Okpebholo vows to probe Obaseki’s tenure

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo state has restated his plan to probe the administration of his predecessor, Godwin Obaseki. On Thursday, a five-member panel of the Supreme Court, in the lead judgment delivered by Justice Lawal Garba, held that the Candidate of the People Democratic Party, Asue Ighodalo, failed to prove allegations of over-voting, non-compliance with […]

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo state has restated his plan to probe the administration of his predecessor, Godwin Obaseki.

On Thursday, a five-member panel of the Supreme Court, in the lead judgment delivered by Justice Lawal Garba, held that the Candidate of the People Democratic Party, Asue Ighodalo, failed to prove allegations of over-voting, non-compliance with the Electoral Act, and other infractions cited as grounds to challenge Okpebholo’s electoral victory.

Speaking to party leaders, youths, market women, civil servants, professional bodies and groups during a victory parade held on Friday in Government House, Benin City, Edo State, the governor said he would set up a Commission of Inquiry to look into Obaseki’s records.

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He alleged that the Obaseki-led administration used consultants to run the affairs while he looted the treasury dry.

“While opening the books of EdoGIS, I discovered that a consultant was hired and paid N6 billion and another additional N2 billion for ordinary software,” he said.

He noted that his administration has developed its own software and has sent the consultant packing.

“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.

“I will open the books to check the financial dealings and how Obaseki governed Edo State in the last eight years. officials of that administration will be interrogated on how they governed Edo people

“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 said.

This is coming after the Senator representing Edo north, Adams Oshiomhole, called on governor Okpebholo to investigate Obaseki’s tenure.

He spoke at an event on to celebrate the Supreme Court judgement.

Oshiomhole, also a former governor of the Edo and Obaseki’s predecessor, said now that the supreme court judgement has been made, Okpebholo now has time “to look at that hotel where Edo state money in tens of billions of dollars was taken”.