De Patriot

Preamble The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) held an emergency meeting on the 22nd of September 2020 at the Olaitan Oyerinde Auditorium at NLC National Headquarters, Labour House, Central Business District, Abuja.  The National Executive Council of NLC comprises all the Presidents, General Secretaries and Treasurers of NLC’s affiliate unions; Chairpersons and Secretaries of State Councils and the FCT; and members of NLC National Administrative Council. The meeting was appraised on the outcome of the last emergency meeting of the Central Working Committee (CWC) which took place on September 16, 2020 with an agenda on the recent increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as ‘petrol’ and the increase in electricity tariff. The NEC was also briefed on the outcome of a meeting between a Federal Government Team and Organized Labour on the increase in the price of petrol and hike in electricity tariff Furthermore, ...

By Ijeoma Umeh Now, to explore the vast internet space and  exploit whole new range of media training  opportunities that abound there  for yourself, both at home  and in the diaspora is good, that  is self development.   When such opportunities land, you either fly first class, economy or take a luxury ride, sleep in the best hotels, wake up gallant, eat good food, drink choice wines, sleep on,  dream big dreams and get your certification and  per diem at the end of little academic exercise. Those are the perks of Self Development, and the journalism profession encourages it for professional growth.  Now, let us look at service. You are the Vice President of your Zone, you are woken up in the midst of a beautiful siesta and alerted  that crisis brewed in one of the  States under your Zone.  There may be breakdown of law and order  the following day except you intervened immediately. Your association will ...

The honourable member representing the great people of Esan North-East/Esan South-East Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, *Rt Hon. (Barr.) Deacon Sergius Oseasochie Ogun* has congratulated Gov. Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki on his well-deserved victory at the just concluded Edo 2020 Governorship Election. This was contained in a congratutory message which was released today by the Uncommon Lawmaker. He commended  members of PDP in particular and Edolites in general for renewing the mandate of the Wake and See Governor.  While describing the outcome of the election as a death sentence on godfatherism, the Òluesele Nomioguele of Agbazilo  commended the electoral umpire and security agencies for ensuring a peaceful, free and fair election. Going further, Rt Hon. Ogun expressed his implicit confidence in the ability and capability of the governor to move Edo state to higher heights of development and greatness. He admonished the other  contesta...

September 20, 2020 BY ROSEMARY OKODUWA On a historic day like today, we will like to thank the good people of Edo State for coming out enmasse to vote for our party and our candidate, Governor Godwin Noghegase Obaseki. This victory will not have been possible without the steadfastness and dedication of our Edo people who stood firm in the face of intimidation and provocation. This victory is for them. On Saturday, Edo people set the template for others to follow. On that day, Edo people took the fight to the vote buyers, who erroneously thought they could buy their consciences with money. By so doing, Edo people proved that no man or group of men can stop the collective will of the people. The vote of confidence passed in the Government of Governor Godwin Obaseki shows the trust the people have in him to continue the paradigm shift in how the affairs of Government are conducted as opposed to the inefficient, crude and corrupt ways of the past. Now that the godfathers have b...

Governor Godwin Obaseki  of the PDP declared winner of the Edo state governorship election

September 20, 2020 BY ROSEMARY OKODUWA . All the leaders of our great party in Benin City are hereby requested to make their way to the INEC office in Ramat Park, Benin City. The INEC office has taken and unexplained break in the announcement of results as it concerns Orhionmwon LGA and Ovia South West LGA. We are aware that the Collation officers for these LGAs are in the INEC with the result sheets, copies of which are with our agents. Edo people will not tolerate any manipulation which INEC and its staff appear to be planning.  The mandate kindly and decisively given to Governor Godwin Obaseki by the good people of Edo State must not be compromised, subverted or toyed with. We therefore demand for the immediate release of the result of these two local government areas.  The patience and resolve of Edo people must not tempered with.

