Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has announced plans to establish a Commission of Inquiry to scrutinise the tenure of his predecessor, Mr Godwin Obaseki. The declaration was made during a victory parade held at the Government House, Benin City, following the Supreme Court’s affirmation of his election victory.
The event, attended by party loyalists, civil servants, market women, youth groups, and professionals, marked Governor Okpebholo’s return from Abuja, where the apex court upheld his mandate alongside that of his deputy, Rt Hon Dannis Idahosa, and the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the September 2024 gubernatorial poll.
In his address, Governor Okpebholo expressed gratitude to God and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose support he credited for the administration’s success in court. He promised to usher in a new era of transparency, accountability, and developmental governance in Edo State.
He accused the Obaseki-led government of gross financial mismanagement and the overreliance on external consultants at the expense of local capacity.
“We uncovered that EdoGIS paid N6 billion plus an additional N2 billion for what they called ‘ordinary software’,” the Governor revealed. “That consultant has been disengaged. We now use our own civil servants after providing them with proper training. We have the best brains here, but Obaseki neglected them and enriched outsiders.”
The Governor further criticised the former administration’s alleged prioritisation of consultancy fees over essential institutions, citing an instance where a university was reportedly allocated N47 million, while a consultant received N51 million.
Governor Okpebholo affirmed that no civil servant had been removed since he assumed office and emphasised continuity in public service, noting that the Head of Service and several Permanent Secretaries from the previous administration remain in their positions.
He vowed to expose what he described as years of “transactional governance” under Obaseki, promising that the upcoming Commission of Inquiry would examine financial dealings, contracts, and policy decisions taken in the last eight years.
“I will take two years out of their eight and Edo people will see the difference. We will interrogate their records. Edo is tired of thieves. Now, we will fight back with the truth and justice,” he said.
Governor Okpebholo also alleged that the opposition had stockpiled funds in a bid to influence the courts but were ultimately thwarted by the judiciary’s integrity.
“They tried to bribe judges, but they failed. The courts—High, Appeal, and Supreme—stood for justice, and the people’s choice prevailed,” he said.
Deputy Governor Dannis Idahosa also expressed his joy over the legal victories and echoed the Governor’s commitment to governance and development.
Joining in the celebration was former Deputy Governor Comrade Philip Shaibu, who described the moment as a fresh beginning for Edo. “The hard work begins now. Edo people will be proud they voted for Okpebholo,” he stated.
The anticipated Commission of Inquiry is expected to commence public hearings in the coming weeks.
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