants in Esan Land.
He made the declaration when Obaseki, his running mate, Hon. Philip Shaibu and Governor Adams Oshiomhole, visited his palace in Igueben, to seek his royal blessings.
Describing the visit as an important one, the monarch said eight communities in the area have resolved to support Obaseki as the next governor of the state, urging him not to relent in delivering the dividends of democracy to the people as Governor Oshiomhole has done in the last eight years. The Onojie prayed for Obaseki and Shaibu saying, “You will win day or night; what you have said you will do, you will do; and it shall be well with you. Now that you have come to Igueben, you will perform well as a governor just as Oshiomhole performed. It is well with you.”
Earlier, the APC candidate, Obaseki, had noted that though roads and schools have been built in the area, there is still a lot to be done.
“We have not achieved all we set out to do; there is still a lot of schools to be built, many more roads to be completed and, by the grace of God, we are going to do much more in this regard.”
Obaseki said his government would focus on human development and create jobs for the people just as emphasis will be placed on technical education in the state’s tertiary institution where students are groomed to survive without oil.
“We are moving from oil-based politics to real development politics. Federal allocation from Abuja has reduced due to falling oil prices, so we have to utilize the resources we have in our state for development. And to do that we have to work with the custodians of our tradition to ensure that there is security of lives, property and investments”.
Ize-Iyamu campaigning for me -Iduoriyekemwen
The candidate of the Ali Modu Sheriff faction of the Peoples Democratic (PDP) in Edo state, Mr Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, has said he is happy that Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu is indirectly campaigning for him.
Insisting that he remains the authentic candidate of the PDP for the September 10 election in the state and not Ize-Iyamu,
Iduoriyekemwen announced his readiness to flag off his campaign next week.
“INEC committed a serious blunder last time but I am happy they have no choice now than to give me what belongs to me after the federal High Court ruling last week which recognized Modu Sheriff as the authentic chairman of the PDP.
“Ize-Iyamu has been campaigning for me, that is good, after all we are all PDP members. So, I am urging all Edo people to go out on the 10th of September to vote PDP, with me as the candidate of the party so recognized by law. It is clear the Ali Modu Sheriff leadership of the party has remained and is recognized by law. There is no place in the PDP constitution for a caretaker committee, ”he said.