EDO STATE: JULY 13 DECLARED HALF WORKING DAY FOR CIVIL SERVANTS AHEAD OF JULY 14 POLLS

Adams Oshiomhole, governor of Edo state,
EDO - AHEAD of the Edo State governorship election tomorrow, the state government has declared a half working day for all workers in the state civil service today.
Workers in the state civil service are expected to resume work at 8.00 a.m and close at 12.00 p.m today.

The development, according to a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Peter Okhiria, was to enable the workers to prepare for the election tomorrow.

The statement urged the people to come out en masse on the election day and be orderly as they exercised their franchise.

Oshiomhole, Airhiavbere divide Ijaws in Edo
Meanwhile, the people of Ijaw in coastal communities of Ovia South West and Ovia North East local government areas of Edo State are now divided over which candidate to support in the election tomorrow.

While the camp of leader of the Niger Delta Volunteer Force (NDVF), Mujaheed Dokubo-Asari and presidential aide, Joseph Evah, were rooting for the re-election of Governor Adams Oshiomhole, thousands of the people of the Ijaw ethnic nationality, on Thursday, declared support for the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Major-General Charles Airhiavbere (retd).

Ijaws drawn from over 40 clans scattered across Edo and Ondo states, under the umbrella of Ijaw Progressive Agenda for Change, at a press conference in Benin City, the Edo State capital, passed a vote of no confidence in Oshiomhole and his party, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), for labelling them settlers.

They also said their areas of abode had not witnessed any meaningful development, contrary to what they posited were claims by the state government to massive infrastructure development in the parts of the state.

President of Ijaw Agenda for Change, Money Goddey, said “recently, they have been seeing the political development in Edo State and people erroneously believe that the Ijaws have pitched their tent with Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, but today, as a group and as far as I am speaking for my people (Egbema, Olodiama, Gbara, Propa and Okomu Ijaw), we are going to stand here and pass a vote of no confidence in Oshiomhole.”

He also said the coming of Dokubo-Asari and his group to Edo State for the purpose of election was to present the Ijaws as thugs and hoodlums, adding that this was unacceptable.

Reps back Jonathan on deployment of soldiers
In another development, the House of Representatives, on Thursday, backed down on its decision to have closed door head count on the deployment of about 3,500 soldiers in Edo State by President Goodluck Jonathan, ahead of the gubernatorial election tomorrow.

Honourable Bimbola Daramola had, on WednesdayJuly 11, 2012, raised a motion under matter of urgent public importance on the deployment of soldiers by President Jonathan to help maintain law and order in the July 14 election.

But the Speaker, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal had ruled against the motion, but later reversed himself and apologised to his colleagues for the wrong ruling.

However, hardly had the plenary session began on Thursday when Honourable Gbajabiamila stepped down his point of order to take a physical count of members.

He then told the Deputy Speaker, Honourable Emeka Ihedioha, who presided over the session that he had a personal explanation in line with Order 8, House rule 47, adding that if the physical count was conducted, it was capable of introducing “dangerous lines” among members.

Meanwhile, in a move to douse ethnic tensions, the House stayed debates on the upsurge in deadly attacks that had rocked the Plateau State capital, leaving in its wake many deaths, maimed scores and displaced thousands.

New Edo CP warns politicians
The new Edo State Commissioner of Police, Femi Adenaike, on Thursday, said no highly placed politicians or government officials would be allowed to go about with their security details or be accorded special treatment during the governorship election tomorrow.

Adenaike also re-affirmed the readiness of the police and other security agencies to the provision of adequate security for lives and properties during the election.

He warned all politicians and government officials not to go to polling centres with their security.