Obaseki’s Claims on Orhionmwon Land Grabbing are Misleading and Self-Serving

By Augustine Osayande PhD

Former Governor Godwin Obaseki’s recent comments accusing Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and Hon. Dennis Idahosa of “harassing investors” in Orhionmwon and Ovia are yet another attempt to distort facts and evade accountability. His claims of land grabbing are not only unsubstantiated—they follow a familiar pattern in which he manufactures political villains to divert attention from the controversies and community grievances that defined his administration.

For a political officeholder who openly claims Oredo Local Government as his home base, Obaseki’s decision to allocate more than 250,000 hectares of land in Orhionmwon Local Government Area to Saro Oil Palm Limited—without due regard for the ownership rights and interests of the host communities—is deeply troubling. The people of Orhionmwon are not tenants of the state government, and they cannot be pushed aside simply because a governor wishes to curry favour with select investors. This unilateral style of governance, where critical community interests are sacrificed at the altar of executive discretion, is precisely what Edo people rejected at the polls.

For me, one of the most troubling episodes of the Obaseki years remains the ordeal faced by the Ologbo-Nugu community in Orhionmwon Local Government Area—a story that never received the level of attention it deserved. While Obaseki was still governor, the people of this small rural community were forced to issue a desperate Save-Our-Soul (SOS) message over what they described as the forceful takeover of their ancestral land by an agricultural firm.

Let me be clear: the community never opposed investment or industrial development. In fact, like many rural communities in Edo State, they welcomed meaningful projects that could create jobs and improve livelihoods. But what they could not accept—and rightly so—was the manner in which Barnsley Nigeria Limited (BNL), operators of SARO Farms, went about asserting total control over their land. Instead of being partners in development, the community members felt bulldozed, ignored, and pushed aside.

I remember the images of their protest—their placards telling their story better than any official statement. “SARO, leave 250 hectares for us to farm or quit our land.” “Stop deceiving us.” “SARO, stop oppressing us. This is the only land we have.” These were not political slogans; they were cries for survival from people whose only source of livelihood was at stake.

The community wasn’t being unreasonable. They demanded something simple, fair, and already promised: that 250 hectares of their land be left for them to farm. That was the agreement. That was the governor’s directive. Yet, even this modest allocation was allegedly denied them, leaving them with no space to grow food crops, no way to sustain themselves, and no explanation.

The testimony that struck me the most came from the Odionwere of Ologbo-Nugu, Pa Aduwa Osaigbovo, a 96-year-old custodian of the community. Imagine a man of that age, who should be spending his days in peace, forced to lead a protest because his people were being displaced. In his gentle but pained voice, he described the actions of SARO Farms as “crude and barbaric”—not words he would use lightly.

He lamented that the company ignored the governor’s instruction to leave part of the land for the community. And he reminded the state, in a way that only someone with nearly a century of lived experience can that food scarcity is real, and that denying people farmland is condemning them to hardship.
What happened in Ologbo-Nugu is not just a community’s struggle—it is a stark reminder of what happens when development is done without humanity, without consultation, and without respect for the people whose lives are directly affected.

It is also part of why many Edo people remain skeptical when they hear politicians speak about “investor protection.” True development does not come at the cost of dispossessing ordinary people. True investment uplifts—it does not erase communities.

Ologbo-Nugu’s cry for help still echoes today, and until their grievances are addressed, it will remain a symbol of what went wrong under a government that often chose investors over the very people it was elected to serve.

Obaseki’s long-standing habit of personalising governance and portraying dissenting voices as enemies has never served the state well. Edo people do not desire leadership driven by threats, bitterness, and self-righteousness. They expect responsibility, transparency, engagement, and respect for lawful processes—values that were too often sidelined during his eight years in power.

Throughout his tenure, Obaseki routinely blamed others—political godfathers, party members, traditional rulers, labour unions, civil society, and virtually anyone who dared to question his opaque land deals or his confrontational style of administration. His latest attempt to accuse Ize-Iyamu and Idahosa of wrongdoing is simply an extension of this defensive posture. Communities in Orhionmwon, Ovia, and other affected areas have, for years, expressed dissatisfaction with land allocations issued without adequate consultation or compensation.

