FG, Edo Govt. on collision course over Benin Industrial Park Project

The Edo State Government, and the Federal Government are heading on collision course over the Benin Industrial Park Project. It was reliably gathered that the Edo State Government through alleged hired thugs, had forcibly acquired the land, particularly the farmland belonging to the Benin Owena River Basin Authority situated in Obayantor community.

In press statement issued by the state Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Mr. Chris Osi Nehihare, a copy made available to our reporter, alleged that the state government invaded the land with hired thugs through the help of the Secretary to the State Government, (SSG) Bar. Osarodion Ogie to bulldoze the land for the proposed Benin Industrial Park for which several foreign trips, and millions of dollars have allegedly ben expended.

Part of the statement reads: “it was with shock, and utter disgust that we received the news the EDSG, headed by a supposed technocrat Gov. Godwin Obaseki with all razz mater” fanfare, and propaganda did not do due diligence, or obtain consent/approval from owners of the land/farms to forcibly take over it”, adding that a few weeks ago, many home owners were blackmailed into vacating their homes, while thugs disguised as community representatives were sent to intimidate them, especially those who refused to co-operate with them.

The statement averred that no compensation had been offered to the land owners, rather threats by the state government to allegedly sanction them.

The statement however called on the people of the state, to take note of the models being displayed by the Edo State Government, and Gov. Godwin Obaseki to allegedly siphon money out of the state in the last two years, adding that the situation had become clear that the present administration had no plans to build industrial park, rather to establish a conduct pipe of looting the treasury.