Tag Archives: BENIN REPUBLIC

47 Candidates To Contest In Benin Republic Presidential Election

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The Republic of Benin National Electoral Commission (CENA) said 47 candidates have filed their papers to contest Benin’s presidential election due on 28 February.

 

It said in a release on Wednesday in Cotonou that among the candidates are economic operators, former ministers, Members of Parliament and two army generals.

 

CENA said Forces for Emerging Benin (FCBE), the coalition of outgoing president Boni Yayi, is presenting Lionel Zinsou, current Prime Minister, as its candidate.

 

It said the opposition Union for the Nation (UN) is fielding Erick Houndete, second vice-president of the Beninese Parliament while the Party for Democratic Change (PRD) of Mr Adrien Houngbédji, who the opposition mobilized to elect as Speaker of Parliament in May 2015, is backing the candidature of the Prime Minister.

 

CENA said the list of candidates would be transmitted to the Constitutional Court for validation.

 

It said further that there are 4,726,923 voters, with 99 per cent of them in the country, while the rest are outside.

 

CENA said the 14 days campaign would be from 12-26 February.

 

“The second round of the election would be held on 13 March 2016 if no candidate secures more than half of the votes in the first round.”

 

Although the campaign has not been officially launched, several potential candidates or their supporters are going round the country mobilising voters.

 

 

(PANA/NAN)

Buhari Eulogises Kerekou

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President Muhammadu Buhari said the late President Mathieu Kerekou of Benin Republic will be long remembered and honoured as a father of his nation and founding father of the ECOWAS.

 

This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by Mr Femi Adesina, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity.

 

The statement said Buhari spoke on behalf of other African leaders at Kerekou’s funeral which began with tributes in his honour at the Stade de L’amitie, Cotonou, Benin Republic.

 

“Buhari described the deceased as a beloved leader of his people and an ardent advocate of international cooperation who would be greatly missed within and outside his country.

 

“On behalf of my colleagues, fellow presidents and leaders of our continent of Africa, I rise today, to speak in honour of a departed African statesman, a father of his nation, indeed a founding father of ECOWAS.

 

“Gen. Mathieu Kerekou was a great defender, fervent lover and pursuer of international peace, solidarity and security.

 

We recall that in pursuance of his commitment to peace, stability and progress in his country, Kerekou voluntarily established the political framework for the return of Benin Republic to democratic governance in the 1990s.

 

His two democratic mandates from 1996 to 2006 underscored the ardent love his people had for him as a great leader.

 

“That period witnessed great democratic freedom that continues to exist today, as the foundation for lasting peace and stability in Benin Republic,’’ the statement quoted Buhari as saying.

 

 

Buhari urged the late President’s wife, Margaret, members of his family, President Boni Yayi and the people of Benin Republic to be consoled by the belief that “having lived a much fulfilled life in the service of his country, Kerekou has gone to a well deserved rest from his earthly labours.’’

 

The statement said Buhari was accompanied to the event by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, while the Presidents of Togo and Niger Republic were also present at the occasion.

 

 

(NAN)

Benin Republic Did Not Invade Nigerian villages, Says Baruten Council

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The Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara on Friday debunked reports in some national dailies that Benin Republic had invaded about 16 communities in Kwara.

 

Malam Abdulrasheed Lafia, the council’s Vice Chairman, who is also the Chairman, Local Government Boundary Committee, said this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kosubosu.

 

Lafia said issues surrounding the disputed Ogomue land had been resolved since 2005.

 

Lafia stated that the National Boundary Commission, after members visited the site in 2004 along with officials of the state and local government boundary committees, resolved that the land actually belonged to Benin Republic.

According to him, the news report is a sponsored one as no such invasion or attack took place anywhere in the local government.

 

He warned against any misinformation that could create tension among the people of Nigeria as well as aid hostility between the two neighbouring and brotherly countries.

The vice-chairman, who availed NAN’s District Correspondent with a copy of the letter, said the news report was done to raise a false alarm.

The letter was dated Feb. 23, 2005, and addressed to Chairman of Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara from the State Government Boundary Committee in the Governor’s Office in Ilorin.

The reference number of the letter is KSGBC/C.V/T2/431 and signed by J.A Oriolowo, the Secretary, Kwara state Boundary Committee.

It is titled: Re: Alleged encroachment into Nigeria’s Territory by Benin Republic at the Illo Borgu sector (Shiya-Sandiro) of the Nigeria-Benin International Boundary.

