A Greek gift is something given or a favour done with a treacherous intention.

The allegation was made in a statement issued in Abuja by his media office.

On Sunday, Obaseki announced an upward review of the state’s minimum wage for workers from N40,000 to N70,000.

He made the announcement at the inauguration of the newly built ultra-modern Labour House secretariat complex for labour unions in the state, along Temboga Road, Ikpoba-Hill, Benin

But Okpebholo insisted that he was convinced it was a political strategy to tilt the upcoming September governorship election in the favour of his Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Asue Ighodalo.

He said, “Civil servants deserve a better deal from the State Government and not a Greek gift to blackmail them to vote for a party that has failed the people of Edo State. There are no good schools, hospitals, roads, or housing for civil servants. These are the real issues.

“Obaseki has failed by every standard and I am sure Edo people, especially the civil servants, know this. As governor, my administration will behave differently. Beyond the minimum wage, we will look at other priority areas for civil servants like quality healthcare, housing, and proper transportation.

“I call on Edo people not to be disturbed. Help is on the way. Our administration will right the many wrongs of the PDP administration and ensure that Edo State is governed with a human face. We deserve more and my administration will provide that,” he stated.

The APC governorship candidate also challenged Obaseki to explain the whereabouts of the N5bn allocation approved by the Federal Government as palliatives to cushion the hardship of civil servants in the state.

He said, “Governor Obaseki owes Edo civil servants arrears of six months. Like other states, Edo got N5 billion from the federal government to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal. In FCT, civil servants were paid an additional N35,000 for six months.

“Other States did the same thing and distributed palliatives to them. In Edo State, Governor Obaseki has been mute. No civil servant got any extra money like their counterparts in other states. Let us begin the conversation from there.

“Obaseki should explain to Edo civil servants and Edo people what he did with the N5 billion. Nobody in Edo State has gotten any palliatives or cash transfers from the Edo State Government. What has Obaseki spent the money on?

“We know that the State Government is keeping billions of naira to buy votes and prosecute the governorship election, where he intends to impose his political stooge on Edo people. Unfortunately for him, the people are wiser, especially civil servants in the state.”

This is just as the current governor, Dikko Radda, described Shema’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the ruling party as homecoming.

Shema, who held office from 2007 to 2015 under the banner of the PDP, completed his registration at the Shema Ward party office in the Dutsin-ma Local Government Area.

He was warmly received into the APC and was issued his membership card by the state’s party chairman, Alhaji Sani Aliyu-Daura.

Aliyu-Daura thanked Radda and his predecessor, former Governor Aminu Masari, for their efforts in facilitating Shema’s defection to the APC.

Abdullahi-Tasuri quoted the governor as saying that the party had achieved a significant milestone by welcoming such a prominent figure from the opposition.

“This marks a historic shift in the political landscape of the state, the defection is a homecoming and a reunion with political family members,” the governor said.

Radda reminisced about Shema and Masari’s past service under the leadership of the late former President Umaru Musa Yar’adua.

Shema, in his remarks, said his reason for joining the APC was to contribute to the development of both the state and the nation as a whole.

In reaction to Shema’s defection, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, succinctly remarked, “PDP’s big loss in Katsina, APC’s big gain.”

Abe made this disclosure while speaking on the feud between Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on TVC’s programme, Politics Night, last week.

A clip of the interview went viral on social media on Thursday.

The ex-governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party in the 2023 elections said being the state leader was a great deal beyond governing the state.

He said, “Being a governor has made him the leader of the government of Rivers State. But when you say political leader, that is something that you have to work to earn.

“To say Fubara is the political leader of Rivers State is a much broader context of leadership, and it takes time to build that kind of confidence, followership, support, and trust. Leadership is all about trust, and sometimes, navigating this difficult water helps bring you out as a leader when you begin to trust yourself and can rely on the direction you provide.”

Abe said it was Fubara’s responsibility to work towards that leadership.Related News.

“But he is the governor of Rivers State, and it is his responsibility to work towards that leadership. But to say he is the political leader of Rivers will be putting leadership into a broad context. And it takes time to get there. It takes bringing people together. You earn trust.

“As a governor, you have the opportunity to get there, but I don’t think it is conferred,” he added.

Drawing a contextual analogy from Aminu Kano’s supremacy, Abe enunciated that Aminu Kano was the political leader of Kano despite not being a governor at the time.

