By Tyowase Aondover
Ahead his inauguration on Tuesday this week as Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo has warned outgoing Governor Godwin Obasaki to desist from false narratives that he holds a stolen mandate, accusing him of being on the run.
Senator okpebholo also said that Governor Obasaki’s claims of being left out of the inauguration ceremony were spurious.
The Governor-elect said that Obaseki has already escaped the state through the Edo land boarders to an unknown destination ahead the inauguration.
Accusing the outgoing Governor of fat financial sleaze and malfeasance, Senator Okpebholo warned of dare consequences awaiting such recklessness and wilful under- development tendencies .
In a statement signed by his aide, Godspower Iregbe, the Governor-elect also called for a psychiatric evaluation of Governor Obasaki, describing his actions as shameful.
Godspower Inegbe, Okpebholo also said the Edo people are increasingly concerned about the continued uncoated and unguarded public display of recklessness by the outgoing Governor designed to malign, cast aspersions and basically divert attention.
The statement further raised the alarm regarding the whereabouts of Obaseki, adding that he reportedly fled Benin City, the Edo State capital, using a disguised bus last Friday .
The statement said that Obaseki chased out everyone from the Government House before escaping to a yet-to-be known location more than 72 hours before his official departure from office.
The statement further noted that Obaseki is making the false claims to shift attention away from his sinister plans to leave the country through the land borders.
“As of Friday, 8th of 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 said.
Obaseki, on Saturday, claimed that Senator Okpebholo did not invite him to his inauguration, slated for next Tuesday. He also claimed without proof that the Governor-Elect has a stolen mandate.
“In his latest diatribe, Obaseki, who has supervised one of the biggest financial heist 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,” Okpebholo noted in a statement.
The Governor-Elect said he won the elections convincingly and added that the tribunal will soon validate his claims. He said Obaseki would not get away with the reckless 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 said Obaseki is trying to influence the outcome of the ongoing case at the tribunal by making false claims. He said the attempt will fail like a pack of cards.
He said: “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 warned Obaseki to desist from making false claims and reminded him of severe consequences that may follow if he does not stop.
Senator Okpebholo reminded Obaseki that he will soon lose his immunity and will therefore be forced to face the full wrath of the law if he does not retrace his steps.
“Although Senator Okpebholo is a man of peace, we will not sit back and allow him to keep misrepresenting the true outcome of what happened on the 21st of September.
“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,” Okpebholo warned in the statement.
Reacting to another claim by Obaseki that he was not invited to attend the inauguration slated for next Tuesday, Okpebholo described it as laughable, absurd, and questionable.
He said that since he won the election, Obaseki has employed every means to frustrate a peaceful transfer of power. The Governor-elect noted that Obaseki has not extended any invitation to him for a meeting or a tour of the Government House.
The statement reads: “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?
“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.
“We urge Edo people to disregard Obaseki’s reckless statements and support the incoming administration of Senator Okpebholo to remedy the many wrongs of this government.”
