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Pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu says: "the S.I.M.P.L.E  Agenda is  S.M.A.R.T, for real", positing that the smart nature of the simple agenda makes it measurable, with time frames. Addressing journalists in a media parley in Benin city Friday, the APC candidate declared that government must be accountable, and a formal document in this direction is a starting point, hence the expressive simple agenda document. Pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu called on all and sundry to objectively read and digest the vision, the mission, the management-by-objectives, tests, and measurements, and then translate this into voting him -  POI, because "this is about YOUR LIFE" he thused, describing the present Obaseki administration as detached from the people and their welfare. POI explained that "SIMPLE" is an acronym meaning S for Security/social welfare; I for Infrastructural development; M.for Manpower development; P for public/Private partnership; L for Leadership by example w

The much awaited media parley with Edo State Governor Wednesday was postponed at around 2pm, to the next day,Thursday 30th July. Reason, it was alleged bothers on the need to observe prescribed social distancing guidelines in the small hall (venue) where the media men were already seated; ostensibly to mitigate the spread of the highly dreaded novel coronavirus. Despite acknowledging the aforementioned fact, most journalists who expected the governor or his representative to parley with them even in batches, were disappointed as many pressmen abadoned their works to honour the governor's invitation.

The Edo State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress formally inaugurated its Campaign Council for the Sept. 19 Governorship election on Wednesday in Benin City and gave assurances to its supporters that the party is on its way to a comprehensive victory at the polls.   The Chairman of the State Chapter, Colonel David Imuse (Rtd.), who inaugurated the Campaign Council announced the appointment of General Cecil Esekhaigbe as the Director-General of the Campaign Council; Chief Lucky Imansuen, a former Deputy Governor of the State, as the Deputy Director-General; a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon Pally Iriase, as Secretary.   Colonel Imuse said the task of rescuing Edo State from an “irresponsible set of plunderers” is a task that must be embraced by all, while also charging all appointed members to give their all to the objective of delivering Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and Hon. Mallam Gani Audu at the polls.   The Campaign Council has 19 sub-committees whic

 On Monday, the Edo APC, in a press conference held by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Chris Azebamwan, accused the Governor of appointing thugs and cultists as aides in an alleged plot to mar the election with violence. The above was on the heel of an online poll conducted by the PUNCH online, one of Nigeria's most read news website, which revealed that the people of Edo State believe that the PDP, represented at the Sept. 19 Edo Governorship election by incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki, is likely to arm-strong the electoral body, INEC, and manipulate the outcome of the election.   In a social research carried out on its data site, the newspaper asked if the people thought the APC is likely to arm-strong INEC and manipulate the outcome of the Governorship election as was alleged by the PDP.    However, the majority of voters, most of whom are residents in Edo State, disagreed with the assertion, stating on the contrary that the opposition PDP is the politica

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has accredited the Edo Specialist Hospital to join its laboratory network for testing for coronavirus (COVID-19) disease. The development comes in the wake of reforms by the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration which had procured three PCR machines to be installed in three hospitals designated for testing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said the feat was commendable and worthwhile as it has raised the state's capacity to test for coronavirus and properly manage the spread of the virus in the state. According to him, "We have just received news that after necessary vetting and inspection, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has accredited Edo Specialist Hospital, Benin to conduct COVID-19 test. "This is as a result of the installation of a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machine at the facility by

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has sworn-in the new Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Hon. Stewart Efe, with a charge on him to be dedicated in his new role. Obaseki said, "These are political times and I know you are strong politically in Edo South. I expect you to use your political talent and current portfolio to communicate government policies and achievements to the people of the state. "Let Edo people know of our developmental strides in the past three and half years and also the reason why we need a second term in office." He expressed confidence in the ability of the new Commissioner to face the difficult and challenging times as the party approaches the gubernatorial election scheduled for September 19, 2020. "So far, I am impressed with the seriousness you have taken your new responsibility. The next several months will be quite demanding and challenging for your office but I have no

  The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has provided support and safe space for the training and empowerment of over 77, 000 people across the 18 local government areas (LGAs) of the state. Focal Person, Edo State Social Investment Programme, Osayuwamen Aladeselu, who disclosed this to journalists in Benin City, noted that the governor has in the last three years and seven months embarked on people-oriented projects and programmes aimed at improving the quality of lives of majority of Edo people. According to her: "Lives are being changed on a daily basis and families are experiencing the developmental strides of Governor Godwin Obaseki. Now, the majority of the people are reaping from the dividends of good governance and most of them now feel that the government actually cares about them. It's not just about infrastructure like roads and buildings but about the lives of the people, which is one of the thematic pillars of this administration. "Whether it

