APC, Edo Govt bicker over economic benefits of Alaghodaro Summit

By Editor 

Nov 11, 2022

Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the state government have expressed divergent views over the economic benefits of  the annual Alaghodaro Summit celebration by the former.

Dailymonitorngr reports that the state government today, Friday,  November 11, 2022 mark the 6th annual Alaghodaro Summit to showcase the achievements of the government since its inception in 2016.

While the state government said it had in the last six years made remarkable progress in the enthronement of good governance for Edo people, the state leadership of the main opposition party, APC, however, described Alaghodaro Summit as a hollow ritual and a celebration of incompetence.

A statement by Hon Chris Nehikhare, Commissioner for communication and orientation, and made available to newsmen in Benin said the summit would enable government review progress made in the last six years as well as appreciate Edo people for their love and support for the Obaseki-led administration

According to him, Edo State  government is very pleased with the progress its have made. We have reviewed our progress in the last six years, and we are on the right track.

“Edo people will get the benefits of the government which they elected . From what we have put in place, this city is going to be flooded with a lot of investments and we want our people to be ready for it.

"At the 6th Alaghodaro Summit, many important guests and resource persons are scheduled to give talks on business development, youth empowerment and other sectors where our State has made significant impact", he said.

Speaking on the summit,the state chairman of APC, Col (rtd) David Imuse described the summit as an annual hollow ritual that celebrates Governor Obaseki's  Incompetence.

A statement by the chairman, signed by Victor Ofure Osehobo,

assistant state publicity secretary of APC,and made available to newsmen said the party frowned at the hollow ritual called Alaghodaro Summit by the Edo State Government.

Imuse opined that the summit was laced with false claims that it annually consolidates on years of building a vibrant private-sector-led economy, which has benefited from Mr Obaseki's government reforms and programmes.

The party who also condemned the government's registration of 'Alaghodaro Company Limited by Guarantee (GTE)" noted that it was a grand ploy by Governor Obaseki to legitimize his annual ritual of wasting Edo tax payers monies by uniting his cronies and business allies under one business name, while bolstering the government’s efforts at sustaining Edo State as the most investment-unfriendly state in Nigeria. 

"The claims by the government that this year's summit will showcase the various businesses and Made-in-Edo products, is even worrisome in a state where the policy since 2016 has been to destroy and demolish every trace of entrepreneurship

"For us in the  APC this evil ritual which is an open admission of Governor Obaseki's failure as a governor, smacks of a tactic to whitewash a rudderless government whereas Edo people know fully well that the fractured PDP government which he heads has lost touch with reality and cannot be entrusted with continued governance of our state.

"This is all the more so because in six years, and true to his campaign promise, Governor Obaseki has  succeeded in making Edo grounded again with his demolition of Edo state legacy assets like the Central Hospital, the Nigerian Observer while wasting billions of Naira on such white elephant projects like the Benin Enterprise and Industrial Park.

"The Benin Innovation Hub, Edo Tech Park, the Edo Refinery and Petrochemicals Company, the Gelegele Seaport, the University of Innovation, the Benin Technical College.

"I expect Mr. Obaseki and the fractured PDP government he leads to halt the frivolous media campaigns, the social media orchestrations which are fallaciously crediting him with imaginary achievements and to call off the ridiculous summit as it has done the state more harm than good since its inception",he added.