.We will make our position known to government’s lies

By Ozioruva Aliu

BENIN CITY – THE Edo state government on Wednesday accused the incoming government and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Transition Committee of raising false alarm that the Obaseki-led PDP government has not provided it with the necessary documents for them to function. 

A member of the joint transition committee and the state Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare said the APC Transition Committee led by Dr. Pius Odubu has not shown readiness to ensure a smooth transition accusing them of alleged refusal to attend committee meetings. 

Nehikhare  disclosed this to newsmen shortly after Wednesday session at the John Odigie-Oyegun Public Service Academy,  venue for the Edo State Joint Transition Committee meeting where he claimed it has provided the documentation in digital form but the APC committee members insisted on hardcopy documents, which it has also provided to them.

But a member of the APC Transitions Committee, Adaze Ewanta denied the allegation against the committee but said “Those claims are not true but our committee will be meeting tomorrow (Thursday) and thereafter we will make our position known.  

Nehikhare told journalists that “the Edo State Government Transition Committee members will continue to come for meetings until October 30th to provide information the APC’s transition committee requires or wants as long as it is within the transition committee mandate” noting that demanding for hardcopy documents meant for only the governor elect, Monday Okpebholo and the Chief Executive of the State , Governor Godwin Obaseki is impossible. 

Nehikhare said the APC transition committee had from the onset of her inauguration shown disdain to work with the state government committee members.

“You will recall that before the Edo State Joint Transition Committee began, we had to physically harass the APC to send to us the list of their members.  It took them a few days to respond to that.  The Edo State PDP government did all that because it is a civilized thing to do because when a government is leaving power, it hands over the reins of government in a peaceful and orderly manner.

“We noticed that only the Edo State Government committee members are always present for the meetings.  We only want the incoming government to have an idea of what we have done and achieved and the challenges we faced while in government.  

“We met here last Friday  and listed the timetable of how the Transition Committee was going to meet. We do not want the impression that the Edo state government has something to hide. But on the contrary,  the APC Transition Committee is the ones crying wolf.

It would be recalled that the Edo State Joint Transition Committee speaking through  the secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Transition Committee, Patrick Ikhariale, had said it has adjourned sine die following the alleged inability of officials of the outgoing government to provide the required documents germane to the assignment.

Ikhariale said both parties had agreed to meet when the required information or documents were given to them.