Politics

Edo: Okpebholo Raises Alarm Over Obaseki’s Mysterious Disappearance

Published

5 months ago

Nov 10, 2024.

Edo State Governor-elect, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has expressed concerns over what he described as Governor Godwin Obaseki’s strange public behavior, claiming that Obaseki has effectively vanished from the state.

In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by Godspower Inegbe, Okpebholo said Edo residents are alarmed by Obaseki’s reckless remarks and called for him to assess his state of mind.

The Governor-elect raised alarm over Obaseki’s sudden disappearance, alleging that the outgoing governor left Benin City in disguise. According to the statement, Obaseki reportedly emptied the Government House on Friday before fleeing to an undisclosed location, more than 72 hours prior to his official handover.

EDITOR’S PICKS

The statement further accused Obaseki of making false statements to divert attention from what Okpebholo suggested were his intentions to secretly leave the country via the land borders.

“As of Friday, 8th of November, the whereabouts of Obaseki is unknown. He has chased everyone out of Edo State Government House. He has abandoned governance in the State, and he is on the run.

“He has escaped through the road out of Benin. He did not pass through the airport. If he is as popular as he claims, why did he not use the airport to escape? Instead, he hired a bus and disguised while escaping from Edo State.

“Obaseki is trying to push out these narratives in order to distract the public. His antics will not work. We know his plans, and we will continue to expose his shenanigans to Edo people,” the statement read.

Obaseki, on Saturday, claimed that Senator Okpebholo did not invite him to his inauguration, slated for next Tuesday.

“According to the unpopular outgoing governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo stole the mandate freely given to him by Edo people.

“In his usual myopic mind, he wants to change the narratives and set a dangerous precedent,” Okpebholo noted in a statement.

The Governor-Elect said he won the elections convincingly and added that the tribunal will soon validate his claims.

He said Obaseki would not get away with the reckless claims.

“Obaseki will not get away with this misrepresentation. Senator Monday Okpebholo, the Governor-Elect of Edo State, won the 21st September governorship election in Edo State.

“Obaseki is still licking his wounds of defeat and is yet to accept the reality. Edo people, through the ballot, rejected the planned continuation of Obaseki’s satanic government through his glorified stooge, Asue Ighodalo,” he mocked Obaseki.

Okpebholo said Obaseki is trying to influence the outcome of the ongoing case at the tribunal by making false claims.

He said the attempt will fail like a pack of cards.

He said: “The Peoples Democratic Party is already challenging the outcome of the election in court. We are therefore worried that Obaseki is in a hurry to pre-empt the outcome of the tribunal by repeatedly making false claims.

“Unfortunately for Obaseki, his baseless claims will not stand. The Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate, Ighodalo, have no case against Senator Okpebholo. The tribunal will soon confirm that.”

He warned Obaseki to desist from making false claims and reminded him of severe consequences that may follow if he does not stop.

The statement read: “Again, Obaseki also claimed that Senator Okpebholo did not invite him to the inauguration, slated for next Tuesday. This is laughable, absurd, and questionable. Since Senator Okpebholo was declared winner, Obaseki has employed every means to frustrate a peaceful transfer of power.

“As a sitting Governor, Obaseki should tell Edo people and Nigerians if he has ever invited the Governor-Elect, Senator Okpebholo to Government House for a meeting or a tour as a responsible man. Has Obaseki called Senator Okpebholo to congratulate him since he won the election?

“Obaseki should cover his face in shame, account for the billions he has misappropriated, and apologise to Edo people for under-developing the State in the last eight years.

“We urge Edo people to disregard Obaseki’s reckless statements and support the incoming administration of Senator Okpebholo to remedy the many wrongs of this government.”