From Moshood Karim
Edo State’s immediate-past governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, is facing mounting scrutiny over the alleged mismanagement of $10 million purportedly spent on revamping the State-owned newspaper, The Nigerian Observer. The current governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has vowed to launch a full-scale probe into the controversial expenditure, raising serious concerns about the former administration’s accountability.
In a statement released to Uptown Press Nigeria on Tuesday by Fred Itua, Chief Press Secretary to the Edo State Governor, Okpebholo revealed his intention to investigate the project following an unscheduled inspection of the Observer premises. However, in a dramatic twist, the governor and his entourage were locked out of the facility, unable to access the buildings where the machines allegedly purchased by the previous government were stored.
Expressing his dismay, Governor Okpebholo stated that the premises were eerily deserted, raising further suspicion.
“Everywhere was locked because there was nothing inside. I could not even see a cleaner on the premises. Those we met were not even staff of the newspaper house,” he lamented.
The governor described the situation as deeply troubling, questioning whether the much-publicised $10 million investment had yielded any tangible results.
“I need to go back myself and inspect the buildings housing the so-called equipment bought by Obaseki’s administration. I want to be sure the machines are actually there. I can’t say for now because I wasn’t allowed inside. But if the place were truly functional, people would have been working there, especially considering the magnitude of resources allegedly spent,” Okpebholo added.
Sources revealed that Obaseki’s Special Adviser on Media Projects, Crusoe Osagie, and the Publicity Secretary of the Edo PDP Caretaker Committee, Chris Osa Nehikhare, who also served as the former Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, were key figures in the failed project.
Despite Obaseki’s promise to transform The Nigerian Observer into a media powerhouse capable of competing with leading national dailies, the publication has remained moribund. Its once-vibrant newsroom now lies in ruins, with no visible signs of the multi-million-dollar facelift.
Vowing to get to the bottom of the scandal, Governor Okpebholo pledged to provide Edo people with answers, stressing the need for transparency and accountability.
“Edo people deserve to know what happened to their money. I am here as their governor to find out the truth. The visit to the Observer became necessary because I must see with my own eyes whether or not the machines exist,” he declared.
With the investigation looming, Obaseki faces the heat of public scrutiny, as Edo residents demand explanations for the alleged waste of taxpayers’ money. The unfolding scandal is poised to become a major litmus test for the Okpebholo administration’s anti-corruption drive.
Stay with Uptown Press Nigeria for exclusive updates on this developing story.
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