              July 15th, 2020. by Igunbor Stanley..          Edo state APC media Campaign Council on Wednesday, described the People's Democratic Party as a 'dying and intimidated party' struggling for relevance through fake news and name-calling propaganda, while the administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki as lacking in impactful achievements.   A statement by the Chairman of the State Media Campaign Council, Mr. John Mayaki said the party has been completely relegated to the footnote in the buildup to the September 19 election in Edo State because of its escalating internal division sparked by the imposition of Governor Obaseki on the state chapter and the failure of the incumbent administration to record any meaningful achievements to show.   Mayaki said, "the PDP has now turned itself to a fake-news milling machine, weaving unsubstantiated stories and planting the same in the media through faceless groups that exist only in stationery.   He said: &quo

The Deputy National Chairman on Communication and Publicity in the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Campaign Council for Edo election, Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon, has expressed confidence that the party's candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, will satisfy the yearnings of the people of Edo State for responsive leadership.   He said this on Monday at the inauguration of the State Media Campaign Council which has Mr. John Mayaki as its Chairman.   Hon. Obahiagbon claimed that the failure of the incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki has created a loud yearning in Edo State for good leadership which Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu is best primed to satisfy.   He also said the members of the media campaign council were selected on the account of their professional competencies and praised the successes the Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu Campaign Organisation has recorded.    While offering assurances of his confidence in the ability of the team, Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon said they will help t

The Chairman of the Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC) Media Campaign Council for the Edo governorship election, Mr. John Mayaki, has said that the incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki and his "redundant MOUs" will be evicted from office by the people of Edo State on the 19th of September.   He said this on Monday at the inauguration of the State Media Campaign Council by Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon who is the Deputy National Chairman on Media of the Ganduje-led APC National Campaign Council.   Mayaki, who was appointed Chairman of the State Media Campaign Council, said the inauguration of campaign council and the sub-committees will revitalize the campaign which, according to him, is already recording giant strides evidenced by the swelling support for the party's candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.   He said: "The inauguration of the media campaign council today heralds the commencement of another phase in what has been a very successful campaign thus f

  Impressed with   the revamp of the Government Science and Technical College (GSTC), formerly Benin Technical College, parents, teachers and students have commended the state governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, for his administration's sustained investments in the education sector. Speaking to journalists in Benin City, the stakeholders reaffirmed their support for the reelection bid of the governor and his deputy, Rt. Hon. Comr. Philip Shaibu, noting that the administration's interest and intervention in the education sector was responsible for the growing popularity of Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in the state. According to Abiodun Ekundayo, a JSS 3 student of GSTC, "We now learn in a conducive environment with 24 hours electricity, while our teachers have been trained and equipped to impact effectively.  We have a state-of-the-art library and ICT laboratories with internet connectivity. "Formerly what we had was nothing to be called a

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has said that the current administration of Governor Obaseki receives over N600m monthly as security vote, but gives the police a paltry N5m.  This, he revealed during a live broadcast on his Facebook page on Monday, marking the commencement of an announced weekly online engagement which, according to his Campaign Organization, is part of the party’s adaptations to directly converse with the people on safe platforms in line with health regulations and INEC’s guidelines. Responding to a question about how he would tackle security challenges in the state if elected, the governor pledged to dedicate more resources to combatting insecurity and queried the present administration’s sincerity to securing lives and property.  “The present government has not been able to show any serious commitment to the security funding of the state. Every month, the governor collects over N600 milli

The contractor working on the dualisation of Ekehuan Road in Benin City, which serves as the main access to the Benin River Port project, has resumed work on the site, after initial delays due to the rains. Governor Godwin Obaseki awarded the contract for the dualisation of the road as one of the first steps to opening up the axis for high vehicular traffic that would be experienced on the road when the construction of the port begins in earnest. A cross-section of residents in the area, who spoke to our correspondents, confirmed that the project contractor has returned to site, while the workers have begun covering drains that were recently constructed. Mr. Anderson Uwadia, a resident in the area, said: "I can confirm that the contractor has returned to site. They are working hard to cover the drains, which were recently completed. The drains are huge and would help in tackling the flooding issues in this community. We appreciate Governor Godwin Obaseki for ensuring t

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said the state is boosting its capacity to respond to emergencies with the training of medical first responders.   The governor said this during a courtesy visit by the Director General (DG) of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Air Vice Marshall (AVM) Rtd. Muhammadu Muhammed, who was in the state to flag off the Emergency Agricultural Intervention Funds programme for Persons affected by flooding.   NEMA also donated palliatives to 64,613 households in the state to cushion the economic effect of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Governor Obaseki noted that emergency response is imperative to the government's plans to protect the people, adding that the state is training medical first responders to help in medical responses as the state has set up help lines to facilitate rescue operations.   He said, "Training and capacity building for response is as important as the items you gave us."   Obaseki

