News
Obaseki’s Failure and Urgent Need for Good Governance in Edo State

Obaseki’s Failure and Urgent Need for Good Governance in Edo State
By Augustine Osayande
As the September 21 gubernatorial election approaches, I feel compelled to address the urgent issue of governance in Edo State. My concerns have been intensified by recent news: “Benin Group Issues Ultimatum to Obaseki, Demands Apology to Oba of Benin” and “200 Members of Governor Obaseki’s Family Defect to APC, Endorse Okpebholo for Governor.” These reports highlight the growing discontent with Governor Godwin Obaseki’s administration.
While poor governance is not unique to Edo State, Governor Godwin Obaseki’s administration has been particularly disappointing. His tenure has been characterized by unfulfilled promises and significant lapses in leadership, positioning him as a notable example of ineffective governance. Compared to his peers, his administration’s failures are especially stark, making him one of the most prominent figures among underperforming governors.
It is not surprising that the most recent damning verdict showing the woeful performance of Governor Godwin Obaseki for the past eight years is coming from his immediate family. According to the news report, the Agho Obaseki’s family in Edo State announced their decision to abandon the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and throw their support behind the All-Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, for the upcoming gubernatorial election.
Osaro Obaseki, a prominent figure within the Obaseki clan, revealed the reasons behind their dramatic decampment. “We have stood by our brother, Governor Godwin Obaseki, since 2016. However, his administration has failed to deliver on the promises made to the people of Edo, and we can no longer support him, especially when he intends to bring and foist his replica on us,” Osaro stated, expressing the family’s disillusionment with the current state of affairs in the state.
The Obaseki family, which numbers over 200 members, voiced their dissatisfaction with the perceived neglect of crucial infrastructure and the lack of respect shown to traditional institutions, including the Oba of Benin. “We believe that Senator Monday Okpebholo has the vision and commitment to turn things around for the better. His track record and dedication to the people of Edo have convinced us that he is the right leader to guide our state forward,” Osaro Obaseki added.
Again, just before his family verdict, concerned People of Benin Nation (CPBN) issued a seven-day ultimatum to Obaseki, demanding a public apology to the Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, for what the group described as “sacrilegious disrespect” to the Benin throne.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday by Prof. Amen Uhunmwangho, and co-signed by prominent figures, including Dr. Jacob Abusomwan, Barr. Osarenkhoe, Leftist Agho Omobude, Mr. Iyamu Osaro Culture, Comrade Eseosa Omoregbee, Chief Omuemu Etinosa, Chief Friday Omoragbon, and Rev. Osamuyimen Isibor, the group demanded that the apology be published in at least three national newspapers.
The CPBN, representing a wide, cross-section of Edo State residents, also outlined several other demands, including an immediate halt to the construction of a museum intended for repatriated Benin artefacts, which they asserted was being undertaken without the Oba’s consent.
They also called for the withdrawal of lawsuits allegedly filed by certain Enigie against the Oba, the reallocation of lands whose Certificates of Occupancy were revoked by the governor, and the return of communal land they claimed were illegally acquired by the state government.
The group is advocating the payment of salaries and allowances to 14 Edo State House of Assembly members who have been prevented from taking their seats for the past four years, in what they described as unconstitutional actions by the state government. The CPBN’s demands reflect a growing discontent with the governor’s actions, which the group believed had undermined the Benin Kingdom and its people.
In evaluating the numerous controversies surrounding Governor Godwin Obaseki, it is essential to start with his actions that contradict the very principles that facilitated his rise to the governorship of Edo State. Democracy, widely regarded as the most effective form of governance, derives its legitimacy from the people, with the legislature serving as its essential safeguard.
The constitutionally enshrined principles of checks and balances require the three branches of government to function independently and harmoniously for the benefit of the populace.
Governor Obaseki, in a troubling display of disregard for democratic norms, obstructed the inauguration of 14 duly elected members of the Edo State House of Assembly in 2019. This act, which remains a documented breach of democratic process, significantly harmed the people of Benin, as 10 of the excluded members represented the Edo South Senatorial District, including the elected representative of the governor’s own Oredo East Constituency, Hon. Chris Okaeben.
