The Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday frowned at what it called the unwholesome and illegal sales of supposed drugs for COVID-19.
This was as the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, directed the acting chairman of the House committee on health, Hon. Hakeem Shokunle, to have further discussions with the executive arm in relation to a bill on COVID-19 that had been passed months ago by the Assembly.
Speaker Obasa, who presided over the sitting, said the state needed to act, monitor and regulate activities around the sales and use of the drugs so as not to make it free-for-all.
Shokunle (Oshodi/Isolo 1) had raised the motion on the floor of the House and complained that some Nigerians were taking advantage of the COVID-19 situation in the state to sell various drugs.
While noting the danger in such illegal action, Shokunle urged the House to revisit the bill on COVID-19 which the House had passed and which was awaiting Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s assent.
He said an amendment of the bill would allow the executive arm of the state government to work maximally in its efforts to combat the pandemic.
In his contribution, Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu (Eti Osa 2), supported Shokunle adding that it was lamentable the way people are bringing vaccines into the country.
He advised that there should be a way to regualate the importation of such drugs as well as their sales, especially as the virus comes with different variants.
He noted that the House already has a bill and that all that is required is a recall of the bill for the purpose of amending it to cover the sales and distribution of related drugs.
On his part, Hon. Temitope Adewale (Ifaki Ijaiye 1), said while COVID-19 is known to be ravaging the world and affecting the state, there is danger in self-medication or administration of drugs that are not regulated or approved.
Supporting that the bill be recalled, he warned that the state faced the danger of people suffering adverse effects from the use of some of these drugs.
The motion was further supported by Hon. Tobun Abiodun (Epe 1) and Hon. Ajani Owolabi (Mainland 1).
Former British chancellor George Osborne is to become a partner at one of London’s most exclusive boutique advisory firms.
Osborne is joining M&A advisory firm Robey Warshaw as the business’ first outside partner.
“Robey Warshaw is the best of the best, advising great businesses on how to grow, and I’m proud to be joining this first-rate team,” Osborne said in statement provided by Robey Warshaw.
Osborne, who left politics in 2017, has become well-known for the portfolio of jobs he has taken on since leaving politics, including editing the London Evening Standard newspaper and advising money manager BlackRock. The former chancellor will give up his other roles to focus solely on Robey Warshaw, which he will join in April.
“We believe that George will significantly enhance the advice we give to clients,” a spokesperson for Robey Warshaw said. “He brings differentiated experience and expertise to our team from his leading roles in global finance over the past decade.”
Robey Warshaw was founded by ex-Morgan Stanley (MS) bankers Sir Simon Robey and Philip Apostolides and former UBS (UBSG.SW) dealmaker Simon Warshaw in 2013. The firm has quickly established a reputation as one of the preeminent firms in the bulge-bracket deal space.
In recent years Robey Warshaw has worked on deals including Comcast’s (CMCSA) $39bn takeover of Sky, BP’s (BP.L) $10.5bn (£7.7bn) acquisition of shale assets from BHP Group (BHP.L), and the London Stock Exchange’s (LSE.L) $27bn takeover of data provider Refinitiv.
Advising on such blockbuster deals has helped the firm make profits of over £200m since its founding. Profits are shared between the company’s three partners. The highest paid partner took home £10m last year and £27.7m the year before that.
Details of Osborne’s pay arrangements were not shared and a spokesperson declined to comment. Osborne, who was chancellor from 2010 until 2016, will be entitled to a profit share as a new partner.
“We remain hugely ambitious about our company’s future and believe that George will help expand our reach, and what we can offer our clients without changing the philosophy or ethos of our firm,” the Robey Warshaw spokesperson said.
Despite its work on major deals, Mayfair-based Robey Warshaw remains small. The firm employs just 12 professionals who advises on deals, supported by 15 administrative staff.
Stipulates 15 years for anyone who allows his premises as meeting place for cultists
The Lagos House of Assembly late Monday passed a bill banning the activities of cultists and related illegal societies across the state into a law.
