De Patriot

In continuation of his LGA tour, Dr. Ernest Umakhihe, a Gubernatorial aspirant of the All Progressive Congress(APC), has appealed to the indigenes of the Orhionmwon (Abudu), Ikpoba Okha (Idogbo), Oredo (Benin) communities to nominate him to be the flag bearer of the APC at the forthcoming primaries. Umakhihe disclosed this when his campaign train visited Orhionmwon (Abudu), Ikpoba Okha (Idogbo), Oredo (Benin) all in Edo South senatorial districts. My elders, my sisters, my brothers, and my friends, today I have come to meet you people to nominate me for the governor of this state. ``So that I can go into primaries and win as a united front, I want you people to nominate me to bear the APC flags and contest in the governorship election.``   He, however, noted that some of the communities have oil wells, and he was ready to use the funds to develop the community alongside the government allocations.   Speaking on security, Umakhihe said that he is an expert in securi...

Dr. Ernest Umakhihe, Gubernitorial Candidate of All Progressive Congress(APC) said on Monday that he would fulfil all his promises, if voted for, as the governor of Edo State in the forthcoming election. Umakhihe disclosed this when he embarked on a campaign train visit to Edo South, Central and North Senatorial District. According to him, even before aspiring to become a governor, he had done several projects in the State, adding that if given the opportunity, he would do more. ``I have done a lot across the whole senatorial districts, so much that I did not promise anybody before I did those ones,  and I was not under any obligation to do it. `` I have empowered many farmers with implements, some we have developed their farms land  by clearing for them, I  have given out solar lights, solar boreholes, I have done roads, Odo market road which is in this constituency. ``So,  I have done a lot without promising anybody, so now that I have come, my own is t...

  In my place, we say one vegetable does not chase another out of the plate. South-South's Edikang ikong soup is a practical illustration of that saying on inclusiveness. Has northern Nigeria ever heard of this other saying among the Yoruba?: Should Ogedengbe (Ijesha war General) be tending his ware of beads while Aduloju (Ado Ekiti war leader) is exhibiting his guns and bullets at same time? (Sé é ye kí Ògèdèngbé maà pa àte ìlèkè, kí Adúlójú maá pa àte ìbon ní Adó Èwí?). This caution speaks to war-baiting and the two warriors' capacities to inflict maximum damages if war breaks out. Almost all of northern Nigeria is facing existential problems today. That should be enough soup on their plate there, but no. Their hunter, with an elephant on his head, is busy digging for crickets of agencies and departments. Security should be of prime importance to the leaders of the region instead of knocking their heads on the wall over inconsequential issues of relocation of some...

...condemns attack on security operatives in Oja, vows prosecution of culprits ...charges citizens on effective use of State emergency numbers 112, 739 The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has ordered the reaccreditation of all operatives of the State’s Security Vigilante Network, numbering over 6,500, in a renewed effort to strengthen the State’s security architecture to combat crime and ensure the security of lives and property of residents. Obaseki gave the order during a security briefing at the Solomon Arase Command and Control Centre in Benin City, the Edo State capital, in the company of all security chiefs in the State. Reassuring the government’s commitment to the security of lives and property of Edo people, Obaseki said his government will continue to collaborate with security agencies to combat crime and criminality in the State. He said, “We are having this security briefing this morning to let the public know the measures that security agencies and Edo ...

If we take the Central Bank of Nigeria to Sokoto, will that translate to wellness for the seat of the caliphate? The Central Bank of Nigeria recently announced a decision to send back to Lagos some of its departments. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) also announced a decision to go back to its natural habitat, which is Lagos. The elites of the north are not happy; they are, in fact, angry. They allege a plot by the Yoruba, through Bola Tinubu, to under-develop the north by taking the capital out of Abuja. But what did Lagos lose by having the Federal Capital moved to Abuja in 1991? What has corporate north gained by having the nation's capital in Abuja since 1991? Has Abuja's existence closed, by even one inch, the progress/knowledge gap between the north and Sir Lewis Harcourt's "southern lady of means"? People who knew what Lagos was in 1991 and who know what it is now laugh at insinuations that Lagos wants Nigeria's capital once ...

  Leading All Progressives Congress (APC) Gubernatorial aspirant for Edo 2024, Dr Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe has opined that a vibrant agricultural sector in Edo State would attract the needed investment, guarantee food sufficiency and create jobs across the sector's value chain if given the needed attention by the Government, noting that this would form the focal point of his administration if elected as Governor. Umakhihe also promised to leverage the Federal Government's Green Initiative Programme which is aimed at strengthening food security, creating massive jobs, transfer of technology, establishment of Agricultural Machinery Assembly Plants that will lead to the emergence of the value-added agriculture. The former Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture subsequently added that he will make Edo State one of the major centres of the 632 Mechanisation Service Centres proposed by the Federal Government to support primary production and assembly of...

