The Edo State government, led by Governor Godwin Obaseki, has criticized Olumide Akpata, the Labour Party (LP) candidate in the upcoming September 21 gubernatorial election, accusing him of lacking a basic understanding of what it takes to run a government.
In a statement released by Crusoe Osagie, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media Project, the government responded to Akpata’s recent appearance on a television show, where he allegedly made false claims and struggled to address key issues regarding the state’s development.
Osagie pointed out that during the interview, Akpata was unable to provide concrete answers on critical sectors like electricity and agriculture, instead admitting that he was “still working on the numbers.” Osagie claimed this response exposed Akpata’s lack of preparedness for leadership.
Highlighting Edo State’s achievements in electricity generation, Osagie mentioned that the state currently produces over 145MW of power through private companies, such as Ossiomo Power Company, Duport Energy Park, and Dangote Cement, with an additional 500MW generated by Azura and fed into the National Grid. He also emphasized the state’s Renewable Power Initiative, which is gradually being rolled out across various communities.
Osagie further criticized Akpata for his focus on the alleged N16 billion Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) funds, stating that Akpata failed to understand the need to diversify the state’s revenue streams to enhance its economic growth and governance capabilities.
Additionally, the Edo State government dismissed Akpata’s claim that the state has not attracted any foreign investment in the last eight years, labeling it a blatant lie. Osagie cited significant investments in manufacturing and agriculture, including a modular refinery developed with China’s SINOPEC and a $250 million oil palm project by Fayus Corp, as well as the Ossiomo Power project in collaboration with a Chinese gas power generation company.
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