BENIN CITY – Former Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has publicly and categorically denied allegations that his administration left a debt burden of N600 billion for the incumbent government.
The denial comes in response to claims made by officials of Governor Monday Okpebholo’s administration, which has taken over the state’s leadership.
Speaking through his Media Adviser, Crusoe Osagie, Obaseki challenged the current government to cross-check its claims with the federal Debt Management Office (DMO), asserting that no state government can incur debt without the DMO’s knowledge and approval.
A Refutation of “Irresponsible Information”
Obaseki described the statements from the Edo State government, particularly those from the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, as “false” and “outrightly out of place.”
He argued that such claims are damaging to Nigeria’s international image, suggesting they make the country appear ungovernable to foreign investors and nations.
“It gives the impression that the state is being governed by people who don’t understand what it means to run a government,” Osagie stated on behalf of the former governor.
Radisson Hotel Project Defended
On the planned probe of the Radisson Hotel project, a key point of contention, Obaseki’s camp defended the transaction. He insisted that the international brand entered into a proper agreement with the state government, with all details meticulously documented and included in the transition report handed over to the new administration.
He emphasized that the project involved international funding from governments like Germany, the UK, and France, and would not have been established on land that was not legally ceded.
“Can you people kindly ask where that N600bn he is speaking about is recorded in the DMO office? If Obaseki took such loans or had such indebtedness, at least you can find it there,” the statement challenged, urging the public to seek verification from the official record-keeping body.
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Disclaimer: This article reports on a public dispute between the former and current administrations of Edo State. The claims and counterclaims presented are those of the involved parties. CDA News does not independently verify the accuracy of the alleged N600bn debt and encourages readers to refer to official statements from the Debt Management Office (DMO) for authoritative public financial data.
