NEWS Curve

               Rev.(Dr.) Felix Omobude                       PFN President By Lucky Isibor   President, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, (PFN), Dr. Felix Omobude has commended the Bishop of  Sokoto Diocese, Rev. (Dr.) Matthew Kukah over his comments on the state of the nation and called on those attacking the ferry clergy to desist from it and should not use him as the sacrificial lamb. The PFN president made the call while speaking on issues as they relate to the current state of the nation. Dr. Omobude said the Bishop spoke truth to power and that it was the minds of most Nigerians and should be commended for voicing out when others seemed to have kept quiet when actually things are getting out of control. “Well, I appreciate Bishop Kukah. I don’t think we have interacted on one-on-one but if you follow him, you will know that he is down to earth when it has to do with telling the truth.   “Bishop Kukah is an advocate of democracy so he could not have been calling for t

                    Lazurus Adorolor. By Lucky Isibor. The President of Edo State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, (NULGE), Comrade Lazarus Adorolor, has indicated interest of vieing for the top position of the Union.     The election of a new national president of the Union will hold during the NULGE National Delegates Conference, tentatively fixed for January 5 - 6, 2021, in Lagos.      Adorolor, of Edo North extraction, is expected to fly the Edo State flag at the election.     Other contestants in the race for the NULGE top position and who are expected to slug it out with Adorolor are from  NULGE chapters  in Imo, Cross River, Ogun and Delta state respectively.   Adorolor, a former two term chairman of the NULGE branch of Etsako West local government, is highly tipped for the coveted position based on his reach, tract record, concensus building and  achievements while in office.  Speaking with journalists, an unassuming Adorolor, who describe

The Edo State Chapter of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the 19 September Edo governorship election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu;  former National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and former factional State Chairman of the party, Col. David Imuse (rtd) to own up to the lies they spread during the last governorship election just as the spokesperson of the APC's campaign council, John Mayaki has done. The Edo State publicity secretary of PDP, Chris Nehikhare made the call while reacting to the confessions made by the spokesman of the APC Governorship Election Campaign Council in the 19 September Edo governorship election, John Mayaki.  Mayaki had on Friday, Christmas day said he lied against Governor Godwin Obaseki, Mike Igini, the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner in Akwa Ibom State and APC state Chairman, Anselm Ojiezua when

By Newscurve. A Benin-based social crusader and human  rights activist, Chief Patrick Eholor, has threatened to take Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki to court  over alleged failure to conduct the 2020 Primary Six Examination leading to the award of Primary School First Leaving Certificate.  Eholor, the President of One Love Foundation who made the allegation while addressing newsmen on Saturday in Benin City, the State Capital said it would amount to the promotion of medicrity for pupils to be awarded Primary School Leaving Certificate without examination and called on the Governor to rescind the decision. He explained that his decision to seek redress in court, is to discourage mediocrity in the education sector and for the sake of posterity. He wondered why some perfidious individuals in the Government who duly earned their Leaving School Certificates on merit, failed to tell the Governor the consequences of promoting pupils who did not sit for the examinations. “My

                    John Mayaki By Lucky Isibor. A spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign in the Edo 2020 governorship election, Mr. John Mayaki has confessed that he lied against Governor Godwin Obaseki and Mike Igini,  the Akwa Ibom State Resident Electoral Commissioner ahead the 2020 Edo governorship election, accusing the electoral official of receiving bribe from Governor Godwin Obaseki during the election. Three months after the election which was won by Mr Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party, the spokesperson, John Mayaki, has come out to describe as fake the claim he made in a press release that Mike Igini, the INEC resident electoral commissioner in Akwa Ibom State, held a secret meeting with Governor Obaseki and that Mr Igini left the Edo Government House “with sacks of money”. Some newspapers, including The Sun, Vanguard, and Nigeria Tribune ran a story from Mr Mayaki’s release, even though Mr Igini was not part of the election and neve

                  Hon.Henry Duke Tenebe  By Lucky Isibor. As  Christians all over the world mark the birthday of Jesus Christ, Hon. Henry Duke Tenebe, a chieftain of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, has called on Edo people to continue to support  Governor Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Hon Philip Shaibu, as the duo strive to transform the state into a major economic hub in the shortest possible time.  While reaffirming his belief in the ability of the duo to deliver on their electoral promises, Hon. Tenebe appealed to Edo people for maximum support for the governor and his deputy which he said is the surest way to accomplish the set objectives and programmes of the government. This was part of Hon. Tenebe's season's greetings to the people of the state and  eulogised the governor and his deputy for their clear-cut vision on how to harness the state's resources for the betterment of all.  According to Hon. Tenebe, who's also a member o

