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FOCUS: Under Governor Okpebholo, Edo is definitely in safe hands. By: Oriaifoh Godwins  I said it before, and without any reservation, or fear of contradiction, I am saying it again: Edo state, under Governor Monday Okpebholo, is no doubt in safe hands. I write as a full blooded citizen of Edo State, who has witnessed the full tenure/administration of a number of Edo State Governors in the past, and who is also witnessing the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo, in the past, close to only two years now, and all I can say is "Edo state is truly rising". Again, I write as an Edo state citizen who is seeing Governor Monday Okpebholo, constructing two flyovers at the same time, in Benin city. I am an Edo man who is seeing the dualisation of roads, as well as the rehabilitation of many others, in Edo Central; who is seeing the employment of over five thousand teachers, and more than five thousand others being employed into the civil service, I am seeing the administration ...

  Senate Committee Chairman Ikpea Pledges Support for NDLEA in Fight Against Illicit Drugs Ikpea Media network The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s fight against illicit drug trafficking and substance abuse, following a familiarisation visit by the committee’s Chairman, Senator Joseph Ikpea, to the agency’s headquarters in Abuja. During the visit on Monday, June 15, 2026, Senator Ikpea assured the NDLEA of continued legislative support aimed at enhancing the agency’s operational capacity and effectiveness in carrying out its mandate. The senator, who was received by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd), and members of the agency’s management team, commended the significant progress recorded by the NDLEA under Marwa’s leadership. He noted that the agency had undergone remarkable transformation in recent years, ...

  Joseph Ikpea: Integrity, Not Rhetoric, Determines Delivery of Political Promises — Esan Diaspora Group IKPEA MEDIA TEAM  A socio-cultural advocacy group, Concerned Esan in Diaspora (CED), has cautioned  against equating eloquent political promises with guaranteed delivery, stressing that only leaders with proven integrity and strong character can translate pledges into tangible results. The group made this known in a statement issued over the weekend by its spokesperson, Engr. Theophilus Ebhomien, while addressing supporters of Senator Joseph Ikpea’s senatorial bid in Benin City. According to the statement, persuasive political rhetoric often serves as a tool to mislead unsuspecting members of the public rather than a genuine commitment to action. “The sweetness of political promises from an orator is not a guarantee of implementation. In many cases, such promises are carefully crafted strategies designed to deceive the public,” Ebhomien said. He emphasized that the tru...

TMB Chairman Hails  Gov. Okpebholo For Bringing Agency Back To Life ...as practitioners undergo training By: Our Correspondent The Chairman, Edo State Traditional Medicines Board, TMB, High Chief Abudu Ugbesia, JP, has commended the governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo for his foresight in resucitating the agency, after several years of neglect by the previous administration, saying; "... Governor Okpebholo's foresight in bringing Edo state Traditional Medicines Board back to life, clearly supports the fact that, we cannot afford to neglect what our forefathers used effectively for several years, in solving their health challenges, moreso, that traditional medicines also complements the orthodox medicine". Chief Ugbesia made this commendation during the training of members of Edo state TMB, including practitioners drawn from the three Senatorial districts of Edo state, that held on Wednesday, June 10 2026, at John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Ac...

FEATURE INSECURITY: Where Is Our God? Where Are The gods? Are we living in illusions? By: Oriaifoh Godwins Africans, especially Nigerians believe in the existence of a supreme being that created this world, every other world, and all the natural and living things therein. As Africans, we believe too, that, whenever we call on the supreme being we worship, he answers; this is the believe of all, irrespective of religion. However, the recent dare devil activities of the terrorists, particularly in the south western part of Nigeria, raises a lot of questions about the spirituality and even the modus operandi of the supreme being. A quick look into the Bible, explains that we should expect all these evils as we approach the last days. This makes it difficult to ask Jehovah God: 'where are thou, as evil doers kill those that are gathered in your name'? Since it was written, that, all we are seeing today, will come to pass, makes many of us to conclude that, all these happenings, are...

INSECURITY: ECLG Boss, Chairs Security Meeting By: Our Reporter As security challenges rises across the country, the Chairman, Esan Central Local Government, ECLG, area, Edo State, Rt. Hon. Kelvin Ainiyalenhimi Iyere, today, Thursday 11th June 2026, convened a meeting of all the security outfits operating in Esan Central Local Government Area, as well as other stakeholders, to deliberate on proactive measures in securing our schools, other institutions and environment. Speaking during the meeting Hon. Iyere who welcomed the attendees harped on the need for all the security operatives to beef up their activities more than ever before, especially going by the current security challenges being experienced in the neighboring states in particular, and in the country at large. The head teachers of the different Private and Public schools, used the opportunity to enumerate the areas where they need intervention and support in the protection of properties and facilities of the schools, as hood...

