Edo state government has asked the Governor-elect, Monday Okpebholo to provide evidence of alleged “last-minute looting” by Godwin Obaseki administration.
Gatekeepers News reports that Okpebholo had on Thursday, accused the outgoing administration of allegedly obtaining last-minute loans from financial institutions.
He warned financial institutions against approving loans for the current Governor of the state and asked them not to engage in transactions that could jeopardise the state’s finances.
Okpebholo also asked security agencies to “investigate the allegations thoroughly, hold the guilty accountable and protect government offices from vandals.”
Reacting through a statement released on Friday, special adviser to Obaseki on media and communication strategy, Crusoe Osagie described the allegations as “spurious and baseless.”
Edo government challenged Okpebholo to provide the names of banks allegedly involved in the alleged loan request.
The statement goes, “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.”
The special adviser said that should Okpebholo fail to provide substantial evidence to support his allegations, he must offer an unreserved apology to the state government.
