Less than 48 hours to the inauguration of a new administration in Edo State, Governor-elect, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has alleged that the outgoing Governor Godwin Obaseki has fled the state to an unknown destination.
He claimed that the governor fled Benin City state capital on Friday using a disguised bus.
Okpebholo said 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 governor-elect in a statement by his media aide, Godspower Inegbe, said Obaseki has been making false claims to shift attention away from his sinister plans to leave the country through the land borders.
Meanwhile, a member of the Edo State APC Transition Committee, Prince Kassim Afegbua, has alleged that most vehicles in the government house have been carted aways by government officials.Afeguba, in a statement, alleged that only one functional vehicle is left for Okpebholo's use.
He also reacted to Obaseki' claim that he was invited to Okpebholo's Tuesday inauguration, describing it as laughable and self indicting.
Okpebholo called on the out-going state governor to seek immediate psychiatric attention, following his recent utterances and public displays.
"As of Friday, 8th of November, the whereabout 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 Senator Okpebholo did not invite him to his inauguration, slated for next Tuesday.
"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."
Okpebholo also tackled Obaseki for claiming that the governorship election was stolen, describing such claim as a myopic ploy to change the narratives and set a dangerous precedence.
The governor-elect said he won the elections convincingly, adding that the tribunal will soon validate his claims. He said Obaseki would not get away with the reckless claims.
"Obaseki will not get away with this misrepresentation. Senator Monday Okpebholo, the Governor-Elect of Edo State, won the 21st September governorship election in Edo State.
"Obaseki is still licking his wound 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 is trying to influence the outcome of the ongoing case at the tribunal by making false claims. He said the attempt will 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 severe consequences that may follow if he does not stop.
Senator Okpebholo reminded Obaseki that he will soon lose his immunity and will therefore be forced to face the full wrath of the law if he does not retrace his steps.
"Although Senator Okpebholo is a man of peace, we will not sit back and allow him to keep misrepresenting the true outcome of what happened on the 21st of September.
"Obaseki will soon lose his immunity and if he continues to make his baseless claims, he will face the full wrath of the law very soon and he will prove his unfounded allegations when he is dragged to court," Okpebholo warned in the statement.
Reacting to another claim by Obaseki that he was not invited to attend the inauguration slated for next Tuesday, Okpebholo described it as laughable, absurd, and questionable.
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
The governor-elect said since he won the election, Obaseki has employed every means to frustrate a peaceful transfer of power noting that Obaseki has not extended any invitation to him for a meeting or a tour of the Government House.
The statement read: "Again, Obaseki also claimed that Senator Okpebholo did not invite him to the inauguration, slated for next Tuesday. This is laughable, absurd, and questionable. Since Senator Okpebholo was declared winner, Obaseki has employed every means to frustrate a peaceful transfer of power.
"As a sitting Governor, Obaseki should tell Edo people and Nigerians if he has ever invited the Governor-Elect, Senator Okpebholo to Government House for a meeting or a tour as a responsible man. Has Obaseki called Senator Okpebholo to congratulate him since he won the election?
"Obaseki should cover his face in shame, account for the billions he has misappropriated, and apologise to Edo people for under-developing the State in the last eight years.
"We urge Edo people to disregard Obaseki's reckless statements and support the incoming administration of Senator Okpebholo to remedy the many wrongs of this government.
