Why We Boycotted Edo Govt’s Meeting – APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State said its team stayed away from the joint transition committee meeting because the outgoing Governor Godwin Obaseki-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration failed to present necessary documents that would enable a smooth transition process.

APC, in a statement signed by its transition committee secretary, Barr Patrick Ikhariale, said the development had hindered its work.

Ikhariale said the APC Transition Committee, led by a former deputy governor of the state,  Dr. Pius Odubu, only wanted to clarify the false claims and untruths dished out by officials of the state government, overtly or covertly.

“It is on record that the inaugural meeting of the APC Transition Committee with the outgoing government’s team was held on Friday, 18th October 2024 at the JOOPSA Hall, GRA, Benin City,” he said.

He said despite the productive inaugural meeting, the government team tried to scandalise the APC committee members with outlandish claims of asking for sitting allowances.

He added that the government’s team also claimed that the APC team requested hard copies because its members were not tech-savvy.

“We find these false claims vexatious, insulting and completely misleading, as nothing of such was discussed or raised during and after our plenary.

He said during the meeting, both parties agreed for the documents to be submitted in soft and hard copy formats for ease of reference, following APC’s request.

According to him, the government team assured the documents would be submitted before the next meeting scheduled for Monday, October 21, 2024.

He said despite assurances, the documents sent to them so far are scanty and vague.

“For the avoidance of doubt and clarity of purpose, the letter requested covers all assets and liabilities, state assets located outside the state, detailed report of all Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) report 2020 till date, detail report of the Derivation Fund to the state 2020 till date and all maturing legal obligations 2020 till date,” he said.

Others included all contracts, pending or ongoing, total indebtedness (local and foreign) 2020 till date, bonds and treasury bills, all approved contracts by the state government from 2020 till date, size, number and structure of all MDAs including human resource records/data on public/civil servants and their roles, all annual financial audit reports published and unpublished, report of the 2024 appropriation and performance till date including the revised budget among others”

“We wish to put on record that a Status Report is expected to cover all headings and sub-headings in the governance process, especially the details of the financial commitments on the various projects, programmes and responsibilities of the government.

Ikharale said the incoming government, the people of Edo State, and taxpayers deserve to know the status of affairs.