The Media Adviser to former Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, Crusoe Osagie, has taken a swipe at the state government, accusing it of fabricating “a cocktail of lies” to mislead the public, this time through the Commissioner for Information, Kassim Afegbua.
Osagie, in a statement made available on Friday, December 12, said he felt obligated to respond once again to what he described as the cocktail of lies being spun by the Edo State Government.
He added that Afegbua “appears to have suddenly woken up from his elongated hiatus since his appointment.”
Osagie argued that the controversy around the Radisson Hotel Project followed a familiar pattern that, according to him, has defined the activities of the current administration since taking office.
He accused the government of deliberately manufacturing disputes to conceal what he called its lack of a development blueprint.
He said, “Before we go into the details of the matter, it is important to place on record that this charade has become a predictable pattern deployed by this government since it took office over a year ago, clearly to deflect the attention of Edo people from the obvious fact that the government has no development plan for the people of the State.”
He recalled several projects which, in his view, had been unjustly targeted, beginning with the N30bn Museum of West African Arts (MOWAA).
According to Osagie, the government also went after the 95MW Ossiomo Power Project, launched an “onslaught” against the Saro Farms and Ethanol Plant in Ikpoba Okha, crippled the Edo Printing Centre at the Nigerian Observer premises on Airport Road, and even attempted an attack on Presco, which he said the government later retreated from after the blowback.
He said the latest in what he described as a list of contrived controversies was the Radisson Hotel Project.
Addressing the project, Osagie stressed that the Radisson Hotel initiative was conceptualised by the Obaseki administration as part of a wider tourism development plan for the state.
According to him, this comprehensive agenda included MOWAA, the proposed Benin Royal Museum, and support for the National Museum at Ring Road.
Osagie explained that the project was executed with “the deft financial skill” of the former governor.
“For the umpteenth time,” he said, “Obaseki has explained that the project was initiated by his government as a segment of the larger plan for the tourism sector.”
Osagie added that, as done globally, the government injected the initial capital to make the project attractive to investors before handing it over to a private partner “at a value multiple times the amount the government had invested in it.”
He said the new investor took over “the full assets and liabilities of the project,” while the state retained 20 per cent equity in the business.
Osagie accused Governor Monday Okpebholo of attempting to dismantle the initiative by escalating it to anti-graft and judicial authorities.
“In the search for a reason to destroy this laudable investment initiative, Okpebholo has taken the Radisson Project to the EFCC and has also gone to court in an endless rat chase to undermine the project,” he stated.
He said those efforts had “proven futile,” insisting that after failing to achieve their aim, government officials had taken to “propaganda as a form of media trial.”
‘They Are Crippling Investments in Benin-speaking Edo South’
In reinforcing his argument, Osagie referenced a recent article he authored titled ‘Okpebholo’s attack on Benin-speaking Edo South leaves economic carcasses on his trail.’
According to him, the investments facing hostility from the present administration are “curiously” all located within the Benin-speaking Edo South Senatorial District.
He warned that the consequences were severe, noting that the affected investments were positioned to directly and indirectly employ “not less than 50,000” people, aside from the broader value chains they were designed to stimulate.
By stalling these projects, he said, the government had halted potential economic activities that would have been operational “one year after the Obaseki administration.”
Osagie continued: “If these five-star projects were located in Iyamho, Auchi or even Irrua, I doubt they would have come under such vicious and irresponsible attacks from the Okpebholo government.”
‘Their Actions Scare Investors Away’
The former governor’s aide insisted that the actions of the current administration amount to an assault on private-sector confidence.
He warned that such conduct could discourage new investors and even force existing ones to relocate their operations.
“They must be reminded that their irresponsible and reckless actions constitute a direct assault on the sensibilities and sensitivities of private-sector investors,” he said. “At the very least, it will further discourage investors from coming into the State, and in many cases, could even force those already operating in the State to seek alternative locations for their businesses,” Osagie.
He maintained that the Radisson Hotel development was executed in the best interest of Edo people and stressed that Obaseki had “neither a direct nor an indirect stake or ownership in the project.”
“We urge them to spare the people of Edo this distraction,” he added. “The Radisson Hotel project was clean and carried out in the best interest of the people.”
‘Edo People Must Hold Okpebholo Accountable’
Rounding off, Osagie urged residents not to be swayed by what he described as deliberate misinformation but should instead focus on ensuring that the governor delivers on his responsibilities.
He said, “We urge the people of Edo to disregard the lies, not be distracted, remain focused, and hold Okpebholo accountable for his responsibilities to Edo people, which include protecting their lives and property, and creating opportunities for them to live life to the fullest.”
He insisted that the government must be questioned on how “this barrage of attacks on investments in the State translates into jobs and tangible benefits for the teeming youth population of the State, many of whom are seeking opportunities to work, earn a living, and build careers.”
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