“They Have Finished Fighting Us, Now It Is Time To Look Into Edo Financial Records – Gov Okpebholo

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Barely 24 hours after scaling through  the final judicial hurdle to cement his hold on governance, Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo on Friday, July 11,  2025, signaled his readiness to probe his predecessor in office, Godwin Obaseki

Addressing All Progressive Congress APC supporters  civil servants, and other professional groups at the Government House, Benin, Governor Okpebholo accused the Peoples Democratic party, PDP,and its candidate Chief Asue Ighodalo of stashing a large part of the State’s funds for election purpose and legal battles.

He informed that he will open the books now that the PDP and Obaseki have exhausted all the arsenal at their disposable in their bid to unsettle his administration.

“I will open the books to check the financial dealings, and how Obaseki governed Edo state in the last eight years.

“A University in this state received N47 million as subvention under the Obaseki administration , while he paid a  consultant N51 million. This was the case in other areas through out the PDP era .

“They wanted to continue with this act ,but God helped us to push them out .

“Since I came into office, I have not sacked anybody but have rather continued with the civil servants I met on the ground.

The Head of Service HoS during Obaseki’s administration is still working with me .So also the case with a lot of Permanent Secretaries”  Okpebholo stated .

According to the Governor, the inquest will be wide ,as other Government officials will be investigated alongside their boss, Obaseki on how they managed the resources of the Edo people under their watch for eight years.

He explained that his action is in agreement with the views of an overwhelming majority of the people ,who are feeling a great sense of relief at the ouster of the PDP administration in the State.

“Edo people were tired of transactional people and thieves in Government and so decided to get rid of them.

So, having booted them out, it is, therefore, time to look into their records .I will take two years out of the eight years, and Edo people will see the difference” Governor Okpebholo stated.

He informed that a Commission of Inquiry will be established for the purpose of examining the records and all the transactions conducted by the immediate past administration.

“They have finished fighting us, and now I am ready to fight back, and ensure that all those who cheated Edo people in the last eight years are brought to book.

They siphoned and stashed a lot of Edo people’s money , using it to look for Judges to bribe ,or buy ,but unfortunately for them ,they could not succeed.

They kept money for the election ,as well as for Court cases, but God disappointed them .The people voted for me as their Governor ,and the various courts affirmed the mandate”, the Governor added.