The Edo State Government and the Senator representing Edo Central Senatorial District, Senator Monday Okpebholo, have locked horns over the amount of money expended on purchase of diesel to fuel the free transportation scheme introduced by the government to cushion the biting effects of subsidy removal policy of the Federal Government.
While the Senator accused Governor Godwin Obaseki of misappropriating N5bn Petroleum subsidy palliative removal allocated to Edo State by the Federal Government, and spending N7 billion on diesel in three months, the state government said that it had only spent N110 million on the same item.
Senator Okpebholo, popularly known as ‘Akpakomiza’, had accused the governor of expending N7 billion on diesel to allegedly fuel Edo City Transport (ECTS) Buses in just three months, just as he challenged the governor to account for the Federal Government’s N5 billion palliative given to the state.
But in a swift reaction, Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Mr. Chris Nehikhare, asked the public to disregard the falsehood peddled by Senator Monday Okpebholo.
Okpebholo took the swipe at Governor Obaseki, also addressed some crucial matters impacting the state, during the occasion of the 25th priestly anniversary and book launch of Very Rev Fr Dr Theophilus Idebaneria Itaman at the Lumen Christi International High School in Uromi.
He lamented how funds were allocated and wasted.
The senator alleged that Obaseki spent N7bn to procure diesel for his free transportation program, noting that the expenditure “is a total scam.”
“The wasteful spending on diesel could have been spent to fix the terrible roads in the state and other areas,” he said.
Akpakomiza therefore called for accountability and efficiency in the allocation of Edo State resources by Governor Obaseki.
The senator also used the occasion to donate 10 computers and laptops at the book launch.
In his reaction, Nehikhare said that contrary to Okpebholo’s claim of N7 billion, the Edo State Government had spent N110m on diesel in three months for the free transport scheme across the state to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal by the Federal Government on the people of Edo State.
In a statement, the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, urged members of the public to disregard the falsehood peddled by Senator Monday Okpebholo on the transport scheme, which according to him, has benefitted over 1.5 million Edo residents in its first phase.
Nehikhare said, “The Edo State Government has spent N110,509,230 in the last three months on the free bus scheme, which operates intra-city services from Monday to Saturdays and inter-city services from Monday to Sundays across the State.
“The scheme which commenced on September 11, 2023, for an initial two-month period to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal by the Federal Government on the people of the State has continued to record success and garner positive feedback, directly benefiting over 1.5m Edo residents within the first phase of its operation.
“While we acknowledge the steep rise in diesel prices and other operational costs for the scheme, the Edo City Transport Service, ECTS, has continued to explore various avenues to offset this surge, including skeletal hire services and partnerships with different groups and religious organizations such as Christ Embassy, Church of God Mission, and Winners, among others, which has helped to augment the increase in the cost of diesel and vehicle maintenance without recourse to government.”
Nehikhare further stated, “It is therefore disheartening and ridiculous to read in some sections of the media of patently false, baseless and misleading comments by the Senator representing Edo Central, Senator Monday Okpebholo, on the free transport scheme, in what seem like a desperate bid to be noticed.
“For the record, the figures quoted by the senator are imaginary. They are ill-intentioned and have no basis in truth, and should be disregarded by all Edo people. We suspect that he may have manufactured the figures based on the fact that the government has saved citizens a total of N1.5bn in the period under review that they would have spent on transportation cost were they to pay for the services now rendered for free by the government.
“Had Senator Okpebholo contacted ECTS or the Ministry of Communication and Orientation, he would have had better and more accurate information to share with his audience.
“Edo people can be rest assured that their resources are in safe hands with Governor Godwin Obaseki, who has over and again proven his commitment to ensuring transparency, accountability, and prudent management of public resources”, Nehikhare reassured.
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