Edo: Okpebholo to probe Obaseki over $10m Observer funds

Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has said he would probe the spending of $10 million in the state-owned newspaper, The Nigerian Observer, by former Governor Godwin Obaseki.

He spoke yesterday when he led top officials of his administration on an unscheduled visit to the premises of the Observer titles on Airport Road, Benin, to inspect facilities on ground.

He and his entourage were shocked, as they could not gain access to the buildings where the machines purportedly bought by the previous administration were kept.

Obaseki’s Special Adviser on Media Projects, Crusoe Osagie, as well as the Publicity Secretary, Edo Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Caretaker Committee, Chris Nehikhare, who is the former Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, were the foot soldiers used by Obaseki on the project.

The once vibrant newspaper organisation was closed by Obaseki for the purpose of revamping it and ensuring it competes favourably with other national dailies, but instead of delivering on his administration’s promise to Edo people, the media house has been worse off.

Okpebholo, who was not happy as he could not gain access to the facilities, promised to visit the premises again to inspect the buildings and see for himself the machines Obaseki claimed to have bought with tax payers’ money.

He said: “I was on the premises of The Observer Newspaper Company to see for myself the money claimed to have been spent by the former governor, Godwin Obaseki, on revamping the state-owned media outfit.

“The former governor claimed to have used $10 million to revamp the newspaper house just before election. Everywhere was locked, because there was nothing inside. I could not even see a cleaner on the premises, as those we met on ground were not those working there.

“I need to be there again myself, and I need to inspect the buildings housing the equipment bought by the previous administration led by Godwin Obaseki. I will check inside the buildings myself to be sure the machines are there. I cannot really say for now if there are machines there, because I could not go inside. If the place was working, people would have been there, especially considering the resources spent there.

"Edo people need to ask what happened to their money spent in revamping The Observer Newspaper.”