Earlier, the senator said he had ended the protracted political feud between him and Wike

Abe, in a Facebook post seen by our correspondent on Thursday, said he had mended fences with the FCT minister

Before the 2023 elections, Abe first fell out of favour with his principal and former Governor of the State, Rotimi Amaechi, who picked Lagos-based businessman and co-owner of Sahara Energy, Tonye Cole, as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the state.

On the other hand, Wike settled for his political godson and then Accountant General of the state, Fubara, to succeed him.

Shaibu acknowledged having the vehicles but introduced a fresh perspective on why he might not relinquish them, characterizing those requesting their return as lacking compassion.

He said, “The vehicles they are referring to are the two Prado SUVs, one Hilux, and the Land Cruiser. I took all those vehicles… So, you can see how heartless men can be.

Ghana, officially the Republic of Ghana, is bordered by the Ivory Coast in the West, Burkina Faso in the north, Togo in the east and the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean in the south. The currency is the Ghanaian Cedi with symbols: GH₵, GH¢ ISO 4217 Code: GHS, overseen by the Central Bank of Ghana. Currency sub-units are: Pesewa = 1/100 of a Cedi, and the currency is in GH₵1, 5, 10, 20, 50. Coins: 1, 5, 10, 20, 50Gp. GH₵1

Local culture

Guan people can still be found in a few isolated places. But today, Ghanaians can be divided into four main regional groups:

• Mole-Dagbani, of the Northern Region
• Ewe, east of Lake Volta
• Ga-Adangbe, of the East
• Akan (including the Anyi, Asante/Ashanti, Baule, Fante and Guang), who live across the south and centre of Ghana and comprise more than half the population.

Including the official language, which is English, these groups speak over 40 languages and 70 different dialects. The Akan languages of Twi, Ashanti and Fante are the most common.

Clothing

Ghanaian national dress, ‘kente’ cloth, is a source of common identity and pride. It is handwoven into intricate patterns from brilliantly coloured silk. Men drape it around their bodies and women wear it as a two-piece outfit.

Languages in Ghana

Ghana is a multilingual country, in which about eighty languages are spoken. Of these, English, which was inherited from the colonial era, is the official language.There are nine government

sponsored languages supported by the Bureau of Ghana languages which was established in 1951. These are Akan, Ewe, Dagbani, Dangme, Dagaare, Ga, Nzemaa, Kasem and Gonja.

Etiquette & customs

As a matter of etiquette and customs, one is expected to always greet people from right to left, and always with your right hand. Your palms should always be properly aligned for greeting people when going right-to-left. Always follow this order, regardless of the age, gender or status of the people you are greeting.

Always use your right hand to give and receive items, and to eat. In Ghanaian culture, your left hand is considered your ‘toilet hand’. It is a common practice to give money in shops with your right hand while at the same time receiving your purchase into the same hand.

Throughout Ghana when visiting villages and towns it’s customary for visitors to pay their respects to the local Chief when they visit. The Chief has been elected to this position usually by a council of elders, however, the elders do have the power to overrule a chief’s decision if he acts inappropriately.

Ensure that you are not wasteful in any way during your time in Ghana. Every little thing in Africa has value. You will notice that the rubbish bins in homes and hotels are tiny, as not much is considered waste. It’s appreciated if you offer anything that has no value to you, to any person, anywhere.

Religion

The constitution in Ghana provides for the freedom of religion, and religious tolerance in the country is relatively high, allowing people to practice whatever faith tradition they desire.

Christianity is the largest religion in Ghana with approximately 72% of the population being members of various Christian denominations as per the 2010 census. The major Christian celebrations of Christmas and Easter are recognised as national holidays in Ghana. Additionally, nearly 18% per cent of Ghanaian citizens practice some form of Islam. Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, is observed by Muslims in Ghana and important traditional occasions are celebrated.

Business meeting advice (if doing business in Ghana)

First Meetings

Greet with a right-handed handshake. In Ghana, the direct, “let’s get to business” approach is considered rude. Always exchange pleasantries and enquire about family before beginning to transact any business; this will be appreciated. You should only refer to your colleagues using first names after being invited to do so. While older people generally prefer to be addressed formally, you will find that the younger generations speak to one another more casually.

Initial business meetings in Ghana are about business associates getting to know each other and working out whether a future business relationship is likely to work on a personal level. Therefore, you should expect to spend a fair amount of time on relationship and rapport building and you shouldn’t be surprised if no actual business matters are discussed in that first meeting.

