Julius Ihonvbere: resigns

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has accepted the resignation of Professor Julius Ihonvbere from the cabinet as Secretary to the State Government.

The Governor thanked Prof Ihonvbere for his services to the Government and the state.

Governor Oshiomhole wished him well in his future endeavours.

The government statement did not give any reason for Ihonvbere’s departure. But only a few days ago, over 200 women visited him at Government House to plead with him to run for Edo North senatorial district.

The primary for the Senate seat was concluded Monday, without Ihonvbere winning

Ihonvbere who contested the election to fly the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s flag in the 2015 general elections, narrowly lost with 815 votes to the winner, Francis Alimehena, who polled 831. ‎

Ihovbere joined Oshiomhole’s government in 2012.

He has earlier served under former president Olusegun Obasanjo as a Special Adviser on Programme and Policy Monitoring.

A political scientist, he obtained his BA in History and Political Science from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Nigeria.

He subsequently obtained his MA International Affairs from The Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada.

In 1984 he earned a PhD in Political Science from the University of Toronto, Canada.

After his doctorate, Ihonvbere lectured at Ife, and later University of Port Harcourt for many years, before he moved to University of Toronto as a visiting professor

His final lectureship position was at The University of Texas at Austin, where he was Professor of Government.

He then joined Ford Foundation as Program Officer in Governance and Civil Society.