The President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government has welcome the judgement by the United Kingdom (UK) court granting Nigeria’s application for an extension of time and relief from sanctions in a $10 billion arbitration case with Process and Industrious Development Limited (P&ID) in Nigeria.
A judge of the Business and Property Courts of England and Wales, Ross Canston, had Thursday granted Nigeria’s application for an extension of time and relief from sanctions.
The Federal Government described the judgement as right and just, alleging that it would provide a strong prima facie case that the fraudulent gas deal with P&ID and the subsequent judgement debt of $10 billion against Nigeria was a clear attempt to cheat the country of billions of dollars by a company that had not invested one Naira in the country.
“On the arbitration award, it is a source of huge satisfaction that the UK Court, among others, had ruled that:
‘‘Nigeria has established a strong prima facie case that the Gas Supply and Processing (GSPA) was procured by bribes paid to insiders as part of a larger scheme to defraud Nigeria.
‘‘There is also a strong prima facie case that that (P&ID) main witness in the arbitration, Mr. Quinn, gave a perjured evidence to the Tribunal, and that contrary to that evidence, P&ID was not in the position to perform the contract.’’
The Presidency expressed delight with the processes that led to this outcome in the English Court, noting that it has given relief to the Nigerian government to further protect our national assets from criminally-minded organisations and individuals.
The views of the UK court thus provide sufficient grounds for the Federal Government to go ahead and challenge the alleged frauds perpetrated by the company and overturn the arbitration award.
Buhari, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, commended the team of lawyers who represented Nigeria in the matter with P&ID.
He reassured all well-meaning Nigerians and the international community of his unwavering commitment to fight corruption in all its forms and manifestation.
In keeping to her promise, Russia has begun mass deliveries of her newly discovered Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine to the world as the country handed over the vaccine to Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, on Friday in Abuja.
Russia had registered the Sputnik V adenoviral vector-based vaccine and it had been described as the world’s first despite it not having undergone large-scale trials to prove its safety and effectiveness.
Russian Federation Ambassador to Nigeria, Alexey Shebarshin, handed over the vaccine to officials of the Ministry of Health during the envoy’s courtesy visit to the ministry.
Shebarshin explained that countries such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Mexico, among others have expressed interest in the Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine.
The Ambassador charged Nigeria to put together a team to interface with his Embassy to drive the process of human trials not just for the Russian COVID-19 vaccine, but to explore further disease and health areas where the Russian Federation has expertise to manage with vaccines.
Shebarshin admitted that he’s a non-scientist, explaining that he’s in the ministry to formally hand over the Russian-made vaccine against COVID-19 to Nigeria with an aide memoir which explains the details for Nigerian teams to study and get ready for further researches, patronage and application.
Responding, Ehanire said Nigeria has been participating in series of knowledge exchange, contacting different research bodies and countries to find solutions to the COVID-19 challenge.
The minister admitted that Nigeria has contacted the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Nigeria for right of access immediately the Russian COVID-19 vaccine was announced.
Russian Envoy and ministry’s officials reached a consensus decision to immediately refer the vaccine to the necessary professional institutes and agencies of the Federal Ministry of Health beginning with the National Agency for Drug, Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Nigeria Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), and for a team of scientists and advisors to the ministry to get to work on possible patronage of the Russian vaccine to alleviate the plight of Nigerians under the COVID-19 pandemic.
A ministerial team is also expected to be raised to continue further engagement with the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Nigeria on the vaccine as well as other areas of interests highlighted at the meeting.
Ehanire was supported by the Minister of State for Health, Olorunnimbe Mamora, and other top management of the ministry and other Nigerian scientists, researchers and advisors, who participated in the meeting online.
Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila & his Ghanaian counterpart, Rt. Hon. Prof. Mike Oquaye, PhD co-chairing a Bilateral Committee Meeting aimed at resolving issues between the two countries at the Ghanaian Parliament House in Accra on Wednesday 09/ 02/ 2020.
President Nana Akufo Ado of Ghana has endorsed a proposal for the establishment of a Nigeria-Ghana Business Council to be established by law in both countries.
The Ghanaian leader has also suggested the setting up of a joint ministerial committee between the two countries that would “shepherd” issues between Ghana and Nigeria.
Speaking at a meeting with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, who was in Accra for a two-day extensive dialogue towards resolving some of the challenges confronting Nigerians doing business in Ghana, Akufo-Addo said a request by the speaker for a review of Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) Act to make certain concessions was in order as it “makes a lot of sense”.
Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila & his Ghanaian counterpart, Rt. Hon. Prof. Mike Oquaye, PhD co-chairing a Bilateral Committee Meeting aimed at resolving issues between the two countries at the Ghanaian Parliament House in Accra on Wednesday 09/ 02/ 2020.
The President promised to also raise the issue with President Muhammadu Buhari when they meet at the ECOWAS Summit on Monday.
He assured Gbajabiamila of the readiness of the Ghanaian government to consider the resolutions reached at the ‘Legislative Diplomacy Bilateral Meeting’ between Nigeria and Ghana’s senior legislators on September 2 at the Ghanaian Parliament House.
Speaker of Ghana’s parliament, Mike Oquaye, led his Nigerian counterpart on a courtesy visit to the President at the Jubilee House in Accra on Thursday.
The legislative diplomacy dialogue became imperative as the parliaments of the two countries sought modalities to resolve challenges and provide an enabling business environment for foreign traders including Nigerians doing business in Ghana.
Several foreign businesses, many Nigerian-owned, in Ghana have been facing challenges in the demand for $1m capital base for foreign traders, as enshrined in the Ghana Investment Promotion Center GIPC Act (2013).
“I think the way forward, which is really what matters in situations like this, that is being suggested, one that I find very acceptable, the idea of legislation, a Nigeria-Ghana Business Council that will superintend trade matters and investment matters between our two countries, maybe long overdue.
Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila & his Ghanaian counterpart, Rt. Hon. Prof. Mike Oquaye, PhD co-chairing a Bilateral Committee Meeting aimed at resolving issues between the two countries at the Ghanaian Parliament House in Accra on Wednesday 09/ 02/ 2020.
“The time has come for us to take these worthwhile steps. I suggested to Mr. President that it will be a good idea to set up a joint ministerial committee of ministers from both sides who will be responsible for shepherding Ghana and Nigeria issues, reporting to both presidents at any one time, and that is how they should be resolved.
“I am hoping when I see him on Monday at the ECOWAS Summit, we can advance these discussions and come to a final conclusion.
“The way you yourselves have come about this matter is very satisfactory, and it requires our support. The review that you are asking for, why not? if it works in our mutual perspectives, we can take it for granted that your request will be taken seriously. We will have a look at it.
“So, the request for the review makes a lot of sense,” Akufo-Addo said.
Earlier, Gbajabiamila, who was in the company of some of his colleagues in Nigeria’s House of Representatives, which included the Chairmen of House Committees on Foreign Affairs, Media and Public Affairs, deputy chairmen of committee on Diaspora, Federal road safety and a member of the ECOWAS Parliament, told the Ghanaian President that they were in Ghana to “make efforts through parliamentary diplomacy to resolve the issues at stake.”
According to him, “We have appealed to the (Ghanaian) Parliament that if it’s possible at all to look again at the issues, as far as the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre Act is concerned, they should please do so.
“If it is not possible, then let us look at ways the pain can be reduced, like those expectations required in the law.
“We’ve proffered a few suggestions one of which is the establishment of Ghana-Nigeria Business Council backed by legislation on both sides,” Gbajabiamila said.
Meanwhile, in a communique issued jointly at the end of the bilateral meeting between members of the two parliaments led by their respective Speakers, Gbajabiamila and Oquaye, it was resolved that “measures will be adopted to support law-abiding traders to properly regularise their business operations to alleviate the trade challenges occasioned by the alleged closure of the retail stores, in view of the ravaging impact of COVID-19 pandemic on businesses and families in both countries.”
They acknowledged that many stakeholders in the retail sector have limited appreciation of the trade laws of Ghana, in particular, Section 28 of the GIPC Act, which provides for the conditions under which non-Ghanaians could engage in trading activities.
They urged the relevant regulatory authorities including the GIPC and Trade Attaches of foreign missions to educate their citizens on the trade laws.
They equally emphasised the need to respect the sovereignty of member states of ECOWAS and their laws, but, in doing so, efforts must be made to ensure that the ECOWAS Agenda for free movement of people and goods in furtherance of a shared and prosperous future of citizens of the sub-region is not compromised.
“A meeting will be held between the Trade and Foreign Affairs Committees of both Legislatures to deliberate on applications of Trade Laws, in particular, the GIPC Act, 2013 (Act 865) and make recommendations for appropriate solutions; and
“A Joint Committee will be established and composed of Members of both Legislatures to explore the possible passage of reciprocal legislation, which could be potentially called the “Ghana-Nigeria Friendship Act” which shall propose “Ghana-Nigeria Business Council” to provide a framework to sustain the friendship and benefits to citizens of the two nations.”
