Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki’s aide, Crusoe Osagie, has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of using diversionary tactics ahead of the September 21 poll. Osagie labeled the APC’s allegations of corruption against Obaseki’s administration as spurious and aimed at misleading the public.
The APC, through its acting state Chairman Jarret Tenebe, called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate top government officials in Edo State. Tenebe claimed that the administration’s move to adopt a paperless governance system was a ploy to destroy evidence of fraudulent contracts. He also questioned the N28 billion allegedly spent on a five-star hotel project.
APC’s Accusations and EFCC Involvement
In a press conference held on Saturday, Tenebe urged the EFCC to bring the investigation of top government officials to a logical conclusion. He alleged that the move to make the administration paperless was designed to eliminate documents related to fraudulent contracts. Tenebe stated, “The latest plan by Obaseki to make the activities of his administration paperless is a criminal plan that has been designed by one Ugo who is in charge of e-governance. Also, he has colluded with the governor to destroy all documents relating to fraudulent contracts with the excuse that the Edo government has gone paperless.”
Furthermore, Tenebe raised concerns over the N28 billion allegedly spent on a five-star hotel project, claiming that it was already 85 percent complete before the government took it over from its original owner. In addition, he questioned the transparency and necessity of such an investment, especially given the state’s current economic challenges.
Osagie’s Response to APC Claims
In a counterstatement on Sunday, Osagie defended the administration’s actions and criticized the APC for its diversionary tactics. Also, he described the press conference as an attempt to deceive the people of Edo State. “The attention of the Edo State Government has been drawn to an ill-fated press outing by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in which they made several spurious and outlandish accusations,” Osagie said. “The shameful event is aimed at cajoling the Edo people and fruitlessly staging a strawman’s argument aimed at winning support for their lackluster and tepid candidate in the September 21 Edo governorship election.”
Moreover, Osagie accused the APC of causing hardship for Nigerians and picking an unsuitable candidate for the Edo governorship election. He asserted that the APC’s strategy is to distract voters from the flaws of their candidate by making unfounded allegations. “The APC’s only tactic for the September 21 election is to divert attention with alternative facts, hoping to overshadow their candidate’s flaws,” he stated.
Defense of E-Governance and Hotel Project
However, Osagie defended the administration’s e-governance system, explaining that it enhances transparency, accountability, and digitization. “In trying to sound smart, the APC took a swipe at the government’s e-governance Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, which was emplaced to drive transparency, accountability, traceability, and digitization in government. Arguing that it was overpriced and intended to delete public documents, they exposed their ignorance and betrayed their phobia for technology and forward-thinking,” Osagie noted.
Moreover, he emphasized that the state has invested in positioning its workforce and larger population for opportunities presented in the Fourth Industrial Revolution through a robust digitization program. “With a state-wide fiber optic cable infrastructure and an advanced ERP system in place, all files have been archived and are easily retrievable,” he added.
In addition, Osagie also defended the state’s investment in the Radisson Hotel project. He noted that Edo State currently has only one international hospitality chain, the Protea brand managed by Marriott, and the addition of Radisson would significantly boost the state’s tourism sector. “The investment in Radisson Hotel is crucial for Edo’s tourism. Increasing international brands benefits our nascent tourism industry,” Osagie explained.
Furthermore, he accused the APC of attempting to undermine these advancements to maintain an opaque administrative system. “The APC is afraid that our ERP system will prevent them from exploiting public resources. They want to revert to an old, dubious system where files are hidden, and bribes are demanded,” Osagie stated.
Source: Punch