The new law stipulates a 21-year imprisonment for anyone found guilty of engaging in cult activities. It also stipulates a 15-year jail term for anyone convicted of abetting cultists or who allows his premises to be used by cultists as a meeting place.
After its passage, the Speaker of the state Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, directed the clerk of the House, Mr. Olalekan Onafeko, to transmit the law to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for assent.
Titled: ‘A law to provide for the prohibition of unlawful societies and cultism in Lagos state and for other connected purposes’, it says a society shall be regarded as unlawful if its members carry out illegal, destructive activities contrary to public policy, safety and peace of members of the public.
Section 3 of the law states: “Any person who is a member of an unlawful society or cult, identifies as a member or solicits for members of an unlawful society or cult, attends a meeting of an unlawful society or cult whether as a member or an intending member of the unlawful society or cult commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of 21 years imprisonment.”
The jail term also concerns anyone who attends such meetings or does any illegal act which may probably cause a breach of peace, disturb public peace or conducts activities in such a manner a to pose a threat to life and property.
The law further states: “Anyone who forms, organises or combines and agrees with anyone to form or organise an unlawful society or cult, manages and assists in the management of an unlawful society or cult or knowingly allows a meeting of members of an unlawful society or cult to be held in any property under his control commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of 15 years imprisonment.”
The 15-year jail term further applies to anyone who intimidates or compels people to join a cult group.
“Any person who injures or uses violence on a person to compel the person to join an unlawful society or cult, commits an offence and liable on conviction to a term of 21 years imprisonment.
“Any person who administers or is present at and consents to the administering of any unlawful oath that appears to bind the person who takes it to become a member of an unlawful society or cult under this law, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to seven years,” the law says.
It also stipulates 21 years for any member of a cult group who sets fire on anything or uses firearm or deadly objects including acid and other chemicals in any manner as to cause harm to anyone.
For students in the state, the law, which prohibits campus cultism, says anyone of them who is convicted would face a jail term not exceeding two years.
The Lagos House of Assembly on Monday called on the governor of the state, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to commence very tough enforcement of the COVID-19 protocols among residents of the state. The House said its decision follows the outright disregard for the protocols against the pandemic by some residents and visitors to the state.
The members of the House also asked the governor to call on the state’s commissioner for information, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, to embark on enlightenment campaigns and education of the people concerning the dangerous effects of the pandemic on the society.
Prior to the decision of the lawmakers, Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, noted that the state, just like the country, cannot afford another lockdown because of the adverse effect such would have on the economy.
Speaker Obasa said there was need for more enlightenment because COVID-19 in the state and country was taking a dreadful dimension.
He noted that the life of every single individual in Lagos remains precious and as such, there must be conscious efforts to protect the residents.
Kicking off the debate, the acting chairman of the House committee on health, Hon. Hakeem Sokunle (Oshodi/Isolo 1), had raised concerns over the new wave of COVID-19 in the state.
Sokunle told his colleagues that before now, only few patients needed oxygen. The situation, he said, has changed as over 80 percent of patients now needing oxygen.
He proposed that apart from enlightenment, there should strict compliance to the COVID-19 protocols as well as the cancelling social engagements.
He also urged that wearing of face masks should be enforced.
Sokunle’s position was supported by Olowo and other lawmakers.
The Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, to intensify campaign against the new wave of COVID-19 in the state.
Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, who brought the matter before the House during plenary, added that it was important for the state’s Commissioner for Health, Professor Tunji Abayomi, to brief the House on the efforts being made by the government to curtail the spread of the disease.
Obasa said there was need for the people to take precaution against the pandemic at this point to prevent further spread.
He also urged lawmakers to intensify observance of the protocols against it.
“The Governor is down with mild symptoms of COVID-19 and I want to urge all the lawmakers in the House to observe the protocols of the pandemic.
“The Clerk of the House should also ensure that the staff of the House and visitors observe COVID-19 protocols.
“We should sustain the campaign against the spread of the disease in the state. We all know that the disease is on the increase in the United States of America and in other countries.
“The Commissioner for Health, Professor Tunji Abayomi, would have to come and brief the House on efforts being made to prevent the spread of the disease in the state,” Obasa said.
