The former Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has issued a strong rebuttal to accusations leveled against him by his successor, Governor Monday Okpebholo, accusing him of engaging in a deliberate smear campaign. Obaseki claims that Okpebholo’s actions are not only ineffective but are also revealing him as a superficial and unprepared politician.
In a detailed statement released on Sunday, Obaseki’s Media Adviser, Crusoe Osagie, described recent allegations made by the acting chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Bernard Joman, as baseless and mischievous. Joman accused Obaseki of failing to implement the ₦70,000 minimum wage during his tenure, a claim Osagie firmly refuted as both absurd and unfounded.
Osagie criticized Governor Okpebholo and the All Progressives Congress (APC) for their continuous distortion of facts and spreading of falsehoods in a bid to tarnish the legacy of the former governor. According to him, this behavior only underscores their lack of vision and substantive development plans for the state.
Osagie further noted that civil servants in the state are now looking forward to Governor Okpebholo increasing the minimum wage to ₦100,000 monthly, especially as inflation has significantly worsened since Obaseki’s administration introduced the ₦70,000 minimum wage in May 2024.
In the statement, Osagie said: “The Edo State Governor-select, Monday Okpebholo, and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), seem unable to move past former Governor Godwin Obaseki. Like a jilted lover, they have resorted to fabricating falsehoods, peddling baseless allegations, and twisting narratives in an effort to discredit the former governor. This is all in a bid to undermine the sterling legacy Obaseki left after eight years of bold and transformative reforms that significantly improved the lives of Edo State residents and set the state on a trajectory of prosperity.”
“The latest falsehood, spread through the acting chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Bernard Joman, is that Obaseki failed to implement the ₦70,000 minimum wage. This claim is not only ridiculous but also exposes the ignorance of the current government. It showcases their lack of substance, vision, and a coherent development agenda for Edo State and its people,” the statement continued.
“Former Governor Godwin Obaseki’s administration was groundbreaking in initiating discussions on improved worker welfare. He was the first to set the stage for the ₦70,000 minimum wage, which has since been implemented across various states and at the federal level. Edo civil servants have been beneficiaries of this new wage structure since May 2024, making Obaseki the pioneer in this historic initiative.”
“What Edo civil servants now expect from Governor Okpebholo is a proactive approach to addressing inflation by increasing the minimum wage to ₦100,000 monthly. Instead, he has chosen to rely on propaganda, telling unintelligent lies, and engaging in baseless political point-scoring attempts.”
Osagie also criticized Governor Okpebholo’s approach to governance, describing it as a mere effort to tour Obaseki’s completed projects and attempt to discredit them. “The governor-select has turned the Nigerian Observer Newspapers into a tool for propaganda. Yet, it is worth noting that Obaseki’s administration revived the publication from its archaic state, equipping it with modern printing facilities and significantly improving its operations,” he said.
He continued: “It is becoming increasingly evident that Okpebholo lacks the brilliance and foresight needed to govern effectively. His feeble attempts to undermine Obaseki’s achievements are falling apart, revealing him as a shallow politician with no meaningful plans for Edo State’s development.”
“We advise Governor Okpebholo to focus on presenting a clear development agenda for Edo State, rather than resorting to propaganda and lies. His misguided actions will not earn him the love and support of the people, who are well aware of the dubious manner in which he and his godfathers secured the September 21 governorship election. Edo residents deserve leadership with competence and integrity, not excuses and baseless accusations.”
