Governor Obaseki’s recruitment drive for 4000 teachers faces criticism from Edo APC, who claim it’s a targeted trap for Okpebholo.
With fewer than 20 days remaining in Godwin Obaseki’s tenure as the governor of Edo State, the All Progressives Congress transition committee has accused his administration of setting obstacles for Monday Okpebholo’s incoming government by hiring 4,000 teachers.
According to Peoplesmind, Prince Kassim Afegbua, a member of the APC Transition Committee, issued an accusation on Sunday through a statement released to journalists in Benin City.
Afegbua, formerly the Media Director for the All Progressives Congress Campaign Council, expressed his view that the outgoing government’s recruitment of teachers was an attempt to overburden the system for those coming into power.
He believes that the outgoing governor’s supposed recruitment of 4,000 teachers is done in bad faith.
Throughout his tenure as Chief Executive of Edo State, Governor Obaseki was unable to hire any teachers to revitalize the state’s educational interest.
We are, nevertheless, disheartened by the late realization towards the end of his administration that the education sector is now in need of teachers.
It is important to inform the public, especially those supposedly hired as teachers, to ignore this initiative. They should view it as another political tactic by Governor Obaseki, who has been accused of using EdoBest to deceive citizens, the World Bank, and other donor agencies.
“He claimed that the individual utilized the project solely to boost his own image and those of his associates. If he truly had good intentions for the state, this recruitment should have been conducted well before now when his scheme was exposed.”
Afegbua observed that the recruitment has reinforced the APC’s stance, suggesting that the EdoBest project was a deception and not beneficial for either the people of Edo or its educational system.
He claimed that the outgoing Governor Obaseki exploited the project for personal gain, jeopardizing the future of the state’s children.
Afegbua noted that when Governor Obaseki took office in 2016, he abruptly halted the recruitment of 2,500 teachers initiated by his predecessor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. This decision was allegedly driven by animosity towards those who had aided him in gaining power.
He stated, however, that Senator Okpebholo’s incoming administration would adhere to due process in recruiting teachers—a commitment he had consistently upheld throughout his campaign.
He stated that Senator Okpebholo is committed to recruiting teachers based on their dedication to improving Edo State for the children, rather than partisan considerations. Engaging in political maneuvers during teacher recruitment would be one of the greatest disservices a governor could leave as a legacy.
He reaffirmed his stance, stating that EdoBest has consistently been a deceptive initiative of the Obaseki administration.
Peoplesmind
