Bachelorette at 19-04-2012 08:14 AM (12 years ago)
(m)
In furtherance of its trademark promotion of responsible governance and encouragement of complete public abhorrence of corruption, We had on Sunday 15th May 2012, published the story (and pictures) of the ongoing construction of a multi-billion naira edifice, belonging to governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who is renowned for professing his association with the lowly and his disdain for ostentatious living.
“Buried in his hometown of Iyamoh, off Auchi-Okene Road near Auchi, the sprawling estate houses multiple swimming pools, fountains, multiple theatres for cinemas and live entertainment, and a huge events hall,” we had written, adding that, “His widely perceived incorruptibility as a former labour leader and current public office holder completely negate all possible explanations for the source of the fund with which he has been prosecuting the construction of a grandiose multi-billion naira country home, which was a secret project until Saturday when it was unearthed.”
Of important note is the manner and style of our conclusion, which reads: “As news of the stately mansion is certain to spread in the weeks ahead, Governor Oshiomhole will be faced with the uphill task of convincing his hordes of followers that the project has been funded with money other than public, and that he, being only a civil servant for many years until he became governor of Edo in 2008, has incorruptibly accumulated enough wealth to own such imposing edifice.”
Expectedly, the media team of Oshiomhole, led by Tony Iyare, special adviser (media affairs); and Peter Okhiria, the chief press secretary, has responded. But what was unexpected is the vitriol that coloured its lengthy but empty statement. A statement of clarification was the ideal, but the team chose to launch abuses at a media agency’s innocuous pursuit of an incorruptible society. If anything, the statement has further served to implicate Oshiomhole.
“Our attention has been drawn to this fairy tale about a purported multi-billion naira mansion being built by Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, in his native Iyamho, concocted by an online publication, The Will, and parroted by Nigerian Compass of Monday, April 16, 2012,” the release began. “We are aware that the promoters of this laughable falsehood had gone round many media houses in Lagos with sack-loads of blood money to induce its publication, but were turned down outright on the basis of the amateurish job done, until the cheap bait finally caught these unconscionable hacks in the periphery of yellow journalism.”
However, We, the responsible agency that it is, will never trade abuses with the governor or his media team; we will never return tirade with tirade. We had the facts of a story, bared it before the public and asked the governor to defend himself. Nowhere in the piece did we expressly pronounce the governor guilty, as we are not a court of law; albeit we had stated, quite logically, that the governor was faced with the “uphill task” of convincing his followers that the building of the mansion was not being footed with public funds.
One point must be stressed: from Oshiomhole’s media team’s release comes another implicating, self-made revelation that must be explained to the public.
“The facts: Governor Oshiomhole built his country-home at Iyamoh more than 20 years ago. Everyone knows the road to the house in question. In fact, all his houses, including the one located in Kaduna and Abuja, were built many years before he ever contemplated contesting the governorship seat in Edo State.” So the team wrote. Their words; not ours.
The minimum interpretation of “more than 20 years ago” is 21 years. If Oshiomhole had built houses in “Iyamho,” “Kaduna,” and “Abuja,” since “many years” ago, then there, really, are more questions he must answer. Where did he make the money to build “all his houses?” Where was Oshiomole’s career “more than 20 years ago,” 1991?
Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole was born in 1953, 4th April to be exact. He secured a job at Arewa Textiles Company in 1969, after completing his secondary school education. In 1982, he was appointed general secretary of the National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, a union with a membership base of some 75,000 workers; after becoming a fulltime trade organiser in 1975. It was in that role that he became a frontline activist in the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
So, how did a textile unionist cum public worker have the huge funds to build “all his houses” in at least three regions of the country? Two of the mansions we mentioned in our initial report – one in Maitama, Abuja and another in Kaduna.
And if Edo State’s finance is half as strong as he claims, what is the basis for its latest borrowing, which Oyare and Okhiria admitted when they wrote: “Only last week, the World Bank granted the state a credit support of $225 million, which is envisaged to spread over a three year period.”
Governor Adams Oshiomhole will do well, in his next release, to honestly answer these self-imposed questions, particularly by logically marshalling his arguments to prove his incorruptibility, which his media team has further splotched with its wrong-headed vituperation.
To state the obvious clearly, We have no political or financial interest in Governor Oshiomhole or any other Edo politician seeking his office. We will write our stories on any public official whose claim to incorruptibility we find questionable. We will continue to ask questions.
Bachelorette at 19-04-2012 08:55 AM (12 years ago) (m)
Quote from: DHash on 19-04-2012 08:44 AM
I wonder the kind trash that people always want to post, what is so interesting about this story?
What makes it interesting is that He's using public funds to benefit himself after openly fighting against corruption during his reign as NLC President. I believe that was why the Edo people wanted him to be their governor, but now the same Corruption he fought against is the same means he is using to enrich himself. Do you understand now?