Consequently, the Benins were reduced to a minority in the House, with only four members. This undemocratic exclusion deprived millions of Edo citizens of representation for four years, during which governance in the state was marked by an unchecked and unbalanced consolidation of power by the governor.
This pattern of governance has continued, with two members of the Edo State House of Assembly—Hon. Emankhu Addeh and Hon. Ojeme Donald Okogbe—recently suspended from the House without due process, further depriving their constituencies of effective representation. Such acts of oppression, exclusion, and intimidation have marred Edo’s recent history.
Furthermore, Governor Obaseki has repeatedly undermined the progress of prominent Benin citizens by allegedly sponsoring protests against their appointments to significant positions, such as the nomination of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Pius Odubu, and Chief Victor Ekhator for leadership roles within the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in 2019. This, along with other actions, reflects a pattern of hindering opportunities that could have brought substantial development to Edo State.
The abandonment and destruction of critical state infrastructure, such as the Benin storm water project and the Ekehuan road project, further highlight the administration’s failure to prioritize the welfare of Edo citizens. Governor Obaseki has also been accused of demolishing long-standing public institutions like the specialist hospital on Sapele Road and the Institute of Continuing Education, replacing them with private ventures.
In the lead-up to the 2020 gubernatorial election, the governor’s alleged indifference to assassination attempts on political opponents and his persistent conflicts with the Benin traditional institution, particularly his attempts to interfere with the repatriation of Benin artefacts, have further estranged him from the people he is supposed to serve.
The governor’s actions have also included the demolition of property in Oke-Oroma Community, despite a subsisting court order, and the allocation of vast forest reserves to private entities, often at the expense of local communities and without transparent benefits to the state.
Governor Obaseki’s administration has been marked by what many perceive as a series of high-handed actions against individuals and communities, including the revocation of land titles and the demolition of property belonging to prominent citizens, often on grounds seen as politically motivated.
In conclusion, the people of Edo State are urged to critically assess the character of those who seek to lead them, especially as the next gubernatorial election approaches. It is vital to resist choices that could lead to further hardship and regression for the state. The resilience of the Edo people and their commitment to democratic principles should guide their decisions in this crucial period.
■ Augustine Osayande, PhD contributed this piece from Abuja via austinelande@yahoo.com
Obaseki’s Failure and Urgent Need for Good Governance in Edo State
News
Mother raises alarm as 2-year-old daughter stolen from hotel in Aba

Mother raises alarm as 2-year-old daughter stolen from hotel in Aba
By: Zagazola Makama
A 20-year-old woman, Elizabeth Alaoma, has reported the disappearance of her two-year-old daughter, Precious Ahiwe, under suspicious circumstances while lodging at a hotel in Aba, Abia State.
The incident occurred on the night of July 22, after Alaoma checked into Hotel De California in the city with her daughter, following an invitation by a man identified as Promise and a woman he introduced as his sister.
According to Alaoma, Promise took her out under the guise of buying food around 10:00 p.m., but later abandoned her at the food vendor’s location. She rushed back to the hotel only to discover that her daughter, Promise, and the woman had all vanished, and the hotel room key had already been returned to the receptionist.
A search at the hotel led to the recovery of the child’s clothes. Two hotel staff the receptionist, Victor Uzoma (17), and the manager, Emmanuel Kalu (35) were taken into custody for questioning.
Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects and recover the missing child as investigations continue.
End
News
Correctional officer allegedly murders apprentice, dumps body, dies by suicide in Lokoja

Correctional officer allegedly murders apprentice, dumps body, dies by suicide in Lokoja
By: Zagazola Makama
A tragic incident has shocked residents of Lokoja, Kogi State, after a senior officer of the Nigerian Correctional Service allegedly killed a 26-year-old photography apprentice, concealed his body in a freezer, and later took his own life in a hotel.
Zagazola Makama reports that the incident occurred on Monday, July 22, and involved a Deputy Superintendent of Corrections (DSC), Adebayo Oluwapelumi, who until his death was attached to the Kogi State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
According to witness accounts, the case came to light after Ujah Goodness, a photographer with a studio located opposite the Kogi State Government House in Lokoja, reported the matter.