    The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Osagie Ize-Iyamu, risks arrest if he fails to appear in Court on July 14, for the continuation of the hearing of the alleged N700m money laundering case preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).   A Federal High Court in Benin City, had on Tuesday, July 2, adjourned the matter to July 14 due to the absence of Ize-Iyamu, who was said to be indisposed.   The trial had been delayed due to Ize-Iyamu's absence, even as the presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Garba, had earlier validated the charges against him.   Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu is the first defendant in the suit No. FHC/BE21C/ 2016 filed by the EFCC, who accused the defendants of conspiring among themselves to commit the offence in March 2015, alleging that they took possession and control of the funds without any contract award.   The judge rejected the oral request for a prolonged adjournment of the case by the Counsel to I

  Fresh crisis has hit the camp of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the September 19 gubernatorial election in Edo State.    A reliable source familiar with the crisis, said Ize-Iyamu's campaign team is battling cash crunch as a prominent Benin billionaire who has been funding his campaign has suddenly developed cold feet on the advice of his associates who are of the view that the Ize-Iyamu's governorship project is high risk.   The source who pleaded anonymity, said: "To start with, no one is certain about Ize-Iyamu's candidature. The way he joined the APC and emerged the flagbearer of the party is still being debated among his lawyers and close associates.   "In fact, a close friend of Ize-Iyamu told him that the ticket he has, is but a receipt for a black market transaction that will not survive the scrutiny of the courts even if he wins the election because there are fundamental issues with the way h

    Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the Edo Governorship election, has said his party will run not run foul of Independent National Electoral Commission's regulations on the conduct of campaigns ahead of the September 19, Edo governorship polls.   He said this in a statement issued by Mr. John Mayaki, the Director of Communication and Media of his Campaign Organization.   Ize-Iyamu said that his party, the APC, is not oblivious of the extant regulations on the rules of campaigns within the context of the coronavirus disease.   The statement read: "We are well aware that INEC has provided a policy framework for all political parties with clear provisions on how to conduct campaigns without compromising the health of the electorates or jeopardizing the efforts to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease."   "As a responsible political party and candidate, the All Progressives Congress, and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyam

The Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration in Edo State is changing the face of education in the state with the reforms implemented through the Edo State Basic Education Sector Transformation (EdoBEST), efforts to strengthen the state's Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), including the recruitment of new teachers and tertiary education overhaul. Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, in a statement, said the state government has pursued a wholistic strategy to revamping the education sector in the last three years and seven months that has seen to the development of the critical sectors of the education sector. According to him, "We have ensured that there is harmony between government and teachers through a well-intentioned programme to build their capacities to respond to the challenges of the 21 st  century. "Edo State has become the cynosure of all eyes when it comes to digitalising p

*Dr. Pius Odubu meets his Campaign Coordinators and Stakeholders, directs them to work for the Candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu* ...Specially appreciates President Mohammadu Buhari, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and others.  It was indeed a moment of joy and praises at the Benin City campaign office of Dr Pius Odubu, the former Deputy Governor of Edo State and a frontline contender in the June 22, 2020 Edo State APC Governorship Primary election as the APC Chieftain held a scheduled meeting with some critical stake holders of his campaign organisation.  In his opening remarks, the quintessential lawyer and two times Federal House of Representatives member between 1999 and 2007  wholeheartedly appreciated and commended everyone who, in various ways contributed enormously to the Odubu Governorship project. He particularly extended his thanks to the former Commissioner of Justice and Attorney General of Edo State, Barr. Henry  Idahagbon for h

The Special Adviser to Edo State Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, has said that "the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the September 19 gubernatorial election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the sacked former national chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and their ilk, are expired political forces and will face defeat in the hands of well meaning Edo people at the poll, come September 19. Osagie noted that "Governor Obaseki has unwavering faith in his works and the growing support of millions of Edo people, who are the actual voters that will re-elect Obaseki for another term in office." The Governor's aide stressed: "the avalanche of lies being bandied by Ize-Iyamu and his cronies who have run out of ideas in their desperate effort to sell a very bad product for the Edo gubernatorial election will not save them from their imminent defeat.  "When you have a candidate that is facing criminal

                       former governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Engr. Gideon Ikhine, with beneficiaries of the N1m start up grant at the Edo Innovation Hub, in Benin City. 

Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the Edo Governorship election, has described as irresponsible and indecorous the actions of Governor Godwin Obaseki to expend state resources on the display of videos involving Governor Umar Ganduje Kano State on a digital billboard placed at Ring Road in Benin City, Edo State Capital.   In a statement released today by Mr. John Mayaki, the Director of Communication and Media of his Campaign Organization, Ize-Iyamu said it is hypocritical for Governor Godwin Obaseki to embark on such a thoughtless act of cheap blackmail when he is yet to account for his Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Diaspora Affairs, Osazee Osemwengie Ero, who remains in detention abroad after his arrest last year in France over credible allegations of money laundering.   He said: "It is obvious to everyone in Edo State and beyond now that the outgoing Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, and his party of tax-collectors

As political parties participating in the September 19 gubernatorial election in Edo State intensify electioneering campaigns, a women empowerment-focused group, Edo Women League has unveiled plans to mobilise Edo women to vote for Governor Godwin Obaseki. Chairperson of the group, Mrs Uwaila Osa Airueghian, told journalists in Benin City, the Edo State capital that "a vote for Obaseki is a vote for women empowerment." Mrs. Airueghian lauded the various strategies deployed by the Obaseki-led government to restore the pride and dignity of Edo women. "Worthy of note, are the efforts undertaken by our amiable governor to discourage illegal migration and human trafficking in our state. We have not forgotten the series of sensitisation campaigns by the governor, to churches, mosques and the palace of our Royal Father, Omo N'Oba N'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II. "He didn't stop there. He travelled to Italy and engaged leaders of that country an

In furtherance of Governor Godwin Obaseki's vision to transform Edo State into an investment hub, the state has attracted over N29bn private investment into its agriculture sector, targeted at oil palm and rubber plantation development.   Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, in a statement, said in the last three years and seven months, the government has created an enabling business environment that has made the state a darling for investors looking to develop plantations. He said the key investors in the state's private-sector-led plantation development include Dufil Prima Foods and Rubber Estates Nigeria Limited. He said Dufil Prima Foods would be investing $600 million (N23.2bn) in pursuit of its backward integration programme by setting up a 17,954 hectares of oil palm plantation in 14 communities in Ovia North East Local Government Area (LGA) of the state. He added that the Rubber Estates Nigeria Limited is ex

  The candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the Edo State Governorship election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has raised alarm on alleged plans by the incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki to obtain a 20 billion naira bond loan from financial institutions to pursue his second-term ambition after allegedly draining the state treasury.   In a statement endorsed by Mr. John Mayaki, the Director of Communication and Media of his Campaign Organization, Ize-Iyamu condemned what he termed as the Governor’s short-sighted and irresponsible indebting of the state for desperate and personally-beneficial political activities, while also warning financial institutions against granting fraudulent loans to the Edo State Government.   He said: “After draining the state treasury with his corrupt 15 billion naira payout to the PDP tax-collectors for the party’s ticket, it has come to our notice that Governor Obaseki is now scurrying around to embark on another borrowing spree with a p

The candidate of Labour Party (LP) in the September 19, 2020 governorship election in Edo State, Dr. Isaiah Osifo, has called on Edo people to reject the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who is currently undergoing criminal trial over an alleged N700m fraud.   Ize-Iyamu is facing an eight-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N700 million meant to prosecute the 2015 general elections. He is the first defendant in the suit (No. FHC/BE21C/ 2016) preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).   Osifo, who spoke to journalists during a press conference in Benin City, noted that for APC to present Pastor Ize-Iyamu as its gubernatorial candidate, shows that the leadership of the party is not interested in good politics and morality.   He added that the leadership of any political party that is not interested in morality is dangerous to human society and must be rejected by Edo people.   Osifo said

  The Edo State Government has recruited 256 new officers into the Edo State Traffic Control and Management Agency (EDSTMA) and built a Training and Manpower Development Centre to strengthen the state's response to traffic management within the metropolis.   In a statement, Legal Adviser/Secretary, EDSTMA, Iryn Omorogiuwa, said the Passing Out Parade (POP) for the newly recruited officers will hold on Friday 10, July, 2020, at the Agency's Head Office, along Sapele Road in Benin City.   She noted that the ceremony will also feature the commissioning of the EDSTMA Training and Manpower Development Centre.    According to her, "The 256 newly recruited officers and Training and Manpower Academy will strengthen EDSTMA's capacity in bringing order to the metropolis."   Managing Director (MD) of EDSTMA, Oloriegbe Dennis Ade, noted: "The Training and Manpower Academy was constructed by the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration to assist the agency i

  The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Edo Governorship election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has assured the people of Edo State that his clarity of purpose and hunger for service will transform the decaying neglected infrastructure across the 18 Local Government Areas of the State.   Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu who said this through his Director of Communication and Media, Mr. John Mayaki in Benin City also clarified the misattribution of his consistent ambition to desperation by few skeptics, stating that contrary to their claims, he is driven by the desire to reposition and restructure Edo state with carefully thought-out policies and programs encapsulated in his SIMPLE agenda.   He said: "It's sad and regrettable that my clarity of purpose is what shortsighted minds call desperation; it's really a definite statement of ambition.”   "It's a truism that Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu wants to become the governor and everyone knows this. Mak