Business Meetings

Dress as you would for a business meeting in the UK. Timekeeping in Ghana is far more flexible than it is in Western societies and punctuality is not overly important. Therefore you should not expect your meeting to start on time and if you have more than one meeting planned in a day, ensure that you leave enough time to allow your first meeting to overrun, as it’s typical for a meeting to start late and overrun.

Ghanaians do not like to say no, or to give bad news and as a result, proverbs and analogies are often used so the message is conveyed in a way which seems less blatant or direct. Silence is also not unusual. If someone is not comfortable with a question or if they think their response will not be liked or appreciated, they will say nothing rather than making the other person feel uncomfortable.

Business cards are exchanged at meetings without a formal ritual. Present and receive business cards with the right hand, never the left.

Names

Address Ghanaians by their academic, professional, or honorific title and their surname until you are invited to address them by their first name only.

Ghanaian names consist of several given names and surnames based on the language of ethnic groups in Ghana. Children are given a “day name” which corresponds to the day of the week they were born. The day names have further meanings concerning the soul and character of the person. Middle names have considerably more variety and can refer to their birth order, twin status, or an ancestor’s middle name. These names are also used among Ghanaians living abroad and among Africans living in the diaspora who wish to identify with their ancestral homeland.

Management advice, when managing Ghanaian employees

Ghanaian business culture is hierarchical and people gain respect as a result of age, experience, wealth and their position within a company. Older people are viewed as being wise and not addressing seniors appropriately is a faux pas in Ghanaian business circles. Senior business people tend to be in charge of making decisions in the best interests of their company.

In Ghana, as in other hierarchical societies, managers may take a paternalistic attitude to their employees, which may demonstrate a concern for employees that goes beyond the workplace and professional concerns. This can include involvement in their family, housing, health, and other practical life considerations.

Relocation advice

In the main cities many people speak English, which, as mentioned, is Ghana’s official language.
It’s ideal if you have a car, as there are not too many ways to get around otherwise. Public transport is mainly made up of “trotros” which are basically very cheap mini vans, and also taxi cabs. These are not too expensive, however, they are not metered, so sharp bargaining skills are required. You won’t find buses with designated stops or trains and trams.

You need to remember that Ghana is a developing country and what you may have previously taken for granted can be considered as luxury here.

Ensure that you take out healthcare insurance. You can also join private clinics at a price. It’s important to remember that if you don’t have the money for hospital, as harsh as this sounds, it could be fatal.
Unfortunately, it is hard to get a job in Ghana when you do not have the links to an agency or are not part of a local network. In reality you are unlikely to get the same salary as you are used to, however, you are likely to get some benefits which could equal your salary once these have been taken into consideration. However, even with a lower salary, you should still be able to live comfortably in Ghana.

Prepare for the weather! Air conditioning and a fan are an absolute must in this all year-round tropical climate.

This was disclosed by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Services, Tokunbo Wahab, at a ministerial news conference on Friday.

Wahab said the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) undertook the 367 enforcement activities in households, markets, hotels, warehouses, service centers, eateries, stores, church, mosques as well as 140 hospitality facilities including; Supermarket, Nightclubs, Bake houses with a view to ensuring compliance with the state environmental laws.

The incident happened at Jesus’ Dwelling Place Church in North Braddock, Pennsylvania, shortly after 1:00 p.m. ET, according to the Pennsylvania State Police.

The suspected gunman, who police identified as 26-year-old Bernard Junior Polite, entered the church and allegedly attempted to shoot the pastor, Glenn Germany, as he was delivering his sermon on a live steam.

The suspect’s firearm failed to discharge and a congregation member and the pastor were able to subdue and disarm him before anyone was harmed, police said.

“I’m thankful to God that I’m still here because he definitely pulled the trigger,” Pastor Germany told ABC News affiliate WTAE.

Describing the alarming encounter, Germany told the outlet Polite smiled at him before the attempted attack.

“I started to begin to preach, and all of a sudden, from my left-hand side, I saw him move from the back to the front of the church, and he set up in the front corner of the church and smiled at me,” Germany said.

“All of a sudden, I just saw a gun pointing right at me. And at that point, all I could try to do is run for cover,” he said.

The pastor went on to praise the congregation member who sprang into action to subdue Polite, saying, “He could have lost his life in that struggle, but he sacrificed himself for everyone, and he’s the hero.”

The suspect was held at the church until Pennsylvania State Police troopers arrived at the scene and arrested him.

Police said charges have been filed.