Departing Ghana on Thursday, Gbajabiamila expressed his gratitude to his counterpart for his statesmanship, leadership and hospitality, which made it possible for both countries to resolve thorny issues through legislative diplomacy.
Seat of the President of Nigeria at the Council Chamber in the State House/Presidential Villa, Abuja.
By Dapo Akande
The Aussies, known for their love of beer or the Amber Nectar, as they like to call it, are an interesting people. If you think you’re a big beer drinker, then try challenging an Australian to a drinking contest. I can assure you, he’lI drink you under the table, any day. Aussies literally drink like fish.
There was a great advert in the United Kingdom for Castlemaine 4X which parodied this, several decades ago. In preparation for a barbecue (another thing Aussies are known for) party, two men were seen leaning on a truck in the outback (desert like area of Australia) and patiently watching while the drinks for the party were being loaded up. What were they being loaded unto? A trailer. What were the variety of drinks? No variety, only Castlemaine 4X.
Only after totally overloading the trailer with Castlemaine 4X beer to the point where one could clearly hear the trailer creaking under the sheer weight of it, did they remember that they hadn’t packed any drinks for the women. Very casually, with folded arms and a can of Castlemaine 4X he was already drinking in hand, one of the two men said to the other who was doing exactly the same, “I guess we better add a couple of bottles of wine for the Sheilas (ladies)?” His friend agreed and promptly, two bottles of wine were plonked on top of the hundreds of crates of beer. The two men were shown looking satisfied that they had done a good job and then the camera quickly shot back to the trailer as we heard the creaking increase and before we knew it the trailer came crashing down. Without the slightest hint of any panic but with undisguised regret, one of the two men said to the other, “I guess we over did it for the Sheilas”, to which his friend in equal regret just uttered, “yeah”.
The men in the advert above who felt, “Na we dey there” packed the trailer to overload with beer, pampering to their selfish whims and giving little to no thought to the interest of others. Their greed, powerlessness to rein in their voracious appetite when opportunity came knocking to satisfy it and total misuse of position and chance to meet the needs of all, eventually caused the trailer to collapse, so it could not even move anywhere. In the end it didn’t serve anyone’s interest as the drinks were needed at their party.
Forecourt of the State House/Presidential Villa, Abuja, the Nigerian Government seat of power.
But the saddest part about the whole scenario was this; they didn’t ascribe the trailer’s collapse to their greed at all. They blamed it on the two bottles of wine they patted themselves on the back for so thoughtfully including for the women.
Likewise, the problem with Nigeria from the perspective of our political leaders is not current poor leadership but the people who are in too much of a hurry to enjoy a good life. The same good life the majority have been denied all their lives, frustratingly in the midst of plenty. Our leaders will brag in the media about accomplishments which the ordinary man can barely see or feel and explain it away with the usual mantra that government resources are limited, therefore people should understand.
As far as they’re concerned, the lack of good hospitals, good roads, good educational system and the most dismal looking future for coming generations of Nigerians actually has little to do with their current performance and only to do with the corruption and profligacy of past leaders. Like the two Aussie men, they calmly try to explain away something which is so painfully obvious.
We urgently need to do something about the average Nigerian’s “do you know me?” attitude. “Don’t try me, I’m a mad man. My head no dey correct o” mentality. It beats me, why anyone would boast of not being normal in the head. I just can’t understand why people brag about something which should ordinarily be a source of concern to any normal person.
Both the “big men” and “small men” in the streets boast of their “power” and threaten to show their antagonists who they are. It’s just unfortunate that neither the big nor the small oppressor has yet realized that they’re both in the same category – they’re both small minded people – who only feel big by demeaning others. All such are nothing but “small men” no matter their position or financial wherewithal.
I don’t see how such oppressors are any different to wife beaters. Included in this category of wife beaters are the few bad eggs amongst our uniformed men, whose presence ought to be a source of comfort to the citizenry but decide instead to use it to physically or psychologically brutalize those unable to fight back. In the same category are people in positions of authority who instead of using their position to provide an enabling environment and make things happen opt instead to plant endless bureaucratic bottlenecks and strangulate all effort to catalyze industry, just because they can. I ask you, how different to wife beaters are those who boast of past appointments held, not to remind us of how well they transformed the lives of ordinary Nigerians while they were there but to now brandish such credentials as a licence to intimidate and belittle those they supposedly went there to serve? All the above are “little men” but if only they knew. Nigerians are still reeling from one such case but I doff my hat to the individual in question for offering an unreserved apology to the victim and Nigerians in general; a rarity in these climes, I must say.
