The outgoing Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has borrowed money to fund the inauguration of the Governor-elect, Senator Monday Okpebholo, slated for November 12.
Obaseki who made the remark in Benin City during the inauguration of a caretaker committee for the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), added that the inauguration will cost the APC between N2 billion and N5 billion.
The outgoing governor, who was sworn in on November 12, 2016, is due to hand over to Okpebholo on Tuesday, November 12.
Okpebholo, candidate of the APC had defeated the candidate of the PDP, Asue Ighodalo, in the September 21, 2024, governorship election.
Obaseki stated that the APC did not carry his government along or invite him for the inauguration.
“We have almost N27 billion to pay for projects and obligations, but they have started blowing it, and they have gone to borrow money for the inauguration which is going to cost them N2 to N5 billion. That is the money they will first take from the treasury.
“In this holiday period, they will want to spend as much money as possible to confuse the people. They are going to struggle to change their perception.
“They are doing an inauguration and the governor is not even invited. It is like they are starting a brand-new government and a brand-new state,” he said.
He assured the party members that he would remain in the party to give advice.
“We will get our stolen mandate back for the sake of Nigeria because if we allow the APC to go with our stolen mandate, it will mark the end of democracy in Nigeria. This fight is not for our candidate but for the people of Nigeria and our nation’s democracy,” he said.
But a member of the APC transition committee, Prince Kassim Afegbua, dismissed Obaseki’s claim that APC was already spending part of the N27 billion Obaseki saved for the payment of ongoing projects.
“Is that not an indictment on his government that a government that is supposed to organise inauguration for us is running away?
“Is Donald Trump going to inaugurate himself? Is it not an outgoing government that should inaugurate an incoming one? Does it make sense that somebody coming in is the one who will organise his own event?
“That they’ve been running away is not enough that we are not inviting him when they’re not forthcoming,” he said.
In a related development, Obaseki has dissolved the state executive council ahead of Okpebholo’s inauguration as the new governor of the state.
Obaseki dissolved the cabinet shortly after a valedictory at the Government House in Benin, the Edo State capital.
Speaking, the governor commended members of the council for helping him in driving the government’s vision of making Edo great again.
He also commended the people of the state for “supporting, praying, and collaborating” with his administration throughout his tenure.
Adibe Emenyonu
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