30th October, 2024
By Jethro Ibileke
A member of APC transition committee in Edo, Prince Kassim Afegbua, has alleged that Governor Godwin Obaseki sent a supplementary budget to the State House of Assembly, with just two weeks to hand over of power.
Afegbua stated this in a statement on Tuesday, titled: “Empty treasury awaits Okpebholo as Obaseki seeks additional budget”.
He, however, disclosed that the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku, turned down the budget request.
In his words: “The request for approval of the supplementary budget was submitted to the State House of Assembly on Monday 28th October 2024, stating that he intends to leave money for the incoming Governor; Senator Monday Okpebholo to spend while settling down to work.
“Surprisingly, like the riddle of the sudden turn of events, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Honourable Blessing Agbebaku, has turned down the request of Gov Obaseki even in his trying times.
“This has left many observers dumbfounded, giving a hindsight of what awaited the former “Iron Bender” when he leaves power.”
Afegbua recalled that Obaseki had previously presented three supplementary budgets to the House of Assembly, which were all promptly approved.
“Shortly before the gubernatorial election of 21st September, the same House of Assembly gave express approval to a N450 billion supplementary request of the Governor despite criticisms of members of the public.
“In total, Gov Obaseki has spent a total of N1.5trn naira in his 8 years as Governor with no improvements or developments of roads.
“Till date, the three senatorial districts have been cut apart due to bad roads across the state, as it has become very difficult moving from one location to another.
“Motorists have resorted to recreating roads for themselves in bushes as all internal roads have gone bad too because of the pressure of heavy articulated trucks on the existing roads,” he alleged.
Meanwhile, the State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, did not respond to inquiry made to him on his WhatsApp message about the alleged supplementary budget.
The Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku, could also not be reached for a reaction, as calls made to his mobile phone did not connect.
