Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has taken decisive action by suspending his Special Adviser on Oil and Gas, Felix Osemwengie Isere, over alleged unauthorized fundraising activities related to a proposed oil and gas summit. The summit, which was scheduled to hold from August 7, has now been cancelled indefinitely following what the state government described as a serious breach of official protocol.
The development was made public on Tuesday via a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Ikhilor, who described the unauthorized fundraising drive as “a breach of trust and due process.”
According to the SSG, Governor Okpebholo ordered that all funds collected from donors by the suspended adviser be refunded immediately, warning prospective donors to cease all interactions or financial dealings with Mr. Isere regarding the cancelled event.
“Due to the breach, the proposed summit is suspended, and Isere is directed to refund all monies collected from donors for the event. Prospective donors are hereby advised to stop all dealings with the suspended adviser,” the SSG’s statement read.
The now-shelved oil and gas summit was intended to spotlight investment opportunities and energy developments in Edo State, a region with significant stakes in Nigeria’s upstream and downstream sectors. However, insiders suggest that Mr. Isere allegedly bypassed required government procedures and began soliciting funds without formal approval or transparency protocols—raising questions about accountability within the administration.
Although the government has not disclosed the exact amount collected or names of donors involved, sources close to the matter say millions of naira may have exchanged hands under questionable terms. The development has sent shockwaves through the state’s energy and investment community, which had been preparing for the event as a key policy platform.
Several governance advocacy groups in Edo and across Nigeria have praised Governor Okpebholo’s swift action, calling it a much-needed stance against public sector misconduct.
Civic Accountability Network (CAN), a local watchdog group, commended the governor for “setting a strong precedent.” “This is the kind of leadership that deters abuse of office. We urge the administration to extend the same zero-tolerance approach to other sectors,” said CAN director, Judith Osaze.
With the suspension of the summit, some analysts believe the delay could slow down planned private-public investment drives in the state’s energy infrastructure. However, others argue that cleaning up internal processes will benefit the state in the long term.
“Confidence in the integrity of governance processes is vital if Edo is to attract credible investors. Halting the summit now is better than allowing it to be tainted by scandal,” said Dr. Moses Aguele, a political economist based in Benin City.
The government has yet to name a replacement for the embattled adviser, and investigations into the fundraising breach may extend beyond Mr. Isere, depending on what audits reveal. There are calls from transparency advocates for the state government to release a full financial statement of donor funds already received, even as Isere’s political future appears uncertain.
As of press time, Mr. Felix Isere has not issued a public statement in response to his suspension