Petitions Over Major Project Stakes Ignite Tensions in Edo Transition Committee

With less than two weeks until the official handover of power in Edo State, petitions regarding the state government’s interests in significant projects, including the Ossiomo Power Plant, Edo Modular Refinery, and Radisson Blu Hotels, have heightened tensions within the Edo Transition Committee.

Sources reveal that members from both the **Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)** and the **All Progressives Congress (APC)** convened to discuss the ownership and financial commitments related to these multi-billion-naira ventures. The PDP faction has indicated plans to consult outgoing Governor **Godwin Obaseki** for clarity on the matter, although no resolution has been reached.

The APC contingent has sought documentation regarding the state’s investment in these projects, but government officials have reportedly displayed uncertainty about Edo’s stake in them.

A formal petition signed by **Comrade Samuel Osawaru** has been submitted to the Transition Committee and the **Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)**, raising serious concerns over the state’s financial involvement. The **Edo Integrity Group**, which is behind this petition, has questioned the financial arrangements involving **Quadrant Consolidated Systems Engineering Limited**, allegedly linked to **Uwagboe** and **Mark Igiehon**, and its role in managing revenue from the Ossiomo Power Project. They also cited **CCETC**, a Chinese technical partner, as a key stakeholder in the project’s ownership structure.

The group alleges that Edo government agencies faced estimated billing from the power plant, switching to metered billing only after the PDP’s recent electoral defeat. In line with its anti-corruption mission, the group has urged the EFCC and the Transition Committee to conduct a thorough investigation into the power plant’s recent operations.

In a separate development, an anonymous letter sent to security agencies has called for inquiries into Governor Obaseki regarding the Edo Modular Refinery and Radisson Blu Hotels. The letter alleges that taxpayer-funded projects have been converted to private ownership and that these assets are missing from the state’s handover records.

The petitioners, who identify themselves as Edo government employees and PDP committee members, expressed frustration at feeling sidelined, stating that directives from Governor Obaseki have primarily been conveyed via phone. They emphasized their loyalty to the state over any individual and called for a comprehensive investigation.

Additionally, Radisson Blu, which typically partners with major cities globally, has reportedly raised concerns about potential reputational risks. The hotel chain has sent letters to Governor Obaseki, indicating its intent to withdraw from the franchise arrangement if transparency issues are not addressed.

Recently, Edo’s Deputy Governor **Philip Shuaibu** inspected the Radisson Blu project site, reinforcing suspicions that the state funded the venture. This raises critical questions as to why this investment was not included among the state’s assets in the transition notes prepared for the incoming administration.