A house divided against itself cannot stand,” Uncertainty Grips Edo State government House.
As the transition committee awaits clarification on the state’s stake in Ossiomo Power Plant, Edo Modular Refinery, and Radisson Blu Hotel, Governor Godwin Obaseki’s silence is sparking palpable fear in Government House, Benin City.
The joint session between the PDP and APC committees revealed shocking facts about these companies, with the APC team requesting documents on ownership and stake, only to be met with feigned ignorance from government officials.
This in particular concern’s, given that these projects have cost taxpayers billions of naira.
A petition addressed to the Transition Committee and copied to the EFCC has further fueled the fire, alleging that Quadrant Consolidated Systems Engineering Limited is being used for financial transactions involving Ossiomo Power Project.
The Edo Integrity Group, which filed the petition, claims that Chinese Clean Energy and Telecom Company (CCETC) and Ossiomo are holding companies for the plant’s owners.
Moreover, an anonymous letter to security agencies has indicted Governor Obaseki over the acquisition of Edo Modular Refinery and Radisson Blu Hotels, which were funded with taxpayer money but converted to private ownership.
The letter urges a forensic investigation into the funding of these companies, which were not included as assets of Edo State in the handover notes.
The owners of Radisson Blu, a reputable international hotel chain, are reportedly uncomfortable with being associated with corruption allegations and have written to the governor, offering to pull out of the partnership and franchise for integrity’s sake .
As the transition committee navigates this complex situation, transparency and accountability are crucial.
The people of Edo State deserve to know the truth about these projects and how their tax money is being spent.
Will Governor Obaseki’s administration come clean about the ownership and stake of these companies, or will the controversy continue to simmer?
Only time will tell.
Henry J
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