Here are the CVs of some of the Governorship Aspirants in Edo Stat 2016

RT Hon (Dr) Pius Egberanmwen Odubu.

ODUBU THE MAN FOR 2016 CONTINUITY.

The Executive Deputy Governor of Edo State – RT Hon (Dr) Pius Egberanmwen Odubu.

The story of the evolution of the man today known as Pius Egberanmwen Odubu is unlike those of most of his contemporaries. From his very humble beginnings as an impressionable young man eking out a living in the tropical heats of Uhromehe, to the present hallowed heights he currently occupies as the deputy chief executive officer of the “Heartbeat of Nigeria.”

RT Hon (Dr) Pius Egberanmwen Odubu hails from Uhromehe in Urhonigbe North, in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State. A family man with four children, he is a Barrister at law of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, having been called to the bar in 1986. He attended St
Pius Primary School, Urhomehe, Immaculate Conception College, Benin City, in the defunct Bendel State, where he received a Scholarship Award from the then Benin Area Joint Board. In 1977, at the tender age of 19, young Pius proceeded to the United States of America, to further his education. While in the United States of America,He attended Georgetown University Law Centre, Washington DC; Southern University School of Law, Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Southern University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Philander Smith College, Little Rock, Arkansas.

Odubu holds a Doctor of Jurisprudence Degree in Law; a Masters of Law in International and Comparative Law; and a B.A (Hons) in Political Science. On returning to Nigeria in 1985, he proceeded straight to the Nigerian Law School, Lagos, and was called to the bar in 1986. He is the recipient of several honours and scholarship awards, amongst which are: College Marshall (Best Student), College of Arts and Humanities, Southern University, Baton Rouge Louisiana, USA, May, 1980; Managing Editor, Southern University Law Review; National Dean’s list (USA); Member Southern University School Law, Moot; Member – WHO is WHO in American Universities; Member, Southern University School of Law, Moot Court Board – the first non-American to be so honoured; Managing Editor, Southern University Law Review – the first non-American to occupy that position; Certificates of Award and Merit from the Southern University School of Law, Moot Court Board; Certificates of Academic Excellence from Southern University; Academic Scholarship for all three years of the Jurist Doctorate Programme; Merit Award as the Best Deputy Governor;

Pius Odubu is a distinguished statesman in every sense of the word - a political giant in words and actions. Since becoming the deputy to, arguably, one of the greatest leaders in the political history of Edo State - Governor Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole - Odubu has shone like a million stars, transporting that exalted office to heights previously unknown, leaving fresh markers of distinction in his paths – mighty shoes for his predecessors to step into. He is a man whose loyalty has remained as constant and unassailable as the northern star; a man who has the added push of having effectively acquainted himself in his current station; a man of prodigious strength; one who religiously adheres to the principles of participatory democracy; a well versed strategist who understands the key strengths and weaknesses of opponents, and has continued bringing his eclectic knowledge of practical politics to bear in plotting effective battle
strategies, whenever occasion demands – inputs that, in no small way, have helped in transforming the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) - now All Progressive Congress (APC) - into the powerful force of nature it has become in Edo state.

Odubu has redefined the word “comradeship” in his dealings with his political associates in conjunction with the ordinary members of his chief constituency – the good people of Edo State.Since becoming the deputy governor of the state, he has stayed true to his oath of office – never derailing from its letters or spirit in the discharge of his core duties. In the several battles his party - the APC - has had to fight, since 2008, Odubu has proven to be a very reliable ally in the war with the opposition; proven to be a born warrior who is ever ready to do battle.

As a political leader, Odubu has proven to be a good listener; somebody whose ego does not restrict from accepting corrections; a down to earth individual who identifies with the people; one who sees public office as a privilege, and not a right; a man with a large amount of humility, and one who is driven by a high sense of altruism – a selfless disposition to governance; a sacrificial demeanour in every sense of the word; a team player of the patriotic kind; one who believes that collaboration is more productive than strife; an individual who does not see the business of governance as a one man show; a man who functions more effectively from within a group; an individual who gives up self for the greater good of the larger group; a synergy-builder, whose words and actions are directed towards the interest of the larger society; one who understands group dynamics, and uses it for bettering the lot of others.

