•Says "we are not Obaseki’s Advisers!"
From our news desk, Benin
Gov. Godwin Obaseki 
Outgoing Governor Godwin Obaseki-led government of Edo State had Alaghodaro summit as platform showcasing its economic activities and operations, with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo as the Chief driving force; Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Alaghodaro Economic Summit Ltd.
But a few days to the Governorship election holding on Saturday, 21 September, 2024, Ighodalo has said 'Alaghodalo' which means progress/forward movement in Edo language; is not an economic team of the Obaseki's administration.
Rather, it is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), contrary to speculations that Alaghodaro is the State’s ‘economic think-tank’.
Ighodalo cleared the myth surrounding the NGO’s operational protocol, but did not reveal the monetary gains for unnamed non-state actors; and members of the Board of Trustees (BoT).
Notably; 'Alaghodaro' has been behind the ruling government in its entire eight years in the State.
Reacting to public probing; the Governorship hopeful explained; 'Alaghodaro' was put together by private sector NGO where Chief Executive officers in businesses interrogate, think through, and tweak the State government policies where and when necessary in the State.
He made the clarification during a pidgin English radio interview on Tuesday morning, 17 September, 2024 in Benin.
“Let me take time to explain certain things to you. Alaghodaro is a private sector Organization like NGO. It is a private sector NGO. Our task is not that of the economic team that Oshiomhole had or in the Presidency. That one is different.
“Our responsibility is to sit with the Governor and his Advisers in Government from time to time. We are not Obaseki’s Advisers.
“But our duty is to engage the government Advisers and Commissioners as well as other Stakeholders to review government policies. Think through them and make recommendations to the government where necessary.
“Every year, we (Alaghodaro) hold summit where businesses Executives and CEOs across Nigeria are brought into the State to take a look at what the State has done. And what the government is doing. We bring our own ideas and they bring their own ideas together."
Ighodalo asserts; that strings of businesses and investments in some parts of the State, including Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of the State are among the bye products of Alaghodaro summit.
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