‘Obaseki govt gives police N5m monthly despite receiving N600m security vote’

From Bisi Olaniyi, Benin

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has alleged that the Governor Godwin Obaseki administration receives over N600million monthly as security vote, but gives the police a paltry N5million.

He spoke on Monday when he launched his SIMPLE agenda, through a live broadcast on his Facebook page, thereby marking the commencement of his weekly online engagements, as part of adaptations to directly converse with the people on safe platforms, in line with health regulations and the guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The SIMPLE agenda involves: S – Security and Social Welfare, I – Infrastructure Development/Urban Renewal, M – Manpower Development and Training, P – Public/Private Partnerships, L – Leadership by example and E – Employment and Empowerment.

Responding to a question about how he would tackle insecurity if elected, Ize-Iyamu pledged to dedicate more resources to combatting insecurity and queried the current administration’s sincerity in securing lives and property.

Read Also: Ize-Iyamu to Obaseki: Explain whereabouts of your commissioner arrested overseas

“The current government has not shown commitment to the security funding of the state,” he said.

Ize-Iyamu expressed concern about how Edo seems to be the only state in the Southsouth that has not invested adequately in technology, which can be used to combat crime.

“In this age, what is our investment in technology? Edo State may be the only state in the Southsouth that does not have trackers that can be used to trace kidnappers. The government must show sincerity in combating crime,” he said.

Speaking about the abandoned water storm project, Ize-Iyamu expressed his commitment in ensuring its completion. He expressed surprise that Obaseki, whose company, Afri Invest, got a large commission from the project, chose not to complete it when he became the governor.