The State of Edo State: Governor Godwin Obaseki’s Corrupt Administration, Bad Agricultural Policy and Diversion of Federal Government Palliatives Responsible for Hunger in Edo State
The leadership and members of All Progressives Congress in Edo State have noticed with concern the unfortunate plan by Governor Godwin Obaseki and his faction of the People’s Democratic Party to frustrate the genuine efforts of the Federal Government to considerably reduce the impact of economic hardship on Nigerians, especially here in Edo State.
Yesterday, Edo people watched Obaseki in disbelief during his hurriedly put together state broadcast, how in his eight minutes speech, he refused to acknowledge or give account of the various financial grants and other palliatives his administration has received from the Federal Government. Instead, as usual, he wobbled and fumbled while struggling to blame his failure on his imaginary fictional story of plans by APC to attack government institutions in Edo State.
Let us once again reiterate that Obaseki has lost his position as the chief security officer of Edo State, having threatened to burn down Nigeria if the police goes ahead to arrest the thugs he sponsored to murder Police Inspector Onuh Akor, the security detail that was attached to Senator Monday Okpebholo. Obaseki lacks the character and honesty to address Edo people at this critical period in Nigeria.
The only responsible representative of Edo State Government today, is Deputy Governor Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, who has shown character, courage and unity of purpose, he is one that can address Edo people.
For the avoidance of doubt, we are once again calling on Edo people to hold their governor, Godwin Obaseki responsible for the hardship in their state, including the collapse of physical infrastructures across the state.
The various initiatives put in place by the Federal Government has been frustrated by Obaseki and PDP in Edo State. For instance, the FG extended relief in the transportation sector, where citizens from States without rail lines were directed to pay 50 percent of transport fares at selected private transportation companies in Edo State for a specific period. Obaseki collected the reimbursement from Federal Government for services that were not provided on the pretence of free ride by Edo City Transport Service.
Like the ostrich, Obaseki has been one double-face so called economic expert in the vanguard that pushed for subsidy removal but later acted like chameleon that he has become, and has been demonizing President Tinubu for refusing to put easy money in the pockets of few Nigerians. Obaseki and his PDP in Edo State had earlier commended President Tinubu for the decision to remove fuel subsidy and floating of the Naira.
The PDP had said that, the two economic policies were spot on, and that it is the best way to go round the economy that had been grounded before the present Federal Government came on board. The PDP position was voiced by Tony Aziegbemi, it’s state chairman.
For clarity sake, the APC on behalf of Edo people are asking Obaseki to give account for the following financial, sectoral and institutional support from the Federal Government, World Bank and other bilateral agencies.
1. The World Bank misappropriated 70 Million US Dollar ‘States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability, and Sustainability Program-for-Results’ (PforR) Project for Edo State that was advanced to strengthen the state’s economy and cushion hardship.
2. The N5billion released to Edo State by the Federal Government for procurement of food meant for distribution to vulnerable families.
3. The Social Cash Transfers to 20million of the most vulnerable Nigerians as palliatives for each state of the 36 states that Edo State benefited from.
4. One year ago, exactly on Independence Day, Obaseki told Edo people that his administration has placed orders for new Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to boost its fleet for the state’s free transport scheme. 10 months after, the PDP and Obaseki have pocketed the monies for the purchase of the buses. The only buses that he used for his fraudulent free ride program was bought by the previous APC administration, which he announced was fueled with over N1 billion in 3 months.
5. In January this year, Obaseki had also told the state that he had sealed a deal for state-wide deployment of electric buses. Like all his promises, this also has vanished into the thin air.
6. Last month, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) handed over 786.6 metric tonnes made up of 17,424 bags of assorted grains to the Edo State Government as part of palliative measures to cushion the adverse effects of the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government on the people of the State, but Obaseki has refused to share them.
7. Last month, the Federal Government confirmed that the 36 states, including Edo have received 20 trucks of rice, yet Obaseki has failed to account for them.
8. In his usual deceptive style of governance, Obaseki has converted everything he received from the APC Federal Government on behalf of Edo people, to donations made by his administration.
9. He has achieved this by repackaging the rice and other grains in branded mini bags with Edo State insignia. He has announced also that his PDP government spends N1billion each month for purchase of rice.
10. If Edo people were ever in doubt, the video that emerged in the social media today, where an abandoned trailer load of repackaged Federal Government rice with Edo State Government inscription was discovered by Urora residents, has exposed Obaseki’s deliberate plan to deprive Edo people from accessing the different palliative measures. We have intelligence of several warehouses in the state, hoarding rice and other grains met for Edo people. There are reports also, that substantial part of the rice are being sold in markets by a prominent PDP market woman leader.
11. What Obaseki has succeeded in doing amounts to economic sabotage and certainly, he should have a date with the Economic and Financial Crime Commission.
12. Obaseki sold the state owned fertilizer company to his friend and who recalibrated the plant to produce fertilizer that cannot be used by our farmers. The company sells their products to farmers in the northern states.
13. In March 2020, the APC Federal Government under ex President Muhammadu Buhari approved a single digit interest N5billion loan through the Central Bank of Nigeria for farmers in Edo State. Instead of allowing the farmers to access the loan, the funds were deposited in Sterling Bank from it was wasted by Obaseki on consultants. At a point, farmers who managed to open accounts in Sterliing Bank, received debit alerts for transactions that were carried out on their behalf in Edo government house. The remainder was gifted to portfolio farmers who are cronies of Obaseki, commissioners and special advisers.
14. Obaseki also announced that he had started farms in the three senatorial districts, namely in Sobe, Ilushi, Okada, Agenebode, Agbede and other places. After wasting billions of Edo State resources, the farms failed like his several other programmes.
15. There are records also that the CBN granted a loan of N60billion to Edo State under the Agriculture Ancho Borrower Programme. He disbursed the loan to companies owned by expatriate single crop farmers where he has shared. He went ahead to chase away local farmers from the lands which ilhe has in turn given to these companies.
16. Obaseki blame game has no rival. In his shallow broadcast which he used to call out violent protest against the Federal Government, Obaseki blamed the food shortages in Edo State only on the farmers-herders fight, but he mischievously failed to own up that his penchant to grab lands from indigenous farmers has promoted food insufficiency in Edo.
17. Obaseki’s refusal to make judicious use of the increased revenue from federation account which so far, has exceeded N300 billion this year alone, is largely responsible for the difficulty we are all facing. Last month alone, Edo State received N11.1 billion from FAAC, apart from the Oil Producing 13% derivation funds.
18. Edo State has benefited from the fuel subsidy removal, which is evident in the FAAC allocation between June and July 2023 to Edo State. This is more than it had ever received in the pre-fuel subsidy removal. Sadly, Obaseki and his PDP rangers, have refused to use the increase in FAAC allocation to create jobs and drive impactful projects that will genuinely uplift the people of Edo State.
Finally, we call on Nigerians and Edo people to note that, Obaseki is using the nation’s economic challenges to divert attention from his poor performance at the state level.
We are encouraging Edo people to be vigilant and ensure they collect their palliatives. They should also demand good governance from Governor Obaseki and all the Local glGovernment Chairmen in Edo State.
Let us be reminded that, Obaseki is the main culprite in the current hardship facing Edo State. The health institutions have broken down and the citizens left to access private clinics, hospitals and tradomedical homes.
Signed: Emperor Jarrett Tenebe
Chairman All Progressives Congress, Edo State