The Special Adviser on Media Project to the Edo State Governor, Crusoe Osagie, has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of employing diversionary tactics ahead of the September 21, 2024, governorship election. He claims that the APC is making spurious allegations against Governor Godwin Obaseki to distract the public.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has scheduled the governorship election for September 21, with the APC, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Labour Party fielding Monday Okpebholo, Asue Ighodalo, and Olumide Akpata, respectively, as their candidates.
On Saturday, the Edo APC accused the state government of monumental corruption, urging the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate top government officials. The acting state chairman of the party, Jarret Tenebe, claimed that the EFCC had already invited some officials for questioning. Tenebe also suggested that the state's paperless operations were a strategy to delete critical data in case the PDP lost the election.
Among the allegations, Tenebe questioned the N28 billion allegedly spent on a five-star hotel by the state government, noting that the hotel was 85% complete before the government took over from its original owner.
In response, Osagie dismissed these allegations as attempts to deceive the people of Edo State. He argued that the APC's press conference was an effort to distract from their candidate's shortcomings ahead of the election.
"The shameful event aimed at cajoling Edo people and fruitlessly staging a straw man's argument aimed at winning support for their lacklustre and tepid candidate in the September 21 Edo governorship election," Osagie said. He accused the APC of lacking the intellectual capacity to understand the innovative transformations introduced by Governor Obaseki's administration.
Osagie highlighted Edo's achievements, including being the first digitized and most advanced public service in Nigeria. He noted the state's investment in a robust digitization program, a state-wide fiber optic cable infrastructure, and an advanced ERP system.
He further defended the investment in the Radisson Hotel, arguing that international hospitality chains like Radisson and Protea enhance the state's tourism sector. He attributed the increased cost of the hotel project to macroeconomic challenges and the declining value of the Naira.
Addressing the APC's attack on the modular refinery, Osagie praised the refinery as a testament to the government's creative genius. He dismissed the APC's fixation on the refinery's ownership, suggesting they were more interested in running it aground for personal gain.
Osagie advised the APC to focus on substantive issues rather than engaging in shadowboxing. He expressed confidence that on September 21, the people of Edo State would vote for the PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo.