Obaseki Awards Agric Contract To Self, Accused Of Nepotism

Mr Godwin Obaseki, interim governor of Edo state - pending the decision of the election petition tribunal - is making  history as another nepotist governor of Edo for deciding to engage his scandal-ridden firm, Afrinvest, to cultivate 5,000 hectares of maize located in 5 Local Government Areas of Edo State to produce at least 25,000 metric tons of maize.

Besides, investigation by Urhokpota Reporters indicate that Governor Obaseki plans to give the firm another 1,000 Greenhouse Farm producing 4,000 metric tons of tomatoes yearly, piggery producing 30,000 animals annually and a Golden Cocoa Program.

Obaseki, who was absent at the tribunal sitting in Benin City today, inaugurated an ad hoc committee under the Agriculture Empowerment Initiative to revamp agriculture in the state.

Obaseki, while inaugurating the committee at the Government House in Benin, which puts up a partnership between the state government, Saro AgroSciences and Afrinvest W.A. Ltd which he calls a leading financial advisory service provider in Nigeria and West Africa, he explained that the committee would help him implement specific projects, which he hopes would create between 50,000 to 80,000 agricultural jobs before the end of the year in the five Local Government Areas.

The question on the lips of most Edo people is why would a governor be awarding a contract to himself?

Urhokpota Reporters obtained the comments of some stake holders in agriculture and they held the common opinion that Obaseki tainted the otherwise laudable policy with nepotism, that he should have left his company out of the contract.

"While the move to invest in agriculture, which apparently is an adoption of the tenets of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu's SIMPLE Agenda, it is now however tainted and invariably suspicious by awarding the contract to his (Obaseki's) own company, if he did"

Dr. Thompson Omorodion, a Delta-state based lecturer said.