News
I Have a Dream Okpebholo, Deputy Will Not Disappoint Edo People
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress(APC) has congratulated the new governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo and his deputy, Right Honourable Dennis Idahosa as they resume office.
Comrade Salihu Othman Isah, a former Special Adviser to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice said in a statement in Abuja that he had dreamt before the victory of the APC candidates that the two former legislators now leaders of the executive arm of their state, will spring the state to a higher pedestal in the country.
Isah opined that their emergence to the leadership of the State was a story of perseverance and patience.
He likened the new governor’s journey to the leadership of Edo State as only comparable to that of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the Nigerian presidency and the recent victory of Donald Trump of the United States of America.
“I dreamt that Okpebholo will re-engineer the decayed and rusty state left behind by the immediate past governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki who to me had a mission to bury the state.
“You can see he achieved nothing concrete for eight years except signing MoUs which were never transformed into reality.
“Obaseki came with a mission to decimated the camaraderie amongst Edolites and had no regards for anybody including those who worked assiduously for him to be elected in the first place.
“Those who helped him to office the first time, he pushed them aside when he assumed office. He picked up fights with individuals and institutions and occupied himself with controversies which distracted him from offering the desired leadership.
“And those who helped him get reelected, both internal and external influences, he fought them dirty and he was fulfilled doing that. Tell me. What manner of a leader is that?”
However, for the new governor, he came fully prepared and I hope he will learn from Obaseki’s mistakes and carry everyone along in the state.
Isah reminded the former governor that he should be prepared to account for his stewardship as he would be called upon to render account.
“But in the case of the former governor and his cronies, it is judgement day. They have to account for their stewardship. There is a time to assume office and a time to exit and render account to the people who trusted you with leadership.
It would be recalled that, already, the report of APC transition committee has indicted the outgone PDP leadership of misappropriating a whooping N420billion of state resources. He will do well to account for every Kobo spent by his administration.
Isah also a former Vice President of Actors Guild of Nigeria(AGN), the umbrella body of Nollywood described the new governor as focused, resilient and has capacity to deliver on the onerous task of governing the state, adding that he came fully prepared for render leadership.
According to Isah, who is also a Chairman, Civil Liberties Organization (CLO), “Okpebholo and Idahosa both have the capacity to deliver on their new task. They are was focused, deliberate and resilient as witnessed all through the journey to their new challenges. This is very manifest in them.
“Now that the governor have landed the job, he will exhibit these positive attributes. Whilst he occupy Osadebe Avenue, he can’t afford to fail”, Isah concluded.
Former Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Professor Tom Adaba, has passed away at the age of 84.
According to reports, he died peacefully on Saturday in Abuja.
Chief Adinoyi Joe Anivasa, Secretary of the Egbira Elders Forum, confirmed the news, stating, “I feel sad to inform you that our elder and leader, Prof. Tom A. Adaba, has answered the call of nature this morning. Further details about his burial arrangements will be communicated later.”
Born on July 2, 1941, Prof. Adaba made significant contributions to Nigeria’s broadcasting industry. Between 1988 and 1992, he became the first Nigerian to serve as President of the African Council for Communication Education.
Despite calls for suspension from the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Nigeria Police Force, the Osun State local government election proceeded as scheduled on Saturday.
Governor Ademola Adeleke voted in Ede North Local Government Area, describing the process as peaceful and urging residents to exercise their franchise.
The AGF, Lateef Fagbemi, cited a Court of Appeal ruling allegedly reinstating sacked local government chairmen, while the police warned of potential security threats.
However, the Osun State government insisted on holding the election, emphasizing its commitment to obeying a court directive. The opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) boycotted the polls.
Voting took place under tight security, with minimal commercial activity observed in Osogbo, the state capital.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Commissioner for Information, Jonathan Vatsa, has indicated that Firmer President Muhammadu Buhari’s absence at the public presentation of former military ruler General Ibrahim Babangida’s autobiography, The Journey of Service, held in Abuja on Thursday was not surprising.
Speaking to journalists in Minna on Saturday, Vatsa suggested that Buhari’s no-show was a result of unresolved bitterness over the 1985 coup, in which Babangida overthrew him and subsequently detained him.
According to Vatsa, Buhari may still harbor resentment, especially over being denied the chance to bid his late mother farewell while in detention.
“It Would Have Been the 9th Wonder of the World If Buhari Had Attended”
Vatsa claimed that Buhari’s absence was expected, given the deep-seated history between the two former leaders.
“The memory of the ‘mother of all betrayals’ has not left him. It would have been the ninth wonder of the world if Buhari had attended that book launch,” he said.
The APC chieftain also linked Buhari’s perceived neglect of Niger State during his eight-year presidency to his history with Babangida.
“The whole world knows that Niger State was made a scapegoat by Buhari because of IBB. For eight years, he did not pay any serious official visit to the state, and not a single federal project was executed here. The Baro Port project was abandoned, and federal roads across the state were left in disrepair,” Vatsa alleged.
He claimed that despite the overwhelming votes Buhari received from Niger State in 2015 and 2019, the state was sidelined due to the personal history between the former presidents.
“When two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. Niger State paid for the sin of one man,” he lamented.
When asked for his opinion on the contents of IBB’s autobiography, Vatsa said he would reserve his comments until he has read and digested the book fully.
“There are certain things I expected to see in the book. Once I am done reading, I will invite you all for my comments,” he stated.
The book launch attracted several high-profile attendees, including President Bola Tinubu, former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan, and Yakubu Gowon, as well as former military head of state Abdulsalami Abubakar.
Other dignitaries included former Ghanaian President Akufo-Addo, former Sierra Leonean President Ernest Koroma, and ex-vice presidents Atiku Abubakar, Yemi Osinbajo, and Namadi Sambo, alongside traditional rulers and state governors.
Buhari’s absence, however, remained a major talking point, reinforcing speculations that the 1985 coup remains a sore point in Nigeria’s political history.
-
Crime1 year agoPolice nabs Killer of Varsity Lecturer in Niger
-
News1 year agoFCT-IRS tells socialite Aisha Achimugu not to forget to file her annual returns
-
Appointment1 year agoTinubu names El-Rufai, Tope Fasua, others in New appointments
-
Kogi1 year agoINEC cancells election in 67 polling units in Ogori-Magongo in Kogi
-
Kogi1 year agoEchocho Challenges Tribunal Judgment ordering rerun in 94 polling units
-
News1 year agoIPOB: Simon Ekpa gives reason for seperatists clamour for Biafra
-
Metro11 months ago‘Listing Simon Ekpa among wanted persons by Nigeria military is rascality, intimidation’
-
News1 year agoKingmakers of Igu/ Koton-Karfe dare Bello, urge him to reverse deposition of Ohimege-Igu