CRPP: Edo Gov Okphebolor’s Visit To UK Mere Jamboree

By Ayodele Oni

The Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) has observed that the ongoing trip by Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo to the United Kingdom (UK) raises serious questions about the administration’s spending priorities.

The coalition described the trip as a mere jamboree, noting that it will not bring any tangible results to the people of the state.

Edo State Governor and some of his commissioners and aides are currently on a visit to the UK over what the state said is to interact with the Edos in the Diaspora

But in a statement by the national chairman of CRPP, Dr. Samson Isibor and the national secretary, Hon. Nkama Waribe, the body alleged that the delegation is largely composed of people who have no tangible contributions to the trip.

Isibor and Waribe challenged the state government to publicly disclose the total cost of the trip, the identities and official capacities of all members of the delegation, the source of funding, the specific investment opportunities being pursued and the expected timelines for delivering any agreement or commitment arising from the visit.

The chairman and the scribe maintained that Edo people deserved to know the objectives of the mission, the anticipated outcomes and the measurable benefits expected to accrue to the state from the investment event the governor attended yesterday.

The statement added: “Foreign investment missions should not become ceremonial exercises financed with public funds but should be driven by clearly defined economic goals, transparent deliverables and verifiable outcomes capable of improving the lives of the people.

“The composition of the delegation reflected poor planning. Individuals with no apparent relevance to the investment mission were included, while some commissioners overseeing ministries central to the state’s economic and investment agenda were initially left behind.”

CRPP recalled what it described as Governor Okpebholo’s investment mission to Glasgow, Scotland last year, alleging that the trip ended in controversy after a widely publicized $250 million investment proposal failed to translate into tangible results for the state.

It noted that the experience underscores the need for greater transparency and accountability in government-sponsored foreign engagements.

CRPP stated that Edo people deserve governance anchored on fiscal responsibility, transparency and measurable development outcomes rather than public expenditure that, in their views, lacked immediate value to the citizens.

It urged the governor to demonstrate that the visit will produce concrete investments, jobs and economic opportunities capable of justifying the expenditure of public funds

It maintained that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent admonition to state governors on prudent management of public funds should serve as a timely reminder to governments enjoying increased federal allocations and improved internally generated revenue to prioritize the welfare of the people.

The group further noted that President Tinubu’s call on state governments to be cautious on the indiscriminate building of flyovers has vindicated CRPP’s stand, adding that the advice is particularly relevant to the Edo State Government at a time when thousands of residents are grappling with economic hardship, unemployment, poor infrastructure and declining purchasing power.

CRPP added: “The president has spoken. He has vindicated us for objecting to the indiscriminate rush by state governments to build flyovers.”

However, reacting to the criticisms, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua defended the trip, stating that over 90 percent of the personnel on the trip was self-sponsored and that the London Professional Training Centre organized the engagement to brief the diaspora on state developments.

He said the visit served as a sensitization and interactive forum with Edo indigenes in the Diaspora regarding progress back home

According to the Commissioner: “More than 90% of those who travelled sponsored themselves to the UK.

“Maybe those who are saying the trip to cost N2bn saw it in their dreams. They should know that Governor Monday Okpebholo does not waste money on things like this.

“He told people that those who wanted to go should go but they should not rely on government funding.

“The visit is to interact with the Edos in the Diaspora, to bring them up to speed with what is happening back home. The whole idea is for sensitisation.

“Do not forget national election is coming and lots of those in diaspora do make remittances back home. If they know that the government is working, they will be able to tell their relations back home to support the APC,” Afegbua explained