_Laments Killings, Cautions Security Agencies_ BY ROSEMARY OKODUWA The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alerts the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Department of State Services (DSS) of plots by agents of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to replace election results where the PDP is leading, particularly in Edo North. While we charge our members to remain vigilant and follow their results “bumper to bumper” to all the collation centers, we however caution the security agencies against being used to replace results that have already been declared at the respective polling units. Already, we are aware that results are being manufactured in Kogi state to be used as replacements for already declared results, particularly in Edo North. We draw the attention of INEC to such results being bandied by the APC, including the fake result claimed to have emanated from Etsako West, where a vote of 914 was allocated to the APC, as against the genuine declaration at the polling u...

September 19, 2020 . BY ROSEMARY OKODUWA The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo state brings to the notice of all Nigerians and lovers of democracy that INEC staff have being found complicity in an attempt to subvert the will of the people of Unit 3, Ward 3, in Orhionmwon LGA. At the point of declaring the result, it was discovered that the accredited voters figure was less than the total number of votes cast.  This anomaly is unacceptable, therefore, the result from that unit MUST be cancelled as there is no other explanation for such other than  ballot papers were stuffed in the ballot box to criminally subvert the will of the people. Edo PDP hereby demands for the immediate arrest of the Polling Officer who we believe is comprised as his suggested solution to the embarrassing anomaly was to minus the excess figure from the scores of both parties. INEC is hereby advised to do the right thing in delivering free, transparent, credible and fair elections. 

BY ROSEMARY OKODUWA The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) protests the clampdown on its governors by security agents in Benin City, Edo state capital, ahead of Saturday’s governorship election. The national leadership of the party, in a press conference addressed by the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, alerted the nation and the international community of the security siege on PDP governors in their lodging in Benin City. The party expressed shock that security agents were detailed to surround the lodging of our governors to harass and intimidate them, whereas APC governors, including the governor of Kano state, Abdullahi Ganduje, his Imo state counterpart, Hope Uzodimma as well as the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, are left free in the comfort of the residence of the sacked national chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole in GRA, Benin City. Our party considers this siege as provocative and completely unacceptable as there cannot be two sets...

We once again bring to the notice of the general public, lovers of democracy and other stakeholders in the forthcoming Edo State governorship election holding on Saturday, September 19, 2020, plots by the All Progressives Congress and the leader of the party in Lagos, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to deploy private jets and helicopters to move money from Lagos to Edo State to rig the poll in favour of the APC.   Edo electorates were on Tuesday awaken to a vexatious broadcast by Tinubu, where he insulted the intelligence of all Edo people by asking them to overlook the developmental strides made by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governor and hand him the treasure of the state to extend his empire to our dear state. We have it on good authority that Tinubu, working in cahoots with the leadership of the APC in Edo State, has gone a step further from the inciting broadcast by sending down helicopters and private jets loaded with money in an attempt to buy our...

_ By Ijeoma Umeh Tuesday, September 1 was a milestone in the build up of campaigns for the reelection bid of Governor Godwin Obaseki and his Deputy,  Comrade Philip Shaibu.  Edo women, under the aegis of the People's Democratic Party(PDP) Women Wing turned out in their numbers in arrays of the party's colours and insignia and hit the streets of Benin City, jubilating, dancing and pulling crowds of enthusiasts, including commuters and traders who kept chanting the now popular street slogan, 4+4 Torgba, translated from the Benin language to mean eight year term must be complete  and pumping their fingers in the air to reemphasize the number of terms they said, through their votes, the Governor will complete his term in office.  From the Aiguobasimwin Campaign office where the campaign train took off and progressed to Ekiosa or Osa Market at 2nd East Circular Road,  to Upper Sakponba and its commercial axis, traders literally abandoned their wares to jo...

The promise-keeping member representing Esan South-East/North-East Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives Rt Hon. (Barr.) Deacon Sergius Oseasochie Ogun today commissioned a borehole each at Okhuesan and Inyelen ,and a block of six classrooms at Agadaga Secondary School Ewohimi. Both projects were initiated and facilitated by the Uncommon Lawmaker in fulfilment of his electoral promise to make life better for the people. He also provided two generators to power the boreholes.  As of the last count, Rt. Hon. Ogun had executed similar projects across several communities in the federal constituency. The astute lawmaker's giant strides in key sectors lend fillip to the political credentials of PDP as the only true party that really cares about the welfare and well-being of the people.  No doubt with the numerous people-oriented projects executed so far, the people of Agbazilo will vote overwhelmingly for Gov. Obaseki/Shaibu in Saturday's governorship elec...

