🛑 Edo Governor Suspends Adviser After Unauthorized Fundraising for Oil & Gas Summit

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has suspended his Special Adviser on Oil and Gas, Felix Osemwengie Isere, following allegations that he solicited funds for an upcoming Oil & Gas Summit without official authorization.

🚨 What Led to the Suspension?

  1. The aide had been raising funds in the name of the Edo State Government, promoting a summit slated to start on August 7, 2025, in Benin City.
  2. Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Umar Ikhilor announced the suspension and demanded immediate reimbursement of all donations collected by Isere.
  3. Potential donors were also warned to halt further dealings with the suspended official.

❌ Summit Put on Hold

In light of the controversy, Governor Okpebholo ordered the immediate cancellation of the summit, which had been intended to bring together stakeholders in oil and gas. This underscores that no official summit will proceed under the current circumstances.

✅ What This Means

  1. The swift action taken by Okpebholo highlights a zero-tolerance stance toward misuse of governmental association for fundraising, reinforcing expectations of transparency and integrity within his administration.
  2. The incident has prompted questions about vetting and oversight mechanisms for advisers and event-related fundraising.


🔍 Why It Matters

Key IssueWhy It’s Significant
Unauthorized fund‑raisingRisks reputational damage and misuse of government authority
Summit cancellationDisrupts planning and stakeholder engagement
Governance & oversightRaises concerns over internal controls and accountability




Governor Okpebholo’s decisive move, including both suspension and event shutdown, sends a strong message: misuse of official titles for personal or informal fundraising will not be tolerated.




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