Edo PDP accuses Gov Okpebholo of squandering N30bn in two weeks

The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused Governor Monday Okpebholo’s administration of mismanaging over N30 billion left by former Governor Godwin Obaseki.

The allegations were made by the PDP caretaker committee chairman, Dr. Anthony Aziegbemi, during a press conference titled State of the Nation Address.

Aziegbemi claimed that the funds were used to compensate political “godfathers” who supported Okpebholo’s victory in the September 2024 governorship election. He also criticized the administration for failing to pay civil servants their November salaries, a departure from the Obaseki administration’s record of paying workers by the 26th of each month.

Furthermore, Aziegbemi alleged that the government spent over N5 billion on vehicles without following due process and is attempting to justify over N2 billion in inauguration expenses. He warned that these actions threaten the integrity of the Edo State Procurement Act.

According to him, “for 8 years the PDP-led administration paid salaries on or before the 25th of every month, and as of today, they have not been able to pay November salaries even though the Obaseki-led PDP administration left over N30bn in the state coffers.

“What have they done with that money? They have filtered the money away and shared it with their godfathers for the roles they played in circumventing the will of the people

We are aware that as we speak, nobody in the state has received any credit alert for the payment of November 2024 salary. The government of Godwin Obaseki paid salary 26th of every month

“Governor Okpebholo has procured over N5bn worth of vehicles without proper procurement process which has created a crisis to the extent that the Permanent Secretary Governor’s office is threatening civil servants in Central administration for refusing to accept vehicles due to improper documentation, while desperately looking for ways to pass entries for over N2bn of inauguration costs.”

Responding to the allegations, the Edo State Government said Governor Monday Okpebholo would expose PDP’s eight-year rot in the state.

A statement by Fred Itua, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, noted that no amount of blackmail would stop the Okpebholo-led administration from recovering the commonwealth of the people from a few dubious men.

Itua posited that the 14-day government of Monday Okpebholo was in a hurry to develop Edo State and had remained undaunted in living up to the people’s expectations.