The outgoing Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of borrowing between N2 billion and N5 billion to finance the upcoming inauguration of the state’s new governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo.
Obaseki made the allegation on Friday at the inauguration of a 10-man caretaker committee for the state’s chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in Benin City.
According to Obaseki, the incoming administration has already begun to tap into the state’s resources, including borrowing significant amounts for the inauguration, which he described as extravagant.
“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,” Obaseki said.
He expressed his frustration over the lack of consultation with his administration and claimed that neither he nor his officials had been invited to the inauguration event scheduled for Tuesday, November 12, 2024.
“It is like they are starting a brand new government and a brand new state,” he added. The APC’s Okpebholo defeated the PDP’s Asue Ighodalo in the September 2024 governorship election.
Obaseki also criticized the financial management of the incoming administration, asserting that they were misappropriating funds meant for critical projects and other state obligations.
“We have almost N27 billion to pay for projects and obligations, but they have started spending it,” he lamented. The governor, who will officially leave office on November 12, also warned that the APC’s actions could jeopardize the state’s finances.
In his remarks, Obaseki reaffirmed his commitment to the PDP and assured party members that he would not abandon them. “I will never leave the party. I will remain to give advice,” he said. He also vowed that the PDP would work to reclaim what he described as their “stolen mandate” in the state.
READ ALSO: Aisha Yesufu lists Obaseki’s sins after PDP’s failure at Edo guber elections
Meanwhile, the PDP’s candidate in the September governorship election, Asue Ighodalo, called on party members to prepare for a legal battle to contest the election results. “We expect them to reply to our petition next week. We also have five days to reply to their petition,” Ighodalo noted. He urged the party to remain steadfast as they worked toward reclaiming their mandate through the courts.
The APC, in a recent statement, also accused Obaseki of misappropriating state funds, alleging that N14 billion out of a recent N24.6 billion deposit into the Edo State Government account was siphoned in just one week. The APC further raised concerns over Obaseki’s approval of multiple supplementary budgets, totaling billions of naira, during his final year in office. “The total amount squandered during his tenure has reportedly neared the staggering sum of 2 trillion Naira,” the statement alleged.
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