The Edo State Governorship Inauguration Committee has said that outgoing Governor Godwin Obaseki is upset because of the failure of his alleged plans to scuttle the inauguration of the Senator Monday Okpebholo led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration scheduled for Tuesday, 12 November.
The committee was reacting to a statement allegedly credited to Governor Obaseki that he and his administration were left out of preparations for the inauguration.
In a statement signed by Comrade Orobosa Omo-Ojo JP,
Chairman, Media/Publicity Sub-Committee of the Edo State Governorship Inauguration Committee, stated that the out going Governor decided to abdicate his responsibility for obvious reasons as now in search of reasons to exonerate himself.
According to the statement, “Edo Governorship Inauguration Committee read with regrets the unbelievable remarks made by the outgoing Governor Godwin Obaseki, that he has been left out from the preparation for the swearing-in ceremonies of Senator Monday Okpebholo as the 6th Executive Governor of our dear state.
“This comment and others he consciously made, demonstrates Obaseki’s unprecedented malice and bitterness that traced his wasteful administration, which by God’s Grace will come to a deserved end in the next 24 hours.
“The norm and practice is that, the inauguration of an incoming President or Governor, is planned by a Joint Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies. But for obvious reasons, Obaseki has decided to abdicate his responsibility to Edo people by withdrawing the participation of his government.
“It may interest Nigerians to note that, from the list of basic request we made, only one Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) and four Hilux trucks were volunteered. All our requests have been met with brick walls.
“It is therefore disingenuous for Obaseki to feebly accuse the All Progressives Congress of not inviting him to the swearing-in ceremonies of his successor.
“Truth is, Obaseki is merely looking for a reason to excuse himself from the traditional handing over ceremony which the Nigerian Constitution demands from him.
“We call on Nigerians and in particular Edo State people to ignore Obaseki’s temper tantrums which he has always exhibited with his uncontrolled outburst of anger and frustration whenever he fails to get his own way.
“Obaseki’s outlandish defensive misinformation gave him out as a terrible liar. In one breath, he admitted that “the government of Edo state is inaugurating a new governor on Tuesday,” but followed with a denial that the government of Edo state is not involved.
“He then went ahead to encapsulate the sanctity of the Nigerian Constitution, but pretentiously failed to understand also that, the constitution act to prevent corruption, discrimination, and the misuse of public office by public office holders.
“Sad is an understatement response to Obaseki’s claim that the inauguration committee has not invited him. If we may ask, who is supposed to invite who? He has the government apparatus at his disposal, which for reasons best known to him, have been kept away from us.
“Arising from the joint meeting we had with Obaseki’s team, a program of event which he approved was adopted. But strangely, he stoutly refused to implement same. His nominees thereafter, expressed frustration at Obaseki’s inability to give them the required support.
“His claim that our party the APC has “borrowed between N2 billion and N5 billion to fund the upcoming inauguration of Governor-elect Senator Monday Okpebholo,” should remind Nigerians of the legions of lies Obaseki has peddled against the opposition, especially President Bola Tinubu in the past.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Inauguration Committee is driving the program with 20% less than what the Edo State Government led by Obaseki had budgeted, before the Accountant General was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for pending sundry corruption offences, including the mismanagement of the Central Bank’s Agricultural loans to the state which has now been traced to Sterling Bank, where the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Aside Ighodalo is a major shareholder.
“Truth be told, Obaseki who wanted to frustrate the inauguration process is only upset that the inauguration is going ahead without him discharging his constitutional responsibility”, the statement said.