These legitimate grievances cannot be swept aside by pointing fingers at political opponents.
The allegations against Ize-Iyamu and Idahosa remain without evidence. Both men have consistently championed transparency, accountability, and genuine community involvement in land administration—principles that stand in stark contrast to the secrecy that characterised many of Obaseki’s investment agreements. If the former governor has credible proof that they engaged in land grabbing or investor harassment, he should present it publicly. Otherwise, his claims amount to nothing more than an attempt to shield his past decisions from the scrutiny they deserve.

Even more revealing is Obaseki’s suggestion that these political actors were “bitter because they couldn’t get access” to him during his tenure. This remark confirms what many Edo people suspected: that governance under Obaseki had become centralised, closed-off, and dependent on personal relationships rather than institutional processes. Public office is not a private estate, and no elected official is entitled to gatekeep the functions of the state.

If investors have genuine concerns, they should direct them through proper administrative channels, not hide behind the name of a former governor to generate unnecessary tension or manipulate public perception.

Obaseki’s threat that Governor Monday Okpebholo “will regret” ongoing inquiries into land matters is equally alarming. Edo people voted overwhelmingly for transparency, reform, and a full review of previous land allocations. No amount of political posturing, intimidation, or emotional blackmail will halt the push for clarity and accountability. The new administration is duty-bound to investigate all contentious land deals and ensure that community rights are upheld.

The truth is simple: investment thrives when communities are respected, agreements are clear, and government decisions are transparent. The real enemy of investor confidence is secrecy, not oversight. It is opaque decision-making—not due process—that discourages credible investors and fuels resentment among host communities.
Obaseki’s attempt to cast himself as the protector of investors does not align with the lived reality of the communities most affected by his policies. Edo State has now entered a new era—one committed to fairness, openness, community engagement, and shared prosperity.

In the end, Obaseki’s latest outburst deserves just one response: dismissal. Edo people have moved on, and no attempt to rewrite history or shift blame will change the record of his administration or obstruct the work of the current government.

Augustine Osayande, PhD contributed this piece from Abuja via austinelande@yahoo.com

Obaseki’s Claims on Orhionmwon Land Grabbing are Misleading and Self-Serving

FG trains public servants on AI to boost service delivery

The Federal Government has launched a five-day training on using artificial intelligence to improve public service delivery.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme targets reform directors from MDAs and local government chairmen in Gombe State.

Opening the event on Monday, Dasuki Arabi, Director-General, Bureau of Public Service Reforms, said the training aimed to deepen reforms for better service delivery.

Arabi said civil servants must learn AI tools, adding that “technology now drives effective public service”.

He stressed alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda to improve the “value of lives of ordinary Nigerians”.

According to him, COVID-19 accelerated the shift from analogue to digital systems, making AI adoption essential.

He said: “We want participants to deliver services using AI as approved by the e-governance master plan.”

Arabi added that government policies now emphasise AI, blockchain and the internet of things within public service.

He said technology was reshaping discussions, adding, “That’s why we are changing from paper to paperless”.

He challenged reform directors to prepare for future challenges and shifts in leadership structures.

“Researchers say this may be the last batch of leaders managing people alone,” he noted.

He said future management would involve people and machines, eventually becoming machine-focused.

Arabi urged participants to generate ideas to protect Nigeria’s human capital.

He assured that outcomes from the workshop would be implemented to strengthen service delivery.

Gombe State Head of Service, Kasimu Abdullahi, said the state had progressed significantly since adopting reforms.

He said Gov. Inuwa Yahaya’s commitment to reform had yielded visible improvements for the people.

Abdullahi said the state would continue to align with national reform trends to improve lives.