          Dr. Anthony Aziegbemin           Chairman, PDP, Edo State. By Lucky Isibor   The Chairman of the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Anthony Aziegbemi, yesterday assured that the party will not distract Governor Obaseki in his determination to better the lot of the people of the state just as he cautioned politicians in the state, not to distract the Governor, as he settles down for his second term in office. Aziegbemi, also debunked rumours making the rounds that Obaseki had demanded the dissolution of the elected executives of the party from the ward to the state level and a mini congress be organised, so he could infuse some of his supporters who came with him from the All Progressives Congress (APC) into the leadership of the party. The state PDP chairman, who stated this at an interactive session with journalists at the party state secretariat in Benin-City, the state capital, said the party's priority is to ensure all the program

By Lucky Isibor The management of PayRide, an indigenous ride-hiring, yesterday, said its online taxi service would ease difficulties faced by passengers as well as offer reliable commute to riders in Edo State. Joseph Bamidele, managing director of the company gave the assurance at the official launch of the e-hailing service in Benin City. He said the app-based ride-hailing service would bridge the gap that is already created in the transportation industry in a bid to meeting the transportation needs of Nigerians. Bamidele envisaged that the online car service would be expanded to provide premium services to those in Abuja, Lagos, Port-Harcourt and Asaba. "PayRide is focused on what we have to offer. We are mindful of those who are running similar services but we have our niche we have carved out for ourselves.  "We have our ambassadors that was unveiled today; they will bridge conflict gaps that usually occur between the riders and driver partners.  The ambassa

               Chris Nehikhare             Edo PDP Publicity Secretary By Newscurve.   The Edo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has berated the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state for making false claims by calling for the resignation of Governor Godwin Obaseki who has been acknowledged as performing to the expectations of the people describing such call as looking for avenues to overturn the will of Edo people. In a statement, State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chris Osa Nehikhare, said the APC has resorted to a wide goose chase to oust the governor even as they continue to run from pillar to post to undo the will of Edo people and described the opposition as suffering from selective amnesia. According to him, “The APC is clearly still reeling from the pains inflicted on them in their disgraceful outing in the last governorship election in Edo State. They are looking for all other avenues to overturn the will of Edo people, who rejected them

                Chief Jolly Ogbeifun. The Enobore of Ugboko and Eso land. By Newscurve The Enobore of Ugboko and Eso land in Iyeke Orhiomwon, Chief Jolly Ogbeifun has felicitated with the Omo N'Oba N'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare 11 N' Ogidigan, the Oba of Benin on this year's Igue festival.  Chief Ogbeifun also called for prayers for the revered Benin monarch so that God and the anscestors will continue to guide the Monarch's foot steps in his quest to make Benin Kingdom great again. Chief Ogbeifun made the call while speaking with news men in his Benin City palatial residence on the significance of the 2020 Igue festival in Benin Kingdom.  "I wish the best to our Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare 11, for all the good things he's been doing since he ascended the throne as the Oba of Benin. I pray that he will live long as he has contributed immensely to the developlement of Edo State and Edo people since he ascended the throne.  "I pray that Ob

By Lucky Isibor About 1483 Africans lost their lives to irregular migration out of the about 3101 that died while trying to reach their international destinations through irregular routes in 2020. According to data released by the Missing Migrant Project of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) as part of activities to commemorate the 2020 Migrants Day on 18 December,  the deaths were recorded across six regions of the world between 1 January and 16 December 2020. A press release by "The Migrant Project" signed by the media officer, Tayo Elegbede,  revealed that "the data showed  Africans make up the highest number of dead irregular migrants at 1,483 followed by Americans at 580 with Asia, the Middle East and Europe accounting for the origin of 352, 147 and two dead migrants respectively". The statement noted that "while 1,504 deaths were recorded on the Mediterranean sea, the minimal estimate data set further revealed that more migrant

A chieftain of the Edo State chapter of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), Owere Dickson Imasogie has said that he's grading the earth roads at Ugieghudu town in Uhunmwode Local Government Area because of the promise he made to the people in the community during the Obaseki/Shaibu campaign for the 19 September Edo governorship election.  Owere Imasogie stressed that he promised to grade the roads during the campaigns as a result of the difficulties himself and the PDP goververship campaign train in Uhunmwode Local Government Area experienced in accessing Ugieghudu township roads during the governorship campaigns adding that he has to mobilise men and equipment to site in fulfillment of that promise. Owere Imasogie who was the former chairman of the board of the Cocoa Research Institute, Ibadan stated this in an interview with journalists in Benin City. "I led the Obaseki campaign throughout Uhunmwode Local Government Area in the last g

