Benin: opposition demands parliamentary investigation following Paulin Akponna’s revelations

While visiting the North, Paulin Akponna publicly condemned what he called a “crime against the Republic”. Entire neighborhoods in Parakou were deprived of water and electricity, even though tens of billions had been mobilized by the state since 2016 to solve these problems. The minister pointed the finger at the “siphoners of the national budget”, without naming names, but implying that political officials who were in charge of this sector have taken the resources. This statement implicitly targets former minister Séidou Adambi, also a member of the Republican Bloc.

Also read: Benin: Paulin Akponna officially dismissed after his revelations in Parakou

In the face of these serious declarations coming from a member of the power structure itself, Les Démocrates quickly reacted. Led by their leader, Nourénou Atchadé, the opposition deputies submitted a resolution proposal for the establishment of a parliamentary investigation commission. This commission, composed of “competent and impartial” parliamentarians, would be in charge of thoroughly examining the conditions of executing water and electricity projects in Parakou, and auditing the use of related funds. The commission’s work would span over three months, culminating in a report to be presented in a plenary session.

For the opposition, this is not just about exploiting a gap in government discourse, but answering a crucial question: where did the public money intended to improve the living conditions of the population go?

A Discomfort within the Republican Bloc

Politically, this affair reveals crossfire within the majority. By directly attacking those from his own side, Paulin Akponna sets off a shockwave. For Séidou Adambi, the former Minister in charge of the incriminated sector, is a prominent figure in the Republican Bloc, as is Akponna himself. This public charge hints at an internal settling of scores, in a context where territorial and leadership rivalries are stirring up the presidential movement as elections loom.

The question becomes particularly acute. Was Paulin Akponna speaking as a minister of the Republic or as a political activist crusading against his internal opponents? Officially, he wore his minister-in-charge-of-energy hat, but his explicit references to the Republican Bloc and the presumed ambitions of certain local players suggest a calculated political move. A way of reminding everyone that the party should no longer serve as a shield for those betraying their republican mission.