State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has said that the current administration
of Governor Obaseki receives over N600m monthly as security vote but
gives the police a paltry N5m.
This, he revealed during a live broadcast on his Facebook page on
Monday, marking the commencement of an announced weekly online
engagement which, according to his Campaign Organization, is part of the
party’s adaptations to directly converse with the people on safe
platforms in line with health regulations and INEC’s guidelines.
Responding to a question about how he would tackle security challenges
in the state if elected, the governor pledged to dedicate more resources
to combatting insecurity and queried the present administration’s
sincerity to securing lives and property.
“The present government has not been able to show any serious commitment
to the security funding of the state. Every month, the governor collects
over N600 million as security vote and gives the police N5 million. That
does not show commitment to security. N5m is not even enough to fuel
vehicles”, he said.
Ize-Iyamu further expressed concerns about how Edo seems to be the only
state in the South-South that has not made adequate investments in
technology which can be used to combat crime.
“In this age, what is our investment in technology? Edo state might be
the only state in the South-South that does not have trackers that can
be used to trace kidnappers. The government must show sincerity in
combating crime.”
Speaking on the abandoned Water Storm Project, Ize-Iyamu stated his
commitment to ensuring its completion. He also expressed surprise that
Obaseki, whose company, Afri Invest, got a large commission from the
project, chose to not complete it when he became governor.
“The water storm project cannot be abandoned. I didn’t initiate it, but
we must commend those who planned it. Even four years ago when I was
contesting, I commended the foresight because flooding is a major
challenge in Benin.”
“To abandon the project the way it has been abandoned is imprudent and
wicked, especially coming from a governor that was part of its
conception. Afri Invest was involved in the financing of the water storm
project and got a huge commission form it. How do you rationalize a
governor who was part of that process to now decide that he is not
interested in the project?”
The water storm project is a project that must be completed”, he said.
“We will appraise it and do it at a reasonable cost.”
He also indicated his commitment to developing agriculture in Edo state,
saying that his vision is to ensure Edo produces food for the rest of
Nigeria during his first term in office.
Other issues he spoke on during the course of the engagement include
teachers’ welfare and healthcare delivery, among others.
