By METROWATCH
Probe out-going Edo state government over the 3 million Euros meant for the rehabilitation of Libyan Returnees given to Governor Obaseki by the European Union, a former aide to the governor, Comrade Solomon Okoduwa, has begged Senator Monday Okpebholo.
Okoduwa, former senior special assistance to governor Godwin Obaseki and Executive Director of the Initiative for Youth Awareness on Migration, Development and Re-integration, made the request in a congratulatory message he sent to the Edo State Governor-elect, Senator Monday Okpebholo.
He alleged that the money was meant for the provision of shelter, stipends for the about 6,500 returnees but that the Obaseki-led administration deceived the European Union that the state government was going to empower the returnees with the funds adding that “they diverted the money using their cronies and nothing was done for these returnees and that is why today they are all stranded while many have returned back to Europe of Libya”.
Okoduwa, who described the electoral victory of Senator Okpebholo as a victory for all Edo people particularly the returnees, asserted that “Almighty God deliberately wanted to punish Obaseki by giving him defeat because of his wickedness to the returnees and other indigenes of Edo state.
“The factors that led to his defeat are his wickedness and highhandedness, unforgiving spirit and vendetta. He is very deceptive. For example, he went to Europe to appeal to the European Union to get a grant to enable him return migrants to Edo state.
“And because they wanted to end the illegal trip to Europe by migrants through Libya, they gave the governor over 3million Euros. He was supposed to use the money to provide skills for the returnees but he never did.
“He came up with another promise that he is going to give the returnees in Edo state N100million and 150 hectares of land till today nothing happened. Then he came out again with another trick that he is going to give the returnees stipend of N20,000 monthly, he paid for just two months.
‘’The day he launched the N20,000 stipend, he invited CNN and other international media to celebrate it, but shortly after event, he never did anything.
“He deceived the European Union. He got that grant from UNODC, British Council, Italian Government through the Italian Ministry of interior. These people were funding Edo state government to curb migration in Edo state he hijacked the money and the project.
“Till today, the returnees have not been given a dime. The shelters they built for them, the same state government converted it to something else. We thank God Okpebholo has come. We have more than 6,500 returnees no one has been empowered.
‘’Obaseki has received more than 3 million Euros and I had to resign from the administration when I discovered that the state was defrauding the European Union. I said I cannot be part of this wickedness.
“He is so selfish and inhuman. I was even accused of eating the money with Obaseki. He gave the land given to the returnees for farming to his cronies. The returnees are going back to Europe after he deceived them and the world, that is the height of wickedness and I thank God Edo people paid him back by voting him and his candidate out.
“Okpebholo from his background is God-sent. The way he addressed issues and relates to people you will never see arrogance in him. That is why the entire returnees protested against him and voted Okpebholo.
“We are now appealing to Senator Okpebholo to probe that money because Obaseki must account for it. I have details of all the money. Obaseki cannot eat the money meant for poor people and get away with it. We thank God he lost the election but now he must account for his sins” he stated.