It reads: “I wish to refer to your letter Ref. No BALG/S/LAN/4/1/92 of 23rd December, 2004 on the completion of the said structure situated after Moshi River along Shiya-Sandiro Road.

“….the Joint Team of Officials of National Boundary Commission, Kwara state Boundary Committee and Baruten Local Government Area, visited the site of the “Illegal Structured” on 26th October, 2004 for field verification.

“The reports of that Joint Field Survey have been released to Kwara state Government by the National Boundary Commission, Abuja.

“From the reports…., it was observed that River Moshi is the Natural Boundary in that area based on the 1960 Description of the International Boundary (ILLO/BORGU SECTOR) and that site of the said illegal structure is across the River and therefore in Benin Republic.

“You are also requested to note that by the above 1960 description of International Boundary (ILLO/BORGU SECTOR), which recognized River Moshi as the Natural Boundary between Nigeria and Benin Republic, any place West of the River Moshi is in Benin Republic while those places East of the River Moshi are in Nigeria.

“The disputed site along Shiya-Sandiro Road across River Moshi is therefore in Republic of Benin.

“In view of the above development, you are kindly requested to use your office to inform the Shiya Community and Okuta Emirate Council that the disputed site is in Benin Republic.

“The Kwara state government will also appreciate if the decision of the National Boundary Commission in this regard is obeyed to the letter by the entire people of Baruten Local Government Area.’’

 

(NAN)

Benin Republic Heats Up Fight Against Boko Haram, Pledges 800 Troops

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Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has said a new task force involved in the fight against terror group Boko Haram will defeat the insurgents by December.

The leader made the comment as he was visiting Benin, one of the countries involved in the offensive. Buhari previously visited Niger, Chad and Cameroon to strengthen the antiterrorism cooperation.

The five countries were already involved in a regional offensive against the terrorists which scored some goals since it was created in February. However, the Nigerian army announced that a new task force, expected to be more efficient, is ready to take over the fight.

The task force comprises some 8,700 soldiers from the five African nations and is headed by Major General Iliya Abbah, who previously conducted military operations in the Niger Delta.

Benin’s President Thomas Boni Yayi announced the country would send 800 troops to join the new force and “permanently combat these outlaws”, AFP reported. The announcement follows Cameroon’s decision to send some 2,000 military reinforcements to the north of the country, near the border with Nigeria, to help fight the terrorists.

Read More: sunnewsonline

Beninoise Cooks Poison Family Just Two Weeks Into Employment

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A 34-year-old Beninoise man, Victor Hounkpe, who came into Nigeria to serve as a cook in Lagos, has been arrested by the Lagos state police command for drugging his employers just two weeks after her was employed. He did this because he wanted to steal from them.

According to a report by Vanguard, Victor connived with one David Amusu, the former cook of his employers, Omowunmi Fadojutimi and Mr. Nwogu Chinaka to drug them and bring armed robbers into their home to steal. God forbid evil people we bring around us!

On April 22nd, Victor made vegetable soup for his employers who after eating became ill and were rushed to the hospital. The same illness that befell his employers also befell two other domestics staffs in the compound.

A test carried out on them showed they had all been poisoned. His employers suspected foul play and lodged a complaint at a police station. According to the Lagos state Police Commissioner, Kayode Aderanti, Victor ran away immediately he poisoned his victims.

“Efforts to arrest him proved abortive initially. But he was eventually arrested through investigation and deployment of advanced technology.

During interrogation, he confessed to have put some substances in the food served and further confessed that David Amusu, the former cook, who recommended him to the complainant, gave him the substance and directed him on how to administer it. He admitted that their intention was to gain unfettered access into the inner rooms and rob the complainant after they must have passed out.

Victor blamed his accomplice, David for pushing him to commit the crime

 “I put the substance into their food and it was given to me by David. He told me the drug was a sleeping tablet and that it would put them all to sleep so that they would gain easy access into the house. But I took to my heels when the gate man told me that the doctors said they were suffering from food poisoning.”he said

His accomplice, David who is also from Benin republic, said the administered substance was 10 tablets of Super Appetite which he grounded and gave to Victor to administer

“I left my former boss because I was not feeling well. I have recommended four cooks to her but she kept saying they were not good. Hounkpe was the last person I introduced to her. But when he got the job, he called me and said we should rob the family, that they were rich. He asked if I had any sleeping tablet that would put them to sleep. So I ground 10 tablets of Super Appetite and gave it to him. Our intention was never to kill anyone but to rob and leave for Benin Republic, where we intend to establish our business.”he said.