By Newscurve By Lucky Isibor. Residents and visitors to Edo State have been assured of adequate security during and after the festive period. Speaking with jounalists in an interview in Benin City, the  state coordinator of the PUBLIC WORKS VOLUNTEERS SCHEME (PUWOV)  MUKHTAR YUSUF-OSAGIE said "the aftermath of the #endsars protest have been so challenging to the government and relevant security agencies in the state which demanded the state government's going back to the drawing table for a redesigned security architecture which is now taking care of some of the criminal black spots in the state". Mukhtar Yusufu-Osagie said "the state government is harnessing all available openings to bring as many people, groups and agencies to help grow and sustain the security situation of the state which informed the engagement of hands into the PUWOV scheme to ensure that the entire state is adequately covered". On traffic control and ease of movement in the sta

              Governor Godwin Obaseki By Newscurve. A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja  presided over by Honourable Justice Ahmed Muhammed has adjoined indefinitely a suit instituted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) against Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State challenging his eligibility for the 12 September Edo State governorship election which was won by the Governor.  The plaintiffs in the suit marked FHC/B/CS/74/2020, prayed the court for an order disqualifying Obaseki from contesting the September 19 governorship election in Edo State on the grounds of alleged discrepancies in the documents he supplied to the  Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).  Governor Obaseki through his lawyer Ken Mozia SAN had applied to the Federal High Court to expunge some pleadings of the plaintiffs; an application the court declined. The Governor thereafter approached the Court of Appeal to challenge the refusal and decision of the high court to expunge some paragraphs

The parish priest of St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church, Benin City, the very Rev. Fr. Palmar Ikpenmwosa has admonished Christians to always stand by their faith in moments of trial.  The clergy gave the admonishion Friday, 11 December in a homily at the funeral mass held in honour of Mrs. Patricia Okaiman Akhabue- Emeordi, a retired Assistant Corp Marshall of the Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC). Father Palmer stressed that patience, perceiverance were the hallmarks of the eventful life of Patricia Okaiman Akhabue-  Emeordi and thanked God for giving her the grace to overcome all the trials that came her way during her earthly sojourn. "We thank God for the life our sister, Patricia led. We thank God for all that God used her to do on this planet Earth. We thank God for the men and women who were there for her, who supported her in her hours of trials. "We thank God that she never lost her faith, rather went on and stood by her faith and we thank God

Bishop Fred Aghedo. General Overseer, Gospel Defenders Ministries, Benin City. By Newscurve. A Christian cleric, Bishop Fred Aghedo, the General Overseer of Gospel Defenders Ministries International, has admonished Nigerians to repent or perish. The clergy man pointed out that the atrocities being committed by Nigerians today is more than the atrocities commmitted in Sodom and Gomorrah adding that God has been patient with the country for some reasons. Bishop Aghedo gave the admonishion Sunday, 13 December at the church auditorium of Gospel Defenders Ministries on Lucky Way, Ikpoba Hill, Benin City while delivering a sermon at the 2020 Havest Thanksgiving service of the church. He urged Christians to take note of their attitude while giving assuring that the attitude behind their giving is what attracts miracle.  "It is important to give, but the attitude behind your giving is what brings your miracle. It is important to wait, but the attitude behind your waiting bring

                      Andy Ehanire. Chief Executive Officer, Ogba Zoological and Nature Gardens. By Newscurve. Ogba Zoological Gardens and Nature Park has put everything in place to make visits to the facility memorable for tourists and visitors during this Yuletide season.  The management of the facility has also put adequate security in place to guarantee the security of visitors to the zoo during and after the Yuletide season. The Chief Executive Officer of Ogba Zoological Gardens and Nature Park, Benin City, Andy Osa Ehanire who stated this while speaking to journalists in Benin City said adequate measures have also been put in place to ensure adherence to the Covid-19 pandemic protocols. According to him, "we always plan for Yuletide season, because it is the major plan most of our clientele are banking on. They may not decorate their homes or do any special hosting, but Xmas and New Year is about Ogba Zoo since that is where it is happening. We always aim at a ca

R-L: President Unuedo Professionals, Emmanuel Ijewere; Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and the Chairman, Local Government Service Commission, Chief Tom Uloko, during a one-day workshop on “Igniting the Economic Development and Viability of Local Government Areas in Edo,” held at the Staff Training Centre in Benin City on Tuesday. By Newscurve. The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on Tuesday reassured Edo people that only competent persons who are prepared to serve the interest of the generality of Edo people with character and proven integrity would be elected as chairmen and councilors in the forthcoming local government election in the state. The governor, who promised not to allow godfatherism to thrive again in the state, stressed that the country’s electoral process strongly affects the system of governance. Obaseki said this when he declared open a one-day workshop on “Igniting the Economic Development and Viability of Local Government Areas in Edo,” hel

