Obaseki’s Media Aide Criticizes Governor Okpebholo’s Probe as a Smokescreen

The media aide to former Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has described Governor Monday Okpebholo’s decision to probe the previous administration as a diversionary tactic aimed at masking incompetence and lack of preparedness for governance.

In a statement issued on Monday, the aide, Crusoe Osagie, accused Governor Okpebholo of using political theatrics to distract the public from his alleged failure to chart a clear developmental course for Edo State.

Osagie criticized the governor’s approach, likening it to staging a gladiatorial spectacle meant to deceive the people of Edo State.

He alleged that the administration’s focus on probes, including a recently announced State Assets Verification Committee, underscores a lack of vision and direction.

“Our attention has been drawn to a laughable and utterly ridiculous statement by the Monday Okpebholo administration setting up a 14-member State Assets Verification Committee to probe the administration of His Excellency, Godwin Obaseki, who is globally acclaimed to have run one of the most transparent, accountable, and prudent governments in Nigeria’s history,” Osagie said.

He added, “This is another in the list of meaningless probes embarked upon by the directionless administration since they arrived at Dennis Osadebey Avenue through the back door.

From probing civil servants’ employment to Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), and now government assets, the governor-select has demonstrated his lack of ideas and clear vision for Edo State’s development.”

The aide further accused Governor Okpebholo of underestimating the intelligence of Edo people, claiming such tactics might work elsewhere but not in the state.

“Okpebholo will soon realize that Edo people are wise and cannot be deceived by these diversionary tactics,” he said.

Meanwhile, Governor Okpebholo, through his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, announced the formation of the 14-member State Assets Verification Committee.

The committee, tasked with investigating the previous administration’s handling of state assets, is set to be inaugurated on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at Government House in Benin City.

The governor’s move has sparked debate across the state, with critics and supporters weighing in on the necessity and implications of the probe.