From Tony Osauzo, Benin
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, yesterday, announced that his administration will set up a Commission of Inquiry to look into former governor Godwin Obaseki’s records.
He announced this while speaking to party leaders, youths, market women, civil servants, professional bodies and groups in Government House shortly after a victory parade held in Benin City.
Governor Okpebholo and his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa were received when they returned from Abuja after the Supreme Court judgment that affirmed the victory of the Governor, his Deputy and the All Progressive Congress (APC) at the September 21st, 2024 governorship election.
Addressing the crowd, Governor Okpebholo thanked God for his victory at the Supreme Court, adding that it is time to work and promised that in the next two years, Edo people will know that they have a Governor.
He stated that the Obaseki-led administration used consultants to run the affairs while he allegedly looted the treasury dry.
Okpebholo revealed that his administration, while opening the books of EdoGIS, discovered that a consultant was hired and paid N6 billion and another additional N2 billion for “ordinary software.”
He further disclosed that his administration has developed its own software and has sent the consultant packing.
“I directed training of our own people who are now handling the job. We have sent the consultant away from the State, saving money to develop Edo State.
“Our civil servants are well trained. We have the best brains in the State, but Godwin Obaseki used consultants instead of utilizing the human resources in the State. We are saving money today as a Government because we are using the civil servants to do the jobs consultants were formerly doing.
“We are just about eight months in office, but by the time we are two years in office, Edo people will know they have a Governor who is ready to work for the interest of the people”, Governor Okpebholo stated and thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who he said stood his ground and ensured the right thing was done.
He added that his stands to ensure that the people of Edo State enjoy the dividends of democracy under his leadership as President of Nigeria.
Governor Okpebholo assured Edo people that his administration would open the books to check the dealings of the previous administration, led by Godwin Obaseki.
“I will open the books to check the financial dealings and how Obaseki governed Edo State in the last eight years. A university in this State received N47 million under Obaseki’s administration, while he paid consultant N51 million. This was not good enough. They wanted to continue with this act, but God helped us to push them out.
“Since I came into the office, I have not sacked anybody but rather continue with the civil servants I met in the office. The Head of Service during Obaseki’s administration is still working with me. So also with a lot of Permanent Secretaries in the civil service,” he noted.
He said his administration will set up a Commission of Inquiry and the books of the previous administration will be opened and officials of that administration will be interrogated on how they governed Edo people in the last eight years.
“Edo was tired of transactional people and thieves, but now we will look into their records. I will take two years out of eight years, and Edo people will see the difference. We will set up a Commission of Inquiry to look into the books and dealings of the previous administration. We will open interrogation to check their records.
“They have finished fighting us, and now I am ready to fight back and ensure that all those that cheated Edo people in the last eight years are all brought to book,” he said.
Governor Okpebholo told APC supportes that Asue Ighodalo and his party kept money for the election as well as for court cases but that God disappointed them, adding “The people voted for me as their Governor, and the various courts affirmed the mandate. The Supreme Court judgment is the final as the five judges ruled in my favour.”
The Governor, Dennis Idahosa, who was also excited at the Supreme Court ruling, commended the Governor for helping the party win the various stages of court cases, stating that it is now time to be focused and work for Edo people.
Meanwhile, jubilant supporters of Governor Monday Okpebholo, were stunned following a reported order to prevent them from processing into the Edo State Government House with the governor.
The supporters which includes market women and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), had gathered at the Benin Airport around about 7am, to give the governor a rousing welcome after the governor’s
resounding triumph in the 2024 governorship election legal dispute at the Supreme Court.
Okpebholo whose aircraft touched down the Benin Airport at about 12.40pm was welcome by the supporters amid jubilantion. Many of them who were not mobile, proceeded on foot in a road procession with his motorcade, singing solidarity songs.
The procession, which lasted for about an hour, terminated at the Government House were the supporters were informed by security operatives that only Very Important Personalities (VIPs) would be allowed in for refreshments.
This infuriated the supporters who took turns to lament the development, with many raining insults on the authories.
One of the supporters who identified herself as Mrs. Ebosele Omogiate said
“They have won now and have decided to build a wall around themselves”.
Another supporters said “I left my house before 7am for the airport and stood under the sun for hours before the arrival of the governor.
“We engaged on a road show with the him to the government house, only for us to be shut out. This treatment meted on us is unfair”.