             Late Apostle Eunice Osagiede. By Newscurve. The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has expressed shock over the death of Apostle Eunice Osagiede, the General Overseer of Spirit and Life Bible Church, with headquarters in Benin City, the Edo State capital. The governor, in a statement, mourned the passing of the preacher, noting that she is 'simply' irreplaceable. According to the Governor, "It is with a heavy heart that I received the news of the death of the General Overseer of Spirit and Life Bible Church, Apostle Deb'rah Eunice Osagiede.  "I am shocked, sad and extremely pained at the passing of this true Jesus woman, who was one of the shining lights of Edo and a great achiever. She is simply irreplaceable. "I remember with fondness the spiritual charge she gave in her sermon during my inauguration thanksgiving service. "Indeed, we are blessed by the opportunity to have known and associated with her." The governor s

By Newscurve.     Dr. Jude Obasanmi, flanked by health                officials at the event. A university don, Dr. Jude Obasanmi has raised the alarm on the rising cases of HIV/AIDS Infections in the state.  Obasanmi who raised the alarm while making a remark during the activities to mark the 2020 World AIDS day by Josemaria Escriva Foundation at Ekpoma, pointed out that despite the continuous campaign for free HIV tests, that only few people submit themselves for testing as a result of fear of stigmatisation. While noting that the number of new cases is on the increase, Obasanmi who's also the chief responsibility officer of Josemaria Escriva Foundation appealed to people to embrace the voluntary testing by the foundation adding that provisions have been made for counseling. He enumerated the causes of HIV/AIDS Infections to include unprotected sex, unscreened blood during blood transfusion, sharing of unsterilised sharp objects like needles, razor blades, clippers, t

                      Mrs Betsy Obaseki.                       Edo State First Lady. By Newscurve. As activists and the Edo State Ministry of Social Development and Gender Issues continues its "16 Days Activism Against Gender-based Violence",  a survivor of domestic violence, Mrs Louisa Eikhomun has  described her marriage with the ex husband as "hell on earth". She said, she was battered, molested, abused, but  kept quiet because she  thought the marriage could be  salvaged adding that at a point she realized that keeping quiet could result to a tragedy of monumental proportion. Speaking to journalists at the NUJ Press Centre in Benin City, the Edo State capital at a rally organized by the Ministry of Social Development and Gender Issue, titled "16 Days of Activism Against Gender- based  Violence", she said  "My marriage was  hell on earth, I was battered, molested, abused. I first kept quiet, thinking that the marriage could be salvaged,

            Some of the paraded suspects.  By Newscurve. Edo State Police Command on Friday paraded a four member gang of suspected Point of Sale (POS) armed robbers alongside 30 other suspected cultists, kidnsppers and other robbers. Briefing newsmen during the parade at the Command headquarters in Benin City, Edo State Commissioner of Police, Babatunde Kokumo said the Command personnel, in conjunction with local vigilantes also made arrest of five other suspects, adding that assorted four laptops, five assorted handsets and one G-Tab were recovered from them. He added that three escapees who escaped from Oko Correctional Centre and Benin Medium Correctional Centre during the EndSARS protest were re-arrested by the Command for commiting yet other crimes. While restating the Command's resolve to free the state from crime and criminality, Kokumo, said the police successfully arrested seven suspected cultists who were allegedly engaged in disturbance of public peace and v

Participants at the Town hall meeting in a group photograph. By Newscurve The Executive Director of the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), Rev. David Ugolor has appealed to Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), media and the general public in Edo State to always engage the State Government to ensure regular monitoring of projects to minimise project abandonment in the state. The ANEEJ Executive Director gave the charge at a Town hall meeting to discuss the report of "Budget Monitoring in the Education Sector of Edo State" organised by ANEEJ, adding that "this event is part of the the implementation activities under the ANEEJ's Tackling human trafficking through advocacy to increase investment on human capital development and civic engagement in Edo State". Ugolor disclosed that the budget monitoring which resulted from the research it conducted on Corruption-  Migration Nexus which created a platform for policy dialogue with r

           Mr. Godwin Obaseki.             Governor of Edo State.  By Newscurve. By Lucky Isibor.  "A smile is the light in your window that tells others that there is a caring, sharing person inside"- Denis Waitley. The above quote by the reknown American motivational speaker, Denis Waitley aptly captures the beginning of the second term of Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki who was sworn in for a second term in office Thursday, 12 November after a resounding victory in the 19 September governorship election in the state.  In his realisation that a leader is a vessel of hope, Governor Obaseki has given hope to the unemployed with the activation of processes for recruitment to fill existing vacancies in the Edo State Civil Service and other departments and extra ministerial departments in the state like the Hospital Management Board, the State Universal Basic Education Board, the three State Schools of Agriculture which will commence classes in early 2021. The Edo