Commenting on the matter, Hon. Bisi Yusuff, who is a member of the House Committee on Health Services, expressed fears concerning the new wave while lamenting that many residents have become careless.
He said Lagosians must continue to observe protocols.
Meanwhile, a bill for a law to provide for the registration of cooperative societies in Lagos State has been read a second time.
The bill was analysed by the Chairman of the House Committee on Commerce and Industry, Hon. Ganiu Okanlawon (Kosofe 1) and it was debated by some members at the sitting.
The bill was then committed to the House Committee on Commerce and Industry to report back to the House in two weeks.
At the sitting, a report on Unlawful Societies and Cultism (Prohibition) Bill 2020 was presented by the Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Public Petitions and LASIEC, Hon. Victor Akande, representing Ojo1.
However, the committee was asked to make some amendments on the bill based on the observations and comments of members on the report before it would be read for the third time.
Before adjourning the sitting to Monday, December 28, Speaker Obasa urged standing committees of the House to conclude work on bills before them.
He also urged the joint Committees on Budget and Economic Planning and Finance to complete work on the 2021 Budget proposal of the state.
Just like I promised to keep the people of God and the entire populace informed with the truth and the current state of things, I am here again to burst yet another Maureen’s bubble of new set of 32 lies told so far about MFM but I will focus on 2 or 3 allegations that has made her the oaf that she is . I believe that after this, most of you watching and listening to her propagating her false stories will need to question the state of her mental health and if you are a follower its high time you thought twice.
Let us check out a scripture before I expose her show of shame of the past few days. John chapter 8 verses 44. “Ye are of your father the devil (Maureen) and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, AND ABODE NOT IN THE TRUTH, BECAUSE THERE IS NO TRUTH IN HIM. WHEN HE SPEAKETH A LIE, HE SPEAKETH OF HIS OWN: FOR HE IS A LIAR AND THE FATHER OF IT” . Maureen is the mother of lies from the pit of hell where her father lives. She alleged in one of her recent live streams that a building called Shiloh has been pulled down because an investigation was launched based on her findings, She alleged that MFM KEEPS VIRGINS IN THE PROPERTY FOR RITUAL PURPOSES.
What a laughable and terrible prejudice, this woman must really think highly of herself, to think that MFM LEADERSHIP AND THE GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA WILL CONDESCEND SO LOW TO LISTEN TO HER BASELESS DISPLAY OF STUPIDITY AND ACT UPON IT, SHOWS THAT SOMETHING IS SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH HER STATE OF MIND. The only reason I take my time to write and publish these nefarious streams, are for CLARITY and the sake of the young Christians and the gullible viewers who are actually her target in this whole matter.. Some of the core values of MFM as a ministry IS SOUL WINNING, DELIVERANCE, REHABILITATION OF PEOPLE, and SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL SUPPORT TO MANKIND. For these reasons, MFM HAS BUILT OVER 22 FURNISHED BUILDINGS fondly called hostels, that house the needy, destitute, bereaved, widows, orphans, homeless students of universities, and lots more.
Sometime ago, one of these properties, SHILOH, was noticed to have a defect in structure. As a matter of fact, it was sinking, and the state Government was invited for a thorough evaluation (THE LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT BUILDING TASK FORCE ) of which they gave a report that the building be knocked down. (The new building ) In order to make provisions for the OCCUPANTS that lived in it, the MFM authorities built another structure and relocated the occupants before knocking the building down, AND THE NEW ONE WAS COMPLETED SOMETIME IN SEPTEMBER.
These occupants are widows, male students, families that are in distress and many more, but not VIRGINS like Marine Maureen claimed, neither was the place investigated and pulled down because of her nonsense and empty allegations that have no bearing.
