The Pen

The general Elections in Nigeria had been conducted, the echoes  is yet to fade. This is as result of the heat it generated after the Winners had been declared. In Edo State, the gubernatorial Election is scheduled for next year 2024.   The soul of this piece is the  2024  Edo State Gubernatorial Election as it relates to Esan Agenda. It would be recalled that in 2020, 'Esan Agenda' was mainly the manifesto of the two dominant Political Parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and especially the People's Democratic Party (PDP) on which platform Governor Godwin Obaseki later contested the Governorship Election. It would also be recalled that before Governor Obaseki was screened out  by the APC in 2020, it was heavily rumoured all over the place that he had promised to handover to an Esan man after his second tenure in 2024. Every member of the APC from Edo Central Senatorial District keyed into this assumption to spread the 'good news' to the nook and cranny of E

The All Progressives Congress (APC), Edo Central Senatorial District of Edo State recently inaugurated its Campaign Council for the 2023 general Elections. During the inauguration of the Council which has Rt. Hon. Patrick Ikhariale as the Director General (DG), the PEN Media Network, Publishers of the PEN Media Online/Magazine had an encounter with one of the candidates Dcn. Patrick Akhimiemona Idiake who is vying for the House of Representatives, Esan West, Esan Central and Igueben Federal Constituency in the 2023 general Elections. He spoke on his aspirations and the political developments in Nigeria especially now that the elections are scheduled for 2023.  The interview was conducted by Francis Akhigbe, the Publisher and Editor-in-chief of the PEN Media Online/Magazine.  Excerpts. The PEN: May we meet you Sir? IDIAKE:  I am Dcn. Patrick Akhimiemona Idiake. I am from Illeh Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State.  I am a Chartered Accountant, Forensic Expert, a Farmer a

Public Interest Lawyering Initiative of West Africa (PILIWA) has held its Inaugural Meeting in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Barr. Chima Williams in his remarks said that he was delighted to welcome all participants to the ancient city of Benin where the Oba is the real king. He reiterated that the gathering was that of familiar faces that have been working together for many years. He went on to say that it was no accident that PILIWA was taking off in Nigeria because Nigeria has always been big brother to other African Countries. He told the participants that  the first thing that  PILIWA did was to identify those lawyers, whether Law teachers, Practicing lawyers, older and younger ones and even those in politics that have public interest, passion and the zeal to support those community indigenes and people who may not be capable of paying lawyer's fees for their services and who may not be able to find credible lawyers to handle their cases without compromising to take bigger a

My dear good people of Esan West, Esan Central and Igueben Federal Constituency (Okpebholo), my sincere and heartfelt greetings to you all. First of all, I wish to express my deepest appreciation to the Leaders, Exco and members of our Political Party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) who have been there through thick and thin for me, since  my voyage into Politics. Your support and encouragement has been the magic wand that have kept the political zeal in me burning even at the point of despair at times. You urged me on when I vied to represent my beloved people of Esan West, Esan Central and Igueben Federal Constituency (Okpebholo) and did not get  either the ticket or the election. You did not give up on me. You voted once again for me in the Primary to contest the 2023 Election for the House of Representatives. This is unprecedented and I promise to reciprocate this your kind gesture through loyalty when we become victorious in the next year Election and start harvesting the div

It is no longer news that all is not well with the People's Democratic Party (PDP), Edo State Chapter in particular.  This is as a result of the political wits being displayed by the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and the South South Vice Chairman, Chief Dan Orbih to gain control of the soul of the Party (PDP) in Edo State.  The inability of the leadership of the Party to find soft landing for  both factions have put the Party in a situation where it can be said that it has no candidates for now in Edo State for any of the elective offices from the State to the National Assembly. Chief Dan Orbih has the Portal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as his hold to having candidates while Mr. Governor has the Certificate of Return issued to his candidates by the Party as his belt for having candidates.              Gov. Godwin Obaseki,                     Edo State The Judiciary did not help matters with their judgements. Apart from the clear c

A One-day Electoral Dialogue on Gas Flare Penalties had held in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Welcoming Participants who were drawn from Communities affected by gas flare, the Civil Society Organizations and the Media, Barr. Chima Williams, the Executive Director of Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) told them that Benin City is unique in the Campaigns to end gas flaring in Nigeria because according to him, "the first case ever filed in any Nigeria Court to demand for an end to gas flaring was at the Federal Court here in Benin City, in the case of Jonah vs Shell. That judgement was given on the 14th of November, 2005, exactly 10 years, 4 days after the  State murder of Late Ken Saro Wiwa". L-R: Barr. Everest Nwankwo, Prince Barbs Preye Pawuru, Hon. Asonsere, Leftist Omobude Agho and Barr. Chima Williams (Members of Panelists) He said that that judgement though still in the Court of Appeal formed the bedrock for the campaigns to