Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has raised concerns over the reported $10 million expenditure by his predecessor, Godwin Obaseki, on the state-owned newspaper, The Nigerian Observer. During an unscheduled visit to the newspaper’s premises on Tuesday, Okpebholo and his team were surprised to find that they could not access the buildings where machines, supposedly purchased by the previous administration, were meant to be kept.
The Nigerian Observer, which was once a vibrant media organization, was shut down by Obaseki with the intention of revamping it to compete with national dailies. However, Okpebholo’s inspection revealed that the premises were locked, and there was no staff present. The governor expressed frustration at the lack of transparency and access, indicating that the facility was not functioning as expected given the reported financial investment.
Speaking about the visit, Okpebholo said: “I visited The Observer Newspaper company to see for myself the money that was claimed to have been spent by the former governor, Godwin Obaseki, on revamping the state-owned media house. The former governor claimed to have spent $10m to revamp the newspaper house just before the elections. However, everywhere was locked, and there was nothing inside.”
The governor emphasized his commitment to accountability and the need to provide answers to the people of Edo State regarding the use of public funds. He vowed to return for another inspection to verify the presence of the machines and equipment that were reportedly bought with taxpayers’ money. Okpebholo stressed that Edo people deserve to know what happened to the funds allocated for the revamping of The Observer, and he intends to get to the bottom of the issue.
This investigation highlights the ongoing scrutiny of Obaseki’s administration and the need for transparency in the management of state resources, especially with significant public funds involved.