I've always lived by 3 principles:
1. Honour ur God, 2. Love ur Family and 3. Defend your Country
Posted: at 19-04-2012 08:55 AM (12 years ago) | Gistmaniac
JalanJalan at 19-04-2012 09:04 AM (12 years ago) (m)
Anyway sha!!!!!!! All this political wankers shouting will equally do the same thing!!!!!!!!!!! So why are PDP crying wolf here?? What about Lucky Igbinedion?? I dont have pity for Nigerian masses!!!!!!!!!!! the looting should go on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Every society deserves the leadership it has!!!!!!!!!!!! The masses are not even helping matters!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Anywhere belle face thats they are!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The masses are getting 0.5% and the politicians are getting 99.5%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted: at 19-04-2012 09:04 AM (12 years ago) | Upcoming
JalanJalan at 19-04-2012 09:08 AM (12 years ago) (m)
Quote from: Bachelorette on 19-04-2012 08:55 AM
What makes it interesting is that He's using public funds to benefit himself after openly fighting against corruption during his reign as NLC President. I believe that was why the Edo people wanted him to be their governor, but now the same Corruption he fought against is the same means he is using to enrich himself. Do you understand now?
Anyway sha!!!!!!!!!! Adams is better than dat okada man!!!!!!!!
Posted: at 19-04-2012 09:08 AM (12 years ago) | Upcoming
watz wrong wit him building a house? so he should not build a house bcos he is a governor,, this is a simple mansion that a successful business man can build .. , and i think he merited it as a governor.. without public fund.
Posted: at 19-04-2012 09:28 AM (12 years ago) | Newbie
nawaa sha. I went to school with one of his sons and we are friends and as far as i know his family has always had money long before 2008. Dunno if he is guilty or innocent but what i know is that dude has always had money. So i am inclined to believe the statement that he built houses a long time ago. 20 yrs is very long ago sha dunno if he had money then but i would say definitely long before he became governor
Posted: at 19-04-2012 09:34 AM (12 years ago) | Newbie
Alabiniyi at 19-04-2012 09:37 AM (12 years ago) (m)
Quote from: Bachelorette on 19-04-2012 08:55 AM
What makes it interesting is that He's using public funds to benefit himself after openly fighting against corruption during his reign as NLC President. I believe that was why the Edo people wanted him to be their governor, but now the same Corruption he fought against is the same means he is using to enrich himself. Do you understand now?
Go and listen to Adams Oshomole's reply to this allegation, you will know it is the wok of opposition and enemies of Edo State. You people will not succeed in Jesus name.
Posted: at 19-04-2012 09:37 AM (12 years ago) | Newbie
sexyBishop at 19-04-2012 09:47 AM (12 years ago) (m)
Quote from: Bachelorette on 19-04-2012 08:55 AM
What makes it interesting is that He's using public funds to benefit himself after openly fighting against corruption during his reign as NLC President. I believe that was why the Edo people wanted him to be their governor, but now the same Corruption he fought against is the same means he is using to enrich himself. Do you understand now?
bachelorette abi wetin u call ur self u ar tlkin jargon nd rubbish here so because he is Gov he shuld live in the bush abi primitive man like u.....make i smoke my igbooo..i dey come
Posted: at 19-04-2012 09:47 AM (12 years ago) | Upcoming
Alabiniyi at 19-04-2012 09:51 AM (12 years ago) (m)
Infact am very happy with all the reply so far, the fact remains that Adams Oshomole has tried for Edo people and deserves to be reelected. Now that the opposition knows they cannot stop him they are cooking up this allegation. Let me tell you Oshomole is far, far better than all member of PDP (except Godswill Apabio, wonderful governor). Behold, Nigerians are watching.
Posted: at 19-04-2012 09:51 AM (12 years ago) | Newbie
Whoever is posting this has forgotten the bigger mansions in Uromi and Asokoro built by those who held the State in captivity during the eight years of misrule by the opposition in Edo State. Even the pictures of the proposed School of Nursing under construction at Iyamho has been mischievelously added as part of the so called 'Oshomhole mansion'. He deliberately forgot to post the pictures of the beautiful roads, schools and boreholes that the Government of Oshomhole had brought to Edo State. Edo State had decided where their votes would go. No amount of blackmail would sway the resolve to return the man who had brought tremendous development to the State in less than four years, compared to the near 10 years of disaster inflicted on the State by those in opposition now.
Posted: at 19-04-2012 09:56 AM (12 years ago) | Newbie
Dis is nt even a befited house for a whole Governor of Edo state...Bachelor or wetin u call urself poverty go kill u...Rochas, lagos Govnor, delta and A/Ibom state Govnors residences, they re sweet compared with dis local residence. Oshiomhole has fought for dis country and deserve more than dis
Posted: at 19-04-2012 09:59 AM (12 years ago) | Upcoming
FBI_CIA
malvin2525
DHash
jialoba
lanudja
JalanJalan
daddison
slimboss
pakal
sonarus
Alabiniyi
sexyBishop
080575
Omotayotina
TRENDING GISTS 
Mohbad’s Wife, Wunmi Officially Served DNA Court Order, Pasted on Her House Gate
Aftermath Of Niger Prison Collapse That Allowed 119 Inmates To Escape Following Rainstorm
VIDEO: Groom Breaks Down In Tears As Bride Walks To Him On Wedding Day
How Abusive Nigerian Man, Beat Wife To Death Months After Relocating To The UK