By Jane Okafor, Abuja
ABUJA: The incoming governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, on Sunday declared that the soon – to – be his predecessor, Governor Godwin Obaseki has been missing since last Friday and remained incommunicado afterwards.
Senator Monday Okpebholo who was apparently reacting to the allegations by the outgoing Governor Obaseki that he has not been invited to the forthcoming inauguration of Okpebholo as Governor of the state, said that the Edo people are becoming worried by Obaseki’s recent reckless utterances and urged him to evaluate his state of mind.
The Governor-Elect in the statement made available to newsmen on Sunday and signed by Godspower Inegbe, Okpebholo expressed the concern about the whereabouts of Obaseki, who on Friday reportedly fled Benin City, the Edo State capital, under the canopy of an unmarked bus.
The statement claimed that Obaseki chased out everyone from the Government House on Friday before to a yet-to-be known location more than 72 hours before his official departure from office.
“As of Friday, 8th 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 read.
Obaseki had 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.
But a rattled Okpebholo said Obaseki needs serious and urgent attention.
The Governor -elect said since he won the election, Obaseki has deployed every tactics 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.
“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?
“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 the 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 said in derision of 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 preempt 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.
“Although Senator Okpebholo is a man of peace, we will not sit back and allow him (Obaseki) 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.
“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,” the statement added.
