By DADA AYOKHAI
Edo state Former governor, Godwin Obaseki has reacted to the report of the Administrative panel set up by the Edo state governor Senator Monday Okpebholo which indicted him.
Speaking through his former Chief Press Secretary, Mr Osagie Crusoe, Obaseki vehemently criticized his successor, Sen. Monday Okpevbolo, for launching a personal vendetta against him.
He pointed to the report from the administrative panel that Gov. Okpevbolo set up on December 18, 2024, to investigate the financial activities of the 18 elected council chairmen, covering the period from September 4, 2023, to November 2024.
The panel, chaired by a former permanent secretary Barrister Solomon Imohiosen, claimed to have conducted an extensive forensic investigation that revealed an astonishing N96 billion had been either misappropriated or diverted into private accounts.
The panel’s findings implicated several council chairmen, the former governor, and prominent figures in the then ruling PDP.
During the report’s presentation, Gov. Okpevbolo pledged to act on its recommendations while expressing strong disapproval of the reckless manner in which public funds were dispensed to private individuals and groups.
Okpevbolo further promised to petition both the EFCC and the ICPC to ensure that those named in the report face prosecution.
Against the backdrop of ongoing wave of impeachments targeting elected council chairmen, Obaseki charged that his successor was misusing the panel report to legitimize his unconstitutional assault on the councils and their officials.
He stressed that it clearly demonstrated a lack of understanding on the part of the incumbent governor on the clear distinction among the various levels of government
Obaseki firmly criticized Gov. Okpevbolo, asserting that he portrays the pitiful image of a man driven by an absurd vendetta against innocent individuals.
He highlighted that his successor has squandered the last three months attempting to vilify him as “bad,” and with no real evidence to support such claims, he has resorted to a reckless campaign of propaganda.
Obaseki pointed out that Gov. Okpevbolo is stumbling blindly, lacking the insight necessary to effectively govern, which has led to a host of issues, including the ongoing cold war with the 18 elected council chairmen.
Political analysts contend that Gov. Okpevbolo has overstepped his authority by suspending the elected council chairmen and subsequently instigating their impeachment.
In Obaseki’s view, how his successor has handled the council issues—despite any proven allegations of financial impropriety—demonstrates a clear ignorance of the limitations of his powers
