Godwin Obaseki – Channels Television

Obaseki Launches Digital Museum With World’s Largest Online Repository Of Benin Artefacts

A file photo of Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki.

The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has described the recently launched Digital Benin website as a platform with the largest digital collections of Benin artefact.

Obaseki said this during the launch of Digital Benin, which is part of the events marking Alaghodaro 2022 Summit, at the Sir Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub, Airport Road, in Benin City, Edo State.

“We suggested having a catalog of all Benin artwork scattered around the world a while back. Today, I am so glad and fulfilled that five years on, we now have the digital records of 5,246 pieces of Benin and Edo artworks in 131 locations across the globe. This is a feat to be proud of.

“Digital Benin is now the largest Museum in the world for Benin collections. It’s a virtual Museum which will tell you anything you need to know about Benin history and future. Go to the website and every piece of Benin artwork located anywhere in the world can be seen. You can see the artworks, the meaning and the locations.

“This is a significant milestone we have achieved. This project is very significant to the people of the kingdom. We thank Prof. Gregory Akenzua and members of the Benin Dialog Group who, over the last two decades, have kept on the pressure and the dialogue on how to restitute and return the artworks taken away after the invasion of 1897.

“I met the Benin Dialog Group having this debate and discussion for the last 18 years and later joined them to ensure we achieve the aims of the group. We joined the group in 2017, and in 2018, we went outside the country to join the conversation and address the issues confronting the return of the art work.

“The invasion of the Kingdom destroyed our history which was unbroken for 1,000 years. It suddenly got broken and it’s taken us over a century to begin to understand our place in the world. For more than 100 years, our artworks have been with strangers who do not understand the import, significance and importance of these works.

“These works serve as our ambassador all over the world and the concern for us is ownership, as these are our properties taken from us, at least let it be returned so that we will have a legal title.

“This success is all about collaboration and the achievement gladdens our heart. I appreciate our European partners who have been really understanding, particularly the German, French and the Italian governments. The future is about technology and the Digital Benin rests on a technology platform.”

The governor said the state government is ready to continue to work with partners for continuation and sustainability of the Digital Benin website, noting: “We have designed a new cultural district for Edo State. Edo and Benin City is the natural cultural capital of West Africa. Within this cultural district, we would have a minimum of three museums and we already have one which will be upgraded while two others (The Benin Royal Museum and EMOWAA).

“The cultural district which is going to be sited on over 10,000 hectares of land will have other facilities like hotels, spaces for offices, center for young artists, among others. I want to acknowledge a young Edo personality, Tracy Eboigbodin, who won a master-chef competition in Italy, making Edo and Nigeria proud for her achievement in Europe.”

Delivering his welcome address, Commissioner for Arts, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora Affairs, Hon. Prince Bamidele Obaitan, thanked the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, for his visionary leadership style.

He noted that the occasion of the launch of Digital Benin provides an opportunity to share with the people the remarkable progress made by the administration of Governor Obaseki in the arts and culture space.

“This project is a platform for people to know more about the rich cultural heritage of the Benin people and its artifacts scattered around the world.”

Peter Obi: Why Labour Party Was Denied Use Of Stadium In Edo – Obaseki

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, on Friday defended his government’s decision not to approve the use of the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium for a Labour party rally in the state.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the Governor said the notice for approval arrived too late.

Mr Obaseki said the government received notice 24 hours to the event.

“The tracks for that stadium are still under warranty,” he said. “The pitch has to be maintained in a certain mould. So it’s not just another facility you can use without preparing.”

Why we did not approve the stadium in Benin-City for Labour Party. – Godwin Obaseki, Edo State Governor
“I expected more from the Labour party; I thought they were more serious,” he says.#PoliticsToday #CTVTweets pic.twitter.com/nF7Yf6iPqF
— Channels Television (@channelstv) November 11, 2022

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Obaseki’s party, had used the stadium for a rally on October 22.

He said the PDP met the conditions for using the stadium.

“And the only reason why we allowed the PDP rally was because it was also used as an opportunity to commission that facility. Otherwise most other rallies are held in other large grounds around the city.”

Mr Obaseki said he was disappointed with the Labour party.

“I thought they were more serious,” he said.

‘We are on ground’

Many believe the government’s decision to refuse the stadium’s use for the Labour party was due to Mr Obaseki’s fear of Peter Obi’s rising political profile.

Mr Obi is the presidential candidate of the Labour party in the 2023 elections.

Mr Obaseki dismissed such an idea on Friday.

“They can show us virtually but not on the ground,” he laughed.

“We are on ground. We’ll see. It’s February 23rd.”

