Senator Monday Okpebholo, who is set to become the Governor of Edo State, has approved the appointment of Fred Itua as his new Chief Press Secretary.
It is worth noting that Okpebholo is set to assume the role of Governor tomorrow, November 12th.
Itua, scheduled to assume office on Tuesday, makes the first official appointment by Edo State incoming government.
Itua, a respected journalist with a wealth of experience, has previously worked as the Assistant Political Editor at The Sun newspaper.
His knowledge and dedication to maintaining high standards in journalism and public communication are expected to be significant assets to the new government as it works to fulfill its promises to the citizens of Edo State.
This decision highlights Senator Okpebholo’s dedication to promoting open and efficient communication within his government.
Earlier, the transition team for the All Progressives Congress (APC) made it clear that the former Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, was not included in the list of invitees for Senator Monday Okpebholo’s inauguration as the new governor.
This decision was made due to Obaseki’s alleged attempts to interfere with the event.
Senator Okpebholo, the APC candidate for the 2024 gubernatorial race, emerged victorious in the election and is poised to take over from Governor Obaseki, whose tenure ends on November 12, 2024.
Okpebholo defeated his nearest competitor, Asue Ighodalo, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), along with 15 other candidates on September 21, 2024.
Prince Kassim Afegbua, a member of the APC transition team, issued a statement in Benin City, titled “Obaseki and His Lamentations,” where he criticized Governor Obaseki for his efforts to obstruct the transition.
Afegbua alleged that instead of focusing on the inauguration, which is standard practice, Governor Obaseki was preoccupied with creating hurdles for a seamless power transfer.
In response to Governor Obaseki’s allegations that the incoming governor had borrowed between ₦2 billion and ₦5 billion from the state’s ₦27 billion fund for project payments, the APC transition team dismissed these claims.
They found these accusations to be “laughable” and “self-indicting,” noting that such statements were a reflection of the PDP’s defeat in the elections.
Governor Obaseki had voiced concerns during a PDP gathering on Friday, suggesting that the inauguration would cost between ₦2 billion and ₦5 billion, indicating that the funds might be misused for a lavish ceremony. He also expressed his disappointment over not being invited to the event.
In its counter-response, the APC transition committee highlighted that Governor Obaseki’s allegations were baseless.
They pointed out that in many countries, outgoing leaders organize the inauguration of the incoming officials, but Governor Obaseki’s actions were seen as attempts to obstruct the smooth transfer of power.
The committee accused him of creating unnecessary barriers, such as demanding an inauguration budget, which the APC refused to provide.