Her second show of shame was a video she played in her stream of a fracas that took place during a political gathering in South America in 2018 where there were Gunshots and serious commotions, SHE CLAIMED THAT THIS HAD TAKEN PLACE IN ONE OF THE MFM BRANCHES IN THE UK. Without further ado, I would like to ask this woman of no self-value and proper understanding, one that obviously needs psychological treatment and mental evaluation these salient questions;
1. Which MFM branch in the UK holds services under an open roof as the video suggests?
2. How come people in the video are not predominantly Africans like you see in typical mfm gathering?
3. How come the people there are mainly South American and not Caucasians?
4. How come the church service has no women and children in the gathering taking cover?
5. How come there was no MFM LOGO present in the hall rather it was another logo entirely?
6. How come we didn’t hear of this DISRUPTED CHURCH gathering in the UK all these while?.
If indeed it transpired in the UK, because if this had happened as you CLAIMED , it would have made headline news AND THE UK POLICE WOULD HAVE MADE ARREST don’t you think?.
(CAN THIS BE MFM LOGO) Simply put, this is not an MFM GATHERING, NEVER WAS, and that event didn’t even happen in the UK but in her usual manipulative way to sway her followers and viewers she displayed HER IGNORANCE AND FOOLISHNESS by putting up this nonsense.
The one that actually got to me in all of her shenanigans WAS WHEN SHE HOSTED THE PICTURE OF THE DEAD on her live stream and lied!!! That the man’s death was related to MFM, and started allegations and accusations on DR DK OLUKOYA UNTIL THE SON OF THE LATE MAN CALLED IN LATER ON THE SHOW and told her to pull her father’s picture down and that his death had nothing to do with MFM. Instead of Maureen to repent and apologize, she acted like she had done nothing wrong and remorselessly continued with her slanders and inhumane activities.
I have drawn my conclusions that this woman needs mental evaluation and has serious issues and I would advise her friends and followers to ask her to seek counsel before its too late. Furthermore, I will leave Maureen and her follower with these 2 scripture one for Maureen -Proverbs 19:5 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape. (Tears will not help you now) and Exodus 23 for her followers- Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.
I am ready to shade out all Maureen’s lies; as far as this matter is concerned we will update you with the facts and true picture of these satanic allegations as we continue with our investigation.
A frontline grassroot politician in Alimosho, youth development enthusiast and managing director of Upright Agricultural Services, Babatunde Adegoke, aka Mata has rallied the youth constituency in Egbe Idimu to pass a vote of confidence on the Senator representing Lagos West in the National, Sen. Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, YAYI FCA and the leader of the All Progressive Congress, APC in Alimosho, Alhaji Abdulahi Enilolobo.
Mata who is an agribusiness expert while hosting some youths of the party at a dinner yesterday, reiterated that Senator Yayi and Enilolobo are the supreme leaders that have the qualities to pilot the affairs of running a democratic and progressive party like the APC in Alimosho.
‘It smacks ofsheer mischief, wickedness and infantile scheming for any right thinking person to question the quality of leadership as produced by the duo of Senator Yayi and Alhaji Enilolobo within Alimosho, and Egbe Idimu in particular’
Adegoke also charged politicians to imbibe peaceful engagement and strategic lobbying rather than resort to violence, destruction and cheap propaganda.
‘APC is a big party, so interests will sure abound. But it is advisable that we imbibe in peaceful politicking, strategic lobbying and human empowerment, rather than violent disruptions, destruction of properties and unwarranted blackmail’.
In clear terms, Mata also firmly expressed it that the youths of Egbe Idimu, ditto Alimosho won’t allow miscreants masquerading as politicians take over the running of the party. He however counsel every party men to be law abiding, peace loving and dutiful to part hierarchy.
Events of the past few weeks have been tumultuous. Unfortunate things have happened. Lives have been lost. Property damaged. Essential institutions such as the police force and army are under justifiable scrutiny. Protests call for needed reform. Taking advantage of the situation, less noble actors have pressed forward, either to steal the hard-earned property of others or to prosecute selfish political objectives not germane to the protests at hand.
