The Caretaker Committee of the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has dismissed claims by Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, that the 18 local government chairmen spent over N12 billion on PDP under a monthly remittance N800 million for ‘Environmental Security Funding’.
The party stated that at no point did PDP leaders receive any such funds from local government chairmen and described the claim by the governor as ridiculously, challenging him to substantiate the claim.
The Chairman of the PDP Caretaker Committee, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, said Okpebholo’s claim was “a cocktail of complete falsehood”.
He posited that it was just another failed attempt by the governor “to mislead the public and distract from his government’s blatant disregard for the rule of law, illegality, and ongoing extermination of democracy in the state”.
He advised the governor “to settle down, build capacity, and focus on serving the people of Edo State during his brief tenure at Dennis Osadebey Avenue, rather than jeopardise the peace and security of the state in desperate pursuit of his selfish interests.”
Part of the press statement said, “We want to categorically state the unfounded allegations are a blatant lie and should be disregarded as a cocktail of complete falsehood. The resort to unintelligent lies and falsehood is just another failed attempt by the Governor-select to mislead the public and distract from his government’s blatant disregard for the rule of law, illegality, and ongoing extermination of democracy in the state.
“We are aware that the governor-select is desperate to get access to the local councils’ treasury to reward godfathers and settle political debts he incurred during the last governorship election and is exploring every opportunity to achieve this devious plan.
“Having failed in the illegal suspension of the council chairmen, he is now sending thugs and non-state actors to attack council headquarters, kidnap councillors, and force them into impeaching the duly elected council chairmen.
“He is desperately looking for excuses to justify this illegality and lawlessness and has decided to point accusing fingers at the PDP to mask his ignoble acts. For clarity, we want to emphasise that every comment made by the governor in the statement is false and baseless and at no point have PDP leaders received any such funds from Local Government Chairmen as ridiculously alleged by the Governor.
“We doubt very much that the figure blotted out by Mr. Governor is actually the figure he intended to say. We know he was confused a few weeks ago when he was confronted with financials. However, we challenge him to provide proof to substantiate these unfounded claims.
“Okpebholo must understand that the Local Government is neither an appendage nor a subordinate of the State Government, but a constitutionally recognised third tier of government, whose independence and autonomy are guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and stop forthwith with this executive rascality before the state descends into anarchy and chaos.
“As we have repeatedly pointed out, Okpebholo’s real challenge lies in his lack of capacity and developmental plans for the state. He is a politician out of his depth who got into office unprepared, through the back door”.