On his part, Mr Abubakar Hassan, the DG, BPSR, Gombe State commended the BPSR under the Presidency for championing a more effective, efficient and ctizen-centred public service and the Bureau’s unwavering commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu-led administration and the sustainable development of Nigeria.

Hassan said investing in reforms was not a luxury; “it is an urgent necessity for national progress, economic growth and the restoration of public trust.”

He urged participants to see themselves as the architect of Nigeria’s future, describing them as agents of change.

He further urged them to translate the insights gained from the workshop into actionable plans within their respective domains.

“Let the recommendations from this workshop not end up as another report on a shelf; let them be the blueprint for the new Nigeria public service; a service that is agile, merit-based and we are all proud to serve,” he said.

The workshop theme is ‘Strengthening Public Sector Performance through Reforms in Nigeria.’

The total number of civil servants being trained is 110.

FG trains public servants on AI to boost service delivery

VP Shettima Welcomes Schoolnet’s Offer To Introduce Smart Class Solutions For Nigerian Schools

*Asks India tech firm to work with FG officials on workability of learning package

By: Our Reporter

The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has welcomed the offer by Schoolnet India Ltd & Learnet Skills Ltd to partner with the Nigerian government and private sector entities to implement its KYAN smart class solutions in Nigerian schools.

He said the project, which aims to digitally transform education by introducing interactive smart boards and digital content to improve learning outcomes, will be very beneficial to primary and secondary schools in Nigeria if domesticated with local content.

The Vice President, who spoke on Monday when he received a team from Schoolnet India Ltd & Learnet Skills Ltd led by its Managing Director/CEO, Mr. RCM Reddy, described the KYAN smart class solutions as a rugged package with the capacity to deliver.

He asked the Schoolnet Ltd team to liaise with relevant officials of the federal government of Nigeria to deliberate on how to domesticate the learning package by integrating local content for Nigerian schools.

Senator Shettima cited the smart school initiatives in Edo and Enugu, two states he said have invested heavily in smart schools, saying that integrating such indigenous ideas and KYAN smart class solutions into a single unit will significantly benefit Nigerian schools.

He recalled the use of KYAN smart class solutions to teach students in Borno State while he was Governor of the state, pointing out that such innovations would revolutionise Nigeria’s education system.

“The beauty of KYAN is that it is a very rugged machine. You can use one card to teach 70 students. If you are to buy a tablet per student, the highest you will target are higher institutions or senior secondary school.

“I am more interested in your package for primary schools and secondary schools like you did in Borno. In Borno you even did for tertiary institutions but now, tertiary can be replaced with TBET.

“So, you can package it well so that we can have a domesticated version. Honestly speaking, the Indian version of English is different from our own. Maybe you can use AI to customize it to our own local curriculum,” the VP stated.

Earlier, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of SchoolNet India Limited, Mr Reddy, said the company is highly inspired by the Nigerian government’s vision to adopt technology in classrooms.

In the company’s bid to leverage the vast educational opportunities in Nigeria, he explained that they are offering a very unique solution—“a school in a box,” also known as Kyan, describing the technology as all-in-one.

Highlighting the features of the innovation, he said, “It has an integrated projector and a high-end computer. It converts any wall into a smart board and has a camera. It comes preloaded with digital content for grades 1 to 10.

“And it also uses AI where the internet is available. Where it is not available, all the content is preloaded inside this ‘school in a box’.”

Mr Reddy further noted that if deployed, the Kyan innovation will have a significant impact on teachers’ performance in Nigeria.

He recalled that the Kyan technological solutions were introduced in Borno State when Vice President Shettima was Governor, noting that teachers in the state were trained to use it.

As advised by the Vice President, the Schoolnet MD promised to work closely with Nigerian officials to design an integrated solution suitable for Nigerian communities, including schools located in remote areas without internet connectivity as well as those where internet is available.

“We are very committed to developing a solution customized for Nigeria. If used properly, with the entire ecosystem in place in a holistic manner, an average teacher will become a good teacher. A good teacher will become a very good teacher. A very good teacher can become a star teacher,” he assured.
End