The Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) has criticized Governor Monday Okpebholo’s ongoing visit to the United Kingdom in search of foreign investors.
CRPP in a statement signed by its National Chairman, Dr. Samson Isibor, and National Secretary, Hon. Nkama Waribe, demands full transparency on the cost, delegation, and expected benefits to Edo people.
The CRPP noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent admonition to governors on prudent management of public resources should serve as a reminder to administrations enjoying increased federal allocations and IGR.
It stressed that the advice is particularly relevant to Edo at a time when residents continue to grapple with economic hardship, poor infrastructure the state.
‘Edo people deserve to know the objectives of the mission, the anticipated outcomes and the measurable benefits expected to accrue to the state.’
According to the group, 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.
They alleged that the composition of the delegation reflected poor planning, claiming that individuals with ‘no apparent relevance to the investment mission’ were included, while some commissioners overseeing key economic ministries were initially left behind
The group further alleged that the Governor reportedly contacted some of those commissioners ‘only after arriving in the United Kingdom,’ asking them to urgently process their travel documents
It alleged that the Governor earlier investment mission to Glasgow, Scotland, last year, ended in controversy after a widely publicised proposed $250 million investment failed to translate into tangible results for Edo State.
Responding, the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, defended the number of personnel on the trip, saying that 90 per cent of the people were on self-sponsored trip.
Afegbua explained that the London meeting, organised by the London Professional Training Centre, was to enable the governor to interact with Edo people in the Diaspora and inform them about the situation in the state.