Hon. Chris Nehikhare, the Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, has disclaimed the recent narrative on social media which alleged the Governor Godwin Obaseki and his wife, Mrs. Betsy accompanied by the Chief Of Staff, Osaigbovo Iyoha, have absconded from the country aftermath of the governorship election victory of the All Progressives Congress(APC) on Saturday, September 21st.
In a telephone conversation with Popular News on Sunday morning, Nehikhare stated: “Oga went to Ewohimi to do the foundation laying ceremony for the Jesuit University on Wednesday. On Thursday we had exco. We were all there in the exco chambers.
“Half way before the exco ended the Judiciary came around 12noon because they had an appointment for 12noon on that day to inform the governor that their vacation has ended and they’re starting work. Their normal tradition.
“It’s clear that whoever wrote the story is being mischievous. There was an exco, a physical exco not a virtual one. The members of the Judiciary that came were led by the Chief Judge of the state accompanied by all the Judges.
“If you look at the story well you will see that it’s rubbish. You will recall that same time last year the governor went to Venice. There’s a programme there that have to do with tourism which he has been going for and he also went for this year. Why would he be running away?”
In the narrative making the round on social media network, it was alleged that “Mr. Godwin Obaseki has handed over the reins of power to his close ally and ex-Commissioner for Finance Joseph Eboigbe, who doubles as the Secretary to the Edo State Government.
“The Governor during a virtual midweek exco meeting implored all members of his exco to direct all their requests to Eboigbe, who he gave up to 30th of October 2024 to finalise the handover documents of the outgoing, in order to formally submit same to the governor-elect on the eve of his inauguration.
“Recall that on July 11, 2024, Obaseki inaugurated a 20-man transition committee chaired by Mr. Eboigbe. The Committee consisted of members of the governor’s kitchen cabinet and heads of relevant agencies.
“According to a Government House source believed to be a very close confidant of the governor, the reason the governor appointed Eboigbe as Secretary to the State Government was to place on him the responsibility of running a one-month transition government, in the event the governor’s preferred candidate, Asue Ighodalo, lose the September 21, 2024, Edo Governorship Election.”
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