Odubu Demands Transparency in Provision of Adequate Information as Edo State Joint Transition Committee Holds Inaugural Meeting

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As the Governor Godwin Obaseki administration continued the process of handing over power to a new administration with the meeting on Friday of the 48-member Edo State Joint Transition Committee, the chairman of the incoming administration’s transition committee, Dr. Pius Odubu, former deputy governor of the state, has called for proper briefing, cautioning against any attempt to hide data and necessary information. He demanded speedy provision of requisite documents to enhance smooth transition as it was time-bound.

The Secretary to the State Government, (SSG) and chairman of the outgoing administration’s transition committee, Joseph Eboigbe, however assured that members of the committee from the government side would always be available for clarifications in or out of government.

Both parties, howbeit, committed themselves to a seamless transition of power from the incumbent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government to the incoming administration of Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All-Progressives Congress, (APC) on November 12, 2024.

Setting the tone for the inaugural meeting held at the John Odigie-Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA) with 24 members from each side, the state commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, said the primary objective was to facilitate a smooth handover of government, adding that “We look forward to the collaborative efforts of all members in ensuring a seamless transition.”

Eboigbe, head of government’s transition committee, who briefed the committee on the outgoing government’s readiness to ensure a seamless transition process, said the state government envisaged the event and had put a committee in place as far back as July 2024, with the mandate to ensure that the in-coming government took off on a smooth note.

He noted, “This is the first time in Edo State where we will transit Government from one party to another. Although we have been working since the election came to an end, we have also been reflecting. We know ourselves, we are anticipating and expecting and have designed processes to ensure the processes are very seamless, and ensure collaborative deliberations, having at the back of our minds the interest of the good citizens of Edo State.

“It is against that background that I welcome every one of us all here to this critically shared task of ensuring a smooth and effective transition.”

Eboigbe said the outgoing administration had in the past eight years, concentrated basically on certain thematic pillars to improve lives and well-being of Edo residents, namely: institutional reforms, ICT ecosystem, social welfare enhancement, infrastructural development and environment with economic revolution, culture and tourism.

“It is with a deep sense of duty and commitment as we gather here today not only to facilitate the handover of governance, but to also build on the foundation of progress for the future of Edo State.

“By the time we make the information available, you will see that quite a lot of work has been done, quite a lot of reforms and innovation and therefore, our collaboration is on that basis to build upon the foundation of progress, and to move Edo forward”.

The SSG posited that, “As the outgoing transition committee, our role has been to diligently document and present the achievements, lessons and frameworks of Governor Obaseki’s administration.

“About 90% of the membership of the outgoing transition committee are public servants and this was a deliberate effort on the part of Governor Obaseki to ensure that we have a framework that will guarantee institutional history, a memory.

“As we interface today, and also next week, our confidence that the spirit of cooperation and mutual respect that have defined our engagement will continue. Like I mentioned earlier, the outgoing committee has a life span. So, we expect this engagement to continue leading up to inauguration processes.

“We are here to offer support and expertise as the incoming team begin the very important work of building and addressing the challenges we are faced with. Together we can ensure that the hope and aspirations of our citizens are met with renewed commitment and clear vision of progress”

While stating that external experts were also hired to ensure that all documents were complete and all facts rightly stated, Eboigbe assured that member of the committee from the government side, who are civil servants from the rank of permanent secretaries, would always be available for clarifications in or out of government.

Also speaking, Odubu expressed delight that the state the government had begun the exercise towards a seamless transition.

According to the former deputy governor, “When a government is outgoing and a new one is coming in, it is natural to have a body like this to interface and ensure seamless transition of power. This is not them versus us. We are one, saddled with the responsibility to serve our state in this regard to ensure we have a seamless transition.”

He urged the committee to work assiduously to ensure that documents, both hard copy and soft copies, were provided to give details for the incoming administration to take off.

While stating that his committee looked forward to working with that of the state government, Odubu admonished that “Let’s not try to hide information so that the incoming government will be well briefed.”