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From Tony Osauzo, Benin
Edo State Government and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, engaged in verbal war over PRESCO PLC Statutory Right of Occupancy, a parcel of land Governor Monday Okpebholo purportedly revoked and later reversed within 24 hours.
Reacting to the development in a statement, State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Daniel Osa-Ogbegie, described the revocation and counter-revocation, as shameful.
“Edo people are witnessing a government that does not know what it signed. It does not understand what it announced and cannot defend what it authorised. “This, apparently, is not governance. It is a circus; a dangerous circus,” the PDP said.
The party noted that PRESCO PLC is not just a company; it is the single largest agro-industrial investment in Edo State, a 34-year pillar employing thousands directly and indirectly. “Edo people deserve honest answers. Instead, they got a contradictory drama that exposes the hollowness of this administration,” the PDP added. But, reacting to the PDP’s statement, the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, said the PDP was crying more than the bereaved.
“The release by the Secretary to the Edo State Government that captured the essential details of the Government’s position should suffice, especially the Constitutional dimensions,” Afegbua said, admitting that there was an initial mix-up.
“There were initial mix-up on the issue under discourse, but the explanation by the Secretary to the State Government, gave a constitutional rationale for the position taken by the government concerning the land in oil minerals areas and one had thought that was self-explanatory to any reasonable and rational mind, but because comedians must always trivialise scenarios, the PDP will never disappoint in their vainglory,” the Commissioner said.
In an advertorial published by two national dailies on Wednesday, November 26, and signed by Governor Okpebholo with the title, ‘Revocation of Statutory Rights of Occupancy Pursuant to Sections 28 and 38,’ the Edo State Government announced the revocation of a parcel of land belonging PRESCO PLC in Ologbo, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of the state. But, yesterday, November 27, the Edo State Government in another advertorial published by the same national dailies and signed by Umar Ikhilor, Secretary to the State Government with the title, ‘Disclaimer on Public Notice Purportedly Revoking Statutory Rights of Occupancy of PRESCO PLC,’ the State Government distanced itself from the public notice (advertorial).
Ikhilor, who said the publication did not “emanate from the Governor of Edo State or from any authorised organ of the state government, added: “The government has verified that the immediate past Managing Director of Edo State Geographic Information Service (EDOGIS), acted unilaterally, without authorisation and in complete disregard for established procedures and the actual numbers of hectares intended for excision from PRESCO PLC landholding.”
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But when the first public notice was published, the EDOGIS MD was still an appointee of Governor Okpebholo.
Meanwhile, facts emerged yesterday on why Governor Okpebholo relieved the EDOGIS boss, Dr. Tony Ikpasajah, of his appointment.
Ikpasajah was allegedly sacked over issues relating to revocation of 13, 545 hectares of land belonging to Presco Plc in Ologbo in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of the state.
According to Government House sources, Governor Okpebholo was said to have been embarrassed that he was not properly briefed about the issues bordering on the revocation of the Presco land.
Edo State Government on Wednesday, in an advertorial, invoked Sections 28 and 38 of the Constitution to revoke the Presco land.
But, barely 24 hours later, Secretary to the Edo State Government, Musa Ikhilor, said Ikpasajah acted unilaterally, without authorisation and in complete disregard for established procedures and the actual number of hectares intended for excision from Presco Plc total landholding.
The statement said a formal administrative review had been initiated to address the unauthorised actions of the former EDOGIS Managing Director and to strengthen internal controls to prevent future breaches.
Calls to Ikpasaja’s mobile phones were not responded to but Government House sources, who confirmed his sack, said he had been issued an official letter relieving him of his appointment.
