By Owen Eresoyen, Benin
In a shocking development, the Edo state House of Assembly Monday turned down a request from the out-going Governor, Godwin Obaseki, for the approval of another supplementary budget barely two weeks to his exit, and the fourth since January, 2024.
House, headed by the Speaker, Blessing Agbebaku has so far approved three supplementary budgets since January 2024, with the third amounting to N450 billion on the eve of the September 21st governorship election.
The latest request, which was turned down on Monday, Obaseki noted, was for him to provide money for the in-coming Governor, Monday Okpebholo, to use in settling down to the business of governance.
However, Centre for Good Governance and Public Safety has described the supplementary budgets as fraudulent and abuse of power in a conspiracy between the legislature and executive arms of government.
While calling on Obaseki to protect public properties from looters since he is still the Governor and Chief Executive of the State, the Centre challenged him to prove that he was not culpable in the looting of government properties by his agents.
The Centre, in a statement, said the increasing trend of public officers, including security agencies looting government properties when one government is transiting to another, has become a great concern to the nation’s democracy.
The statement signed by Solomon Igiehon, noted that public servants and politicians have continuously been looting government property in Edo State under the watch of Obaseki, who has consistently claimed that he is the Governor of the state until 12 November, when he hands over power to the Governor-Elect, Senator Okpebholo.
Giving details of the pilfering of property in Edo state, Igiehon narrated how some political elements went to a street in New Benin and uprooted solar street light poles and solar panels that were already installed by the Governor Obaseki administration.
In another development, some agents of the government were also recorded removing a brand new 500KVA generator from the premises of the Edo state Geographical Information Service along Sapele Road, Benin.
Igiehon also stated that a lady has also been caught removing new television sets, fridges, and a brand new Hilux from the premises of the Nigerian Observer newspaper at the Victor Uwaifoh Hub.
The Governor’s silence, the Centre noted, is shocking. “This is a man who was feared and dreaded by public service who they have called Iron Bender in the past 7 years,” the statement read.
“It is either the Governor was culpable or he has abandoned governance. We are, therefore, calling on the police, the DSS, and EFCC to clamp down on those looting properties of Edo state government in such bold display.
“The Transition Committee under Dr. Pius Odubu should also petition the security agency because these properties were purchased with Edo state resources.
“The people of the State should volunteer more information on those that have looted government properties in the state to serve as deterrent to others,” the statement further noted.