Even with many people taking undue license to press cases that would otherwise be tossed from the court of public opinion, one would think certain people would keep their mouths shut and hide their pens even during this period. Bode George is one such person. In commenting on the protests and trying to fault Bola Tinubu for every human imperfection ranging from the original sin in the Garden of Eden to the cost of tomatoes in the local market, George is either one of the world’s most bulbous hypocrites or the victim of the worst bout of amnesia ever recorded in the journals of medical science. In that this gruff, indelicate man well remembers the sound of his own name and responds to the ruffle of fresh naira with the pounce of a hungry jackal, one may fairly assume that his particular diathesis points more to the former moral decrepitude than to any medical infirmity that might affect his memory.
In his recent article published by NEW DAWN entitled “Lagos State THE Anger, The Rage”, Bode George huffs and puffs in contrived indignation at recent events in Lagos. He misrepresents himself as a storm for change and justice. He is nothing of the sort. For all of his blowing and the grand noise he thinks himself to make, he barely manufactures an audible moment. He is but a rickety, broken tea kettle trying futilely with all its waning might to bring a tiny pot of water to boil.
Try as it might, the rickety kettle is unstable and cannot hold itself upright. In the end, the only noteworthy sound it can muster is the sound of its falling to the floor after toppling from the counter top.
Inept as he is loquacious, the former naval commander, once again, has proven that he cannot successfully navigate a toy boat from one end of a bathtub to the other. He would make a wreck of even this simple assignment. Everything he has touched ends up being worse off, if not in complete ruins, than when he first happened upon it. His coming into a room is a cause for sorrow and his exit a cue for celebration. The man is an albatross around his own neck.
Yet, he had the audacity to write that all conscientious men must stand with the righteous at this hour and the he had “chosen to identify with the voiceless…” It seems that George discovered morality a bit late in the game of life and over a decade after the time when even a fiber of morality on his part would have amounted to something. George squeals about the deaths and destruction that have occurred in Lagos and then lays the trouble at the foot of one man who happens to be his political nemesis. Such as assignment of guilt by George is based on political convenience and con games rather than fact. George says Tinubu has questions to answer about the incident at Lekki but he offers no proof as to why Tinubu should be on the spot.
If George were really interested in justice, how come he did not jump at his master Obasanjo when the latter was commander in chief? As commander in chief, Obasanjo presided over the slaughter of several hundreds and perhaps thousands of unarmed innocent men, women and children in separate incidents in Zaki Biam and Odi. In each case, people were burned alive in their homes or dragged away and butchered. George voiced no indignation at these large massacres although they cost a hundred fold more lives than even all the precious lives lost everywhere in Lagos, not just Lekki during this period. Unjust death anywhere is a tragedy and must be condemned. But George’s background tells us that he is not crying because he cares about those who died or were wounded during events in Lagos but because the moment conveniently serves his political interest.
If he had morality, he would have chastised Obasanjo for killing innocent women and children and ransacking whole towns. Instead, George kept publicly quiet while in private endorsing the carnage set down by his boss who would eventually reveal himself to be a turncoat friend and master who would shuffled George off to prison. George talks of people being brought before the ICC in the Hague for what has happened in Lagos. His lawyer should advise him to be circumspect. Should some diligent human rights attorney take a good look at his role in the Obasanjo government and his endorsement of the confirmed large-scale massacres at Zaki Biam and Odi, that lawyer might take a very keen interest in Mr. George. George would surely quake in his boots upon finding on his doorstep one morning a mysterious brochure saying that he just won an all-expenses paid holiday to the Hague.
George is infamous for his meanness of personality and mercenary outlook toward policy – give him an official position and he will do any number of ugly things to keep it. In his writing, he called himself a elder statesman. However, one cannot award that title to oneself. It must be earned not unilaterally expropriated lest it be taken away by those who can rightly bestow it. George is no more a statesman than a mosquito is an eagle.
George claims Lagos to be an awful place yet he still lives here even after vowing to move away forever should the APC win the 2019 election. George will not move because, deep in his heart, he knows Lagos is the best that Nigeria has. It is the best not because of anything George did. It is the best despite George for he tried to thwart every major constructive initiative the state’s progressive governors have attempted since 1999.