Odubu is a man immensely imbued with a can-do spirit; a positive mental attitude; an iron-clad personality; somebody who is self-motivated to succeed in any endeavour, no matter how formidable. Just like his present boss, whose firm belief in the possibility of “change” has driven the ongoing transformations across the state, Odubu is blessed with an extravagant dose of faith; a man prepared to go the whole hog in the quest for success; one whose motto is that: “Without belief nothing worthwhile can be achieved”; “that all great feats are achieved by people with positive mindsets”; “that nothing can stop people of great faith from reaching their goals”.

Odubu has consistently demonstrated what the right mental attitude can do for a people within the short space of time he has been in office.He is a man with the will and sagacity to succeed; a man driven by an obsessive inclination to thrive; one who fears failure like a virus; a man with a watertight success habitude – an indefatigable spirit that has overcome all obstacles that have stood on his paths to success. Odubu talks, thinks, envisions, and lives success; a goal-getter with an unquenchable passion for excellence.

Since assuming his current position as the Deputy Chief Executive of the state, Odubu has displayed an atypical sense of humility; a rare trait among today’s politicians – especially public office holders – who, as soon as they get into office, become puffed up with pride; assume god-like images that mere mortals are expected to revere. Not this man, who has remained as down to earth as is unusual with somebody occupying a high office in Nigeria. Both in his relations with his boss and the ordinary man on the streets, Odubu has maintained a demeanour that has set him apart from the crowd. He is a man who sees his hallowed status as a privilege and not a right; a man who sees the position he occupies as an honour afforded him by the magnanimity of his boss who selected him ahead of other candidates in 2008 to be his running mate.

Dr Odubu has maintained a fluid, cordial and blissful relationship with his boss in his capacity as an assistant; a synergistic affair that has stood the test of time, resulting in the impressive results that have become the signature of the incumbent administration. Unlike the traditional practices in some Nigerian States, where deputies engage their bosses in wars of attrition, this self-confessed ardent student of Oshiomhole’s school of practical, developmental politics has stayed true and committed to his job description - never crossing the line of decency, nor engaging in any sterile personal pursuits. He is a team-player who believes that nothing good can come out of over ambition - out of a greedy overstretch that saps us of our humanity - vain pursuits that are as empty as they are
worthless. It is this unity of purpose between these two men that have driven the groundbreaking feats the present administration has so far achieved - with more obviously in the offing.

RT Hon (Dr) Pius Egberanmwen Odubu has proven to be a pacesetter in his own right; one who has properly acquainted himself in every capacity he has been called to serve - both in the past and present. His highly impressive records are strewn everywhere for all perceptive minds to see: A distinguished academic vocation, a trailblazing legal profession, and a thriving political career that promises to spew out better things in the coming years. He is, indeed, a living legend; one whose glorious pedigree continues to inspire the present generation. Much more should be expected from this evolving colossus in the nearest future, truly speaking!

ENGR.  CHRIS OGIEMWONYI

Background

Engineer Chris Ogiemwonyi was born on the 21st day of March 1951 to the family of Mr & Mrs Agbonkpolor Ogiemwonyi in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.

Chris Ogiemwonyi attended Western Boys School, Benin City before proceeding to University of Benin in 1969 where he eventually graduated with a B.SC (Hons) in Applied Physics option in Electronics in 1974. He then proceeded to the University of Ibadan where he bagged the Post Graduate Diploma in Petroleum Engineering in 1976 through an in-service programme.

Chris Ogiemwonyi is a great technocrat with a "father-degree" of experience in oil and gas industry, he has also attended several local and international courses, he's also a reckon product of the Harvard Business School. He is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, also a fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and former President of the Nigeria Gas association.

