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Edo APC Transition Committee Demands Review Of MOWAA , Central and Stella Obasanjo Hospital
——–As Governor Elect Vows To Probe
By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin City
Governor-elect of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, on Monday thanked the 24 members transition committee for their commitment to work and put up a report, which he pledged to find useful upon assumption of office.
Okpebholo, who received the report amid fanfare, said his government will look into the issues raised as he settles to the business of governance.
Earlier, the APC Edo Transition Committee chairman and former
Deputy governor of Edo state, Dr.Pius Odubu who presented the report to the governor elect, Senator Monday Okpebholo led other members who include,Osagie Ize-Iyamu ,Adams Oshiomhole, Philip Shaibu, Francis Alimekhena, Matthew Urhoghide and Patrick Ikhariale among others.
Presenting the report, Odubu said it uncovered several issues during the three weeks of rigorous assignments, meetings, interactions, engagements, and analyses of the documents presented to the committee by the Edo State Government.
Odubu said the committee report captures every perspectives, recommendation, and suggestion that could further be expanded for a more detailed and fact-finding effort to arrest the drift in the state.
Odubu noted that the committee member carefully examined the five thematic pillars as presented by the government’s transition team and took time to look at other information availed the committee through its interactions with relevant stakeholders in the state.
Odubu noted that the Governor elect Okpebholo will find the recommendations meaningful and resourceful in the course of charting a new roadmap that will signpost a new dawn in Edo state
He said, “Our 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.
” The issues involved are not only mutually exclusive but will form a strong basis to understanding the status report of our dear state.
“A snippet of some of our recommendations would suffice. For instance, we recommended a complete review of all MOUs on the management of the Central Hospital and Stella Obasanjo.
“We recommended that the local and foreign debts must be accounted for. All employment carried out in recent past should be canceled.”
Odubu further called on the governor elect to investigate the true ownership of the Ossiomo power plant and Raddisson Blu Hotel as well as 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 inquiries.
“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 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.” Odubu said.
On his part, Patrick Ikhariale, secretary of the Edo APC Transition Committee, alleged several inconsistencies in figures released to the members of the Edo APC Transition Committee by the Edo State Government.
