With the appointment of his son-in-law, Dr Solomon Owumi, as a member of
the Governing Board of the controversial Edo University, Iyamho, Governor
Adams Oshiomhole may have unwittingly confirmed his vested interest in the
institution on which billions of Naira of state funds have been sunk.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alleged, in a statement yesterday, that
Dr Owumi, who is a non-indigene of the State, would protect Oshiomhole’s
interest on the Governing Board.
According to the statement signed by the Publicity Secretary of the PDP,
Mr Chris Nehikhare,
“Governor Adams Oshiomhole has just inaugurated the Governing Board of the
controversial Edo University, Iyamho.
“And in this constitution, he has eventually revealed indisputable
evidence of his vested, self aggrandising and covetous interest by
appointing his son-in-law, Dr. Solomon Owumi, a non indigene, as a member
of the board. Dr. Owumi is expected to protect Oshiomhole’s interest.
“For a long time now, as responsible and concerned stakeholders in our
dear state, we have been drawing attention of all and sundry to the
questionable claim by the Governor Oshiomhole -led APC government that the
newly-built Edo State owned Edo University is a public private partnership
investment between the Edo State Government and an unnamed private
investor.
“Our disputation had been predicated on the fact at our disposal that the
sole investor in the multi-billion naira university is Edo State
government, whereas Oshiomhole claimed that it is a 60-40 percent equity
public/private owned property.
“In spite of our arguments, the state government has not shown any proof
of the equity contribution of the purported private investor.
“However, as we had revealed from our investigation, the private investor
in the hidden memorandum of understanding happens to be Afrinvest Limited,
a company owned by Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the APC governorship candidate in
the September 10 Edo State governorship election.
“Whereas Obaseki is said to be the Head of Economic Team of Governor Adams
Oshiomhole’s government, in reality he is Oshiomhole’s personal financial
and investment advisor and executor, a role he plays through his
Afrinvest.
“The Edo University, Iyamho, is one of the private investments Afrinvest
is handling on behalf of Governor Oshiomhole. The purported private equity
in the university is actually Oshiomhole’s but designed to be managed by
Afrinvest until such a time it could be handed over to Oshiomhole with an
official divestment of the state government’s interest if Godwin Obaseki
becomes governor of Edo State.
“This delicate business partnership between Oshiomhole and Obaseki
explains the desperation behind Oshiomhole’s quest to have Obaseki win the
next governorship election at all costs.”
The PDP stated that “by the foregoing, it is clear that Oshiomhole’s
dealings with Edo people have been deceitful, fraudulent, self serving and
non transparent.”
It added that “In his desperation to cover his mess, he is fighting tooth
and nail to establish his brand of continuity through the imposition of
Obaseki at the September 10 election.
“However, we believe that God and the good people of Edo State will not
allow this unholy machination to a see the light of day.”