Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, on Tuesday, accused the Governor Monday Okpebholo-led government of squandering over N30 billion left in the state’s coffers by the immediate past administration of Godwin Obaseki within 14 days after he was sworn-in as governor.
Edo PDP Caretaker Committee Chairman, Dr Anthony Aziegbemi made this allegation at a press conference titled, “State of the Nation Address”.
Aziegbemi alleged that the money was spent by the Okpebholo to compensate “godfathers” who worked for him during the September 21, 2024, governorship election.
The PDP caretaker committee chairman, who accused the APC-led government of not paying the state’s civil and public workers the November monthly salary, noted that the development was contrary to the record set by the former PDP-led government under the Governor Godwin Obaseki, where the state’s workers received monthly salary on or before 26th of every month.
Aziegbemi also alleged that the APC-led government in the state had within two weeks in office purchased vehicles worth over N5 billion without a proper procurement process.
The PDP chairman, who further alleged that Governor Monday Okpebholo’s government was desperately looking for ways to pass entries for over N2 billion as inauguration costs, said that the Edo State Procurement Act was at risk.
He said, “for 8 years the PDP-led administration paid salaries on or before the 25th of every month, and as of today, they have not been able to pay November salaries even though the Obaseki-led PDP administration left over N30bn in the state coffers.
“What have they done with that money? They have filtered the money away and shared it with their godfathers for the roles they played in circumventing the will of the people
“We are aware that as we speak, nobody in the state has received any credit alert for the payment of November 2024 salary. The government of Godwin Obaseki paid salary 26th of every month.
“Governor Okpebholo has procured over N5bn worth of vehicles without proper procurement process which has created a crisis to the extent that the Permanent Secretary Governor’s office is threatening civil servants in Central administration for refusing to accept vehicles due to improper documentation, while desperately looking for ways to pass entries for over N2bn of inauguration costs.”
In a swift response to the allegations, the Edo State Government said Governor Okpebholo would expose PDP’s eight-year rot in the state.
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Fred Itua, in a statement, noted that no amount of blackmail would stop the Okpebholo-led administration from recovering the commonwealth of the people from a few dubious men.
Itua stated that the 14-day government of Monday Okpebholo was in a hurry to develop Edo State and had remained undaunted in living up to the people’s expectations.
