Andrew Emwanta, a lawyer and former Commissioner of Information for Edo State, made strong accusations against Governor Godwin Obaseki during an interview with TVC News’ Politics Tonight FROM 10:33. He expressed dissatisfaction with Obaseki’s leadership, calling him potentially the “worst Governor in Nigeria’s history” by the time he leaves office. Emwanta highlighted instances of alleged mismanagement, including a controversial approval for an ICT software costing ₦1.7 billion, which he opposed, pointing out that the software would become obsolete when Obaseki’s tenure ended. He also rejected a ₦250 million proposal to build a website, citing it as excessive.
Emwanta further criticized the handling of the state’s Oil and Gas Commission, claiming that the Secretary to the State Government, a close ally of Asue Ighodalo, had been overseeing the funds intended for oil-producing communities, alleging mismanagement and squander of the 20% derivation meant for those communities. According to him, this has raised serious concerns about the misuse of taxpayers’ money and resources under Obaseki’s administration.
In his words;
“By the time Obaseki leaves, you’ll discover he’s the worst Governor in the history of Nigeria. I resigned from his Government. On the eve of dissolution of exco. They said the Governor wanted us to approve a memo. This is not an official secret, they are public documents, that there’s a software needed for this ICT whatever in Government and that software will last for a year and how much was that software? 1.7 billion of Edo taxpayers money”
“I insisted and said this Governor will not be here after one year, by the time the software expires and a new Government says I cannot continue with this, is that not a waste of taxpayers money? Not only that, to build a website, they said they needed 250 million naira, I rejected it and the Governor, the following dissolve this excos and one of the reasons why the excos was dissolved was that the Deputy Governor, Shaibu raised issues”
“We have an oil and gas commission for the past one year, it was the Secretary to the State Government who’s running mate to Asue Ighodalo that has ran that place. Imagine two individuals controlling money meant for Oil producing communities. 20% derivation, they squander this money.”….Sêe _ Morê