Gov Okpebholo’s Asset verification committee will not witch hunt Obaseki — Umakhihe

The Edo State Assets verification committee on Tuesday said it was not set up to witch hunt the immediate past government of Governor Godwin Obaseki or to waste public funds.

DAILY POST reports that the chairman of the committee, Dr Ernest Umakhihe, a former Permanent Secretary, of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security made the remarks on Tuesday at a press briefing shortly after the inauguration of the committee by the State Governor Monday Okpebholo in Government House.

Umakhihe said the clarification became necessary to correct some misconceptions made by the opposition party that the committee was constituted to waste taxpayers’ funds and to also witch hunt the immediate past administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki.

He said the committee was very crucial for developing a pathway for the Monday Okpebholo-led government agenda.

According to him, the APC transition committee’s reports set up before the November 12, 2024 swearing-in highlighted some gaps in which either some information was not furnished or some was missing.

“So, this Asset verification committee is to fill those gaps and ensure accuracy, accountability, and transparency.

“We want to have full details of all ongoing projects, the status of those projects, what are the budgetary provisions, who is doing what, and where are the locations of those projects.

“We are looking into financial and non-financial assets of the government. Like, I just said we are not witch-hunt but want to present the facts as they should have been.

“We have been hearing a lot out there that this is a waste of funds and exercise. Those condemnations are coming from the opposition.

“This is a committee that is very crucial for developing a pathway in this government transformation agenda. We need to know where we are so that you have a pathway of where you intend to go”, he said.

Umakhihe, who emphasized that the committee was on a fact-finding mission and not witch hunting assured that at the end of its mandate, the committee would make its findings public.

While noting that the committee was in line with the best global practice, he added that some persons who served in the previous administration would be invited to appear before it to provide more information if the need arose.

He, however, added that the committee is open to receiving a Memorandum from members of the public.

He also added that the committee was set up because the previous government was short in providing facts and figures that dominated its governance process to the newly sworn-in APC-led government in the state.