The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday blamed the inability of officials of the outgoing government of Peoples Democratic Party-led government of Governor Godwin Obaseki to provide vital documents germaine required to carryout its assignment as reasons by Edo State Joint Transition Committee, adjourned indefinitely (sine die).
Earlier on Tuesday, reports from government sources stated that the Joint Transition Committee session between the team set up by the outgoing Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration and Governor-elect, Sen. Monday Okpebholo has suffered a setback.
But, late Tuesday,.the Secretary of APC Transition Committee, Hon. Patrick Ikhariale who made the allegation at an interactive session with journalists in Benin City, alleged that both parties have agreed to meet when the required information or documents are given to them.
He explained that the Committee members have had series of discussions with the Transition Committee on the side of the outgoing government before parties ran into a ditch.
“Unfortunately, the nature of materials that they have supplied to us do not address any of the issues on the table.
“We have interfaced with the relevant officers of the government including the Secretary to State Government (SSG), Mr. Joseph Eboigbe, and they agreed with us on October, 2024 to do exactly what we asked for.
because what they had supplied us at best has not addressed the issue substantially in any form and we have expected by this morning that that will be done.
“We also had a meaningful and strong discussion. We need a set of documents that will address the issues we have raised, and that is where we are.
“We also agreed that today (Tuesday) he (Eboigbe) has to discuss with His Excellency, Governor Godwin Obaseki and get back to us.
“And in any case, the information or documents we’re asking for are in line with global best practices, we are not asking for anything out of the ordinary. So it is on record that we have done the needful.
“As we speak, a letter has been sent to them and we do hope that what we have discussed and agreed on as at yesterday would be executed for us to progress and have the joint meetings we are supposed to have and that is the position.
“We are waiting for him to reach out to the governor like he said to know the next line of action to take as to how and when they are giving us the needed documents.
“And we have also as a committee said whatever document or information they want to give to us, give it to us at least within 24 hours before the meeting time to enable us look through it, peruse and have an informed position to discuss so that we don’t go there and be discussing in abstract or discussing things that are not relevant to the subject matter of the day. So these I believe we have agreed on, by both sides.”
“Hopefully, if today, or tomorrow we get the required information and documents, we will reconvene and do the needful”, according to Hon. Ikhariale.
But government House report said the meeting was earlier scheduled to hold at the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA) in Benin City on Monday but was moved to Tuesday.
At 8:00 am on Tuesday, 22nd October 2024, members of the Obaseki-led State Government team started arriving at the venue for the meeting alongside the Committee Chairman, Secretary to Edo State Government, Mr. Joseph Eboigbe.
The government team and journalists waited patiently for the arrival of members of the APC’s transition committee team, who never showed up even after 1:00 pm when they left the venue.
The transition team was set up to ensure a smooth transition and handover to a new government on November 12, 2024.
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