With two days to hand over in Edo State, the incoming Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has declared Governor Godwin Obaseki missing in Benin, the state capital since last Friday.
But Obaseki Okpebholo was yet to invite him to the Tuesday’s inauguration of the incoming All Progressives Congress (APC).
However a statement by Okpebholo’s spokesperson, Godspower Inegbe in Abuja, said the governor-elect raised the alarm on the whereabouts of Obaseki, alleged to have fled Benin City on Friday in an unmarked bus.
Okpebholo accused Obaseki of chasing away everyone from the Government House on Friday before escaping to a unknown 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 reads.
Okpebholo said since he won the election, Obaseki has been frustrating a peaceful transfer of power.
The Governor-elect accused Obaseki of not inviting 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?”
Okpebholo dismissed Obaseki’s claim over a stolen mandate, saying “Obaseki needs a serious and urgent attention,” adding that he won the elections convincingly which the tribunal will soon validate his 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 accused Obaseki of trying to influence the outcome of the ongoing case at the tribunal by making false claims, adding that such will fail like a pack of cards.
According to him: “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.”
