Sport

Atiku, Akeredolu, Obaseki In Ibadan For Unveiling Of Remodeled Lekan Salami

By Web News 837

Former Vice-President Abubakar Atiku, chairman of the South-West Governors’ Forum, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu and his Edo State counterpart, Governor Godwin Obaseki as well as the President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, will join the Governor of Oyo State, ‘Seyi Makinde, to officially unveil the remodeled Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, Ibadan, on Wednesday 1st of September, 2021.

Other notable Nigerians expected at the event are a former Military Administrator of Oyo State during whose regime the Lekan Salami Stadium was initiated, General David Jemibewon (rtd), former governor of the state and the Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja and a former Super Eagles coach, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicates that the event will feature a novelty match between ex-Shooting Stars players 94/98 set and former Super Eagles players 94/96 set as well as a friendly match between the Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) and NK Tabor Sezana, a top Slovenian league side.

The statement maintains that Teni, Taye Currency and QDot will perform live at the unveiling ceremony, adding that the remodeled Lekan Salami Stadium is coming to life exactly one year after it was awarded to Peculiar Ultimate Concerns Limited through the Alternative Project Funding Approach (APFA).

According to the statement, the project included the remodeling of the main bowl, construction of a state-of-the-art media centre and a FIFA-standard studio with equipment, construction of FIFA-standard mixed zone including changing rooms, wet rooms, match officials’ rooms, referees’ rooms, doping control room, youth centre/ball boys’ room, clinic and others.

The new Lekan Salami Stadium is completed with modern floodlights, a remodeled Squash Hall, a new 50 metres by 30 metres multipurpose hall for Basketball, Volleyball, Handball and gymnasium as well as a Centre Court.

Speaking during the award of the project, Governor Makinde had maintained that the remodeling of the stadium is targeted at repositioning the state to attract investments, especially in the lucrative sports sector.

Iyabo Adebisi

Culture

Benin Artifacts Belong To The People And Not Any Government/Private Organization – Ọba Ewuare II

By Web News 1124
Statement at the Meeting of His Royal Majesty Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Ewuare II, Oba of Benin with Palace Chiefs and Enigies on the Repatriation of the Looted Benin Artifacts.

In the name of God and our Ancestors, I welcome you all and thank you all for honouring our invitation.

I have called this meeting today to intimate you of the matter of the Benin Artifacts in Europe at the verge of being repatriated which I am sure you have heard and read about in recent weeks.

You may also have heard about the recent activities of a group of individuals who incorporated a company since January 2020 called Legacy Restoration Trust Ltd.

It has become germane to note that the advocacy and demands for the return of the artifacts looted from the Benin Kingdom in 1897 have been going on for decades before the emergence of the incumbent Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki.

I must sincerely thank the governor for joining the struggle and showing commitment to retrieve our stolen cultural heritage from Europe.

While anticipating the return of the looted artifacts from Europe, I want to note that attempts to divert the destination or the right of custody of the artifacts is not in the interest of the people of Benin Kingdom to whom the Palace of the Oba of Benin provides leadership.

The looted artifacts awaiting repatriation from Europe are the cultural heritage of the Benin Kingdom created by our ancestors and forefathers within the traditional norms and rites of the kingdom.

They are not property of the state government or any private corporate entity that is not a creation of the Benin kingdom.

The right and only legitimate destination for the artifacts to be repatriated as already pronounced by my father is under the aegis of the Benin Royal Museum that will be sited within the precinct of the Palace of the Oba of Benin from where they were looted, and also, the proper traditional institution that is also the custodian of all the cultural heritage of the Benin Kingdom.

The Palace, therefore, strongly advises that anyone, group, organization, or government – national and international that is dealing with any organization or artificial group in the process of returning the looted artifacts from the Benin Kingdom would be doing so at their own risk and against the will of the people of the Benin Kingdom.

There is no alternative native authority and custodian of the cultural heritage of the Benin Kingdom outside the Oba of Benin as constituted by the Royal Palace.

I do not believe that the move by a privately registered company, the Legacy Restoration Trust Ltd. and the purported establishment of Edo Museum of West African Arts (EMOWAA) are in consonance with the wishes of the people of Benin Kingdom.

It is pertinent to note that shortly after my ascension to the throne I had several discussions with the governor on the plan for the Benin Royal Museum and he expressed his readiness to work with the Palace to actualize this laudable wish of my father.

I made efforts and acquired additional plots of land from different families within the Adesogbe area near the present day palace for this purpose.

I was however surprised to read from the Governor’s letter to the Palace where reference was being made to the fact that a new Museum to be known as EMOWAA is now being proposed, which will be funded and executed through the vehicle of another body now referred to as Legacy Restoration Trust.

When Governor Godwin Obaseki informed me in his correspondence of another implementation framework using the so-called Legacy Restoration Trust and the Edo Museum of West Africa Arts (EMOWAA), my response was that the setting up of another organization or legal entity in whatever form or guise will not be necessary nor acceptable.

I informed him that Oba Ewuare II Foundation has been registered with the CAC and has worked out a framework for not only receiving the artifacts but also building a modern structure – The Benin Royal Museum – within the precincts of the Palace and that land has been secured for the building of the Benin Royal Museum under the supervision of the traditional institution.

But for reasons best known to him the governor has gone against the understanding, given recent events.

As a matter of fact, the people of Benin kingdom and other stakeholders especially Benin Dialogue Group, had at different meetings endorsed the Benin Royal Museum to be built within the Palace, as well as endorsing the Oba Ewuare II Foundation for fund raising and other requisite administration processes.

