Following allegations by the outgoing
Governor of Edo state, Mr Godwin Obaseki that he has not been invited to the
forthcoming inauguration of Senator Monday Okpebholo as Governor of the state,
the incoming governor on Sunday declared that Obaseki has been missing since
last Friday and now incommunicado.
In a statement made available to journalists on Sunday
and signed by Godspower Inegbe, Okpebholo said Edo people are worried
by Obaseki’s recent reckless utterances and urged him to evaluate his
state of mind.
The Governor-Elect in the statement raised the alarm
regarding the whereabouts of Obaseki, who on Friday reportedly fled Benin City,
the Edo State capital, using am unmarked bus.
The statement revealed that Obaseki chased out
everyone from the Government House on Friday before escaping to a yet-to-be
known location more than 72 hours before his official departure from office.
“As of Friday, 8th 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. He also
claimed without proof that the Governor-Elect has a stolen mandate.
But an angry Okpebholo said Obaseki needs serious and
urgent attention.
He said since he won the election, Obaseki has
employed every means to frustrate a peaceful transfer of power. The
Governor-elect noted that Obaseki has not extended any invitation to him for a
meeting or a tour of the Government House.
“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?
“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
precedence,” Okpebholo noted in the 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 preempt 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.
“Although Senator Okpebholo is a man of peace, we will
not sit back and allow him (Obaseki) to keep misrepresenting the true outcome
of what happened on the 21st of September.
“Obaseki will soon lose his immunity and if he
continues to make his baseless claims, he will face the full wrath of the law
very soon and he will prove his unfounded allegations when he is dragged to
court.
“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”, the statement added.
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