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PDP Chieftain Condemns Gov Obaseki’s Ill-treatment of Philip Shaibu

Published

1 year ago

August 29, 2023

…Suspects Impeachment Plot

Prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo North, Chief John Asekhauno has condemned what he perceive as harassment of the deputy governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu, by Governor Godwin Obaseki and his aides.

In a press statement released yesterday, Chief Asekhauno expressed deep concern over the reported incident, claiming it was an affront to democracy, assault on political legitimacy, and a grave violation of the rights of an elected official.

He firmly denounced any harassment or intimidation against political opponents who ran on the same ticket with him, emphasising that it had no place in a civilised society.

Narrating the ugly event that took place at the Sir Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub and Soundstage, the venue of the 60th anniversary of the Midwest Referendum celebration on Airport Road, Benin City, yesterday, Chief Asekhauno noted that against the narrative pushed by Mr. Chris Osa Nehikhare, the Edo Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, that Comrade Shaibu ushered in his counterpart from Delta State and was already seated in the hall, an hour before the arrival of Governor Obaseki at the venue.

The party chieftain, who claimed to be an eyewitness, revealed that it was upon the realization that none of his media aides was within sight that the deputy governor sought to find out where they were so they could capture special moments for his office at the event, then he went to ask after his aides.

He noted that on getting to the entrance of the venue, he was surprised that all his media aides were outside as the security personnel to the governor would not allow them access into the hall, claiming that they were not accredited to be part of the media crew covering the event.

“I suspect that all the efforts by Philip Shaibu to get his media aides into the hall, which the security details of the governor rebuffed, may have been the reason he stormed out of the venue as he felt he was not needed there.

So, the narrative by the commissioner that the deputy governor does not like attending state functions is an attempt to malign him, and the stoppage of his media aides may have been orchestrated to get the deputy governor to react to gather impeachment offences against him.”

Recalling the incident of Sunday, the August 29, where in a viral photograph, a security detail of Governor Obaseki was seen at an interdenominational service at the Festival Hall of the Government House, preventing the deputy governor from greeting his principal, the PDP chieftain said “such actions not only degrade the dignity of those involved but also cast a negative shadow on the efforts towards building a united Edo State, and I think the good people of Edo State deserve leaders who prioritisme the welfare of the citizens over personal animosity.”

Chief Asekhauno urged Governor Obaseki to adhere to the principles of democratic governance and lead by example. He emphasized that political differences should be resolved through constructive dialogue, not by resorting to power plays or harassment.

The PDP Chieftain called on all stakeholders to work towards fostering an inclusive and collaborative political environment for the benefit of all Edo residents.

Chief Asekhauno further demanded a thorough investigation into the alleged incident to ensure that those responsible for the harassment face appropriate consequences.

He stressed the need for accountability and transparency in governance, urging the state’s leadership to focus on fulfilling their campaign promises instead of engaging in political hostilities.
Asekhauno appealed to all political actors in Edo State to prioritise unity, development, and good governance above personal or party interests.

He remarked, “It is time for our leaders to rise above pettiness and work towards the common goal of making Edo State a model of progress and prosperity.”

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RMRDC: Making Giant Strides Under Prof. Nnanyelugo Martins Ike-Muonso

Published

7 hours ago

September 19, 2024

The Gleamer

By Joel Ajayi

As we embark on a journey, we always pray for an able, experienced, and courageous driver, pilot, or sailor depending on the means of transportation.

This is because the captain will have enough experience and boldness to navigate out of turbulence and to bring all the passengers and crew to the intended destination.

Interestingly, these fine qualities of ability, experience, boldness, and many more, abound in the man, Prof. Nnanyelugo Martins Ike-Muonso, who we all are pleased was appointed the Raw Materials Research and Development Council, RMRDC, the Director General/CEO by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu a few months ago. This is because he has brought his knowledge, ability, experience, and doggedness to bear in carrying out his assignment in charge of the Council.