We wish to use this medium to call on the Federal Government to take custody of these artifacts on behalf of the Palace until the Benin Royal Museum is ready for their collection.

Under no circumstances should custody of our age old artifacts be handed to any privately contrived entity like the Legacy Restoration Trust.

Thankfully just yesterday (July 8, 2021) I spoke with the Honourable Minister for Information and Culture who is presently in Germany over the negotiation with the German Government over the plans for the repatriation of our artifacts he assured me that the Federal government remain committed to get unconditional return of our artifacts and will guarantee its full custody for their onward transmission to Benin kingdom to the exclusion of any unauthorized private entities or third parties, we once again thank the federal government for this commitment.

It now behoves the Federal Government to be the only level of government that can take custody of the artifacts with a view to transferring them to their original owner and their original place of abode, more so that there exist international treaties and laws guiding these processes.

The Palace of the Oba of Benin wishes to advise His Excellency, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, Governor of Edo State to review his approach of using the private vehicle of the Legacy Restoration Trust Ltd and the Edo Museum of West African Art (EMOWAA) and to see how he can genuinely collaborate with the Oba Palace in accordance with our original understanding.

We thank the German Government for their interest and willingness to return the Benin artifacts.

We pray to God and our ancestors for a fruitful resolution of this issue.
Thank you.

The Palace
July 9th, 2021

Judiciary

Court Dismisses Certificate Forgery Suit against Obaseki

By Web News 580

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed the certificate forgery case the All Progressives Congress, APC, and one of its members, Mr Williams Edobor, instituted against Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State.

Delivering judgment, the judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, held that the Plaintiffs failed to give credible evidence before the court to establish that Governor Obaseki forged either his O’level Certificate or the Degree Certificate that was awarded to him in 1979 by the University of Ibadan.

Justice Mohammed held that the allegation of forgery the Plaintiffs levelled against Mr Obaseki bordered on crime and therefore required to be proved beyond a reasonable doubt.

He further held that the discrepancies in the documents Governor Obaseki submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, were explained satisfactorily before the court.

Governor Obaseki contested and won the governorship election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in a bid to extend his stay in office by another four years.

After defecting from the APC, he got the PDP’s ticket and went ahead to defeat Ize-Iyamu for the second time to claim the governorship seat in what can be described as a dramatic switch of political parties.

Governor Obaseki had defeated Ize-Iyamu as the APC candidate in the 2016 governorship election while the latter was the PDP candidate.

Four years later, he secured 307,955 of the total votes, 84,336 more votes than Ize-Iyamu who got 223, 619 votes.

Ifeoma Nwovu

Lifestyle

Service of Songs Held For Governor Makinde’s Mother

By Web News 2398

A cleric, Venerable Dr Samuel Osungbeju of St Paul’s Anglican Church, Yemetu in Ibadan has admonished people to dedicate their lives to the service of God and humanity as a major way to see the Kingdom of God.

He stated this at the Service of Song organised for the mother of Oyo State governor, Madam Abigael Makinde held at the Agodi Government House Arcade, Ibadan.

Venerable Osungbeju said dedication and service to God was the way to enjoy life

The venerable described Madam Makinde as a devout Christian who did her best before she passed on.

Friends, family and political associates of both the governor and the members of the deceased family gathered together at the Agodi Government House Arcade, Ibadan to pay their last respect for the departed soul.

The first bible reading was taken from the book of Daniel, Chapter 12, verses two to three and read by the eldest son of the deceased, Engineer Sunday Makinde while Governor Makinde took the 4th reading from Matthew chapter 13, verses 47-52.

In a tribute, a son of the deceased, Mr Mutual Makinde and the family of Omoregie in Akure, Ondo State where late Madam Abigail hailed from which spoke through Engineer David Agboola, said Mama Abigail lived a life worthy of emulation.

To Governor Seyi Makinde, his mother was a disciplinarian who was passionate about the education of her children.

Among the dignitaries who graced the occasion includes Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki, his counterparts from Bayelsa and Ondo States, Diri Duoye and Rotimi Akeredolu SAN, former governor of Oyo state, Chief Rashidi Ladoja, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta, Alhaji Daud Akinola.

Others are senators, former and serving members of the House of Representatives, commissioners, judges, permanent secretaries and political appointees.

Prayers were later offered to God for the repose of the soul of the deceased, family members, Oyo State and Nigeria at large.

The remains of Mama Abigail will be laid to rest tomorrow 4th December, 2020.

Madam Abigail Omojolagbe Makinde Nee Omoregie died in the early hours of Thursday, October 15, 2020 at the age of 80.

Iyabo Adebisi

Politics

Obaseki Receives PDP Certificates of Return, Flag

By Web News 672

Governor Godwin Obaseki has received his Certificate of return and party flag after emerging the party’s candidates ahead of the September 19, 2020 Edo governorship election

Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu is also at the party’s national secretariat for the exercise.

The event which is being attended by the PDP national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus also has in attendance, Governor Bala Mohammed, chairman of the Edo electoral panel, and members of the committee.

In his brief remark, Governor Bala Mohammed recounted the events leading to the voluntary withdrawal from the race by the aspirants, noting that they all pledged their commitment to work with Obaseki. The governor had on Thursday polled a total of 1,952 votes to emerge winner of the primary election.

Governor Obaseki was accompanied to the event by two aspirants who stepped down for him-Engineer Gideon Ikhine and Mr. Kenneth Imasuangbon.

FRCN Abuja