Edo Govt doubles down on claims that Okpebholo spent N5bn on inauguration

Edo Govt also noted that the decision of the incoming government to exclude Gov Obaseki from its inauguration shows how “petty“ it is

By Kehinde Okeowo

The Edo State Government has once again chided the Governor-elect, Monday Okpebholo, for spending N5 billion on his inauguration ceremony.

The latest criticism was conveyed via a
statement issued by the Special Adviser to the governor on Media Projects, Crusoe Osagie.

In the statement, he advised Okpebholo and his aides to focus on organizing the governor-elect’s inauguration ceremony and leave the outgoing governor, Godwin Obaseki, out of their ‘petty politics’.

The Edo govt further noted that it was regrettable that the new administration was starting on the sorry note of lavishing the state’s resources on the November 12 inauguration instead of thinking of how to hit the ground running.

It also noted that the decision of the incoming government to exclude Gov Obaseki from its inauguration reveals its pettiness

ALSO READ: APC replies Obaseki, explains why outgoing gov was not invited to Okpebholo’s inauguration

“It is quite telling that we are back to the era where unconscionable spending sprees, jamborees and parties are the preoccupation of government in Edo State.

“It is unheard of that the governor was not invited to the inauguration ceremony, which reveals the level of pettiness that would prevail in this new dispensation.

“The incoming government has made commitments to the vendors to the tune of N5bn in official capacity with many more expenses expected to be incurred on November 12, the day of the inauguration.

“It would indeed be a very sad day for Edo people who have hitherto witnessed prudent and judicious use of public funds to drive economic development in the state, to have their resources frittered in this manner.”

The Edo Govt added that the incoming government was throwing tantrums about the professional manner that the government had wound down as against the old practice where there would be wanton vandalism of government property and assets.

“We have maintained decorum in the handing over process and the incoming government is having none of it because they also intended to stage a heist of government assets with the intention to point fingers at the outgoing government.

“Today, they’ve been disappointed and they’re now seeking out Obaseki for blames. We are not surprised. In fact, we would only have been perplexed if they didn’t go this route in attempting to malign the government,” Osagie added.

TheNiche had earlier reported that the All Progressives Congress (APC) transition committee on Sunday justified its decision not to invite the outgoing Edo State Governor, Obaseki to the inauguration of the governor-elect, Okpebholo.

Speaking via a statement made available to journalists in Benin City, titled, “Obaseki and his lamentations”, a member of the APC transition committee, Kassim Afegbua, claimed the governor was left out because he was frustrating the inauguration ceremony.

He also refuted claims that the APC borrowed taken between N2 billion and N5 billion to finance Okpebholo’s inauguration.