Obaseki Leaving ₦410 Billion Debt For Okpebholo — APC Transition Committee

The All Progressives Congress (APC) transition committee announced on Monday that Governor Godwin Obaseki‘s administration is leaving behind a debt of ₦410 billion for the incoming administration of Governor-elect Monday Okpebholo.

The committee revealed this during the presentation of its report to Okpebholo in Benin City.

Committee chairman Pius Odubu, a former Deputy Governor of the state, handed over the report, noting that this debt figure was provided by the outgoing administration’s own transition team.

The committee recommended that both local and foreign debts be thoroughly examined, highlighting that this debt far exceeds the ₦55 billion inherited by Obaseki’s administration.

Odubu added that if the figures were carefully verified, the debt could surpass ₦500 billion.

The committee further suggested a complete review of all contractual agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) related to the management of the Central and Stella Obasanjo Hospitals.

Additionally, they called for the cancellation of all recent employment made by the outgoing administration.

The committee also advocated for a thorough review of the World Bank-funded EdoBest program, suggesting an investigation into its opaque operations.

Contracts managed by the Ministry of Roads and Bridges, particularly those awarded without apparent due process, were also flagged for review.

“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- MOWAA.

“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 program 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” he said.

The committee disclosed that the State procurement agency, in its report to the transition team, had criticized the outgoing administration.

Odubu recommended that Okpebholo critically examine the agency’s findings.

Moreover, the committee raised concerns over a lack of audited financial statements and requested a proper headcount of teachers, as the current administration could not account for the exact number.

Odubu urged the Governor-elect to carefully review the report to effectively lead the state in the coming years.

“Your Excellency, it will interest you to know that the report being presented to you this afternoon is derived from our collective inputs during the several sessions we had as a team.

“We did not just carefully examine the five thematic pillars as presented by the government’s transition team, we took time to look at other information availed the committee through our interactions with relevant stakeholders in the state.

“We had robust meetings with the Nigeria Police and the Department of State Security with a view to having first-hand information on the challenges and opportunities facing this important segment of our population in the course of deepening governance across the state.

“Our perspectives, recommendations and suggestions are well captured in this report as a work in progress that could further be expanded for a more detailed and fact-finding effort to arrest the drift in the state.

“Your Excellency sir, what we are presenting to you in this report is a summary of all the engagements and interactions during the course of our assignment.

“The scope of our work covers the terms of references and we are proud to state that you will find these recommendations meaningful and resourceful in the course of charting a new roadmap that will signpost a new dawn in Edo state.

“The issues involved are not only mutually exclusive but will form a strong basis for understanding the status report of our dear state,” Odubu said.

The report also incorporated input from security agencies, including the Nigeria Police and the Department of State Security, to address governance challenges in the state.

In response, Governor-elect Okpebholo thanked the committee, noting that the report would be instrumental in his administration’s planning. He committed to implementing the recommendations as he begins his tenure.