The BBNaija Season 6 winner, who has been public about his goal to win a Grammy, claimed the American award has been compromised and has lost its significance.

Speaking in a recent interview with content creator, Egungun, Whitemoney said his target is now on the local Headies Awards.

He said, “The way things are going now, Grammy don cast. Make we manage Headies. I’m not sure if I’m still pursuing my desire of winning Grammys.

“Now I’m pursuing any award that keeps me relevant. Because after what Grammy organisers did to our superstars, Davido and Burna Boy at the last award ceremony, it’s now looking like they are using Nigeria for publicity stunt.”

“But never say never. My style of music is unique. If it takes me to the Grammys, no wahala.”

Olamide Shanu, 33, will appear in court in London later this month after an extradition request from the United States.

Shanu is accused of posing online as a teenage girl to persuade boys to send segxwally explicit photos.

It is alleged he then threatened to send the compromising images to his victims’ families, friends and even the media if they refused to pay him.

At least three British schoolchildren have killed themselves as a result of being blackmailed over segxwally explicit images. 

Olamide Shanu, 33, from Nigeria, is accused of posing as a teenage girl online to persuade boys to send segxwally explicit photos as part of an international scam

Olamide Shanu, 33, from Nigeria, is accused of posing as a teenage girl online to persuade boys to send segxwally explicit photos as part of an international scam

Text messages sent between a blackmailer and their victim who believed he was talking to a beautiful woman before the scammer threatened to expose their private images

Text messages sent between a blackmailer and their victim who believed he was talking to a beautiful woman before the scammer threatened to expose their privacy

Osanyinbi, who spoke to Cityvoice Metro on Sunday, explained that she had, through one Pastor Gboyega, sold a plot out of her two plots of land to Emmanuel having been told that he was a member of the Winners Chapel, just like herself.

She said, “I met this Col Philips Emmanuel through Pastor Gboyega in 2021. Pastor Gboyega said the man was interested in buying one of the two plots (of land) and that he wanted to use it for a small-scale business.

“Pastor Gboyega said Philip is a member of the Winners Chapel like myself and I thought that I should be able to trust him, and so I agreed to sell the land to him.

Osanyinbi however alleged that Philips betrayed the trust and confidence that she had in him by messing up her house with the waste he kept on his plot of land but which had spilled to her plot after being beaten repeatedly by the rain.

She said, “It was even one Mr Adeleye, living in one of the buildings on my own plot, that did a video to alert me to this incident. He later had to move out because he said he could no longer endure stench coming from the waste product.

“We have been on this matter since 2021 but Philips has continued to promise to evacuate this waste but has not kept his word. He only removed part of it, and even after that, he had brought more of it into the compound.

“He thinks because he is a military officer, he is above the law. I really want the government to intervene so that he can move those things away. The landlord association is not happy about this environmental pollution as well”

In his reaction while speaking with our correspondent, Emmanuel however said that the materials in question were not toxic waste but recyclable materials used in the production of diapers.

He explained that he bought the plot of land to keep the recyclable materials pending the time they would be moved to the recycling plant.

Emmanuel said, “This issue arose as a result of negligence on the part of the person I hired to monitor the offloading of these materials…

He left things to degenerate despite being paid but he wasn’t doing what he was being paid to do.

“So, after getting wind of all of this, I began the evacuation of these things last year. He moved about 50 trucks and I even made the video of it for Mama to see.

“We equally tried to get a private place but the people over there are fighting. So, it is not as if I am behaving or as if I am above the law. I won’t do that because there is a law governing us in the country.”

He stated that it was not true that the occupants of the house moved out because of the situation but “rather it was because the rent of the house was increased and these people couldn’t afford it.

“The government officials have also come around and affirmed that the recyclable materials are not toxic.

“And I am saying that between now and next month, that’s about two months from now, I believe God that we would have been able to move these things away. I am trusting God that the government would have opened their dumpsite so that we can move those things there. I am also talking to someone who is also assuring me that he would be of help, so I am banking on these two options to get this challenge resolved in the next two months.

When contacted for a reaction, the Commissioner for Environment, Mr Ola Oresanya, said that he was not aware of the incident but that his office would definitely investigate the alleged environmental pollution.

Oresanya said, “I am not aware of this case, but I will investigate it and ensure the needful is done. I don’t want to pre-empt if the waste is hazardous or not. I will talk with the directors or those who are specialists in such a thing so that by the time you are quoting me, you will do so rightly.”