BY ROSEMARY OKODUWA In continuation of his good works across the length and breadth of the old Agbazilo, the honourable member representing the great people of Esan South-East and Esan North-East Federal Constituency in the National Assembly Rt Hon. (Barr ) Deacon Sergius Oseasochie Ogun* has facilitated the completion of a borehole and  renovation of toilet facilities at the Ojuromi Market in Uromi Town.  The project was influenced by the Uncommon Lawmaker in order to ameliorate the pains of traders who have had to contend with the paucity of potable water and toilet facilities in the market over the years. In addition to all the laudable projects facilitated by Rt Hon. Ogun which cut across agriculture, education, health, sports, youth and women empowerment etc, the successful completion of the water project and toilet facilities would culminate in more votes for his party PDP in Saturday's governorship election. Beyond every iota of doubt, an overwhelming majori...

BY ROSEMARY OKODUWA National President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Rev. Dr. Felix Omobude, has charged the people of Edo State, to maintain peace and orderliness before, during and after the September 19 governorship election in the state. Dr. Omobude who is also the General Superintendent of Gospel Light International Ministry (GLIM) - New Covenant Gospel Church (NCGC), in a press statement in Benin City, signed by his Media Aide, Deacon Ralph Okhiria, said the election of an individual politician is not worthy of the blood or life of any resident of the state. “My dear good people of Edo state, I identify and join my voice to the many other good citizens of the state to call for peace during this governorship election scheduled for Saturday, this week. "The contestants have transversed the length and breadth of the state and have told us what they intend to do and can do. It is now our duty to make our choices and then come out boldly to exercise ...

BY ROSEMARY OKODUWA The Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Council has described as false and mischievous allegation that it plans to burn the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Edo State, ahead of the gubernatorial election in the state on September 19. Chairman of Media and Publicity Sub-committee of the Campaign Council, Chris Osa Nehikhare, in a statement, said the claim is a fabrication by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, which is made up of people with defeatist mindset, who are grasping at straws in the face of imminent defeat in the September 19 governorship election. According to him, “We are amused by APC's allegation of a plot to burn the INEC state office. The allegation is completely false and mischievous and should be totally disregarded. “What should be troubling and of serious concern to Edo people, local and international observers in the election is the antic of the APC to accuse others of ...

BY ROSEMARY OKODUWA The Benin Solidarity Movement (BSM) has expressed optimism that they would get good justice over the ongoing alleged kidnap and murder case instituted against one Johnson Atseleghe, the Iyatsere of Warri who was recently  granted bail at the Criminal Court 1 Benin City. In a press briefing in Benin City, the President of the Benin Solidarity Movement (BSM) also known as a socio- cultural pressure group, Elder Comrade Curtis Eghosa Ugbo called on his team to fellow the part of peace, adding that granting the suspect, Johnson Atseleghe bail does not stop him from facing the wrath of the law in the cases of conspiracy, kidnapping and murder that is currently before the court. He averred that he is confidence the  family of the victims will get justice, as the court remain the last hope of the common man. "The Benin Solidarity Movement (BSM) worldwide is  not in contention  about the bail granted  Johnson Atseleghe, by Criminal Court ...

 BY ROSEMARY OKODUWA .             President Muhammad Buhari The Edo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for deploying adequate security to Edo State, ahead of the September 19 gubernatorial election in the state. State Publicity Secretary of the party, Chris Osa Nehikhare, who spoke to journalists on behalf of the Edo State PDP Campaign Council, on Tuesday, in Benin City, said that “the efforts so far put in place by the Buhari-led government to ensure the security and safety of Edo people, before, during and after the election, deserve commendation.” According to Nehikhare: “With the massive deployment of men of the Nigeria Police Force, the Military, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) and other security agencies to Edo State to supervise Saturday’s election, we are confident that the election will be crisis-free.” He added: “President Buhari’s commit...