Group disagrees with Obaseki on ”EdoBEST” report

The Coalition for Good Governance and Economic Justice in Africa (CGGEJA) on Wednesday, faulted the claim by former Gov. Godwin Obaseki on the endorsement of the Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (EdoBEST) programme by World Bank.

Mr. John Mayaki, the Country Director of CGGEJA, a civil rights group, stated this in a statement made available in Abuja.

Mayaki said the group had “uncovered yet another instance of deliberate misinformation orchestrated by the former Edo governor and his media machinery.”

He said, “contrary to the misleading reports being circulated, the World Bank has not endorsed the Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (EdoBEST) programme.

“The truth is buried within the very document Obaseki and his cohorts are flaunting—a disclaimer on page two clearly states that the report does not represent the views of the World Bank, its Board of Executive Directors, or the governments they represent.

“The disclaimer unequivocally reads:

“This work is a product of the staff of The World Bank with external contributions. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this work do not necessarily reflect the views of The World Bank, its Board of Executive Directors, or the governments they represent.”

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Mayaki also said that the World Bank’s official position on its website reinforced his argument.
He observed that on the website, the organisation said:

“The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or currency of the data included in this work and does not assume responsibility for any errors, omissions, or discrepancies in the information, or liability with respect to the use of or failure to use the information, methods, processes, or conclusions set forth.”

According to Mayaki, this revelation exposes the tactics of the former governor, who has been aggressively spinning a narrative that the World Bank endorsed EdoBEST and recommended it as a model for other low-income countries.

“Nothing could be further from the truth. The report in question is merely the personal work of a World Bank staff member, Martín De Simone, with contributions from external parties.

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“It does not carry the institutional endorsement of the World Bank, its management, or its Executive Directors.

“The Coalition for Good Governance and Economic Justice in Africa strongly condemns this act of misinformation.

“It is deeply troubling that individuals entrusted with leadership continue to manipulate facts and deceive the public for political gain.

“Edo people deserve better than the propaganda being peddled by the Obaseki camp,” he said.

Mayaki said though EdoBEST might have had its merits, he said the attempt to falsely attribute an endorsement from the World Bank was condemnable.