Following his affirmation by the Supreme Court, Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has vowed to launch a probe into the administration of his predecessor, Godwin Obaseki.
He said this while addressing government officials, party leaders, and thousands of their supporters on Friday as they marched through the streets of Benin City.
Addressing the crowd at the Government House after the victory parade, Governor Okpebholo said it was time to work and promised that in the next two years, Edo people would know that they had a Governor.
He also declared that he would set up a Commission of Inquiry to look into former Governor Godwin Obaseki’s records.
He moted that the Obaseki-led administration used consultants to run the affairs of the state.
The governor said while going through the records of EdoGIS, he discovered that a consultant was hired and paid N6 billion and another N2 billion for “ordinary software.”
According to him, “I directed the training of our own people who are now handling the job. We have sent the consultant away from the State, saving money to develop Edo State.
“Our civil servants are well-trained. We have the best brains in the State, but Godwin Obaseki used consultants instead of utilising the human resources in the State. We are saving money today as a Government because we are using the civil servants to do the jobs consultants were formerly doing.
“We are just about eight months in office, but by the time we are two years in office, Edo people will know they have a Governor who is ready to work for the interest of the people.
“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 under Obaseki’s administration, while he paid a consultant N51 million. This was not good enough. 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 rather continued with the civil servants I met in the office.
“The Head of Service during Obaseki’s administration is still working with me. So also a lot of Permanent Secretaries in the civil service. Edo was tired of transactional people but now we will look into their records. We will set up a Commission of Inquiry to look into the books and dealings of the previous administration. We will open an interrogation to check their records. They have finished fighting us, and now I am ready to fight back and ensure that all those that cheated Edo people in the last eight years are all brought to book”.
On his part, Idahosa said it was time to be focused and work for Edo people.
Meanwhile, thousands of supporters of the APC were locked out of the celebration in the Government House after walking alongside the governor’s convoy from the Benin Airport.
When most of the supporters arrived at the gate of the Government House, they were informed by security operatives that only high profile persons would be allowed to enter for refreshments.
