Obaseki, Okpebholo camps clash over inauguration fund

Less than 48 hours before the handing over to the new government in Edo State, the camps of the outgoing governor and the incoming All Progressives Congress-led government rowed over inauguration claims.

Governor Godwin Obaseki, at the weekend, claimed that he was not invited to the inauguration of the government to which he would hand over.

The governor also alleged that the APC borrowed money to fund the inauguration, adding that the activities would cost the party between N2bn and N5bn.

However, the APC described the claim that he was not invited as laughable and self-indicting.

The governor-elect, Monday Okpebholo, also accused Obaseki of frustrating a peaceful transition of power ahead of his swearing-in on Tuesday.

There have been accusations and counter-accusations between the two camps since the September 21 election won by Okpebholo.

The Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, promised to challenge the result in the law court.

As the November 12 handing over to the new government nears, the transition committees continued to create tension in the state.

A statement on Sunday by the APC transition committee member, Kassim Afegbua, said Obaseki and his co-travellers were doing everything possible to frustrate the inauguration of the incoming governor.

The statement read, “Suddenly, Godwin Obaseki realises the ephemerality of power and now resorts to lamentations about an ongoing inauguration without extending an invitation to him. We found this to be generously laughable and self-indicting.

“In another clime, an outgoing governor or president organises the inauguration of the incoming, but for the painful loss of the PDP at the election, Governor Obaseki and his co-travellers are doing everything possible to frustrate the inauguration of the incoming governor.

“Rather than sit down to plan the inauguration event as it is done in other climes, Governor Obaseki is busy planting landmines on the path to smooth transfer of power.

“From the transition committee to the inauguration committee, despite all the cooperation we have extended to them, what we have received in return is frustration and a deliberate plot to overburden the new administration with all manner of misplaced government decisions.

“We totally frown on these dubious plots which are clear negations of the standard procedures of power transfer the world over.”

It added “Our inauguration team met with the Secretary to the State Government, who later handed our team over to another permanent secretary. The said permanent secretary had nothing on her table.

“She asked that our team should present an inauguration budget, and we declined because we wouldn’t want them to accuse us of spending bogus funds for the inauguration.”

He added, “When we reported to the governor-elect, he opted out of such an arrangement and took over the responsibility of funding the inauguration from his own personal resources.

“He has also cut down on the activities to make the entire ceremony a bit moderate.

“He doesn’t believe in an ostentatious display of resources when a lot of Edo people have been impoverished by Governor Obaseki. He’s of the view that the inauguration shouldn’t be an elaborate event.

“We have not borrowed a kobo from anywhere. We are not Governor Obaseki and his profligate self. We are conscious of our responsibilities to make life better for the average Edo person. Why should we borrow money because of the inauguration?

“Do you know as we speak that most government vehicles have been carted away by government officials?

“There is only one functional vehicle in Edo State Government House. Every vehicle has been carted away. Is that a government that is interested in inauguration?

Also, Okpebholo, on Sunday, accused Obaseki of doing everything to frustrate a peaceful transition of power.

In a statement signed by his media aide, Godspower Inegbe and made available to newsmen in Abuja, Okpebholo scolded Obaseki, describing his utterances as reckless.

According to him, such a statement that he was not consulted or carried along on inauguration should not be coming from a man who has yet to place a call to congratulate his successor, long after the election has ended.

The statement read: “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 Okpebholo was declared the 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 to the 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?

“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.”

Speaking on the statements, the government slammed Okpebholo and his team, asking them to leave Obaseki out of their petty politics.

A statement on Sunday by the Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Media, Crusoe Osagie, said, “It is quite telling that we are back to the era where unconscionable spending sprees, jamborees and parties are the preoccupation of government in Edo State.

“It is unheard of that the governor was not invited to the inauguration ceremony, which reveals the level of pettiness that would prevail in this new dispensation.

“The incoming government has made commitments to the vendors to the tune of N5bn in official capacity with many more expenses expected to be incurred on November 12, the day of the inauguration.

“It would indeed be a very sad day for Edo people who have hitherto witnessed prudent and judicious use of public funds to drive economic development in the state, to have their resources frittered in this manner.”

He added that the incoming government was throwing tantrums about the professional manner that the government had wound down as against the old practice where there would be wanton vandalism of government property and assets.

“We have maintained decorum in the handing over process and the incoming government is having none of it because they also intended to stage a heist of government assets to point fingers at the outgoing government.

“Today, they’ve been disappointed and they’re now seeking out Obaseki for blame. We are not surprised.

“In fact, we would only have been perplexed if they didn’t go this route in attempting to malign the government,” Osagie added.