Following the visit of Governor Godwin Obaseki to the burnt auto spare parts market in Uwelu, Benin City, an eight man panel of inquiry has been inaugurated by the state government. The inauguration took place last Thursday August 15.
According to a release signed by the Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki on media, Mr. Osagie Crusoe, the panel is headed by the Special Adviser on Political Matters, Hon. Osaigbovo Iyoha. The release also stated that the panel of inquiry which was handed one week, commenced work immediately.
Reacting to the criticism of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Crusoe maintained that “this is standard practice with an emergency of that scale. It is not true that our response to such a massive fire incident that destroyed huge investments in a major sector of the auto industry is ‘a cliché’ as erroneously stated by Chris Nehikhare, Publicity Secretary of the Edo State Chapter of People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
“We consider the inferno a major setback for the economy and an emergency that deserves the state government’s attention.
“Though, it is Governor Obaseki’s style to allow development to speak for itself, we however wish to inform Nehikhare that the state fire service is undergoing revamp just like several other sectors of the state.
“Plans to procure new trucks from Innoson Motors are at an advanced stage and the integrated revamp will correct the observed gaps in the response rate of the state fire service to emergencies.
“What Nehikhare failed to mention in his press statement is the fact that the PDP did not leave any foundation for the APC-led government to build on, with respect to managing emergencies like the Uwelu fire incident.
“Edo people and residents feel the impact of the Obaseki-led government where ever they live and it is not true that governance in the state is suffering.
“Roads and other infrastructure are being built, enduring policies and programmes are being designed and executed across all sectors, to address the developmental challenges of our people on a daily basis.” The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy insisted.