Obaseki slams Okpebholo’s allegations, Urges focus on Governance

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, and his team have once again been accused of “displaying a fundamental misunderstanding of governance and economic principles, resorting to unfounded and misleading claims about a supposed N200 billion debt to contractors.” Adding that “this appears to be a deliberate attempt to tarnish the legacy of Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the immediate past governor of Edo State.”

In a statement issued today, Crusoe Osagie, Media Adviser to Mr. Obaseki, called on the Okpebholo-led government to “stop whining” and instead focus on the crucial task of governance.

Osagie emphasized that although he cannot confirm the specific figures cited by Dr. Ernest Afolabi-Umakhihe, a former Permanent Secretary in the Federal Government, it is known that the Obaseki administration had numerous ongoing projects.

The government utilized an Irrevocable Standing Payment Order (ISPO) to ensure contractors continued their work, with guaranteed monthly payments, safeguarding the state’s developmental agenda.

Osagie reiterated that the Obaseki government maintained an unwavering commitment to transparency and adhered strictly to public procurement laws.

Under Mr. Obaseki’s leadership, Edo State’s procurement system set a benchmark for the nation, earning recognition from the World Bank, the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), and the Federal Government.

Edo was hailed as the top state in Nigeria for procurement practices, with 19 other Nigerian states and two foreign countries visiting to learn from the state’s innovations in this area.

Addressing concerns regarding the Radisson Hotel project, Osagie defended the Obaseki-led administration’s pro-development stance.

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He clarified that the state’s minority ownership in the project, alongside private equity holding 80%, followed global best practices.

It is common knowledge that governments should not run businesses, and the arrangement was in line with this principle.

On the issue of cybersecurity, Osagie expressed concern that the Okpebholo administration appears to be struggling with the digitalization of governance.

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He underscored the importance of cybersecurity in today’s global landscape and advised the incoming government to seek guidance from international experts.

Edo State has been a leader in this field, and Osagie offered the continued support of Mr. Obaseki, should the new administration be open to learning from his experiences.

Finally, Osagie urged the Okpebholo-led government to be open-minded in its approach to governance, acknowledging that the administration Mr. Obaseki led was far more sophisticated than what the APC government may be accustomed to.