De Patriot

By Suyi Ayodele Something is happening in Edo State right now. It is a big lesson in infidelity. As you read this piece, the rope which strapped Governor Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu, together in the wake of their joint political annihilation of their estranged godfather, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has snapped. As it stands today, Shaibu is holding on at the mercy of an Abuja Federal High Court, which asked the parties in the suit he filed to stay action. Shaibu, rightly, or wrongly, in the said suit, claimed that his principal, using the House of Assembly, had put in motion plans to impeach him. Obaseki, on his part, said there was no such plan. The security agents, who were joined in the suit, also denied it. How do my people describe a situation like this? “Agbón únsé, ìkamùdù únsé; ojú olóko rē gùdùgudu” (The wasp denies, the giant ant denies, yet the face of the farmer is full of bumps). Oshiomhole is the only one savouring the entire drama with ...

The Oracle of Rural Development and immediate past member representing Esan North-East/Esan South-East Federal Constituency of Edo state in the House of Representatives, Hon. (Barr.) Deacon Sergius Ose Ogun has formally declared his intention to contest Edo 2024 Governorship Election. The Promise-Keeper as he is fondly called by his teeming supporters and followers officially declared his intention to join the Edo 2024 Governorship race when he played host to the good people of Ugboha in his private residence in Ugboha Town, Esan South-East Local Government Area. Hon. Sergius Ogun who sought the prayers and support of his kiths and kins as he embarked on the momentous journey to Osadebe Avenue promised to build upon the foundations of development, prosperity and progress laid by successive democratic administrations in Edo state since 1999, if elected as the next civilian governor of the heartbeat state.  Acceding to his request, the Ugboha community which was led by no...

  By Lasisi Olagunju  One of the bitter lessons Bola Tinubu may have learnt in his abortive war against Niger Republic's military junta is that with northern Nigeria, blood will always be thicker than water. In this matter, Niger Republic is blood; Nigeria, especially the part of it outside the Muslim north, is water. Northern Nigerians will not sacrifice their brothers and sisters in Niger for anything, not for a nebulous concept called 'democracy' and definitely not in defence of Western interests.  Last week, I looked at the geography of West Africa, its map and where Niger stands. I queried the rigour (or, even the wisdom) in ECOWAS slapping border closure on Niger when it should be clear to the leaders there that you cannot close a door you do not control: Benin Republic and Nigeria which are in Niger's southern borders have frontier populations that would do anything to protect their brothers and sisters in Niger. Niger's northern borders are share...

By Suyi Ayodele The Niger war has not started, but an iron wall has been cast across Africa. As I was writing this, the Daily Mail of the UK, and the Independent of the UK, said that the crisis in Niger had affected global aviation. The newspapers reported on Monday, August 7, 2023, that flights across Africa, Europe and the Middle East were either cancelled, delayed, or diverted, with passengers and their families traumatised. Independent UK, in its headline: “British Airways forced to do 10-hour ‘flight to nowhere’ as Niger suddenly closes airspace”, reported thus: “Airspace over Sudan and Libya is already closed to commercial aviation. The addition of Niger means there is now a block to north-south flights across Africa stretching around 2,600 miles from western Niger to the Red Sea.”   The Daily Mail of the UK came with a rather long headline: “Total chaos' as Brits are stranded in Africa with 'no information' and 'wandering around aimlessly in tears...

. Leaders across the six Local Government Areas that constitute Edo North Senatorial District of Edo State have condemned the State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu for taking Governor Godwin Obaseki to Court to seek protection from impeachment, stating that they not in support of the move. The Edo North leaders was led by a former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Kabir Adjoto, to a press briefing at the NUJ press centre on Monday, 7 August.  In his address, he express dismay at the self contrived rift between our Governor Godwin Obaseki and our son the Deputy Governor of Edo State Rt Hon Comrade Philip Shaibu. Afemai people are a very hard working, Patriotic and Loyal race.  "It is unheard of in the history of Nigeria where a sitting Deputy Governor will initiate a Court action against his Governor without any justification as in the instant case. And also go ahead to engage social media miscreants to disparage his Governor.  "The Co...

In continuation of the tradition of the Edo state House of Assembly to hold a prayer fellowship on the first working day of the month ,the August edition has been held , with the massage return to God. In his sermon during the prayer fellowship ,Rev Igbinijesu who spoke on the topic return to God ,took his text from Zechariah 1vs 1-3 urged all present to return and hold tenaciously to God. This he said would guarantee favour and blessings in the remaining months of the year. Rev Igbinijesu advised all to forget about problems and challenges as God is involved in the affairs of all and all unpleasant situations would be surmounted . Concluding his message ,he prayed for peace, progress , mercy, and protection on the Speaker , Rt.Hon. Blessing Sheriff Agbebaku. In his remarks, Speaker, Rt. Hon. Blessing Sheriff Agbebaku, thanked the religious leaders present for sustaining the monthly fellowship. Rt. Hon. Blessing Sheriff Agbebaku, went down memory lane , stating tha...

The Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku has inaugurated the newly constituted House standing Committee on Information, Youth and Humanitarian Affairs of the Assembly.  The Speaker, who was delighted welcomed members of the committee and heads of the ministry of Commications and Orientation, Youth, Sports and Humanitarian Affairs to the inauguration ceremony which was held at the Assembly's conference Hall. Rt.Hon. Agbebaku who was flanked by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Maria Edeko and other lawmakers stated that the 8th Edo State House of Assembly will take its oversight function seriously. In the same vein, Chairman of the newly inaugurated committee and member representing Akoko-Edo 2 Constituency, Hon. Donald Okogbe thanked members of the committee and heads of the state ministry of Commications and Orientation, Youth, Sports and Humanitarian Affairs for gracing the event. Hon. Okogbe who promised that his committee will be very proacti...