George has the nerve to lament about the poor state of infrastructure and blame Tinubu and others. George drips with a double dose of highly toxic hypocrisy here. George well knows he encouraged Obasanjo to illegally withhold Lagos state funds when Tinubu was governor. George did this because he was afraid Tinubu would gain political support if allowed access to those funds to do projects in the state. Thus, George cared nothing that his antics might hurt Lagosians. He is captained by the perverse logic that rules all people who crave public office but are inherently unfit for the roles they seek. He believes the best way for him to gain the support of the people is to make them suffer. This is the way his mind worked then and the manner it malfunctions now. He is more interested in inveigling support than in duly enhancing the public welfare.
As governor, Tinubu brought power generator barges to Lagos to provide 300MW of power to the state and give residents and businesses more, cheaper power. What did George do? He did not applaud the initiative as a boon for Lagosians. He connived with Obasanjo to stop this. Again, he decided that he would rather see Lagosians suffer than Tinubu succeed at doing something new and needed for the people
Like he did in the past, George today is happy about the events that have befallen Lagos. He only feigns concern. He now is possessed of that cruel happiness that specially effects the mean at heart. They are only truly happy when misfortune comes to others. George now gloats the evildoer’s gloat and dances the wicked man’s dance. He is in this deformed way because he knows he cannot gain political traction by outperforming anyone. He cannot win by doing something positive because there is essentially noting positive in him. He is a bundle of negative impulses and actions. Thus, his only avenue of political pleasure and success is to tear down that which others have built. George is a breaker not maker of things.
His career has been monstrous. As military governor in Ondo, he was known to be corrupt to the utmost. He plundered the state’s treasury describing himself, by way of explanation, as a ‘Lagos Boy’ – giving the state a bad name. There was no part of the state treasure his sticky hand did not explore. As NPA chairman, he allowed the port to deteriorate. He is thus partly responsible for the economic bottleneck that is the port and all the harm and higher costs it brings to us. Worse, he was caught artificially segmenting large contracts into smaller ones so as to bypass procurement requirements and oversight. In this manner, he bilked the nation much like he did Ondo state as its governor. If nothing else, one can say that as a thief he has shown remarkable consistency if a coarseness of approach that always seems to get him caught.
As an operative of the PDP in Lagos and the SW, he has been the APC’s best friend for the division and antipathy he foments within his own party makes him one of the APC’s top recruiters.
Last, there is not a truly original thought that ever came from him. Toward the end of his piece, he asserts that the Lekki toll gate should be closed. George is a day late like most plagiarizers are. Tinubu made a similar recommendation the day before. George would not have made his copycat gesture but for having read Tinubu’s earlier statement.
Like the thief he is, George steals someone’s idea then foments hate against the other man for having had the idea first.
George is not a leader, a statesman or a visionary. His is a criminal mind and a cold hearted and an amoral personality. Bode, don’t forget there are still people old enough to remember where you are truly from.
At the end of the statement, George signs off “CON.” For most people that would mean Commander of the Niger. Yet, to get the perfect description of him, one must simply use this word before writing the word “artist” who can’t even identify the grave of his father in Ogun State… WHAT A “LAGOSIAN”.
Adeduntan, a public activist and a true son of Lagos State
Emerging facts have confirmed that Ondo State Deputy Governor, Mr. Agboola Ajayi is now working against his own interest and that of his new political party, the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) in Saturday’s election as part of a larger plan to sabotage the chances of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate and state governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu.
Agboola Ajayi, has allegedly received N3.6 billion from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in order to step down for its candidate, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede and also further malign Governor Akeredolu in arrangement that he personally admitted will shortchange the people of Ondo State.
A source that is familiar with the development revealed that the deputy governor got the offer during a late-night meeting at the residence of a PDP stalwart in the state capital, Akure late on Monday.
The source who declined to be named out of concern for his personal safety further disclosed that “As a show of good faith that the PDP will keep up its side of the bargain, the party Chieftains at the meeting were immediately able to raise N1.57 billion with a promise to give His Excellency (Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi) the remaining N2 billion before results are announced.
“The idea is that the Deputy Governor will supply damaging information on the governor while a second layer of the strategy is for Ajayi to do a last-minute midnight broadcast in which he will withdraw from the race and urge his supporters to vote for PDP and Eyitayo Jegede.
