Benin, Edo – A prominent civic technology platform has ignited a firestorm of public outrage by calling for an immediate federal investigation into former Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki's administration, accusing it of siphoning public resources to enrich a select group of at least 10 "instant billionaires" while leaving the state's infrastructure in ruins.

In a scathing thread posted early Saturday on X (formerly Twitter), MonITNG – a watchdog dedicated to tracking public projects and exposing governance lapses tagged Nigeria's anti-corruption heavyweights, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), demanding forensic audits of contracts awarded during Obaseki's eight-year tenure from 2016 to 2023.

The viral post hinges on a purported boast by Osaro Ogbeide Ifaluyi-Isibor, Obaseki's former Commissioner for Digital Economy, Science, and Technology.

In a comment under a social media post by celebrity aide Israel DMW, Ifaluyi-Isibor allegedly claimed the ex-governor "made over 10 people billionaires" during his time in office.

MonITNG branded the remark not as mere bravado but a "direct acknowledgment" of systemic graft, urging investigators to unmask the beneficiaries and trace the flow of funds.

"This isn't just a brag; it's a confession that demands accountability," the thread declared, contrasting the alleged windfalls for an "inner circle" with the "dire straits" faced by ordinary Edo residents.

It spotlighted rural communities in Udomi, Okpella, Orhionmwon, Esan, Ikpoba-Okha, Ovia, Etsako, and Akoko-Edo as "trapped in underdevelopment," plagued by pothole-riddled roads, abandoned projects, crumbling schools, and failing healthcare systems.

At the heart of the accusations is the Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (EDOBEST) program, Obaseki's signature initiative that reportedly swallowed billions in state and donor funds but yielded minimal results.

"Pupils sit on bare floors, roofs leak, walls crack beyond repair, and teachers lack basic materials," MonITNG charged, questioning why "the majority of Edo public schools remain unchanged, neglected, and unfit for learning" despite the massive outlay.

The post was amplified by stark visuals of the screenshots of Ifaluyi-Isibor's alleged comment and photos of dilapidated classrooms, evoking echoes of past scandals where ambitious reforms fizzled into hype. Speculation has swirled around rigged contracts in tech, infrastructure, and real estate sectors, with MonITNG posing five burning questions for probe agencies:

Who are the 10 individuals, and what multimillion-naira contracts were they awarded in roads, schools, or digital projects?

Were those projects ever completed, or did funds evaporate, leaving "abandoned legacies"?

Did procurement processes adhere to transparency rules, or were they manipulated to favor associates?

Why were rural communities left to rot while insiders allegedly prospered?

How did public coffers fuel private fortunes amid stalled development?

"Edo State belongs to its people, not a privileged inner circle," the thread concluded, rallying citizens to demand justice.

Obaseki, 69, who exited office in November 2023 after two terms as a self-proclaimed reformist, has faced mounting scrutiny over his legacy.

His administration touted tech-driven overhauls and economic growth, claiming to have ballooned the state's GDP from $10 billion to over $26 billion through investments in agriculture, energy, and education.

However, critics point to a ballooning debt exceeding N200 billion by his departure and uneven progress that favored urban centers over rural heartlands.

This latest salvo adds fuel to ongoing probes, including the Edo State House of Assembly's ad-hoc committee scrutinizing the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) project, another Obaseki flagship where state officials recently alleged N3.8 billion in unaccounted funds.

Ifaluyi-Isibor, a tech entrepreneur and staunch Obaseki ally, has not yet responded to the mounting tags and backlash.

As the post trends amid broader frustrations over unkept promises, civil society groups have echoed MonITNG's call for swift action.

The EFCC and ICPC have yet to comment, but the accusations underscore deepening rifts in Edo's post-Obaseki era, where transparency battles threaten to overshadow the state's push for renewal under current Governor Monday Okpebholo.