Huge turnout

Meanwhile, a large number of people showed up on Friday as Obi visited Edo state.

Mr Obi, who had been in Abia State on Thursday, said he was grateful for the reception.

A large crowd turned out for Peter Obi in Benin-City on November 11, 2022.

“What an awesome and OBIdient crowd in Benin,” he said in a tweet. “I am deeply humbled by Edo people’s show of love and support.”

In Benin-City, Mr Obi visited the Oba of Benin.

He was also pictured with popular cleric, Apostle Johnson Suleman.

Obaseki Is Misleading Atiku, Keyamo Tackles Edo Governor

A photo combination of Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki and Tinubu spokesperson, Festus Keyamo.

Spokesperson of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, Festus Keyamo has criticised Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki over his recent comments on the 2023 elections.

Obaseki, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, had suggested that Nigeria will break up if the All Progressives Congress wins the 2023 presidential election.

In a statement on Tuesday, Keyamo said the comment was received with “utter amusement” by the Tinubu campaign.

Keyamo said Obaseki was one of those misleading the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar ahead of the elections.

Read Keyamo’s full statement below:

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2022
PRESS STATEMENT BY THE TINUBU/SHETTIMA PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN COUNCIL
ON
OBASEKI’S ‘BREAK-UP’ STATEMENT: A STUDY IN SHEER HYPOCRISY
We read with utter amusement the outburst of the Governor of Edo State claiming Nigeria will break up if the APC wins the Presidential election. This is coming from a Governor who turned a blind eye and a deaf ear to the outrageous and divisive statement made by his presidential candidate in Kaduna a few days ago calling for Northerners not to vote for Yoruba or Igbo candidates. This is also coming from a Governor who has so far callously, heartlessly, and undemocratically “broken up” his own State by denying many constituencies of adequate representation in the Edo State House of Assembly by denying the members of their right to take their seats, even though the members were duly elected.
By making this abhorrent statement, Obaseki has clearly shown that he must be one of the elements within his Party not only misleading his candidate and party but also enabling them towards inevitable electoral doom. This is to our delight, but we worry that if elected, they will inflict the same divisive spirit on our country as a whole.
It is little wonder then, that his exit from the APC to the PDP was a signal of peace within the APC and the beginning of the unending crises within the PDP. It reminds us of the story of the Biblical Satan whose expulsion from heaven restored peace to that realm and pronounced woe upon the earth. Obaseki and his cohorts, like Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, obviously sold their souls for the Biblical pot of porridge by violating the zoning principles in their own constitution, thereby causing the present implosion within their party – an implosion that he now wishes to project on the country. Compare that to the historical stance of the APC Northern Governors who insisted on the unity of this country by rejecting power offered to them on a platter of gold, but rather insisted on power shift to the South to keep this country together.
We are shocked by the shallowness of thinking, the sheer temerity, and the obfuscating arrogance that pushed Governor Godwin Obaseki to make such an outrageous statement against the APC. We call on Governor Obaseki to apologize to the people of Edo State, to the people of the Southern region, and to Nigerians as a whole for making such an insensitive and reckless statement in the face of PDP’s insensitivity to the principle of power rotation in the country.
Certainly, the day of reckoning with the masses is coming for the likes of the Judas of our time, Governor Godwin Obaseki!
Thank you.
Festus Keyamo, SAN, FCIArb(UK)
*Director of Public Affairs and Chief Spokesperson, Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council.
* Minister of State, Labour and Employment,
Federal Republic of Nigeria

Edo Rep Jude Ise-Idehen Dies, Obaseki Mourns

The member representing Ikpoba-Okha/Egor federal constituency of Edo State in the House of Representatives, Hon. Jude Ise-Idehen, has died.

It was gathered that Ise-Idehen, a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) passed away in the early hours of Thursday, although the cause of his death is yet unknown.

In a statement on Friday, Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, described the death as shocking and painful, noting that Ise-Idehen was an illustrious Edo son who worked for the upliftment of his constituents in particular and Edo citizens in general.

“I received the shocking news of the passing of Hon. Jude Ise-Idehen with rude shock. It is indeed a painful and great loss for the people of Ikpoba-Okha/Egor Federal Constituency, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, and the country at large,” the governor said.

“A consummate politician, he was a community mobiliser; firm and considerate in the discharge of his duties. He was compassionate, kind and hardworking.

“For the people of Ikpoba-Okha/Egor Constituency, he was a force to reckon with. He served diligently and promoted projects that enhanced the living standards of his people.

“He will be remembered for his selfless service and commitment to the development of his constituency.”

