By Jethro Ibileke
The transition committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Edo State, has called for the probe of the administration of outgoing Governor Godwin Obaseki for lack of transparency.
This is even as it called for the cancellation of the recent employment carried out by the outgoing administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki.
The chairman of the 25-member committee, Hon. Pius Odubu, stated this on Monday in Benin while presenting the report to the Governor-elect, Senator Monday Okpebholo.
Recall that the APC set up the committee on 14 October 2024, to meet with the state government committee, for a smooth transition of government.
The committee alleged that the outgoing government didn’t provide audited financial statements published or unpublished, “hence it is advising the incoming government to institute an enquiry into this.”
Amongst other recommendations in the report are the following:
The committee also called for the investigation of the true ownership of the Ossiomo power plant, Radisson Blu Hotell and the Museum of West Africa Arts (MOWAA).
“We recommended a complete review of all MOUs on the management of the Central Hospital and Stella Obasanjo.
“The Governor should investigate the true ownership of the Ossiomo power plant and Radisson Blu Hotel. The same with the Museum of West Africa Arts- MOWAA. We deserve to know the state’s equity in these companies as the outgoing government went blank on these enquiries.
“We also demanded a comprehensive review of the world bank funded EdoBest program and a probe should be instituted to uncover its rather opaque operations.
“All major contracts issued by the state government under the Ministry of Roads and Bridges should be reviewed as they appear not to have followed due process including the payment advance awarded to the contractors.
“The procurement agency indicted the government in its own report to the Transition Committee hence we have advised the Governor to take a critical review.”
The Pius Odubu-led also recommended that the local and foreign debts must be accounted for and that the ICT ecosystem should be streamlined, “as there appears to be duplication of duties.”
They also alleged that the Obaseki’s government couldn’t account for the number of teachers in the state hence we demand a proper teacher headcount.
“The assignment further exposed us to the dynamics of modern-day governance as well as deepening our knowledge about the eight-year administration of the outgoing government.
“It is pertinent to note that Edo state has very rich opportunities and potentials to become one of the top ten states in Nigeria if transparency, accountability and probity are carefully applied in the course of governance,” Odubu said.
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