From Fred Itua, Abuja
Edo State Governor-elect, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has called on the outgoing governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, to seek immediate psychiatric attention, following his recent utterances and public displays.
In a statement by Godspower Inegbe, Okpebholo said Edo people were worried by Obaseki’s reckless statements and urged him to evaluate his state of mind.
The Governor-elect also raised the alarm over the whereabouts of Obaseki, who on Friday reportedly fled Benin City, using a disguised bus. He claimed Obaseki chased out everyone from the Government House on Friday before escaping to a yet-to-be known location more than 72 hours before his official departure from office.
The statement also alleged that Obaseki was making the false claims to shift attention away from his sinister plans to leave the country through the land borders.
“As of Friday, November 8, the whereabouts of Obaseki is unknown. He has chased everyone out of Edo State Government House. He has abandoned governance in the state, and he is on the run.
“He has escaped through the road out of Benin. He did not pass through the airport. If he is as popular as he claims, why did he not use the airport to escape? Instead, he hired a bus and disguised while escaping from Edo State.
“Obaseki is trying to push out these narratives in order to distract the public. His antics will not work. We know his plans, and we will continue to expose his shenanigans to Edo people,” the statement read.
Obaseki, on Saturday, claimed that Okpebholo did not invite him to his inauguration, slated for next Tuesday. He also claimed that the Governor-elect has a stolen mandate.
“Out-going Governor Godwin Obaseki needs serious and urgent psychiatric attention to evaluate his state of mind. His recent utterances and public displays should get Edo sons and daughters worried.
“In his latest diatribe, Obaseki, who has supervised one of the biggest financial heist and misappropriated resources of Edo State, is again engaging in his usual beer parlour talks.
“According to the outgoing governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo stole the mandate freely given to him by Edo people. In his usual myopic mind, he wants to change the narratives and set a dangerous precedence.”
Okpebholo said he won the elections convincingly and added that the tribunal would soon validate his claims. He said Obaseki would not get away with the reckless claims.
“Obaseki will not get away with this misrepresentation. Okpebholo, the Governor-elect of Edo State, won the September 21 governorship election in Edo State.
“Obaseki is still licking his wounds of defeat and is yet to accept the reality. Edo people, through the ballot, rejected the planned continuation of Obaseki’s satanic government through his glorified stooge, Asue Ighodalo,” he mocked Obaseki.
Okpebholo said Obaseki was trying to influence the outcome of the ongoing case at the tribunal by making false claims. He said the attempt would fail like a pack of cards.
He said: “The Peoples Democratic Party is already challenging the outcome of the election in court. We are, therefore, worried that Obaseki is in a hurry to pre-empt the outcome of the tribunal by repeatedly making false claims.
“Unfortunately for Obaseki, his baseless claims will not stand. The Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate, Ighodalo, have no case against Senator Okpebholo. The tribunal will soon confirm that.”
He warned Obaseki to desist from making false claims and reminded him of the severe consequences that may follow if he does not stop.
Okpebholo reminded Obaseki that he would soon lose his immunity and be forced to face the full wrath of the law if he does not retrace his steps.
