The Edo State Government and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are locked in a heated exchange over Governor Monday Okpebholo’s plans to investigate the alleged $10 million expenditure by the immediate past administration on the state-owned Nigerian Observer newspaper.
During an inspection of the newspaper’s premises on Tuesday, Governor Okpebholo expressed shock upon discovering that he and his team could not gain access to the buildings where printing machines, purportedly procured by the former administration, were supposed to be housed. His reaction hinted at a looming probe into the spending under former Governor Godwin Obaseki.
However, the PDP’s State Publicity Secretary of the Caretaker Committee, Chris Nehikhare, dismissed the governor’s remarks as laughable. He questioned why Okpebholo, as the Chief Executive of Edo State, could claim he was unable to access his own property.
Nehikhare stated, “We read with utter amazement a comical press statement issued by Senator Monday Okpebholo, where he claimed that he wanted to probe the effort of the past administration of Godwin Obaseki in the transformation of the Nigerian Observer newspaper.
“What was most laughable about the jaundiced statement is that as the Chief Executive Officer of Edo State and, by implication, the landlord of the Nigerian Observer, the governor claimed that he could not gain access to his own property and did not meet anyone at the establishment when he visited.”
Nehikhare further accused the governor of behaving like a newcomer in government, despite having been in office for over four months. He recalled that Okpebholo had sacked all Nigerian Observer staff just four days after assuming office, questioning why he expected to meet them at the premises.
“We call on Okpebholo to get his act together for the short period he will occupy Osadebey Avenue as governor and to responsibly serve the people of Edo State,” Nehikhare added.
In response, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Fred Itua, dismissed the PDP’s comments as ignorant and misleading. He clarified that the governor’s concern was not about the refurbished equipment but rather about the $10 million allocated to the newspaper shortly before the 2024 governorship election.
“The PDP’s latest press release is another embarrassing display of ignorance, completely missing the point Governor Monday Okpebholo raised,” Itua said. “The governor was referring to the $10 million that Godwin Obaseki budgeted for The Observer newspaper, not the refurbished equipment bought from ‘Ogbete Market’ in Enugu State.”
On the issue of the so-called ‘sophisticated machines,’ Itua argued that the PDP was avoiding the real concern, stating that the allegedly acquired printing machines were outdated and now required billions of naira to function properly.
“Obaseki may have procured them at a roadside market, but he left behind a financial burden that the present administration must now clean up,” Itua added.
He also criticized the PDP’s confusion over the sacking of Nigerian Observer staff, questioning how they expected employees who had been relieved of their duties to still be present at the premises.
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