Sadly, like the case of the two Aussies who were presented with a golden opportunity to meet the needs of all but were blinded by an unrestrained desire to satisfy themselves only, the ship called Nigeria is stuck and currently appears to be moving no where. Power, just for the sake of it is far from a blessing, it’s an albatross.
Changing the nation…one mind at a time
Oladapo Akande is a Surrey University (UK) English graduate with a Masters in Professional Ethics. He’s an alumnus of the National Institute for Transformation and a two time author; The Last Flight and Shifting Anchors. He writes from Lagos.
Chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum and Ekiti State Governor Dr. Kayode Fayemi
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) says it will retain till next year the tax reliefs for individuals and businesses in states, which was implemented to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
The NGF made this known in a resolution that was passed at its 16th teleconference meeting of the governors held on Wednesday, August 2, 2020.
In a statement issued at the end of the meeting and signed by the NGF Chairman, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, “all state governments, through their internal revenue services, will ensure seamless implementation of the tax relief programmes for businesses and other taxpayers.
“These programmes which were released in some states since March 2020 were designed to reduce the financial burden of taxpayers in the country up till 2021 in some cases.”
Also, for the purpose of addressing concerns raised by states on the reception of new inmates amidst measures being taken to curtail the spread of COVID-19 at the correctional facilities in the country, the NGF resolved to work, through its sub-committee interfacing with the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19.
“The NGF resolved to provide leadership to the COVID-19 response in their respective states by ramping up risk communication activities and community testing.”
In its desire to interface with the Ministry of Petroleum Resources on the actualization of the National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP), the forum mandated state governments to nominate focal persons for the implementation of the process.
However, leadership of the forum emphasized the need to be vigilant and ensure that the structures put in place for routine polio immunization are not jeopardised by the COVID-19 pandemic in the light of the Rotary International’s recognition of the forum’s role in ending the polio infection in the country.
File photo: Ogun state Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun in a meeting with Health Workers in the State at the Governor's Office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has appreciated all categories of health workers in the public service in the State by approving the immediate payment of a Special Productivity Bonus.
In a statement issued in Abeokuta on Thursday by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, Governor Abiodun said the Special Productivity Bonus, which is a one-time payment applicable to all health workers who are on active service as at the end of August 2020, is in recognition of the understanding, maturity, and dedication with which they continue to discharge their duties and responsibilities. The bonus will be calculated as 10% of the respective monthly gross pay of the beneficiaries.
“We are proud that the vast majority of our health workers place service to the citizens over and above any other consideration, even as they continue to draw government’s attention to issues that affect their own welfare and working conditions. Our administration does not take their maturity and commitment for granted.
“This Special Productivity Bonus to health workers on active service is a demonstration of our appreciation and an indication that the welfare and wellbeing of public servants in the State, including health workers, will also continue to be a top priority of our government”, Somorin quoted Governor Abiodun.
Somorin added that the Abiodun-led administration will continue the ongoing engagement with health workers with sincerity and openness on the issues of conditions of service that have been jointly identified, most of which predate this administration.
Furthermore, he noted that the government assured health workers and expressed optimism that mutually acceptable and permanent solutions would emerge through dialogue and engagement.
The Special Productivity Bonus is in addition to the hazard allowance which this Administration recently reviewed upward by 300% and COVID-19 Allowance which was introduced in the wake of the pandemic in the State.
President Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday praised his administration for confronting the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) head-on.
The President said Nigeria developed a robust framework led by Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 to coordinate and oversee the country’s multi-sectoral inter-governmental efforts at containing the spread and mitigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He noted that his administration would sustain efforts to make adjustments to new lifestyles and be sensitive to the security underpinnings, as experts try to find vaccines for COVID-19, and a possible acceptable cure,
Speaking at the AQABA Process virtual meeting in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Buhari said: “This was done while currently monitoring effects of the measures and taking steps to mitigate these effects as quick as possible. This was in a bid to ensure sustained human security across the population.
“Earlier, we had established the National Humanitarian Coordination Committee with the responsibility of providing among others a national vision for humanitarian actors and settling disputes that may arise from interactions between security services and the humanitarian community. This committee was timely as a stop gap measure in coping with the effects of COVID-19.”
