400 ex-militants protest alleged abandonment – Vanguard

No fewer than 400 ex-militants in Edo State yesterday took to the streets of Benin to protest alleged abandonment by the federal government.

The ex-militants, who were at Government House to lodge their complaints to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, called on the relevant authorities to attend to their plight and ensure their incorporation into the amnesty deal, as promised by government.

Beside  barricading  the entrance gate and roads leading to Government House, commercial activities were almost brought to a stand still in the state capital, as  all the major roads and entry points leading to Benin City were blocked by the aggrieved militants.

The former militants also appealed to the federal government to properly document and integrate them into the post-amnesty programme, insisting that since they peacefully surrendered their weapons in December, 2009, their members have been languishing in the creeks without being taken care of by the government.

Oshiomhole rescues accident victims – The Guardian

In a display of human sympathy, Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole at the weekend rescued a family trapped in their Toyota Corolla car, which ran under a stationary trailer at Iruekpen, Esan-West Council of the state.

The governor, who was on his way to Benin City from his Iyamho country-home, stopped his convoy at the accident scene to rescue the victims and took them to the Irrua Specialist Hospital.

A statement yesterday by Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Peter Okhiria, said the driver of the car was trying to avoid an on-coming trailer when he ran into the stationary vehicle. One of the occupants of the car, who was later identified as the son of the man who drove it, died on the spot.

Settle rift, S/S leaders urge Jonathan, govs – Vanguard

AS South-South governors get set to meet in Benin City, Friday, to take a common stand on the inauguration of the Vice President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as Acting President, some South-South elders and leaders have urged the governors and vice president to quickly resolve their rift and work harmoniously in the interest of the region.

Vanguard reported exclusively, yesterday, that the governors would meet on Friday in Edo State to parley on the state of the nation. Information at our disposal, last night, however, indicated that they have been inundated with appeals by South-South leaders and concerned citizens to bury the hatchet.

Two of the governors, in exclusive interviews, weekend, said their cold attitude towards Dr. Jonathan all this while was because of their information  that he was already working with their opponents to abort their second term tickets in their respective states, stressing that supporting him to be acting president would tantamount to empowering him to “finish us politically.”

Edo holds lying-in-state tomorrow for Gani – Vanguard

Edo State government and the National Burial Committee of late Chief Gani Fawehinmi will be organizing a lying-in-state for the departed activists and legal icon at Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, tomorrow by 10 am.

Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who disclosed this through his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. John Mayaki, said the event would provide opportunity for Edo people to pay their last respect to the man who fought to preserve Nigeria as a just and decent entity with so much passion.

The governor said the story of the restoration of his mandate as governor of Edo State would be incomplete without the support and counsel of Gani.

Edo Awards N3.4b Contract For Beautification Of Benin City – Saturday Independent

Edo State Government has awarded contract for the commencement of the beautification of Benin City at N3.4 billion. Commissioner for Energy and Water Resources, Alex Erons Okoh, disclosed this during the 2009 National Convention of Ewohimi Community in the Diaspora, which was held between July 24 and 26 in Houston, Texas, U.S.

“Let me make bold to state here that since the inception of the present administration, Edo people can safely say they are seeing some elements of positive change that they were promised during the campaigns. While we were awaiting the state House of Assembly to pass the 2009 Budget, we took time off to do some strategic planning, looking at what we met on ground against the background of where we want to be”, he said.

Former Edo Commissioner Assassinated In Benin – Saturday Independent

Suspected gunmen in Ugbor area of Benin City on Thursday night assassinated former Edo State Commissioner for Works in the Professor Oserhiemen Osunbor’s administration, Anthony Iyalekhue, at his residence. The family of the late Iyalekhue, who spoke through his twin brother, Julius Iyalekhue, said his brother,s murder may have been politically motivated. The late Iyalekhue was a member of the faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state led by two-time Governor of the old Bendel State, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia. Reacting to the killing, Ogbemudia expressed shock and called on the police and other security agencies in the state to fish out the killers.

This must not be another murder that will just be swept under the carpet, it must be investigated and the killers exposed to the world,,, he said.