OPINION: A Critical Response to the Removal of Certificate Forgery as Grounds for Election Petitions. By: Tony Ewaleifoh Introduction “Animal Farm, oh Animal Farm…”—a poetic warning that power, once unchecked, rewrites its own rules. The reported removal of certificate forgery as a ground for election petitions represents more than a legislative adjustment. It signals a dangerous shift in Nigeria’s democratic philosophy—from truth as a foundation to truth as a negotiable element. Legitimacy Without Integrity: Democracy is not sustained by ballots alone. It is sustained by trust. When individuals can ascend to power under questionable or falsified credentials—and citizens are stripped of the legal means to challenge them—the system ceases to function as a mechanism of accountability. Instead, it becomes a structure that protects outcomes, regardless of process. The Rise of Untouchable Leadership When truth is no longer enforceable, a new class of leadership emerge—one insulated from scr...

  OPINION APC Automatic Tickets, Direct Primaries For National Assembly Aspirants...                                                                 - Izibili calls for caution By: Esezobor Izibili, Esq In the high-stakes world of Nigerian politics, how a party chooses its candidates can determine not just electoral victory, but its internal survival. Nowhere is this more evident than in Edo State, where the All Progressives Congress (APC) has spent years oscillating between two flawed systems: consensus candidacy and open competitive primaries. E sezobor Izibili, Esq. What appears, on the surface, to be a procedural choice is, in reality, a deeper struggle over power, control, and political survival. The Two Roads To A Ticket Within political parties, candidates' selection typically follows one of two paths.  The...

Court Cancels Movement Restrictions On Sanitation Days It is now unlawful for the movement of person to be restricted on environmental sanitation days. This development, follows the declaration of Edo State High Court in a landmark judgment delivered today, 26th March 2026, that the restriction of human and vehicular movement during the state’s environmental sanitation exercise, is unlawful. Today, Justice Isoken Urhomwen Erameh ruled that the enforcement of a stay-at-home order between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. on sanitation days violates citizens’ constitutional rights. In its decision, the court held that such restrictions are inconsistent with Section 41(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, which guarantees freedom of movement. It further found the measures to be in breach of Articles 12 and 13 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. In view of the foregoing, Justice Erameh  issued a declaration that the prohibition of movement during the ...

FOCUS: Violence, Insurgencies...   Usual Occurrences During Electioneering Periods in Nigeria:  A Worrisome Trend By: Oriaifoh Godwins  The current rise in security challenges, including kidnapping attacks on our military and law enforcement agencies are not new to the Nigeria society, especially at time like this, when politicking is gradually getting to crescendo. It is at this time that criminal elements who live on nothing other than crime, come all out to earn their criminal living. Hence, those crimes that Innocent citizens are experiencing today. The question to ask is: why this recurrent decimal, and why at this time?  The reason is simple: Many of those that are not on the same political divide with the ruling party, want to do everything they can, to unseat the ruling party; sometimes by sponsoring crisis and causing mayhem, so as to make the ruling party unpopular. This is how desperately wicked, callous and demonic the heart of some men can be. They are n...

Esan Central LG Chairman Presents 2026 Budget Of Transformation ...It is in line with the wind of positive change -Chairman By: Our Reporter Today, Thursday 12 March 2026, the Chairman, Esan Central Local Government, ECLG, area of Edo state, Rt. Hon. Kelvin Ainiyalahimi Iyere, presented the 2026 Budget Christened the Budget of Transformation.  Presenting the Budget to the Legislative Arm of the local government, the Chairman assured that, the budget is crafted with the vision of enhancing the quality of life for the people in the local government, and also for promoting sustainable development in the communities, saying; “…This is yet another opportunity to render the account of my stewardship on the extent to which our administration has been able to actualize the 2025 Budget Estimate”. Continuing, the Chairman said; ”This year Budget is Christened BUDGET OF “TRANSFORMATION”. It is in line with this bold objective of ours; coupled with the wind of positive change which is being pu...

  INSECURITY : Dr. Agbonmhere Takes Fight To Criminals' Enclave ...calls on others to join By: Oriaifoh Godwins Edo state, just like the other states in Nigeria, has been facing several security challenges in recent time. Following the unabiting security challenges being faced by the state a public spirited political figure in Edo state and the current Chairman of Edo state Ecological Funding and Management Commission,Hon. Dr. Blessing Agbonmhere has joined security forces in Edo state to support their ongoing efforts in flushing out the terrorist, kidnappers, and other hoodlums out of our Forest. Speaking in a viral video, Hon. Dr. Agbonmhere who challenged the different confraternities in Edo state to come all out in support of the fight against the criminals, also charged them that this is the time their expertise and temerity is needed as Edo state is facing security challenges. Dr. Blessing Agbonmhere's advise, is apt and pragmatic, and in my opinion, the Edo state Governo...

  How Not To Play Politics . . .. Daniel Bwala as a case study By: Oriaifoh Godwins Politics, some people say, is a dirty game; but for me, I believe it is a NOBLE GAME, but played by some people who are dirty inside and out.  To play politics in Nigeria, you must be 'dirty' inside, you must be capable of speaking from both sides of your mouth and must have the ability to discredit people, so you can have your way. You must be ready at all time to put out peoples' candles so your own candle can shine. To be a politician, you must be someone that is ready to do anything including killing people that you feel their presence is threatening your position, fame, recognition or acceptability. I say this with every certainty, because I experienced it from some of those dirty individuals that so called themselves politicians. Moreso, we have seen several instances of all these play out in Nigeria. But must it be so? While campaigning for his former party, the Peoples Democratic Par...

