We Are Vindicated By President Tinubu’s Warning To Governors On Public Spending – CRPP

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The Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent admonition to governors on prudent management of public resources has vindicated its opposition to what it described as “wasteful government spending” in the state.

CRPP in a statement signed by Dr Samson Isibor, the national chairman, and Nkama Waribe, the national secretary also described the ongoing trip by Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo to the United Kingdom as a mere jamboree that will not yield tangible results to Edo people, especially when the delegation is largely composed of people who have no tangible contributions to the trip.

President Tinubu’s admonition should serve as a timely reminder to administrations enjoying increased federal allocations and improved internally generated revenue to prioritise the welfare of their citizens.

According to CRPP, the President has spoken, he has vindicated us especially for objecting to the overhead bridges (fly over)

‎The President’s advice is particularly relevant to the Edo State Government at a time when thousands of residents continue to grapple with economic hardship, unemployment, poor infrastructure and declining purchasing power.

‎”While we are questioning Governor Okpebholo’s ongoing visit to the United Kingdom which raises serious questions about the administration’s spending priorities,

Edo people deserve to know the objectives of the mission, the anticipated outcomes and the measurable benefits expected to accrue to the state”.

‎‎The CRPP also argued that foreign investment missions should not become ceremonial exercises financed with public funds but should be driven by clearly defined economic goals, transparent deliverables and verifiable outcomes capable of improving the lives of the people.

‎The coalition further alleged that the composition of the delegation reflected poor planning, claiming that individuals with no apparent relevance to the investment mission were included, while some commissioners overseeing ministries central to the state’s economic and investment agenda were initially left behind.

‎‎According to the CRPP, the Governor reportedly contacted some of those commissioners only after arriving in the United Kingdom, asking them to urgently process their travel documents and join the delegation.

“If this information is accurate, such circumstances would raise concerns about the level of coordination and strategic planning that preceded the trip”

‎The CRPP also recalled what it described as Okpebholo’s investment mission to Glasgow, Scotland, last year, alleging that the trip ended in controversy after a widely publicised proposed $250 million investment failed to translate into tangible results for Edo State.

‎CRPP noted that the experience underscores the need for greater transparency and accountability in government-sponsored foreign engagements.

‎The Coalition therefore called on the Edo State Government to publicly disclose the total cost of the current UK trip, the identities and official capacities of all members of the delegation, the source of funding, the specific investment opportunities being pursued and the expected timelines for delivering any agreements or commitments arising from the visit.

‎The group maintained that Edo people deserve governance anchored on fiscal responsibility, transparency and measurable development outcomes rather than public expenditure that, in its view, lacks immediate value to the citizens.

‎”We urged the Governor to demonstrate that the visit will produce concrete investments, jobs creation and economic opportunities capable of justifying the expenditure of public funds” the group declared.