Chris Ogiemwonyi is a recipient of the Justice of Peace (JP) by Edo State Government and Kwame Nkrumah Leadership Award, he's also a patron to several bodies including NANS – National Association of Nigerian Students, ACNPN – Association of Community Newspapers Publishers of Nigeria etc.
Educational career

Chris Ogiemwonyi's educational qualification speaks volume, he got his WASCE certificate in 1969, in 1974 he became a B.SC holder in Applied Physics, Post Graduate Diploma in Petroleum Engineering in 1976, became a Doctor of Engineering Ph.D (Honoris Causa) in 2008 and also got the Doctor of Science Ph.D (Honoris Causa) in 2008.
Qualification Year
Doctor of Science, Ph.D (Honoris Causa) 2008
Doctor of Engineering, Ph.D (Honoris Causa) 2007
Post graduate Diploma in Petroleum Engineering 1976
B.Sc. (Hons) Applied Physics 1974
WASC 1969
Professional career
Petroleum Engineer II

Chris Ogiemwonyi began his career as a Petroleum Engineer II in 1975 with the Conservation Department and in February, in 1977 Ogiemwonyi was seconded to SPDC (Shell Petroleum Development Company) Warri. This secondment was enriched by a four and half month Advance Petroleum Engineering Programme in SPDC Training Centre in the Hague, Netherlands.
Exploration & Exploitation (E&E) - NNPC

In 1982, Chris Ogiemwonyi resumed work at the Exploration & Exploitation (E&E) Division of NNPC and in 1985 he was transferred to the National Reserves Evaluation as a Project Leader. While in office as a project leader, Ogiemwonyi coordinated all efforts in Dallas, USA in establishing a strong data Base for the Oil and gas Industry.

In 1988, he was moved back to the Exploration Division of the Exploration& Exploitation (E&E) as Head, Petroleum Engineering Department Company to nurture the newly created Petroleum Engineering Department.
Petroleum Engineer - NPDC

In 1988, Chris Ogiemwonyi became the project leader (Petroleum Engineer) of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) in Benin City. The NPDC, incorporated in 1988 had as its main objective the mission to compete as an indigenous Oil and Gas producing Company. NPDC was assigned four acreages including OML – 65 containing Abura Field then producing at 980 bopd.

Ogiemwonyi championed the takeover of NPDC and he kept an up-to-date reserves position of the company.

He was the field project leader in Abuja as his company had the major takeover asset from defunct TENNECO. Ogiemwonyi raised the production level from 980 bopd to over 4,000 bopd in 1990. In 1992, he served as Oredo Field Project Leader which was a Greenfield project that involved KELT ENERGY,UK and IP CONSTRUCTION, Calgary. The project was an engineering, procurement, construction as well as operations of 10,000 bopd early production facility which has now being expanded to process 30mmscf/d.

Ogiemwonyi also served as Oziengbe field Leader. This is another 10,000 bopd EPC facility at Oziengbe field.
General Manager, Operations - NAPIMS

In the year 1999, Chris Ogiemwonyi was promoted to the post of the General Manager, operations and was moved to National Petroleum Investments Management Services (NAPIMS) to oversee the Operations Division. He also championed several projects as a general manager most especially the Local content initiative of the Federal Government, due to the hardworking service; Ogiemwonyi got appointed as the Group General Manager NAPIMS in 2001.

While serving as the Group General Manager NAPIMS, Ogiemwonyi supervised the whole industry including the Joint Ventures (JV) and the Production Sharing Companies (PSCs).

During his days in NAPIMS, Ogiemwonyi served as Chairman, Nigeria OTC Committee between 2003 and 2004. Notably, he also championed and surpervised several key projects which includes the EA field, Erha field, Bonga field, Agbami field amongst others.