“I commiserate with the Ise-Idehen family, as well as friends of our great son, and pray that God will grant all the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”

Okowa Brings Immense Electoral Value To PDP Ticket – Ekweremadu

File photo: Former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.

Former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, says the choice of Ifeanyi Okowa as running mate to Atiku Abubakar, gives the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) an extra advantage in the forthcoming presidential election.

Ekweremadu made this assertion in a brief statement on his official Facebook page where he joined party leaders, party faithful, and supporters in congratulating Governor Okowa, on his emergence as the vice presidential candidate.

“This is a sound choice by our presidential flagbearer, H.E Atiku Abubakar and our party.

“No doubt, Okowa brings immense electoral value to the PDP ticket and is highly resourceful and he is prepared for the office of the VP,” Ekweremadu stated.

The parliamentarian urged every party leader and member to work to ensure the success of the ticket at the 2023 polls.

In a similar vein, the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has congratulated his Delta State counterpart, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa on his emergence as the running mate to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

Obaseki, in a statement, said Okowa’s emergence will translate to victory for the party in the forthcoming elections.

“I heartily congratulate you, my friend and brother, His Excellency, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa on your emergence as the Vice Presidential candidate of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“An energetic grassroots mobiliser; Okowa, a two-time governor, senator and commissioner, has the needed experience that would guarantee victory for our party in 2023 elections in our bid to rescue the country and place it on the path of progress and prosperity.”

“As we embark on this all-important mission to rescue Nigeria, we must now all work together in unity, as a people and party, to reclaim our country,” the governor charged.

Protest: Edo Government Suspends ASUU, Other Unions

The Edo State Government has suspended the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), and other unions across all state-owned institutions of higher learning.

This followed the strike by students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, over the lingering strike embarked upon by ASUU, a statement issued on Wednesday by the Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie, said.

Ogie stated that the decision was reached after the State Executive Council meeting at the Government House in Benin City.

“By this notice, academic activities are to resume in all state-owned institutions and all cadre of staff are directed to report to their duty posts immediately,” he said.

“Students across all state-owned tertiary institutions are expected to resume lectures as necessary measures have been taken to ensure resumption of academic and non-academic activities.

“Management of the affected institutions have been mandated to pay all outstanding salaries immediately.

“The management of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, is hereby directed to implement a no-work-no-pay policy, declare vacant and advertise the position of any staff that refuses to resume work in line with this directive.”

Obaseki Pays N40,000 Minimum Wage To Edo Workers

In fulfilment of the new minimum wage regime announced on Workers’ Day, Governor Godwin Obaseki has paid the Workers’ May salaries and pension, reflecting the new wage increase.

The Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie, disclosed this via a statement issued on Thursday.

“The Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has approved the payment of retirees’ pension and workers’ salaries for the month of May, reflecting the new N40,000 minimum wage,” the statement read in part.

“This is in fulfillment of the statutory obligations to workers and also a reflection of the governor’s expert and judicious management of the state’s resources.”

‘We Are Lucky In Edo’

The Edo Government says it is committed to the welfare of workers. [email protected] GovernorObaseki

Obaseki had on May 1 announced the increment of the minimum wage in the state from N30,000 to N40,000. He noted that the increase was necessary to help workers overcome the country’s overbearing economic challenges, which have caused galloping inflation among other socio-economic dislocations.

A cross-section of workers, who spoke with journalists after the payment of the new minimum wage, expressed excitement about the development, praising the governor for keeping to his word.

“I can’t contain my joy. In all my years in the civil service, no governor has done as much as Governor Obaseki, a civil servant, Mr. Jeremiah Igbinosa, said. “He has shattered all records. I am in awe of his financial acumen.”

Another public servant, Mrs. Ose Okosodo, said the governor has proven to be the darling of workers not only in Edo but in Nigeria. According to him, workers across Nigeria, who had been calling to confirm the governor’s announcement earlier in the month, now have evidence to prove that the Governor is a promise keeper.

“We are lucky in Edo. There is no doubt,” he said. “This is happening when other governors are making excuses for why they are not able to pay workers.”

Workers’ Day: Obaseki Increases Minimum Wage To N40,000

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, on Sunday approved N40,000 as the new minimum wage for workers in the state in commemoration of 2022 Workers’ Day.

Obaseki, who made the announcement in Benin while delivering his 2022 Workers’ Day speech, said his government will continue to prioritise the welfare of Edo workers, equipping them with the capacity and environment to deliver efficient and quality service to the people.

