CONCORD ONLINE NEWS

Hendrix Oliomogbe  In a move which may not be unconnected with the feud  between The Speaker of the Eso State House of Assembly, Mr. Blessing Agbebaku Monday in Benin City reigned from office in a move which sources say may not be unconnected with a raging feud between him and an influential aide to Governor Monday Okpebholo. In place of Mr. Agbebaku, who stands suspended pending the outcome of investigations of financial improreity and poor leadership against him, is Mr. Yekini Idiaye from Akoko Edo Constituency I. The ex-speaker was slammed with an indefinite suspension following his resignation from office over allegations of corruption and poor leadership. Mr. ‎Agbebaku from Owan West Constituency  resigned  during plenary, shortly after reports emerged of a plot by lawmakers to Kickstart impeachment proceedings against him,  ‎The immediate past speaker, formerly of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was elected as speaker during ex-Governor Godwin Obaseki's...

         Rev. Omobude (m) with the organizers Hendrix Oliomogbe The chairman, Edo State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Rev. Frank Omobude has described sports as a unifying vehicle, which promotes inclusivity, cohesion and foster national integration.  Rev. Omobude spoke in Benin City during a visit to his office by the organisers of a boxing competition between Nigeria and Ghana. A statement by the director of media and public relations, Mr. Jacob Afeinkhena explained that the idea behind the competition is not only for physical wellbeing, but the promotion of cultural and bilateral relations between Nigeria and Ghana. He said: "The promotion of national integration and sporting activities align with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which Governor Monday Okpebholo is also implementing through his SHINE agenda."  Rev. Omobude reiterated the determination of the board to support the sports fiesta through fervent prayers for a hitch f...

Afegbua (m) Abdallah left at the briefing  Hendrix Oliomogbe  Edo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Eugenia Abdallah has given reasons for the delay in moving against the growing army of child beggars, mostly from the northern part of the country in Benin City and other major towns in Edo State.  Ms Abdallah, who spoke along with his counterpart in Information and Orientation, Prince Kassim Afegbua, said the ministry is very worried about the high cases of child beggars from the northern part of the country, but quickly added that it could not act against them because of the potential backlash by fellow northerners, who may accuse the government of profiling and cruel treatment. The growing number of out of school child beggars, aggressively soliciting for arms mostly ply their trade at downtown Ring Road, Airport Road by the post office, Mission Road by Catholic Church Holy Cross Cathedral Benin City and other places. She recalled that the unfo...

Ugbesia (m), others at the meeting               Hendrix Oliomogbe   The chairman, Edo State Traditional Medicine Board, Chief Abudu Godwin Ugbesia has debunked rumours making the rounds of a plan by the board to introduce compulsory registration and exorbitant fees for traditional medicine practitioners, shrines and ancestral worship centres in the state. Chief Ugbesia, who spoke recently in Benin City at an interactive session with traditional doctors and medicine men also announced plans to construct a traditional medicine hospital, where mentally challenged patients would be treated with herbs, before reintegration back to their families. The chairman further remarked that  hectares of land allocated to the board by Governor Monday Okpebholo from the state government forest reserve in Uhunmwonde Local Government Area have been fully cultivated, adding that herbs for the proposed hospital will be sourced from the botanical garden...

‎Hendrix Oliomogbe ‎Edo State Government has sharply criticized the 2026 Phillips Consulting States Performance Index (pSPI), which poorly ranked Edo for having the weakest momentum in its assessment of states across various governance and development indicators, prompting calls for policy review and accelerated delivery in critical sectors. In a statement Monday in Benin City, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kasim Afegbua, the government insisted that the state’s ranking in the 2026 pSPI was faulty as most of the fiscal, administrative and governance indicators used in the report had already been shaped by policies, budgets, expenditure decisions and institutional realities that predated the current administration. Prince Afegbua reminded that Governor Monday Okpebholo took office on November 12, 2024, after much of the period assessed in the report had already elapsed. He argued that the timing of Okpebholo’s assumption of office ought to have been considered in...

   Nabbed: suspected cultists  By Comrade Festus Alenkhe For years, Edo State wore the toga of shame. Our once peaceful communities became battlegrounds. Cultism, with its attendant bloodletting, extortion, and fear, became a second government. Our youths were the casualties, our fathers and mothers the mourners, and our future the ultimate victim. Today, there is a ray of hope. There is reason to clap hands. There is reason to say that governance has returned to the business of protecting lives. Under Governor Senator Monday Okpebholo, the war against cultism in Edo State has moved from rhetoric to results. And the dividends are clear for all to see: peace and harmony are gradually returning to our streets. Political Will, Decisive Action What changed? Political will.  This administration drew a red line and dared cultists to cross it. The governor gave a marching order to security agencies: dismantle the networks, arrest the sponsors, and restore order. No sacred c...

 Eighemhenrio at the birthday       Hendrix Oliomogbe  There is a time and season for everything under the sun, so it's written. A time to work tirelessly and a time to unwind and celebrate. So it was recently for Dr. Paul Eighemhenrio, the permanent secretary, Ministry of Health and a member of the National Institute For policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru, Jos, who was hosted to a surprise birthday celebration by staff of the ministry in Benin City. As a mark of honour and demonstration of deep love and respect, the perm sec, who was attending an official engagement was told to drop by to his office by some staff as he had visitors, only to be caught unaware of a birthday bash organized by the staff when he stepped in. More than anything else, the surprise party was to appreciate him for his sterling leadership qualities, resilience and humility which has endeared him to them. Speaking at the ceremony, the director of Public Jealth, Dr. Ojeifo said ...