The President added that the government has also taken measures to tackle the devastation of social and economic dimensions of the pandemic with a focus on the most vulnerable citizens in the society through provision of palliatives as well as other economic stimulus packages.
He pointed out that those measures came at a cost, but would be sustained, while citing Mali as an example where social and economic challenges took a toll on government and pushed democracy to a “breaking point.”
“Such situation could create a vacuum that can be exploited by terrorists and violent extremists,” Buhari was quoted to have said in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.
The President told the gathering of Heads of Governments that the security landscape in Nigeria and across West Africa continued to evolve with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that various systems in society came grinding to a halt as a result of the urgent measures taken to slow down the spread of the disease.
According to him, “These measures were taken while being mindful of the toll that the virus has had in the various epicentres across the world where medical structures were strained up to breaking point while dealing with mass casualties as a result of infections from the disease.
“These measures are not without their challenges as livelihood were drastically affected and civic lifestyle is being tested to its limits. The whole instruments of government are now mobilised to confront what has now turned both a health emergency and an economic crisis.”
Buhari noted that the government would continue to monitor activities of terrorists online to control radicalisation of citizens by terrorist groups, and other violent cells, following huge traffic online due to the COVID-19.
He said the migration to cyber space posed greater risk for radicalisation, especially with the growing constraints on physical contacts and movements.
“It is important to state that the spread of the COVID-19 has led to the movement of activities to cyber space. Furthermore, lock-down policies and restrictions of movement in affected areas means that people would move their day to day social and business activities to cyber space. This, however, comes with an increase in the risk of individuals being radicalised online,” he added.
Buhari appreciated His Majesty King Abdullah II for the invitation to the meeting and also thanked Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for hosting the meeting under the AQABA Process.
President-Elect, Nigerian Bar Association, Olumide Akpata.
Northern lawyers from about 40 branches of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), have rejected the formation of the New Nigerian Bar Association (NNBA) and declared support for a one united NBA.
Led by two Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) from the north -Yunus Ustaz and Mr. Elisha Kurah – in conjunction with 40 branch chairmen of NBA, the lawyers from the northern zone dissociated themselves from NNBA, pointing out that NBA could not be polarised along ethno-religious divides.
Rising from a meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, the northern lawyers distanced themselves from the splinter group and charged northern lawyers and all legal practitioners in the country to rally round the new NBA leadership led by Mr. Olumide Akpata, to ensure that the original aspirations of the body are achieved.
“We the undersigned individuals, who are chairmen of the various branches of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) that make up the northern geo-political zone as defined in the NBA Constitution 2015, and other senior members of the Bar have today, Wednesday, September 2, 2020, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, met with the NBA President, Mr. Olumide Akpata and the national officers of NBA.
“We have unanimously agreed to support his leadership of NBA, and we hereby restate our true allegiance to NBA and disassociate ourselves from the ‘New NBA’ or any splitter group whatsoever making the waves in recent weeks as a new association/body of lawyers in Nigeria.
“We understand that NBA has historically and in recent times been fraught with several challenges, but we are indeed assured that NBA under the leadership of Mr. Olumide Akpata will surmount these challenges and birth an all-inclusive Bar that will work for all lawyers in Nigeria regardless of any part of the divide one may belong,” read a communique issued at the end of the meeting.
The northern lawyers recalled Akpata’s inaugural address, where he stated that the bar that he wants to lead henceforth is one that “is united on all fronts and which recognises that our diversity is our greatest strength.”
Thus, the lawyers appealed to their northern colleagues, including those behind the establishment of NNBA and all legal practitioners in Nigeria to come together to support Akpata and the new national officers to ensure that they deliver on their core mandates.
Akpata had earlier assured that NBA was one and was not split along ethnic or religious lines.
“At NBA, we remain one, united and indivisible bar. We have not split along ethnic or religious lines. As lawyers, we disagree and agree.
“We will learn from past mistakes. Only those who refuse to learn from past mistakes are doomed. Due apology would be rendered to those offended.
“Where our country is going wrong, we as lawyers will give the light. We are here to build Nigeria and not to destroy it.
“All is well with us in NBA and we are doing well. If there is still any group aggrieved, we will reach out to the group. Our ability to surmount challenges make us leaders. We will remain focused because expectations are high.
“We in NBA will speak loud to support the teeming people of this country on issues affecting them,” Akpata declared.
It would be recalled that after the withdrawal of a letter of invitation to Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, as a guest speaker at the recently held NBA Annual General Conference, a group of aggrieved northern lawyers last week announced the formation of NNBA as a splinter group.
