From Tony Osauzo, Benin
The Transition Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo has recommended a probe into more than N410 billion local and foreign debts allegedly owed by the state.
The 25-man committee made the recommendation in its report presented to the Governor-Elect, Senator Monday Okpebholo ahead of his inauguration today as the fifth democratically elected governor of the state.
Presenting the document, Dr Pius Odubu, who is the Chairman of the committee, said the committee was presented with N410 billion debts as against the N55 billion inherited by the outgoing government in 2016.
“For those of you who have the capability to fact-check, you will find out that the indebtedness today is much more. It is over N500 billion, Odubu, in his speech, said.
“The outgoing government didn’t provide audited financial statements published or unpublished hence the committee is advising the government to institute an enquiry into this.”
Odubu, erstwhile deputy governor in the state, said the committee also recommended a review of Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) on the management of Central and Stella Obasanjo hospitals.
“We have advised the governor to take a critical review, just as it recommended a complete review of all MOUs on the management of the Central Hospital and Stella Obasanjo.
“Besides, we recommend that the local and foreign debts must be accounted for. All employment carried out in the recent past should be cancelled.
“The governor should investigate the true ownership of the Ossiomo power plant and Radisson Blu Hotel. The same with the Museum of West Africa Arts. We deserve to know the state’s equity in these companies as the outgoing government went blank on these enquiries.
“We also demanded a comprehensive review of the world bank funded EdoBest programme 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 advance awarded to the contractors.
“The ICT ecosystem should be streamlined as there appears to be duplication of duties. The government could not account for the number of teachers in the state hence we demand a proper teacher head count.”
The committee, while expressing profound appreciation to the governor-elect for deeming it worthy of carrying out the assignment, especially the confidence reposed in the members, both individually and collectively, said the assignment further exposed them to the dynamics of modern day governance as well as deepened their knowledge about the eight year administration of the outgoing government.
“It is pertinent to note that Edo State has very rich opportunities and potential to become one of the top 10 states in Nigeria, if transparency, accountability and probity are carefully applied in the course of governance. We are not just proud of your victory to lead this state in the next four years, we are, indeed, proud to be Edo people and to be part of that process,” Odubu said.
Receiving the report of the committee, the governor-elect, Okpebholo, said: “I am going to find this information very useful,” and promised to study the report.