An aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the September 10 governorship election in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, last week, accused the State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, of allegedly voting over N30 billion for the newly created Edo University in Oshiomhole village even as the state owned Ambrose Alli University and College of Education Ekiadolor have been totally abandoned.
Ize-Iyamu made the accusation at the weekend while speaking at the palace of the Ojuromi of Uromi, HRH Zaiki Eidenojie II, where he formally declared his intention to run as governor in the governorship election. The former SSG to Edo State Government alleged that over N12 billion has been appropriated for a teaching hospital at Edo University and N1, 880, 483, 836.66 billion spent to build 168-room male hostel in the institution.
He also accused Oshiomhole of neglecting other critical sectors of the state’s economy such as industrialization, agriculture, health, sports, youth empowerment, tourism and housing, while displaying theatrics by reconstructing federal roads and abandoning state ones. He further accused Oshiomhole of deceiving the Benin people as money has not been appropriated for the state College of Education, Ekiadolor, that was upgraded to a university at the same time the Edo University was created, just as he slammed the Governor for failing to employ teachers to enhance teaching and learning in the state. But reacting swiftly to the allegations, the Executive Director, Media and Public Affairs, Governor’s office, John Mayaki, described Ize-Iyamu’s statement on the Edo University as false and unreasonable. “How much is the total budget for this year, that a chunk of N12 billion has been earmarked for the university alone? That claim simply defies logic and reasoning just as it does not add up. I can understand their blind and bland argument because the decision for the investment either outshone their paymasters or they intentionally joined the bandwagon for the sake of chewing their jaws,” he said.
However, in our usual style, Urhokpota Reporters investigated the accusation as well as the government denial and discovered that the Edo state government lied through her Director of Media and Public Affairs, John Mayaki. Urhokpota Reporters was able to collect some leaks from government files relating to this matter. In two of the 978 secret files so far collected by this newspaper – of public expenditure that the government had hitherto been unlawfully and immorally hiding from the people – evidence show incontrovertibly that the accusation by Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu was correct and that the attempt by the Edo state government to deny the accusation was futile and not credible. A government that spend the money that belongs to the people without recourse to the people is an insensitive, and immoral, one and do not deserve to remain in office.
When you take a critical look at the figures in these reports, and place them side by side with the projects, you will be amazed as to the revelations you will come up with. For Instance, a 168 room male hostel for a whopping sum of N1, 880, 483, 836.66 billion will give you over N11 million just to build one room. This could be the biggest fraud in the history of this State as well as the biggest leaks of government documents.
GME Reporters shall publish more documents of secret inside workings of government if promted by lies or manipulation by the government. We believe that whatever concerns the people should be well known to the people. If it is their tax, they have a right to know and to know the truth.
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