Obaseki not running, seen in Lagos

Outgoing Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki is said to be seen in Lagos, against claims by Governor-elect Senator Monday Okpebholo that Obaseki had fled Nigeria through the land borders.

“Obaseki did not flee Nigeria; it is a lie. There was nothing like that. He is in Lagos right now as I speak so there is no truth to the claim made by the governor-elect,” a source was quoted as saying.

However, Obaseki, on Saturday, claimed that Senator Okpebholo did not invite him to his inauguration slated for next Tuesday.

Obaseki, who has been the Governor of Edo State since 2016, was initially elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), but he later joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in order to contest for a second term. And he won.

Okpebholo, who takes over from Obaseki, will be sworn into office on Tuesday, when Obaseki’s immunity ends as governor.

There have been counter accusations across the divide with Obaseki saying last week he heard that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) would arrest him after the expiration of his tenure as governor.

In a statement on Sunday signed by his media aide, Godspower Inegbe, Okpebholo said Obaseki’s whereabouts were unknown.

The statement accused Obaseki of chasing out everyone from the Government House on Friday before escaping to a yet-to-be known location days before his official departure from office.

“As of Friday, 8th of November, the whereabouts of Obaseki are 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 said.

“Obaseki did not flee Nigeria; it is a lie. There was nothing like that. He is in Lagos right now as I speak so there is no truth to the claim made by the governor-elect,” one of the sources said.