Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has raised concerns over the reported expenditure of $10 million by the previous administration on The Nigerian Observer, the state-owned newspaper.

The governor made this known on Tuesday during an unannounced visit to the newspaper’s premises, where he sought to inspect the facilities supposedly upgraded with the funds.

To Okpebholo’s surprise, he and his team were unable to access the buildings where the machines purchased by the previous administration, were meant to be housed. The entire premises remained locked, with no sign of operations or personnel actively working.

The Nigerian Observer, once a thriving media establishment, had been shut down under Obaseki’s administration with the promise of a complete transformation. The former governor had assured that the newspaper would be revamped to compete with national dailies. However, Okpebholo’s visit painted a different picture, as the facility appeared abandoned.

Expressing his dissatisfaction, the governor stated that he expected to see some level of activity, considering the significant amount of money purportedly spent on the project.

“I visited The Observer Newspaper company to see for myself the money that was claimed to have been spent. But everywhere was locked, and there was nothing inside. I couldn’t even find a cleaner, and those we met on-site were not actual employees of the organization,” he said.

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The governor questioned the transparency of the previous administration’s handling of the newspaper’s funds. He stressed that without access to the buildings, he could not confirm whether the reported machines and equipment were actually inside. He, however, assured that he would return for another inspection to verify the claims.

Okpebholo emphasized the need for accountability, stating that the people of Edo State deserve answers. “Edo people deserve to know what happened to the money spent on revamping The Observer Newspaper. As their governor, I’m here to provide them with those answers,” he stated.

Vowing to get to the root of the matter, he assured that his administration would investigate the expenditure and ensure that public funds were not misused. He noted that a project of such magnitude should not be shrouded in secrecy, especially when taxpayer money was involved.

The visit signals the governor’s commitment to transparency and financial accountability in Edo State. His administration is expected to take further steps in unraveling the true status of The Nigerian Observer and whether the promised transformation ever took place.

Crediblenewsng.com