Two Days To Handover: Obaseki’s Whereabouts Unknown – Okpebholo Alleges

The Edo State Governor-Elect, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has raised alarm over the whereabouts of the outgoing governor of the State, Mr Godwin Obaseki, saying that he fled the State capital, Benin City on Friday, November 8, 2024 using a disguised bus.

This was as Okebholo called on Obaseki, to seek immediate psychiatric attention, following his recent utterances and public displays.

These were contained in a statement on Sunday, November 10, 2024 signed by Godspower Inegbe, media assistant to Okpebholo, saying that Edo people were worried by Obaseki’s reckless statements and urged that his state of mind should be evaluated.

Okpebholo said 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, adding that Obaseki was making the false claims in order to shift attention away from his sinister plans to leave the country through the land borders.

He said; “As of Friday, 8th of November, the whereabouts of Obaseki were 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,” he said.

Obaseki, on Saturday, claimed that Senator Okpebholo did not invite him to his inauguration, slated for next Tuesday, adding that the Governor-elect stole a mandate.

However, Okpebholo said that outgoing Governor Obaseki needs serious and urgent psychiatric attention to evaluate his state of mind as his recent utterances and public displays should get Edo sons and daughters worried.

In his words; “In his latest diatribe, Obaseki, who has supervised one of the biggest financial heists and misappropriated resources of Edo state, is again engaging in his usual beer parlour talks.

“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”.

The statement stressed Okpebholo won the elections convincingly, adding that the tribunal will soon validate his claims and assured that Obaseki would not get away with the reckless claims.

It further said; “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 wound 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,” it said.

The incoming governor also said that Obaseki was trying to influence the outcome of the ongoing case at the tribunal by making false claims, stressing that the attempt would collapse like a pack of cards.

According to Okpebholo; “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 pre-empt 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 therefore warned Obaseki to desist from making false claims and reminded him of severe consequences that may follow if he does not stop, adding that Obaseki must be made to know that he would soon lose his immunity and would be forced to face the full wrath of the law if he did not retrace his steps.

He said; “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”.

Commenting on claim by Obaseki that he was not invited to attend the inauguration slated for next Tuesday, Okpebholo described it as laughable, absurd, and questionable, saying that since he won the election, Obaseki has employed every means to frustrate a peaceful transfer of power.

The statement said; “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? Obaseki should cover his face in shame, account for the billions he has misappropriated, and apologise to Edo people for under-developing the State in the last eight years,” the statement said.