By Ozioruva Aliu

BENIN CITY – IT has been a verbal war between the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State and the main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) as the latter has accused the PDP-led government of Godwin Obaseki of monumental sleaze in the system as the government wounds.

But Governor Obaseki’s information management gurus, his Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare and the Special Adviser on Media Projects, Crusoe Osagie stoutly carpeted the APC accusing it of attempting to distract the people from the reality of the coming election which they boasted that the APC would loose.

The Acting State Chairman of the APC, Emperor Jarrett Tenebe in a press briefing accused Obaseki of alleged contract variations, contract splitting, ownership of businesses started wholly by the government and allegedly transmitted to individuals among other issues.

For instance, he alleged that a five-star hotel Radisson Hotel whose contract was awarded on August 23rd 2023 for the sum of N15, 397,368,022.49 has been reviewed upward to N23 Billion and that the amount was allegedly paid in both naira and dollar currencies 40 per cent in naira and 60 per cent in dollars also alleging that the complex housing the hotel in question already had structures and claimed that it was 85 per cent complete before it was awarded.

He alleged that while the contract had been awarded, the state government still allegedly awarded contracts for supplies for the same project which he alleged amounted to contract splitting.

The party alleged that in one day, precisely June 1, 2023, there were allegedly three sub-contracts awarded for the same project to provide mechanical equipment for N2,089,434,990.28 (Two Billion, Eighty Nine Million, Four Hundred and Thirty-Four Thousand, Nine Hundred and Ninety Naira, Twenty-Eight Kobo) another one for the supply and installation of Aluminum Glazing work and Alucobond Cladding for the sum of N702,455,083.96 (Seven hundred and two million, four hundred and fifty-five thousand and eighty-three naira, ninety six kobo) and yet another for the alleged supply and installation of kitchen and laundry equipment alleged put at N1,94,130,474.66 (One billion, ninety-four million, one hundred and thirty thousand and four hundred and seventy-four naira, sixty-six kobo.

Tenebe also alleged that the law firm of the PDP candidate was allegedly engaged as a consultant for “Legal Advisory Services” for the project despite an existing Ministry of Justice under the administration.

Tenebe alleged that the state government has allegedly began the process of transferring the ownership of the hotel to a private concern just like it allegedly did in the case of the Edo state modular refinery where he alleged that a businessman who went with Governor Godwin Obaseki as a financial advisor when the governor signed the MoU for the building curiously became the owner of the refinery.

The opposition party also alleged that the Benin City Shopping Mall was under similar circumstances with the hotel and that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had invited government officials but were being shielded

Government responses

Addressing a press briefing on these and other issues a few days ago, Nehikhare claimed that what Tenebe was brandishing as official documents were “worthless papers” to hoodwink the media and members of the public.

He said “As a party whose foundation was built on a web of lies and deceit, no gainsaying, the same way they manufactured this worthless paper is the same way they manufactured the court papers which they used in misinforming and misleading the Edo people on the candidacy of the PDP candidate; it is the same manner in which they manufactured the crisis with the palace, all in a desperate effort to hoodwink the people and reawaken their completely comatose party in Edo State.”

Responding to allegations of transfer of government companies, Osagie said the state government only started the project to attract the private sector and that naturally with time, it would divest its interest for the private sector to run it effectively and would only maintain minimal interest like in the case of Azura Power under the Adams Oshiomhole’s administration.

“Much as the government does not have business in doing business by itself, there are areas where the business is fraught with so much risk that individuals cannot go there so what government is supposed to do is to go there and de-risk that environment to show the private sector that this is possible but at some point, the government will divest from that business.”

On alleged invitation of government officials by the EFCC, Osagie said there was nothing like that.

Findings

Sunday Vanguard sighted some documents including the one used for the award of the contract for the hotel which was signed by the Commissioner for Finance Mrs Adaze Aguele-Kalu while three letters for the award of sub-contracts which could be termed contract split and all three documents were dated June 1, 2023 and signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Budget, Economic Planning and Development, Bernard Aigbe.

Another document sighted, indicated that EFCC may have actually invited a commissioner in the administration as a letter from the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) with reference number SGA. 440/T3/82 and dated May 7th 2024 addressed to the Executive Chairman of the EFCC and titled “Re: Investigation Activities Central bank Interventions” where it stated that “I write to refer to your letter No.CR:3000/EFCC/ABJ/HQ/SOT/VOL. 2/024 dated 19th April,2024 on the above subject and to inform you that the Hon. Commissioner of Finance is presently on an official assignment outside the State and thus will be unable to honour the invitation at the said date and time.

“Consequent upon the above, kindly oblige the Hon. Commissioner with a new date for the interview with effect from 21st May 2024.”