The RMRDC, operating under the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology, is pivotal in driving Nigeria’s industrial growth by optimizing local raw materials exploitation, development, and utilization. RMRDC, ab initio, was conceived as a child of necessity when Nigeria was reeling from the throes of global recession and plummeting crude oil prices.

Without an iota of doubt, today, the council is experiencing a transformation with massive innovation in raw material exploitation, development, and utilization, supporting business and industrial growth, and contributing to Nigeria’s economic prosperity.

Speaking during a press briefing on Tuesday, in Abuja to commemorate his 100 days in office, he said the council is laying a solid foundation through numerous innovations that will further enhance growth in the country.

According to him, “In the past 100 days, my strategic pursuits have been to lay solid foundations for enduring success in these goals.

“Upon assuming this position, I set five crucial deliverables which include, refocusing the Council as a premier research institution; Strengthening the Council’s productivity and operational efficiency; and Significantly improving the staff welfare to be the best in the class of similar organizations.

“Others include, Boosting the Council’s visibility and instituting remarkable culture change that encourages ownership and productivity as well as Strengthening and deepening the Council’s place in the international arena.”While speaking on his Achievements so far, the DG revealed further: “My first task, therefore, was to implement a strategic goal-setting for the Council’s staff to define and set out clear objectives and targets to be achieved by the Council within a specified period towards refocusing on this historical mandate. We unleashed five significant initiatives in that regard.

“The nationwide raw material data collection exercise that focused on technical and investment information to drive our mission forward.

“The restructuring and renaming of the former Technology Innovation Complex (TIC), at the Obasanjo Space Center at Airport Road, Abuja, to a Research and Demonstration Plants Complex (RDPC). This complex will be Africa’s first center of excellence in raw material research, featuring state-of-the-art laboratories, technology development workshops, and proof of concept demonstrations.

“We have reactivated the Council’s Journal and repositioned it internationally. The repositioned Journal of Raw Material Research (JORMAR) will host RMRDC’s researchers’ publications, which are crucial in promoting awareness, facilitating knowledge sharing, and informing stakeholders about the opportunities and challenges in Nigeria’s raw materials sector. “The collaboration with universities and academies will strengthen our capacity for conducting market-guided research, ensuring sustained workforce training while deepening our orientation in science.

“The council has reformulated a new template for all our research proposals to ensure and sustain a clear departure from the old culture of blue-sky and deliberately endless research.”Speaking further, Prof Nwanyelugo Martins Ike-Muonso stated that Staff welfare remains a top priority as an issue of unpaid salaries is settled as well as set up a comprehensive welfare program. “Similarly, we established the RMRDC Training School to sustainably build our staff and stakeholders’ capacity to further the staff welfare improvement goal.

“We are committed to openness, inclusiveness, and performance management and have initiated steps to continuously improve staff ownership, orchestrate transformative culture change, boost our corporate visibility, and enhance.

“To further strengthen our visibility and communication strategies, we are upgrading our media infrastructure, which includes the launch of the RMRDC online media platform, The RMRDC TV Online.

“Additionally, we are working hard to effectively enhance the intellectual property and patent portfolio of RMRDC from its current 40 to approximately 200 new patents within the next 24 months. This proactive approach secures valuable IP assets and positions the Council as a leader in innovation within the raw materials sector, contributing to Nigeria’s overall economic growth.“As well as launching an e-registration and certification portal to enhance transparency in the raw materials sector,” DG revealed.

He however reaffirmed his commitment to reshape the future of research, technology, and innovation, driving Nigeria towards an industrially vibrant and technologically resilient economy.

“As I mark 100 days in office, I boldly say that the Council is on the verge of rewriting its history.

“I believe that in no distant future, RMRDC will play a leading role in enhancing raw materials’ development to boost raw materials’ industrial trial processing and attain sustainable industrial growth in Nigeria.

The DG, however, applauded the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, for his unwavering support and mentorship, saying the Minister’s leadership has been instrumental in the progress made so far.

In his opening remarks, the Directorate of Corporate Affairs, Mr Chucks Ngaha commended the hard-working DG who has weathered the storm further to put the Council on the ladder of more prosperity.

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