The Edo State Government and the All Progressives Congress (APC) exchanged words on Sunday over allegations of significant corruption against the state government, with the APC urging the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to conclude its investigation following the summoning of some commissioners for questioning, as reported by Vanguard.
At a press conference on Saturday, APC's Acting State Chairman, Jarret Tenebe, questioned the ownership and cost of the Modular Refinery and an ongoing five-star hotel project, as well as the use of e-governance, suggesting it could be used to destroy vital information if the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loses the election.
Crusoe Osagie, Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki on Media Projects, accused the APC of incompetence and ignorance regarding contemporary governance. Osagie stated that the APC’s strategy for the upcoming election was to use diversionary tactics to mask the deficiencies of their candidate, and he criticized the party's opposition to the government's e-governance system, which he said promotes transparency and accountability.
Osagie also defended the investment in Radisson Hotel, attributing increased project costs to the APC-controlled Federal Government’s poor economic management and the devaluation of the Naira.
Conversely, Ofure Osehobo, a member of the Edo APC Campaign Council Publicity Committee, accused Osagie of attempting to deflect attention from the Obaseki administration's shortcomings. Osehobo labeled the ERP system as an overpriced fraud and criticized the investment in the Radisson Hotel as a misallocation of state resources.
He also questioned the benefits of the refinery project and the Edo State Oil Palm Programme, alleging they had not delivered on their promises and had negatively impacted local farmers.
Osehobo further demanded transparency regarding the ownership and government shares in the Radisson Hotel and the refineries, stating these important questions were not addressed in Osagie’s response.
Osehobo asked, “Who owns Radisson Hotel? What is the percentage share of the Edo State government in the investment? Who owns the refineries? What is the Edo State government’s equity share in the company? These are important questions his long epistle failed to address.”