Etsako Central Stakeholders Petition Okpebholo Over Alleged Neglect, Possible Sale Of Earthmoving Equipment

Concerned stakeholders in Etsako Central Local Government Area of Edo State have petitioned Governor Monday Okpebholo, calling for the immediate investigation, recovery and deployment of earthmoving equipment reportedly provided for rural development in the area.

The petition, signed by Adams Erepo (FCAI) on behalf of the Etsako Central Local Government Stakeholders for Development, was addressed to the governor through the Commissioner for Works and Urban Development.

The stakeholders said the tractor and caterpillar/earthmoving equipment were provided as part of efforts to improve grassroots development, particularly the opening and rehabilitation of rural roads and the connection of communities that have remained inaccessible or poorly connected.

However, they alleged that the equipment was not meaningfully deployed for the intended purpose during the previous administration of the local government.

According to the petitioners, Etsako Central has several rural communities in need of accessible roads, noting that poor road infrastructure continues to affect farmers transporting agricultural produce, pupils travelling to schools and residents seeking access to healthcare, markets and other essential services.

They described the situation as unacceptable, arguing that public equipment provided to address developmental challenges should not remain underutilised while communities continue to face serious infrastructure deficits.

Of particular concern to the stakeholders are reports of an alleged plan by the previous local government administration to sell or otherwise dispose of the equipment.

The petitioners, however, stressed that they were not presenting the allegation as an established fact, but insisted that its seriousness warranted an official investigation by the Edo State Government.

They consequently urged Governor Okpebholo to establish whether any attempt was made to sell, transfer or dispose of the equipment, whether approval was sought for such action, who authorised or contemplated it, and where the machines are currently located.

They also called for the mechanical condition of the equipment to be professionally assessed and for the government to establish who currently has custody and control of the machines.

The stakeholders further urged the governor to ensure that no unauthorised sale, transfer, private utilisation, abandonment or diversion of the public assets takes place pending the conclusion of the proposed investigation.

They said the transition to a new administration at the local government level should provide an opportunity to correct past shortcomings rather than allow public assets to disappear without proper documentation.

“Public assets must not disappear into administrative silence,” the petitioners stated, while stressing that any investigation should determine whether the machines had been neglected, misused, rendered defective or subjected to any attempted disposal.

The group also used the petition to express concern over what it described as the complacent attitude of some political representatives towards the developmental challenges confronting Etsako Central.

They said representation should go beyond occupying political offices, attending official functions and appearing during election periods, arguing that elected representatives must actively advocate for the needs of their constituents.

According to them, representatives at the federal, state and local government levels should demand explanations whenever public assets meant for their constituents are lying idle.

They specifically urged political representatives to ask questions about the location, custody, condition and utilisation of the earthmoving equipment, as well as the communities and roads that have benefited from them.

The stakeholders emphasised that the matter should not be viewed through partisan political lenses, saying development should be prioritised irrespective of political affiliation.

“This should not be an issue of APC, PDP, Labour, NDC or any other political platform. Development has no political party,” they said.

The petitioners therefore called on the governor to direct the Ministry of Works and Urban Development to carry out an immediate physical verification and inspection of the equipment and produce a formal report on their location, ownership, custody and mechanical condition.

They also requested an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the non-utilisation of the machines under the previous local government administration, including any proposed sale, disposal or transfer.

Among other demands, the stakeholders asked the state government to immediately deploy the equipment for rural road opening and rehabilitation across Etsako Central, subject to a properly designed work programme.

They further requested the preparation of a prioritised list of communities and roads requiring urgent intervention, proper maintenance and professional management of the equipment, as well as periodic public reporting on their utilisation.

The stakeholders stressed that they were not seeking another commissioning ceremony but tangible development that would enable residents to see the machines working on roads across the local government area.

“We want the machines physically located. We want their condition professionally assessed. We want their ownership and custody established. We want their operational status documented,” they stated.

They added that the people needed to see the caterpillar clearing roads and the tractor working, rather than merely seeing photographs of officials standing beside government equipment.

The group described the petition as a call for development and accountability rather than a political witch-hunt, stressing that the equipment remained public property regardless of changes in political or administrative leadership.

“A change of government does not change the ownership of public assets. They remain assets of the people,” the petitioners said.

They consequently appealed to Governor Okpebholo to ensure that the equipment is located, inspected, properly accounted for and deployed for the benefit of communities in Etsako Central.

The stakeholders said that if reports of an attempted sale were unfounded, an official investigation would establish that fact, while any wrongdoing uncovered should attract appropriate action.

They concluded by urging the governor to ensure that the machines are put to productive use, saying the people of Etsako Central “do not want excuses” but accessible communities, motorable rural roads and tangible evidence of government development efforts.