Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has given approval for the establishment of a 14-member State Assets Verification Committee to investigate the management of state assets and liabilities under his predecessor, Godwin Obaseki. This move comes despite a previous request from Abdullahi Ganduje, the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), urging the governor to refrain from probing the former administration......Read The Full Article>>.....Read The Full Article>>
According to a statement issued by Fred Itua, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, the newly-formed committee’s primary responsibility will be to assess the assets and liabilities accumulated by the state government during Obaseki’s tenure. The committee is scheduled to be inaugurated on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at the Government House in Benin City, and will consist of well-respected individuals from Edo State.
The committee’s membership includes Dr. Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe, who will serve as Chairman, and Anslem Ojezua as Deputy Chairman. Other members of the committee include Prince Kassim Afegbua, Hon. Patrick Ikhariale, Mr. Taiwo Akerele, Hon. Patrick Idiake, and Hon. Rasaq Bello-Osagie. Additionally, the team will feature Mr. Fredrick Unopah, Frank Osumuede Edebor Esq, who will act as Secretary, as well as Mrs. Abdallah Eugenia, Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon, Pharm. Kenny Okojie, Mrs. Lyndsey Tes-Sorae, and Hon. Abass Braimoh.
The statement from the governor’s office emphasized the importance of this move, stating, “The establishment of the State Assets Verification Committee is in alignment with the Governor’s goal of advancing the state towards accountable leadership and development. There has been a growing call for a more comprehensive database of the assets and liabilities of the former administration, but the previous government under Godwin Obaseki only presented limited and incomplete records.”
The office further explained that the creation of this committee is a crucial step in fulfilling Governor Okpebholo’s campaign promise to foster transparency, probity, and accountability in governance. By forming a committee of respected Edo State citizens, the governor hopes to deepen the state’s governance processes and ensure that all state assets and liabilities are accurately documented and scrutinized.
The committee’s inauguration will take place at the Festival Hall of the Government House in Benin City on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at 1:00 pm prompt. This marks a significant step in the governor’s efforts to ensure that the state is effectively managed and that the public is fully aware of the state’s financial standing.
