Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo may set up a commission of inquiry to look into alleged abuse of land allocations by former Governor Godwin Obaseki.
The Okpebholo administration had accused Obaseki of gifting land to companies to ‘further their pecuniary interest.’
Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Kassim Afegbua, gave the indication while responding to accusations by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that Governor Okpebholo was weaponising land administration against perceived opponents.
Edo PDP said such action was a danger to democracy, jobs, stability and investment.
Spokesman for Edo PDP, Dan Osa-Ogbegie, in a statement, called for inquiry into the Presco land revocation notice, including forensic verification of the governor’s signature.
The statement called for reform of land administrative processes to stop the governor from using the Land Use Act for political vendetta.
It said: “Edo cannot be entrusted to a man who does not understand the power of his own pen. Edo cannot continue under a government that signs away its destiny carelessly and lies about it shamelessly.
“This is a sad moment in our history, but Edo people will rise above the incompetence of one man.”
But Afegbua said: “The real commission of inquiry will be devoted to the several abuses on land allocations that dominated the previous government, as they freely gifted land to companies to further their pecuniary interest.’’
He said Presco was not beyond the extant rules governing land allocation and use in Edo State.
He said the state government would act accordingly when there were existing infractions.
“It is within our rights and powers to administer land to the best interest of the people. The SSG has given indication of what obtains, and every rational mind should be guided accordingly by that resolution, and not this deliberate act of infamy that the failed PDP is trying to push.
“We stand by our position as well captured by the Secretary to the State Government, and this position should suffice until anything contrary comes to the fore.”
