Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North, has urged newly elected Governor Monday Okpebholo to investigate his predecessor, Godwin Obaseki, following a Supreme Court judgment validating Okpebholo’s election.
On Thursday, a five-member panel led by Justice Lawal Garba determined that PDP candidate Asue Ighodalo failed to demonstrate electoral malpractices, affirming that Okpebholo was duly elected by a majority of lawful votes.
In a celebratory event marking the court’s decision, Oshiomhole urged the governor to turn his attention to Obaseki’s tenure.
“So by the time your Excellency now has time for the second rematch, Obaseki will have to come out from hiding to answer to those questions. We have come to rescue Edo, but to rescue means you must also investigate.”
He called for inquiries into large financial transactions and projects initiated under Obaseki, including the mysterious hotel reportedly funded in the tens of billions of naira.
“Now that the supreme court judgement has been made, Okpebholo now has time ‘to look at that hotel where Edo state money in tens of billions of dollars was taken’.”
Oshiomhole also urged an assessment of infrastructure quality, comparing current roads unfavorably to those built during his administration.
“…look at all the roads that were built and washed up, ‘compared to the ones I did, which are still there.’”
He appealed to Obaseki directly:
“I now challenge Obaseki to come to Edo; let us work as former governors. Let us all walk on the streets of Benin. Let’s see who did what to affect the life of the people.”
