November 27, 2024
By Idris Buba
The Edo State Caretaker Committee Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr Anthony Aziegbemi, has alleged that Edo state governor Monday Okpebholo, had the last two weeks fleeced the money his predecessor, Godwin Obaseki left in the state treasury.
Addressing a press conference on the State of the Nation, Aziegbemi, said Edo State government under the leadership of Monday Okpebholo has squandered over N30 billion left in the state’s coffer by the immediate past government of Godwin Obaseki in 14 days.
He claimed that the money was used to compensate godfathers who worked for Okpebholo, during the September 21, 2024, governorship election in the state.
The PDP chieftain also said the APC-led government is unable to pay civil servants their November monthly salary, 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.
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He further alleged that the APC-led government in the state had within two weeks in office, without a proper procurement process, purchased vehicles worth N5 billion
Aziegbemi, opined that the Edo State Procurement Act was at risk, with Governor Okpebholo’s government desperately looking for ways to pass entries for over N2 billion spent on his inauguration.
According to him, “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.
Responding to the allegations, Press Secretary to the Governor, Fred Itua, said Governor Monday Okpebholo would expose PDP’s eight-year rot in the state.
Itua, in a Statement said, no amount of blackmail would stop the Okpebholo-led administration from recovering the commonwealth of the people that were looted.
He explained that the 14-days old government of Monday Okpebholo was in a hurry to develop Edo State and would not be distracted by frivolous allegations.
