By Kolawole Ojebisi
The Edo state government has dismissed the allegation of “last-minute looting” levelled against it by Monday Okpebholo as “spurious and “baseless”.
The government asked the Edo Governor-Elect to substantiate his allegation by providing the names of banks allegedly involved in the loan request or tender unreserved apology within 48hrs.
This challenge is contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Communication to governor Obaseki, Crusoe Osagie, on Friday.
Osagie said: “The Edo state government is giving a 48-hour ultimatum to Senator Monday Okpebholo to provide verifiable proof to substantiate his claims that government officials are looting and vandalising assets in the State,”
“We are a very serious government and there is no room for such spurious and unfounded allegations which is why we are demanding that Okpebholo and his handlers should within the next 48 hours provide credible and verifiable proof to substantiate their claims.
“Okpehbolo must understand that the business of governance in Edo State is very serious, and the office of Governor is not for palace jesters.
“It is on this ground that we demand that he, within the next 48 hours, provide empirical evidence to substantiate his spurious looting allegations against the state government.”
Recall that on Thursday, Okpebholo, Edo governor-elect, accused the outgoing administration of allegedly obtaining last-minute loans from financial institutions.
The governor-elect had warned financial institutions against approving loans for Obaseki’s government and asked them not to engage in transactions that could jeopardise the state’s finances.
He also asked security agencies to “investigate the allegations thoroughly, hold the guilty accountable and protect government offices from vandals”.
Recall also that Okpebholo of All Progressives Congress (APC) defeated Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 21 governorship election of Edo State.
Governor Obaseki was elected on the platform of the PDP and he supported the candidate of his party, Ighodalo, in the election.
