Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The Henry Seriake Dickson (HSD) Movement, also known as the Ofurumapepe Movement, Edo State chapter, has described the recent trip to the United Kingdom by the Edo State Government, led by Governor Monday Okpebholo, as an unnecessary and wasteful use of taxpayers’ money, arguing that the expenditure comes at a time when the state is facing significant economic and social challenges.
The Edo State coordinator of the group, Comrade Emmanuel Ogbidi expressed his resentment in a statement made available to journalists in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
According to the movement, it is deeply concerning that what was presented as a diaspora engagement reportedly involved a large number of political appointees, including commissioners, political aides, special assistants, senior special assistants, and other government officials, who were sponsored to the UK for over a week.
The movement questioned the rationale behind taking what it described as “almost the entire state cabinet” to a diaspora event, arguing that such engagements ordinarily require only the governor and a limited number of relevant government officials, alongside members of the Edo diaspora.
“It is difficult to justify such a massive government delegation when Edo State is facing serious challenges, including poor road infrastructure, youth unemployment, insecurity, hunger, and other developmental issues demanding urgent attention and prudent management of public resources,” the statement said.
The HSD Movement further argued that, based on its observation of the activities held in Barking, London. The trip did not produce any significant investment commitments or measurable economic benefits capable of justifying the enormous public expenditure.
“What Edo people witnessed was nothing more than a gathering of government officials and political appointees outside the country, with little or no visible return on investment,” the movement stated.
Consequently, the movement called on the Edo State Government to provide full accountability regarding the trip by making public the total cost incurred.
“We demand that the Okpebholo administration publish the complete financial details of the UK trip.
“Edo people deserve to know how much of their hard-earned tax revenue was spent sponsoring government officials on this foreign engagement.”
The group also called for transparency on the number of government officials who participated in the trip and vow to investigate whether all those sponsored have since returned to Nigeria or absconded.
Beyond financial accountability, the movement maintained that the resources expended on the overseas trip could have been invested in projects with direct impact on the lives of Edo people, including road rehabilitation, youth empowerment programmes, technological training, support for women entrepreneurs, and improved public services.
“It is disappointing that, at a time when governments across the world are adopting measures to reduce the cost of governance, the Edo State Government appears to be expanding public expenditure on foreign trips whose benefits remain unclear.”
The HSD Movement further described the development as evidence of misplaced priorities and urged the government to embrace greater fiscal discipline in the management of public funds.
The movement also appealed to Edo people and Nigerians to remain vigilant and demand greater accountability from elected leaders as the country moves closer to the 2027 general elections.
According to the group, citizens must continue to support leaders who demonstrate prudence, transparency, and a genuine commitment to addressing the welfare of the people rather than engaging in what it described as extravagant government spending.
The HSD Movement concluded by calling on the Okpebholo administration to end what it described as wasteful spending and channel public funds into programmes and projects that provide meaningful and measurable benefits to the people of Edo State.