1.
I announced that we have reviewed the minimum wage for Edo workers from N30,000 to N40,000 a month. Although we would have loved to pay more, we hope that this little adjustment will enable us to cushion the impact of the inflation that we are faced with. pic.twitter.com/6KGVjpcXjX
— Godwin Obaseki (GGO) (@GovernorObaseki) May 1, 2022

“As we all know, the minimum of N30,000 can barely sustain a family. It will be immoral and mindless of us to continue to pretend that we do not know that our workers are suffering,” he said.

“The government of Edo has now decided to review the minimum for Edo workers from N30,000 to N40,000 a month. Undoubtedly, Edo is the first state since the current outbreak of coronavirus to take this initiative.

“Even though we would have loved to pay more, we hope that this little adjustment would enable us to cushion the impact of the inflation that we are faced with. There is no doubt that the financial implications will be heavy and put another burden on the government.

“But as a government, we are prepared to make the sacrifices so that the workers can live a better life. Your welfare is our number one priority.”

While reassuring his government’s relentless support to senior citizens in the state, Obaseki lamented the hardship experienced by pensioners and other senior citizens because of the rising cost of food and other items.

“I am particularly interested in our senior citizens because they are one of the most vulnerable in our society. We took interest in payments of outstanding pensions to our pensioners although these pensions were held by the previous administration.

“In view of the prevailing economic circumstances, I have now approved, effective this May, the agreement we reached with the Union of Pensioners that the harmonized amount would be paid from May 2022.

“Government is aware of the difficulties faced by the pensioners due to the non-payment of pension and gratuities to pensioners by previous governments. This responsibility is huge, and it will require a substantial part of our resources to settle them.

“However, we are not a government that is known for running away from challenges; we will look for a way to tackle these challenges,” the governor added.

Obaseki however urged workers in the state to take advantage of opportunities offered by his administration in the agricultural sector to increase food production in the country.

Earlier in his address, the state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr. Odion Olaye, charged the Federal Government to step up efforts to tackle the high rate of insecurity, unemployment, and hunger in the country.

Workers’ Day: We Will Continue To Prioritise Workers’ Welfare – Obaseki

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has assured workers in the state that his administration will continue to prioritise their welfare.

Obaseki gave the assurance in a statement to mark the 2022 Workers’ Day on May 1, adding that things have continued to improve since the onset of his administration.

He attributed this to the state’s e-governance strategies, noting that it has improved work processes in the state, automating government systems and ensuring quality service delivery to the Edo people.

“As we mark Workers’ Day, I would like to appreciate workers in the state for their commitment to duty and diligence, which is responsible for the achievements recorded by my administration thus far. Edo people are, today, better off with the improved services provided by workers.

“In the last six years, we have ensured that workers in Edo State are provided with the right environment, tools, and encouraged to deliver optimal services to the people. From reconstructing office buildings, such as the Blocks C & D of the Secretariat Complex to the introduction of e-governance systems and robust welfare packages, workers have experienced a dramatic change in the conditions in which they work in the state.

“The e-governance system makes sure that our workforce is globally competitive and provides top-of-the-range services to the people. The transformation we are witnessing will ensure that the people are better served in the long run.

“It is also impressive that they have paid back in kind by delivering on their roles and responsibilities, which has created the atmosphere for the success of the reforms we have implemented.”

The governor noted that the state will continue to place the interest of workers at the front burner of its institutional reforms, noting that continuous professional development at the John Odigie Oyegun Training Academy will equip them with skills to deepen the reforms in the state.

“We are very intentional about the need to ensure that the reforms we have introduced are sustained and outlive our administration. This is why we introduced the professional development plank in our reform agenda and are sure that these institutional frameworks will ensure that the changes we have introduced stand the test of time in the interest of workers and the development of the state.”

‘A Serial Betrayer’: Wike Fires Back At Obaseki, Apologises To Oshiomhole

The rift between Governor Godwin Obaseki and Governor Nyesom Wike has taken a new twist as the Rivers governor fires back at his Edo State counterpart.

Addressing a crowd at an event on Monday in Rivers State, Governor Wike accused Governor Obaseki of betrayal and ingratitude.

He alleged that the Edo governor has refused to be grateful to the party and the people who supported him to be re-elected when he left the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Governor Wike, however, apologised to a former national chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, whom he said had initially warned them about accepting Governor Obaseki into the PDP fold.

“If you check the DNA of Obaseki, what you will see in that DNA is betrayal, serial betrayal, and ungratefulness,” he said while addressing a crowd at the commissioning of a secondary school in Omuanwa community, Rivers State.

“Let me stand today to apologise to Adams Oshiomhole who has been vindicated by telling us that we will see the true colour, the insincerity, the ungratefulness of Governor Obaseki.

