Radisson Project Row: Osagie Takes On Edo Govt, Calls Claims ‘Cocktail of Lies’

Crusoe Osagie, the media adviser to former Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, has taken aim at the state administration, accusing it of creating “a cocktail of lies” in order to deceive the public, this time via Kassim Afegbua, the Commissioner for Information.

In a statement released on Friday, December 12, Osagie said he was compelled to react once more to what he called the Edo State Government’s “cocktail of lies.”

Afegbua “seems to have abruptly awakened from his protracted hiatus since his appointment,” he continued.

According to Osagie, the Radisson Hotel Project dispute followed a well-known pattern that has characterized the current administration’s actions since it took power.

In order to hide what he described as its lack of a development roadmap, he accused the administration of purposefully creating conflicts.

“This charade has become a predictable pattern deployed by this government since it took office over a year ago, clearly to deflect the attention of Edo people from the obvious fact that the government has no development plan for the people of the State,” he stated before delving into the specifics of the issue.

He mentioned a number of initiatives that, in his opinion, had been unfairly singled out, starting with the N30 billion Museum of West African Arts (MOWAA).

Osagie claims that the government also targeted the 95MW Ossiomo Power Project, initiated a “onslaught” against the Saro Farms and Ethanol Plant in Ikpoba Okha, destroyed the Edo Printing Center at the Nigerian Observer location on Airport Road, and even made an attempt to attack Presco, which it later withdrew from following a blowback.

He claimed that the Radisson Hotel Project was the most recent in what he called a string of manufactured disputes.

Speaking about the project, Osagie emphasized that the Obaseki administration conceived the Radisson Hotel idea as a component of a larger plan for the state’s tourist growth.

He said that this all-encompassing agenda included backing for the National Museum at Ring Road, the projected Benin Royal Museum, and MOWAA.

Osagie clarified that the project was carried out using the former governor’s “deft financial skill.”

He declared, “Obaseki has explained for the umpteenth time that the project was started by his government as a part of the larger plan for the tourism sector.”

According to Osagie, the project was given to a private partner “at a value multiple times the amount the government had invested in it” after the government provided the initial funding to entice investors, as is customary throughout the world.

He stated that although the state kept 20% of the company’s shares, the new investor assumed “the full assets and liabilities of the project.”

Osagie accused Governor Monday Okpebholo of escalating the idea to judiciary and anti-graft agencies in an attempt to undermine it.

He said, “Okpebholo has taken the Radisson Project to the EFCC and has also gone to court in an endless rat chase to undermine the project in search of a reason to destroy this laudable investment initiative.”

He insisted that government officials had resorted to “propaganda as a form of media trial” after their attempts had “proven futile.”

“Investments in Benin-speaking Edo South are being crippled.”
Osagie cited a recent essay he wrote titled “Okpebholo’s attack on Benin-speaking Edo South leaves economic carcasses on his trail” to support his claims.

He claims that all of the investments that the current administration is hostile to are “curiously” concentrated in the Benin-speaking Edo South Senatorial District.

He issued a serious warning, pointing out that in addition to the larger value chains they were intended to promote, the impacted investments were positioned to directly and indirectly employ “not less than 50,000” people.

He claimed that by delaying these projects, the government had put an end to prospective economic endeavors that would have begun “one year after the Obaseki administration.”

“I doubt these five-star projects would have come under such vicious and irresponsible attacks from the Okpebholo government if they were located in Iyamho, Auchi, or even Irrua,” Osagie went on.

“Their Behavior Turns Off Investors”
The current administration’s measures, according to the previous governor’s adviser, are an attack on the trust of the business sector.

He cautioned that such behavior might deter potential investors and possibly compel current ones to move their businesses.

“They need to be reminded that the sensibilities and sensitivities of private-sector investors are directly attacked by their careless and irresponsible actions,” he stated. Osagie stated, “At the very least, it will further discourage investors from coming into the State, and in many cases, could even force those already operating in the State to seek alternative locations for their businesses.”

He emphasized that Obaseki had “neither a direct nor an indirect stake or ownership in the project” and insisted that the Radisson Hotel development was carried out in the best interest of the Edo people.

He went on, “We implore them to spare the people of Edo this distraction.” “The Radisson Hotel project was clean and executed with the people’s best interests in mind.”

“Edo People Need to Hold Okpebholo Responsible.”
Osagie concluded by advising locals to concentrate on making sure the governor fulfills his duties rather than being influenced by what he called purposeful disinformation.

“We urge the people of Edo to disregard the lies, not be distracted, remain focused, and hold Okpebholo accountable for his responsibilities to Edo people, which include protecting their lives and property and creating opportunities for them to live life to the fullest,” he stated.

“This barrage of attacks on investments in the State translates into jobs and tangible benefits for the teeming youth population of the State, many of whom are seeking opportunities to work, earn a living, and build careers,” he maintained, demanding that the administration be questioned.