Osinbajo, Odigie-Oyegun, others arrive Edo for Oba ’ s coronation

 

The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has arrived Benin, the Edo State capital, for the grand coronation ceremony of the new Oba of Benin Kingdom.

The crown prince of Benin Kingdom, His Royal Highness, Eheneden Erediauwa, would formally receive his staff of office from Governor Adams Oshiomhole as the 39th Oba.

Prof. Osinbajo arrived at the Benin airport at about 10:46am, under tight security.

He was accompanied by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, and other members of the presidential entourage.

The Vice President was received by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; governor Oshiomhole, the governor-elect, Godwin Obaseki; the Minister of State for Health, Osagie Ehanire; and the senator representing Edo North, Francis Alimikhena.

Other dignitaries who have arrived for the ceremony are  the Governor of Gombe, Dr. Ibrahim Dankwambo; his Imo State counterpart, represented by the Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere; the Edo State Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu, and the Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote.

Although the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, and the Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, were not sighted at the airport, it was learnt that they had arrived earlier with their entourage.

It was also gathered that the crown prince had yet to leave the Usama palace for Urho-Okpota as of the time of filing the report.

I’ll produce 100 millionaires in four years – Obaseki

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said he will produce 100 millionaires in the state in four years, if elected as governor.

Obaseki, who spoke on Monday during an interactive session with a group, Grassroots Youth Initiative, in the Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area, explained that with the presence of natural resources, the residents had no reason to be poor.

He said, “God has blessed us in Edo. No state is like Edo. We do not have any reason to be poor; the only reason why we are poor is because of bad leadership. With good leadership, the sky is our limit.

“So, the first thing I am going to emphasise in employment is to register the unemployed because we have employed a lot of people in the last eight years.”

He disclosed that the state government would encourage the unemployed youth in agriculture through the inauguration of an agricultural scheme known as the anchor programme.

“We are inaugurating our programme on agriculture called the anchor programme. Edo has been selected for oil palm, rubber, cassava, maize, livestock, poultry and fishery. Government is going to support all you want to do.”

He, however, noted that the process of wealth creation required the cooperation of all residents, especially as they go to the poll next Wednesday.

“Alone, I cannot do it; I need all of you to support the project to make it work, so that by the time we come here, almost everybody will be gainfully and skilfully employed.

“We have done a research in government. I do not want to be a governor where people fight to be senior special assistants before they can buy  cars.

“I want to be a governor that will produce 100 millionaires after four years. That is my goal, so that at the end my tenure, the people will truly lead because they will be empowered.”

Obaseki, who also received the support of the group led by its President, Mr. Osarobo Idahosa, added,”If you have your PVC, on September 28, you all should come out and vote for the APC.”

(PUNCH).

Obaseki: I’ve found my missing certificates

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, on Wednesday said that he has found the original copies of his academic credentials, which had earlier been declared missing in a sworn affidavit.

Obaseki had, in the said affidavit submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission for the September 10 election, reportedly stated that his academic documents got missing while he was moving his office from one place to another.

The development had on Monday attracted criticisms from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, which described his reasons for not being in possession of the certificates as “flimsy” and “unconvincing.”

However, Obaseki, who spoke during an interactive session organised by civil societies for governorship candidates in Benin, noted that though he had no reason to search for the documents, he had to provide the photocopies and swear to an affidavit for the election.

He explained, “I have found them. The truth is that I have not had any reason to look for them in the last 25 years. I know that I kept them somewhere in a safe box and I had photocopies.

“When I needed them for the exercise, I could not find them. So, I swore to an affidavit that I cannot find the originals.

He said that the photocopies of the documents were certified by the issuing institutions.

Obaseki added, “I took the photocopies to the institutions that issued them and they certified the photocopies.

“So when the whole controversy started raging, my cousin called me from New York and said, ‘But your originals are here. I said, ‘Please, send them to me now.”

The APC candidate also reiterated that his administration would provide security and manpower necessary to attract investors.

PUNCH.