During his term, NAPIMS achieved zero cash call arrears by October, 2003. As GGM NAPIMS, the Oil Industry was encouraged on joint utilization of assets such as offshore swamp rigs.
Managing Director - NPDC

In November, 2003, Ogiemwonyi was re-assigned to NPDC as Managing Director[5] and his expertise helped in increasing NPDC production from 20,000 bopd to 70,000bopd. He served as chairman, Project Monitoring Committee (PMC) of Okono/Okpho Development Project, a strategic alliance between NPDC and Agip Energy Limited (AENR). He also served as Chairman, PMC of OMLs 64 and 66 Project, another strategic alliance between NPDC and SINOPEC of China.
Managing Director - National Gas Company

Ogiemwonyi was again re-assigned to National Gas Company Limited as Managing Director[6] in March, 2005. He was determined to to increase gas supply to major customers like; PHCN, SNG, GSLINK, WAPCO, SHAGAMU, and EWEKORO, NOTORE FERTILIZER PH,OBAJANA CEMENT COMPANY etc NGC is coordinating 130mmscf/d gas supply (WAGP – West Africa gas Supply Project) to Benin, Togo, Ghana and hopefully to Ivory Coast.

TSGP – Trans- Sahara Gas Project, the 2 billion scf/d supply from Nigeria through Algeria to Europe was another portfolio under his supervision as NGC’s helmsman.
Group Executive Director - NNPC

In September, 2007, Ogiemwonyi became the Group Executive Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC, Exploration & Production Directorate).[7]

While he served as GED Exploration and Production, Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi was in charge of seven NNPC Companies and Subsidiaries which included National Petroleum Investment Management Services NAPIMS), Nigerian Gas Company (NGC), LNG & Power Division, Integrated Data Services Limited (IDSL), Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) Crude Oil, Marketing Division and Local Content Division.
President - EETCLTD

Ogiemwonyi is currently the President of Energy and Engineering Technology Consulting Group, a position he has occupied since May 2011.[8]
President - ESC

Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi served as the President, Energy Strategy Centre (Esc) Abuja, an Energy and Consulting Group between September 2009 through April 2010.
Political career
Minister of State for Works

Engineer Chris Ogiemwonyi was appointed Minister of State for Works in April, 2010, an office he occupied till May 2011.[9]
Governorship Aspirant

Another story began in his career on the 28th day of November when the city of Benin celebrates in grand style as Engr Chris Ogiemwonyi crossed over to the All Progressive Congress (APC) from the People's Democratic Party (PDP) where he was when was elected as a Minister. In this revealing event, Chris Ogiemwonyi publicly renounce the People's Democratic Party (PDP),[10] he emphasized on renouncing them forever. This same event declared him as the party's Governorship Aspirant in 2016.[11]

