A supplementary budget request by the Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki to the State House of Assembly has suffered setback, ahead of November 12th 2024 hand over of power to the State Governor-elect, Senator Monday Okpebholo.
A member of the Governor-elect, Prince Kashim Afegbua said on Tuesday in a statement that the Governor’s request was rejected by the Assembly Speaker, Blessing Agbebaku.
Afegbua recalled that the same House of Assembly under Agbebaku’s leadership had approved the sum of N450 billion supplementary request of the Governor shortly before the gubernatorial election of 21st September, despite criticisms of members of the public.
He commended the Speaker for turning down the request of Obaseki even in his trying times, alleging that Obaseki has spent a total of N1.5trn naira in his 8 years as Governor with no improvements or developments of roads.
Till date, the three senatorial districts have been cut apart due to bad roads across the state, as it has become very difficult moving from one location to another.
Motorists have resorted to recreating roads for themselves in bushes as all internal roads have gone bad too because of the pressure of heavy articulated trucks on the existing roads.
Some have suggested that Governor Obaseki will surely have questions to answer on how so much public funds have been deployed to projects that are either linked to himself and his cronies or do not have direct impact on the state.
He is tipped for an EFCC interrogation as his tenure expires in two weeks. The level of profligacy is mind-boggling and alarming.
Government officials have paraded e-graphics of projects that appear strange to residents of Edo state. It will amaze you to see digital highlights of communities such as Okpella, Uromi or Iguobazuwa in their graphic presentation, as if they were European Cities, but on ground, Edo State has become eyesore and infrastructural atrophy.
Graphic representation of Ekiosa market that got burnt five years ago in Benin City has become a subject of mockery.
The graphic digital wrap-around pictures of Ekiosa are what has remained in the site of the market in Benin city since he made the promise to rebuild it in 2018.
While sympathising with the incoming administration of Senator Monday Okpebholo, Edo people are, however excited that the state has been rescued from a democratic tyrant.
In 2019, he got popular support when he preached the gospel of “no to godfather,” which he suddenly transformed in 2024 as he dresses a godson as his potential successor.
“Edo people are aware that Okpebholo will inherit an empty treasure but they are happy that he will represent a new dawn which was translated as “a new Edo is rising” during the last campaigns across the state.
Agents of the governor have turned their frustration into looting spree as they have descended on vehicles, air-conditioners, generators, television sets and many others, which they are looting with careless abandon.
Edo state has been lucky in terms of allocations but unlucky characters at the helms of affairs have stifled growth and development.
“The state received so much billions of naira from the 13% Derivation Funds, but there is nothing to justify such huge resources.
“When his government wants to loot, they tie expenditure on recurrent sub-heads, which they draw to the last whole number.
“We find it worrisome that a Governor-elect who means well for Edo people will be inheriting an empty treasury with huge debts of over N500 billion hanging on our noose. How do you expect the state to grow?
“Edo state is bleeding profusely as a result of neglect, financial malfeasance, and careless abandon”, Afegbua alleged.
A response by the Governor’s Media handlers is being awaited.
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