The Coalition of Registered political parties (CRPP) has urged Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, to shelve his plans to probe the N30bn Benin stormwater project, describing the move as diversionary.
Governor Obaseki had during an inspection of the Textile Mill road catchment of the stormwater project on Monday, last week, vowed to set up a panel to investigate how money meant for the project was spent, lamenting that the project was conceived by the previous administration in the State to defraud Edo people.
Fielding questions from newsmen on Monday in Benin City, the State Chairman of CRPP, Mr Samson Isibor, alleged that the motive behind the probe was planned to indict the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Prince Clement Agba and eventually call for his sack as minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He said government’s decision would boomerang against Obaseki whom he said was “part and parcel of the whole process” of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole’s administration that awarded the contract 12 years ago.
According to him, “The probe is diversionary and uncalled for. the Governor returned for second term, we are (have) yet to see his work. Now, he wants to set up a probe panel. For what (What for)? Is he not a part of the panel? He was part of the system.
“In fact, he played a major role through Afrinvest company, sought for the sum of N25 billion (bond) which they used. That company collected the sum of N1.5 billion.
“This probe panel will boomerang because he is part and parcel of the whole process. Was he not the Chairman of Edo State Economic Team who advised Comrade Adams Oshiomhole?
“You have downgraded the person you want to probe, smear his name and others. Do you want to kill him? What has he done? The Benin stormwater plan is a good project. Government is continuous, continue with the laudable project.
“Obaseki wanted to remove the only Minister of Budget and National Planning, Clement Agba, like he did to Samson Osagie, former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, and the former deputy Governor, Mr Pius Odubu.”
Asked if it is wrong for the government to demand accountability, he answered in the affirmative, but, stressed that Obaseki was out to victimise Oshiomhole and others.
Read him: “He (Obaseki) has been in office for the past four years and he had not deemed it fit to probe anybody during his first tenure.”
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