Edo APC transition committee seeks probe of MOWAA, Edo Best, others

Governor-elect of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, on Monday, thanked the 24-member Edo APC Transition Committee for their commitment to work and for producing a report, which he pledged to utilise upon assuming office.

Okpebholo, who received the report amid fanfare, said his government will look into the issues raised as he settles into the business of governance.

Earlier, the APC Edo Transition Committee chairman and former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Dr. Pius Odubu, presented the report to the governor-elect, Senator Monday Okpebholo, alongside other members, including Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Adams Oshiomhole, Philip Shaibu, Francis Alimekhena, Matthew Urhoghide, and Patrick Ikhariale, among others.

Presenting the report, Odubu said it uncovered several issues during the three weeks of rigorous assignments, meetings, interactions, engagements, and analysis of documents presented to the committee by the Edo State Government.

Odubu stated that the committee report captures various perspectives, recommendations, and suggestions that could be further expanded for a more detailed and fact-finding effort to address the state’s challenges.

Odubu noted that the committee members carefully examined the five thematic pillars presented by the government’s transition team and reviewed additional information gathered from interactions with relevant stakeholders in the state.

He expressed confidence that Governor-elect Okpebholo would find the recommendations meaningful and resourceful in charting a new roadmap that would mark a new dawn in Edo State.

He said, “Our recommendations and suggestions are well captured in this report as a work in progress that could be expanded for a more detailed and fact-finding effort to address the state’s challenges.

“The issues involved are not only mutually exclusive but will form a strong basis for understanding the status report of our dear state.

“A snippet of some of our recommendations would suffice. For instance, we recommended a complete review of all MOUs on the management of the Central Hospital and Stella Obasanjo.

“We recommended that local and foreign debts must be accounted for. All recent employment should be cancelled.”

Odubu further called on the governor-elect to investigate the true ownership of the Ossiomo power plant, Radisson Blu Hotel, and the Museum of West African Arts (MOWAA).

“We deserve to know the state’s equity in these companies as the outgoing government has been silent on these inquiries.

“We also demanded a comprehensive review of the World Bank-funded Edo BEST 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 advances awarded to contractors,” Odubu said.

On his part, Patrick Ikhariale, secretary of the Edo APC Transition Committee, alleged several inconsistencies in figures released to the committee members by the Edo State Government.