“The deputy governor was able to drive the offer up to N3.6 billion by reminding the PDP chieftains that what they were asking him to do was against the interest of the state, but they pointed out to him that he was being adequately compensated,” the source explained.
The PDP however reportedly rejected Ajayi’s demand that Jegede will discard his running mate, Gboluga Ikengboju as deputy governor within three months and replace him with ZLP candidate if he should win the election. One of those in attendance at the meeting dismissed the request on the ground that the Deputy Governor’s recent short stay in the PDP will make stakeholders wary of such arrangement
If ever a single snapshot told a complete story, the outcome of the Edo Governorship Debate organised by Channels TV last Sunday and capped by “The Conversation” by the Arise News Television a few days after, would have been enough to call today’s governorship election in Edo State a walkover for Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the All Progressive Congress, APC.
For the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), what happened that night was a capitulation and repudiation of their otherwise unpopular candidate and his regressive policies as governor, and an embrace of Ize-Iyamu’s call for a change in the direction and total outlook of the state.
The debate provided a telling moment for Edo indigenes across the world to see through the bumbling governor as he struggled to articulate whatever achievements his administration had been vaunting about. He was at best, incoherent and at worst, unconvincing.
Worse, Obaseki failed two major moral tests. First, he claimed that a former governor of the state, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, borrowed recklessly during his administration but conveniently forgetting that he was not just an integral member of the administration, he was also the Chief Economic Adviser to Oshiomhole. What irony! Edo people don’t want a liar as governor!
The second test he failed was when Ize-Iyamu challenged him on his A-Level result, which had emerged that he failed and therefore could only have gained admission into the University of Ibadan with a fake or falsified result. The people of Edo State, obviously, don’t want a governor with sordid and scant integrity.
More fundamental is that there is a fraud allegation albatross on the neck of the PDP candidate, which he has yet to resolve or respond to.
A foremost whistle-blower and anti-corruption crusader, Dr. George Uboh, chairman of George Uboh Whistleblowers Network (GUWN), claimed that they got bank statements from 2015 to 2019 on the Edo State Government showing misappropriation of billions of naira.
This, he claimed, included numerous transfers made into 8-digit account numbers; transfers from the state government to General-Purpose accounts in different banks, including but not limited to Equatorial Trust Bank (which is no longer in operation), Access Bank and Sterling Bank etc.
The allegation is hanging over his head like a sword of Damocles. Refusal to respond to the allegations is being interpreted – and rightly so too – across the state as Obaseki’s typical condescending attitude towards the people. They cannot bear such for another four years.
The APC is, however, not unmindful of the fact that debates or mere allegations of fraud don’t determine the outcome of elections. The character construct of a candidate and acceptability of his manifesto play a key role, which is where Ize-Iyamu is streets ahead of other contestants.
While Obaseki continues to move from one self-inflicted mishap to the other, everything that can go right for Ize-Iyamu is going well. He has campaigned well and widely too.
Ize-Iyamu’s populist appeal is predicated on many factors. He is a son of the soil in the truest sense of the word. He was born in Benin City, the state capital, to the family of Chief Robert Osayande Ize-Iyamu and Mrs. Magdalene Naghado Ize- Iyamu (née Obasohan), both of blessed memory. His father was a revered high chief of the Oba of Benin, ranking second in command until his demise as the Esogban of Benin.
He attended St. Joseph Primary School and Ebenezer Nursery and Primary School in Benin City, and had his secondary school education at Edo College, the premier secondary school in Edo State. He later attended the University of Benin, where he graduated with a degree in law. His law firm, Idahosa, Ahonaruogho & Ize-Iyamu (Solicitor & Advocates), has offices in Benin and Lagos but he has remained in the state.
A major advantage also is his political know-how and grassroots appeal. He was about 27 years old, when he was first appointed as a Special Assistant to the chairman of Oredo Local Government, Chief Lucky Igbinedion. When the latter became governor in 1999, he appointed Ize-Iyamu as Chief of Staff.