File photo: Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche Photo: twitter
In continuation of the sustained offensive against armed bandits and other criminal elements in the country, troops of Operation ACCORD have killed 4 armed bandits at Jeka Da Rabi area along Kaduna-Abuja expressway.
The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche in a statement Thursday said the successful operation took place on 2 September 2020.
Acting on credible intelligence on the movement of bandits from Kachia area, troops swiftly mobilized to the scene and laid ambush, he said.
According to the defence chief, the gallant troops made contact with the bandits and engaged them with superior firepower thereby neutralizing 4 while others escaped with gun shot wounds.
Troops also recovered one AK 47 rifle and 5 rounds of 9mm with a magazine. Presently, the gallant troops have continued to dominate the general area with aggressive patrols in search of the fleeing bandits.
Enenche added that the Military High Command congratulates the troops for their dexterity and encourages them to intensify the onslaught against the criminal elements in the country.
Governor Godwin Obaseki and his major rival in the governorship election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, embrace each other at the palace of the Oba of Benin in Edo State on September 2, 2020
It’s a rare scene as Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, Wednesday delivered an uncommon homily to Edo State Governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Godwin Obaseki, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) guber flagbearer, Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
The traditional ruler called on the two gladiators and their supporters to eschew violence and embrace peace and tolerance ahead of the September 19 gubernatorial election in the state.
Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, speaks at a peace meeting with political actors at his palace in Edo State on September 2, 2020.
Oba Ewuare stated this in his palace in Benin City during a peace meeting he initiated with political actors to ensure a free, peaceful and violence-free gubernatorial poll.
The message came like a bombshell and the monarch communicated effectively by addressing the growing political fears and tensions in the state ahead of the forthcoming election. The message was essentially hortatory, placing higher moral obligations on Obaseki and Ize-Iyamu.
“For sometime now, Edo State has been in the news politically for the wrong reason as political gladiators have been fighting dirty with their war of words.
“I want assurances from you people, to me and the people of the state, of a peaceful atmosphere in Edo State…
“Please don’t turn the state into the city of blood. I appeal to the two gladiators and all politicians to ensure peace and stop the shooting and violence in the state.
“Let there be peace in Edo. Let us have a good relationship like that of former President Goodluck Jonathan and President Muhammadu Buhari. We are begging all the political gladiators in Edo to give peace a chance; don’t kill yourselves; stop the bitter statements to each other.
“Your home and families are here, so give peace a chance. We are all afraid that the state will burn to ashes. Please we need peaceful election in the state. I want to see that you are not paying lip service to the traditional throne; the Benin throne is not partisan.
“I am entitled to a vote; it’s my right as a citizen to vote, but I can’t vote for one candidate, because it is just like I have already taken sides by voting for one person; this is the sacrifice I have to make to ensure there is peace in Edo.
“Please communicate this meeting to your foot soldiers that they should stop the shooting and ensure the state is peaceful for all. I want both of you to work together for a peaceful election,” Oba Ewuare said.
The monarch has well spoken and it’s incumbent on the two leading candidates to ensure peaceful election come September 19.
Responding to Oba Ewuare’s homily, Obaseki expressed gratitude to the monarch for his fatherly role in ensuring that the state remains peaceful before, during and after the election.
According to him, “As the Executive Governor and Chief Security Officer of the state, I have sworn to uphold the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and protect the lives and property of our people.
“I will never encourage violence as it would be irresponsible of me to do anything which would lead to breakdown of law and order in the state.
“I am not a violent person; I don’t have such tendencies. I have not participated in any form of violence and I will not. I have committed enough resources to ensure safety of the citizens.”
It’s also an opportunity for Ize-Iyamu to reiterate his party’s commitment to a peaceful electoral process.
“As a goodwill gesture, I warmly embraced Governor Godwin Obaseki during the peace meeting summoned by our father, Oba n’osa, Oba Ewuare II. Violence has no place in democratic elections.
“I am grateful to our father, the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, for his fatherly intervention and timely call for peace.
“We have heard his candid message, and we, the APC, will continue to maintain our peaceful approach and rally the people, across party lines, to shun divisiveness and respect the laws guiding the electoral process. We are one people and politics cannot divide us. Ovbi’Oghonwan nei bun aro – Oba gha to kpere, ise!”
The meeting was also attended by two former National Chairmen of APC – John Odigie-Oyegun and Adams Oshiomhole, among others.
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