As Edo Local Government Chairmanship Election Draws Close  .... aspirants warm up for task ahead. By Oriaifoh Godwins A number of persons in the five local government areas of Edo Central are already warming up for the position of the number one citizen in their respective local government areas, as Edo state Independent Electoral Commission, EDSIEC, set timetable for the local government Election in the state. In Esan central local government area, the battle for the position of the chairman of the local government has been made easy for the All Progressives Congress, APC, as the leaders pruned down eligible contestants to those from wards 5 and 6. In view of this, all those from other wards that were intherto showing interest in contesting eventually dumped the idea leaving only Prince Abdulahi Momodu of ward 5 to remain in the race. This eventually settled the question of who wears the cap, in the APC for the position, even though other political parties are yet to show interest...

Apprehended Kidnappers, How Should They Be Treated? By: Oriaifoh Godwins   It is no longer news that security challenges tops the numerous challenges that Nigeria is faced with today. It is also very evident that our men and women officers of the law have done everything they could to tackle this menace, but they constantly appear to be overwhelmed by this monstrous challenge. Overtime, it appears the Nigerian government authorities are not interested in tackling this problem headlong, as it has been reported that some state governments pay the kidnappers to secure the release of citizens, while paying lip service to curtailing the criminals. In Edo state recently, by divine intervention, some kidnappers that kidnapped two medical doctors and eventually killed one of them, and released the second doctor, after a ransom of 50 million naira was said to have been paid, were arrested. The crime happened around Auchi axis in Edo North. The two apprehended kidnappers were reportedly t...

Southerners are Demonstrating Unity Today, More than Ever  -APC Chieftain By: Our Correspondent An All Progressives Congress, APC, Chieftain in Esan Central Local Government, ECLG, area of Edo State, Hon. Mayor Iyere, has commended the way Nigerians, and indeed people from southern Nigeria are uniting in support of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the President of Nigeria, as he pursues and implements policies that are positively transforming Nigeria. In an exclusive chat with Winning Media News, Hon. Iyere said; "One might not agree with President Tinubu's economic policies; and politics is indeed more complex than it often appears from the outside, especially until one attains and experience that position of power".  "However, this period marks a significant moment where southerners are demonstrating unity, speaking with a more collective voice. Historically, other regions of the country have perceived us as people who might compromise their own for fin...

Deafening Silence As ElRufai Goes And Comes Out Of Invitations From EFCC, ICPC, DSS … warnings to all power drunks   By: Oriaifoh Godwins Going by the grand standings, boasting, and glaring confidence with which El-Rufai spoke at the airport recently, when he returned from Cairo, everyone, thought: “So Nigeria being a country of particular concern, has gone this bad"? especially seeing the ‘sea’ of people that seemed to provide human shield to stop the law enforcers from doing their job. In the midst of the drama, Elrufai said; “Even the President cannot…” Haaaaaa…. That was daring, especially if we look at it from the standpoint that the audacity to challenge the number one citizen of Nigeria is a clear audacity that, El-Rufai, is in other words saying he is bigger than Nigeria. Again, what about his claim that somebody tapped the phone of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu? In any case, people and commentators are already microscopically, looking at that confession, and ...

Peaceful Conduct Of APC Congress In Esan Central. ...We are one family -Esan Central Chairman. The Chairman of Esan Central Local Government, ECLG, area, Rt. Hon. Kelvin  Ainiyalenhimi Iyere has described the conduct of the congress of the All Progressives Congress, APC, that held in his Ward, ward 4, of the local government area, as peaceful and very successful saying; "In APC, we are one big family". The members of the Executive of the ward, most of who consensually emerged in their positions, will run the affairs of the party for the next four years in the ward. Speaking with Winning Media, the Chairman of the ward Hon. Chief Emoyon, expressed satisfaction at the conduct of the congress, saying; "...all those that emerged as members of executive, are the product of peaceful agreement amongst the members of the party in the ward". In Same vein, the youth leader of the ward Ojielu Sylvester, who appreciated the Chairman, Esan Central Local Government Area, and the ...

Traditional Medicine Practice Modules To Be Introduced In School Of Nursing, In Edo State By: Our Correspondent Edo State Traditional Medicines Board has concluded arrangements to collaborate with the Edo State College of Nursing Sciences, Benin City, Edo State in the teaching of traditional medicine courses in the College in order , to impart the teachings of traditional Medicine as supportive treatment for  sick. The Chairman, Edo State TMB, High Chief Traditional Dr. Abudu Ugbesia, JP, disclosed this today in an exclusive chat with Winning Media as the classes began today with the 200L Midwifery Students High Chief Abudu Ugbesia, JP, Chairman, Edo state Traditional Medicines Board. Speaking, High Chief Ugbesia, who said; "The beauty of medicine is the restoration of the sick back to good health", also added that; "...Edo State Traditional Medicine Board, holds the health of the people of Edo State in High esteem, this is why we are doing everything we can to support t...