Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has declared that he will not succumb to blackmail and the campaign of calumny against his administration by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and allies of former Governor Godwin Obaseki.
Gov. Okpebholo vowed that no matter the schemes orchestrated by those opposed to his administration and the All Progressives Congress (APC), he will proceed with his decision to probe the immediate past administration in the state.
The governor made his stance known in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua.
He accused Obaseki and some PDP leaders in Edo State, of embarking on a media campaign not only to discredit the outcome of the governorship election in the state, but to also cast aspersions on his administration.
Gov. Okpebholo asserted that attacks on his administration stems from his decision to probe ex-Gov. Obaseki.
“The trigger that led to these desperate moves is the decision by the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo to verify assets of the state, to recover stolen cars and other assets from Obaseki’s criminal allies, and probe, if necessary, the financial heist orchestrated by the last administration.
“As the duly-elected Governor of Edo State, Governor Monday Okpebholo will not be blackmailed by media propaganda and or paid social media contractors. He has vowed to recover every dime or asset stolen by officials of the Obaseki administration.
“In the coming days, more revelations about the financial heist, contract scams, abuse of power and destruction of Edo State, orchestrated by the Obaseki-led administration will be made known to Edo people,” the governor said in the statement.
Gov. Okpebholo declared that his administration will not be distracted by the shenanigans of paid PDP agents, as he will continue to work hard for Edo people and remedy the mess created by the Obaseki-led administration in eight years.
He added that his administration will not sit back and allow a few individuals, who are too timid to allow the will of Edo people stand, sabotage the state.
“Anyone who runs foul of the law will face the full wrath of the law. Moles and saboteurs planted in different ministries, departments and agencies of government by Obaseki and his cohorts, will soon be exposed; and nothing will stop Governor Monday Okpebholo from standing on the side of truth, fairness, integrity and progress,” the statement added..
On insinuations that Gov. Okpebholo didn’t with the governorship election, the statement stated that the September 21 election was adjudged by local and foreign observers that monitored the poll to be fair, transparent, credible and violence free.
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“The latest drama of Osita Chidoka amounts to merely beating about the bush, trying to rake up mud against the election. The PDP should allow the tribunal do its job in line with established procedures.
“First, the factional chapter of the PDP in Edo State, is blind to the glaring reality that the party was spurned by Edo people in the last governorship election because of their weakness, as own enemies.
“Overlooking its messy and divided house, the party is shopping for non-existent evidence to upturn the popular will of the people, at the tribunal.
“Even though the PDP and its hatchetman understand that discussing an issue that is sub-judicial is wrong, they are yet unremitting in their shambolic plot to supplant facts with concoctions, with the hope of arriving at their premeditated end.
“This case is already in court and the tribunal; and it needs to be allowed to run its full course, without inhibitions. Thankfully, courts do not pander to concoctions, prevarication, sentiments, red-herrings, contradictions and orchestrations, but evidence and facts.
“We are hopeful that the judiciary will remain firm, in the face of this blackmail, intimidation and orchestrated media attacks,” the statement said.