PASTOR OSAGIE IZE-IYAMU





A Brief History of Pastor Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu
Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu is an astute politician. He was born 21th June 1962 into the upper middle-class family of Late Chief Robert Osayande Ize-Iyamu, the highly respected Benin chief with the highly reverend title of Esogban of Benin Kingdom and Mrs. Magdalene N. Ize-Iyamu (nee Obasohan). In 1973, Pastor Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu completed his primary education at Ebenezer Nursery and Primary School, Benin City; he had made a landmark obtaining the best result in the common entrance in the then Midwestern region. He then went ahead to confirm his stellar status in Edo College in 1979 where he once again obtained the best result in the art class in West Africa Certificate Examination (WAEC). Buoyed by his high-profile academic performances, young Osagie’s desire was to follow the footsteps of his elder brother who travelled abroad for further studies. However, due to Osagie’s proximity to the flurry of communal polititicking, done by his father, he developed keen interest in it. Pastor Osagie chose to study Political Science, and was admitted into the prestigious University of Benin, Benin City in 1980. But that was not to be. Inadvertently obeying the dictate of fate, he changed his course of study to Law the following academic session, and soon became one of the pioneering student in the faculty. He graduated with top honour in 1985/1986; he immediately proceeded to the Nigeria Law School and was called to the Nigerian Bar afterward in 1987.
In 1995 Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu met God through a harrowing experience when he had an almost fatal accident that changed the course of his life forever. Unconscious for nine hours, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu suffered dislocated hips and fractured toes. God himself being the ultimate physician healed him at the National Orthopedic Hospital, Igbobi. Surprised by his miraculour deliverance on his dislocated hips returned to their original positions and overwhelmed by the divine favour and words of his wife to use this priviledge to give his life to the service of God, his creator, Pastor Osagie joined the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), where he grew in knowledge and wisdom about God and church administration. As family members, friends and foes watched in amzement at his transormed life. Pastor Osagie within a short time was made a minister in the church. In 1998, he was made Pastor of the Upper Room Parish of the Church, located at Adesuwa Road, G.R.A., Benin City. He threw himself into the service and with encouragement and prayeful support of his wife, as well as the commitment of his fellow ministers; he was able to raise the hitherto small parish (branch) to the biggest RCCG church in Edo State. He was later appointed the Area pastor of the GRA 1 Area church overseeing three parishes with headquarters at the Upper Room parish, and became an inspiration to thousands of youth in Edo State. His work and passion later gave birth to a magnificient edifice that drew the attention of the highly reverend Pastor Enoch Adeboye, who was personally in Benin City to dedicate the church. Today, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu is the District Pastor, Overseeing Zonal, Area and parishes of the RCCG in Edo State. Beside, he is in charge of the provincial regional headquarter parish in Benin City. These great strides however, did not only manifest in his faith but also in his political life.
Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu sowed a seed of his political activism long ago during his university days as a vibrant member of the Student Union Congress and being highly instrumental to the election of several presidents and Executive members of the the Student Union. That experience proved vital as he became one of the operational planks that saw to the election of Lucky Nosakhare Igbinedion, as the then Chairman of Oredo Local Government Council, Benin City, in 1983, under the zero party system. After his sojourn into private legal practice and business, he was appointed as the Chief of Staff, Government House, Edo State, under the administration of Dr. Lucky Nosakhare Igbinedion, Executive Governor of Edo State- an evidence of the virtues of loyalty and trust. As the Chief of Staff, from 1999-2003, he elevated the office to the enviable status of a melting pot of consultation, strategy and confidence building. With his leading by the Holy Spirit, he became the man to trust and do business with, the rallying point of energies and ideas. He engineered the smooth and peacefull relationship that the state enjoyed with pensioners and labour leaders, then in Edo State. As a testament to his sterling performance as a Chief of Staff, he was elevated to the Secretary to the State Government (SSG). A position of immense trust and critical nexus and startegic catalyst in the government of the state, where he proved to be reliable, dependable, trust worthy and a positive generational ambassador committed to the well-being of Edos.
He showcased his sagacity in management and entrepreneural spirit when he set up the magnificient I.O Farms Training Institute- a model famr settlement at Ugbor-Amagba communities, Benin City, Edo State. The institute has churned out hundres of young agriculturist. The Training Institute has the tripple objective of agricultural training, skill acquisations and youth empowerment as veritable mechanism to reduce youth restiveness, organized crime and unemployment.
He has continued to contribute to the political development of the state and was awarded with the politician of the decade in Edo State. He is a politician that does not discriminate, highly de-trabalised, open to positive ideas, motivator of positive agenda for government, a respecter of elders and social values, a nexus of hope for Christians in Government and a crusader of fairness and social justice. Osagie Ize-Iyamu’s bold foot works in partisan politics and public office in Edo State has been phenomenal in scope, dept and intesity. With the resultant effect of re-designing the political landscape. He is the calm and deep-thinking political architect whose courageous designs have re-engineered the hope of Edo people for good governance and freedom from democratic tyranny. No wonder that, today, Osagie Ize-Iyamu is widely respected, acknowledged, and referred to as the “Leader” by both the elderly and the young for his uncommon courage, wisdom, integrity and commitment.
He is happily married to Dr. Idia Ize-Iyamu, a consultant dental surgeon/senior lecturer at the University of Benin and they are blessed with 4 children.