Dr Ernest Umakhihe, a retired Federal Permanent Secretary on Sunday says he joined the 2024 Edo governorship race out of his desire to transform the state. Umakhihe, who is aspiring under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), stated this while addressing his supporters on his arrival at the Benin Airport from Abuja, where he had gone to pick a nomination form. The governorship aspirant claimed he had garnered requisite experience that would make him excel during his career in the federal civil service. “My antecedent spans various sectors of the Nigeria economy - national planning and budgeting, central administration, infrastructure because “I was a permanent secretary, Works and Housing and of course Agriculture, that was my last beat before I retired. In the course of this work, I have had extensive experience and connections with international development partners and locals.  “I was also at a time Secretary to the National Economic Council (NEC) and ...

It has come to our attention that there are some persons strategically positioned by those who do not mean well for our party to sow seeds of division within the party to reduce the chances of the party in the forthcoming gubernatorial election. One weapon these elements use is peddling falsehood. On our part our resolve is to furnish these people, and the general public with the truth. For those of us who have been around from the beginning of the OBIdient movement till date. We know for a fact that Honourable Sergius Ogun is not a new comer to the Labour Party and its Siamese twins the OBIdient Movement.  While they are busy themselves spreading lies and sowing discord, here are some undeniable truths they don't want you to know...  1. While the PDP was dribbling with their Presidential ticket, and was showing no serious sign to give Peter Obi the ticket. Hon. Sergius Ogun was the only National Assembly Member who challenged the PDP in the open for trying to subj...

It has come to our attention that there are some persons strategically positioned by those who do not mean well for our party to sow seeds of division within the party to reduce the chances of the party in the forthcoming gubernatorial election. One weapon these elements use is peddling falsehood. On our part our resolve is to furnish these people, and the general public with the truth. For those of us who have been around from the beginning of the OBIdient movement till date. We know for a fact that Honourable Sergius Ogun is not a new comer to the Labour Party and its Siamese twins the OBIdient Movement.  While they are busy themselves spreading lies and sowing discord, here are some undeniable truths they don't want you to know...  1. While the PDP was dribbling with their Presidential ticket, and was showing no serious sign to give Peter Obi the ticket. Hon. Sergius Ogun was the only National Assembly Member who challenged the PDP in the open for trying to subj...

  Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare has chided an APC guber aspirant and serial contestant in the forthcoming governorship election,  Osagie Ize-Iyamu to take responsibility and stop being economical with the truth as it concerns the development of the state. This was contained in an open letter made available to newsmen, personally signed by Chris Nehikhare and addressed to Osagie Ize-Iyamu over unfounded allegations against the Edo State government led by Governor Godwin Obaseki.  Nehikhare who described as shocking Ize-Iyamu allegations of marginalization and the under-development of Orhionmwon Local Government Council Area, said Governor Obaseki has taken bold steps to address the issue in the State by opening up the space for more actors to provide electricity among others developmental projects.  He said it's not only disappointing, but a fact that Orhionmwon LGA has been unlucky over the years with the qualit...

Edo Unity League Worldwide, a none partisan socio-cultural organisation from Edo State, with members drawn from all the 18 Local Government Areas of the state, has bought the Expression of Interest Form and Nomination Form for one of its member, Dr. Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe, OON, to contest for the September 21, 2024 governorship election. The Group was represented by some Board of Trustees members, led by Chief Victor Ekhator, the Enobore of Benin Kingdom, Comrade Orobosa Omo-Ojo JP, Comrade Aiyamenkhue Edokpolo. While handing over the forms to Edo Unity League Director of Youth Organisation, Mr. Marvis Okharedia, the Deputy National Organizing Secretary, Mr. Nze Chidi Duru, thanked the BoT members for identifying a member of the APC worthy of EULW support. Members of the Edo Unity League Worldwide are drawn from the open society of the state, cutting across all disciplines and different political affiliations. A press statement that was shared at the All Progressives ...

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders and members in Uhumwode,  Orhionmwon and Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Areas in Edo State have endorsed Dr. Asue Ighodalo as their consensus aspirant for the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state.  The unanimous endorsement was disclosed during Ighodalo's visits to the areas as part of his ongoing consultations across the 18 council areas in Edo.  According to the leaders and members of the party in Uhumwode, Orhionmwon and Ikpoba-Okha, the endorsement was informed by the aspirant's track records of excellence in the various capacities he has served humanity, hence the need to adopt him to transform Edo State. The motion for Ighodalo's adoption in Uhumwode was moved and seconded by former Senator Roland Owie and Mr. Charles Egbe amid wide acceptance and jubilations. Addressing the people, Dr. Ighodalo, appealed to the people to nominate him as the PDP flag bearer for the September 21 governorship ...

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders and members in Uhumwode,  Orhionmwon and Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Areas in Edo State have endorsed Dr. Asue Ighodalo as their consensus aspirant for the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state.  The unanimous endorsement was disclosed during Ighodalo's visits to the areas as part of his ongoing consultations across the 18 council areas in Edo.  According to the leaders and members of the party in Uhumwode, Orhionmwon and Ikpoba-Okha, the endorsement was informed by the aspirant's track records of excellence in the various capacities he has served humanity, hence the need to adopt him to transform Edo State. The motion for Ighodalo's adoption in Uhumwode was moved and seconded by former Senator Roland Owie and Mr. Charles Egbe amid wide acceptance and jubilations. Addressing the people, Dr. Ighodalo, appealed to the people to nominate him as the PDP flag bearer for the September 21 governorship election, maintaining th...