The outgoing Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) borrowed between N2 billion to N5 billion to finance the upcoming inauguration of the Governor-elect, Senator Monday Okpebholo, scheduled for November 12.
Speaking in Benin at the inauguration of a caretaker committee for the state’s chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Obaseki expressed disappointment, noting that the APC did not involve his government in the preparations for the event or extend an invitation to him.
According to Obaseki, Edo State currently has approximately N27 billion earmarked for ongoing projects and obligations, but he accused the APC of depleting these resources and securing loans to fund the inauguration event.
He stated, “We have almost N27 billion to pay for projects and obligations, but they have started blowing it, and they have gone to borrow money for the inauguration which is going to cost them N2 to N5 billion. That is the money they will first take from the treasury.
“In this holiday period, they will want to spend as much money as possible to confuse the people. They are going to struggle to change their perception.
“They are doing an inauguration and the governor is not even invited. It is like they are starting a brand new government and a brand new state.
“We will get our stolen mandate back for the sake of Nigeria because if we allow the APC to go with our stolen mandate, it will mark the end of democracy in Nigeria. This fight is not for our candidate but for the people of Nigeria and our nation’s democracy.”
But a member of the APC transition committee, Prince Kassim Afegbua, dismissed Obaseki’s claim that APC was already spending into the almost N27 billion Obaseki kept for the payment of ongoing projects.
“Is that not an indictment on his government that a government that is supposed to organise inauguration for us is running away?
“Is Donald Trump going to inaugurate himself? Is it not an outgoing government that should inaugurate an incoming one? Does it make sense that somebody coming in is the one who will organize his own event?”
” That they’ve been running away is not enough that we are not inviting him when they’re not forthcoming,” he added.