“We have voted for PDP since 1999 till now; ask Governor Obaseki if he has done anything for PDP (or) voted for PDP. The only election he voted was his own election – where we gave him an umbrella.”

Nyesom Wike Godwin Obaseki Adams Oshiomhole

This Is Politics

Governor Obaseki had slammed Governor Wike over his reaction to comments by Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, that PDP members who defected from the APC in Edo were not happy and do not feel accepted into the new party.

He had also said Nigeria needed strong democratic institutions and not strong men, stressing the need for the PDP to position itself to reclaim power at the centre in 2023.

Governor Wike, in his reaction, described the comments by his Edo counterpart as a rant, saying governance was about feeling and touching, and not a memorandum of understanding.

He went on to highlight his contribution to the efforts that led to Governor Obaseki’s re-election, having served as the Director-General (DG) of his campaign organisation in 2020.

“Let me clearly say without any apology to anybody that one of the problems in this country is leadership – people who cannot stand firm and say: this is white; this is black at all times,” the Rivers governor said.

“I am not in the class of Obaseki, never! We are not the same, we can’t be the same. I was the DG of his campaign, I went there (to Edo) for three days. I stayed there without having my bath. I have never seen somebody like that in my life – a serial betrayer.

“Let me tell you Obaseki, I know your cohorts and I will smoke all of you out. This is not the Benin artefact that you were challenging the Oba (of Benin), this is politics. Obaseki, I have more stake in PDP than you. I have fought for this party, mention one thing that you have done for the PDP.”

Nigeria’s Budget System Is ‘Fraudulent’ – Obaseki

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, on Monday, called for a more transparent and accountable budget system in the country, saying that the current process is fraudulent.

Obaseki stated this while addressing participants at a four-day training organised by the Edo State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, in collaboration with Open Government Partnership (OGP).

“One of the major crises that we have in Nigeria today, apart from the very weak bureaucracy, is our budgeting process. Our budgeting, I am sorry to use a very harsh word, is almost fraudulent. Why do I say so?”

“As an entity, whether federal, state, or local government, you know how much you can earn. Assuming you can only earn N100 in a year with all the evidence right before you, of course, you know it’s going to be N100,” he said.

“By the time you are preparing the budget and you are giving certain agencies envelopes to put this and that in the budget, you will end up putting up a budget of N200, and you are only going to receive N100. That is where the fraud begins.

“By the time you take that document to the House, the various representatives there have various promises they made to their constituents and the things they want to put in for themselves, and they add N50 to it.

“It will now be a budget of N250, and meanwhile, you have only N100. From that N100, maybe you have said that N100 will be for recurrent expenditures, to pay for the running of the government and N50 will be for capital. The recurrent expenditure is the first-line charge.”

He continued: “You have to pay salaries before you do anything. Now, you have a budget of N250 and have increased your recurrent expenditure in that proportional sum, so what happens year-in-year-out is that the buck of the money in your budget goes to the first-line charge.

“So, there is little or nothing left on things that affect the people, including building schools, roads, hospitals, and other infrastructure for the people.”

The governor, who reiterated the need for citizens’ budgeting, noted: “for us in Edo, preparing a citizens’ budget is not negotiable. At least for me as governor, it is non-negotiable. That is why I want more of our DFAs to be here.

“At the political level, we are doing what we can to change our politics and make political players realize that when they come out to serve, they are not there to serve themselves. Government is not a business where you make money, it’s where you come and serve.”

Earlier, the resource person for the programme, Mr. David Agu, said citizens’ output has become a huge resource for policymaking and implementation, including the budget.

Agu said popular participation, accountability, transparency, simplification, accessibility, and citizens’ feedback lead to a peoples’ budget that will enhance service delivery, improve good governance and bring about development.

In her remarks, the Edo State Commissioner Budget and Economic Planning, Princess Otse Momoh-Omorogbe, said the event would help chart a new direction for the state’s budgeting process.

Nigeria Needs To Bake A Bigger ‘National Cake’ – Obaseki

The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, on Tuesday said Nigeria needs to increase its revenues in order to address complaints over the sharing formula of federation proceeds.

The Governor made the comment at the State Government House in Benin-City during a courtesy visit of the Chairman of the Federal Character Commission, Muheeba Dankaka.

“The issue for us in Nigeria should be how to bake a bigger cake, because the cake we are trying to share has become too small,” the Governor said.

“So no matter how hard you try to divide that cake and share it, many people will still feel they are not getting their fair share or what is due to them, because whatever they get might just be marginal.”

Obaseki also noted that the Federal Government is spending too much of the nation’s dwindling resources on recurrent expenditures, including personnel emoluments.

Tag: Godwin Obaseki