In Igbinedion’s second term, he served as Secretary to the State Government. While contributing to the development of the state in his official role, Ize-Iyamu was nurturing progressive and ambitious youths in the state through his I.O Farms Training Institute – a model farm settlement at Ugbor-Amagba communities in Benin City, which has produced hundreds of young agriculturists.
The institute has the triple objective of agricultural training, skills acquisition and youth empowerment, which is a veritable mechanism for the reduction of unemployment, youth restiveness and organised crime. If he could do this as a private citizen, the people know that he can do much more as a governor.
Also, Ize-Iyamu holds sacrosanct revered British economist, Alfred Marshall’s postulation that ‘The most valuable of all capital is that invested in human beings’, which is why he has promised that his administration would treat youth, sports, recreation and cultural activities as a business model for job and wealth creation opportunities.
According to him, “The purpose of government is the pursuance of happiness for the greater majority of the people,” and this is laid bare in his well-articulated manifesto of hope entitled ‘The SIMPLE Agenda’ – which stands for Security and Social Welfare, Infrastructure Development, Manpower Development, Public/Private Partnership, Leadership by Example and Employment Creation.
After consulting widely across the 18 local government areas of the state and thoroughly analysing the existential challenges of the people, the SIMPLE Agenda aims to launch Edo State on the path to sustainable prosperity and holistic development.
Like he said at the debate, the potential of Edo State is huge in terms of its ability to attract tourists, investments and quality jobs but the prevailing security situation in the state makes the realisation of this potential unrealistic and unattainable.
Thus, the first prong of the agenda is to build brand new security architecture with the creation of an emergency system like the 911 (the emergency contact number of the United States of America) to address insecurity in the state.
He says, “Community policing programme involving neighbourhood watch and vigilante groups will be established in rural and urban areas. Their main responsibility will be to monitor and gather intelligence for the different security agencies in their domains.”
In the area of social welfare, Ize-Iyamu says among other plans like free healthcare for the elderly, pregnant women and children below the age of five, policies that will protect widows and children of a deceased person from harassment and intimidation will be initiated and enforced. Under such policies, provisions will be made to ensure that widows and children have easier access to the estate, pension and other assets or benefits of their deceased.
The people also appreciate that Ize-Iyamu understands that the development of a state or country depends wholly on the availability of infrastructural facilities – both social and economic – an area, where Obaseki failed spectacularly.
Infrastructure plays a vital role in the improvement of a people’s standard of living and in contributing to a higher rate of socio-economic growth while their absence or degeneration negates development. And, in the SIMPLE Agenda, the APC candidate’s plans for infrastructure development and urban renewal are well articulated.
As part of the comprehensive plans to revamp, reform and restore the ailing health care sector, Ize-Iyamu assures the people that more attention will be paid to the primary healthcare centres and cottage hospitals while a harmonisation of Federal, State and Local Government health care plans and the incorporation of the National Strategic Health Development Plan (NSHDP), will be implemented.
Good enough, his wife, Professor Idia is a consultant orthodontist at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital and is familiar with the health sector like a child is familiar with her sandbox.
She joined the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) as a lecturer in 1997 and has served in various capacities in the institution. She became an Associate Professor of Orthodontics in 2014 and is a Fellow of the West African College of Surgeons. She also attended the Oxford University, United Kingdom, on a Commonwealth Medical Fellowship in 2016.
When it comes to the wellbeing of the people, Prof Idia will not just be an appendage of government; she would add value as an academic, a mother, an indigene and a medical practitioner.
Noteworthy is that her riveting message: that the improved lives of women and girls in the state and the world at large will lead to stronger and safer economies, is proving to be transformational and catching up with the women and the youth demographics. She complements her husband and will no doubt make an ideal First Lady.
Therefore, as you go out to cast that life-changing vote today, it is trite that as one, who desires change in every facet of the state, you would consider your future and those of your family members and everyone around you and desist from selling your votes, but rather make an informed choice in collective interest. With that one vote with you, the future of Edo is in your hand. Do justice to the choice you make today for a future you desire.