Goodness stated that around 7:50 p.m. on the day of the incident, he was editing photographs with his apprentice, Ayo Ayipelumi, aged 26, when the Correctional officer, Adebayo, arrived at the studio and called the apprentice outside for a brief conversation.
Moments later, Goodness said he heard frantic screams from his apprentice calling for help. However, out of fear, he did not step outside to investigate but instead quickly contacted local vigilantes to intervene.
Subsequent investigation revealed that the suspect had allegedly attacked and killed Ayipelumi. He then reportedly placed the victim’s lifeless body inside a deep freezer, loaded it into a white unregistered Hilux van, and drove off to an undisclosed location.
Acting on the report, security personnel launched a search for the vehicle. It was later found abandoned around the Nataco Junction area of Lokoja. Although the corpse was no longer in the vehicle, investigators found blood stains inside the freezer and recovered a machete believed to have been used in the attack. Photographs of the scene were taken, and the vehicle along with the exhibit was moved to the station for forensic examination.
Efforts to trace the whereabouts of the suspect and recover the victim’s body were still ongoing when a new development emerged.
At about 12:10 p.m. the next day, the management of Abidan 115 Guest Inn in Lokoja contacted authorities after discovering a lifeless body in one of their rooms. The deceased was identified as the suspect, Adebayo Oluwapelumi.
Upon arrival at the hotel, investigators found the suspect naked and lying dead on the floor. A suicide note, a bottle of Sniper insecticide, and a plastic Coca-Cola bottle were recovered at the scene, suggesting that he ingested the toxic substance.
Photographs of the scene were taken, and the body was evacuated to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, where a medical doctor confirmed him dead. His corpse was deposited at the hospital mortuary for post-mortem examination.
The whereabouts of the victim’s body remains unknown as of the time of filing this report.
Investigation is ongoing to unravel the full motive behind the gruesome killing and to trace the missing remains of the apprentice.
Correctional officer allegedly murders apprentice, dumps body, dies by suicide in Lokoja
News
Gunmen kill one, abduct seven in Taraba community attack

Gunmen kill one, abduct seven in Taraba community attack
By: Zagazola Makama
Armed men suspected to be bandits on Wednesday invaded Ilela village in Gashaka Local Government Area of Taraba State, killing one person and abducting seven others, including women and a child.
Zagazola Makama gathered that the assailants stormed the village at about 10 a.m., shooting sporadically to scare residents before abducting their victims.
One of the villagers, Umaru Belangu, who reported the incident to security personnel, said the gunmen killed 35-year-old Abdu Dahiru during the attack.
Those kidnapped include Ladi Abdu (20), Salamatu Sani, Ramatu Sani, Marka Kabiru, Kabiru Sani, and a 10-year-old boy, Yau Alh. Lawan. All the victims are of Fulani origin and residents of Ilela village.
Following the report, a team of security personnel was immediately mobilised to the area, where they visited the scene and recovered two empty shells of ammunition.
Photographs were taken, and a search operation was launched in collaboration with local hunters and vigilante members to track the perpetrators and rescue the abductees.
Authorities say intensified monitoring and patrols are ongoing in the area to prevent further attacks and apprehend those responsible.
Gunmen kill one, abduct seven in Taraba community attack
-
News1 year ago
Roger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
-
Opinions3 years ago
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
-
Opinions4 years ago
POLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
News1 year ago
EYN: Rev. Billi, Distortion of History, and The Living Tamarind Tree
-
Columns1 year ago
Army University Biu: There is certain interest, but certainly not from Borno.
-
ACADEMICS1 year ago
A History of Biu” (2015) and The Lingering Bura-Pabir Question (1)
-
Opinions1 year ago
Tinubu,Shettima: The epidemic of economic, insecurity in Nigeria
-
Politics1 month ago
2027: Why Hon. Midala Balami Must Go, as Youths in Hawul and Asikira/Uba Federal Constituency Reject ₦500,000 as Sallah Gift