As elections in Edo State draw closer, it appears Governor Godwin Obaseki will swim in more trouble waters in the weeks and months to come as more breathtaking revelations about his stewardship to the people of the state continue to surface.
Recently, former Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, had described Obaseki as a con man. The erstwhile APC national chairman who went on his knees to apologise to Edo people for selling what he described as “a bad product” to them, said he would live to regret his mistakes if he failed to correct them now.
A remorseful Oshiomhole who almost broke into tear, had also told the people how he was manipulated by Obaseki’s mastery in scheming, which eventually earned him access to the state’s treasury.
Obaseki ran a ‘behind the scene’ operation for Oshiomhole during his two terms in office, though as once recounted by Oshiomhole, he (Obaseki) never received any direct remuneration for his service to the goverment in all of these years.
That was a clever plot. Logically, it was Obaseki’s winning point against his estranged boss. It was a ‘Classic’ art of manuevering designed by a genius who knows how to give freely and take back from the people in quantum.
Who in Oshiomhole’s shoes would not have trusted a man who worked closely with him and exhibited saintly attributes with all moral soundness? It only takes a genius to beat someone like Oshiomhole to his game such that favoured him against influencial politicians with former Governor to clinch the party’s ticket. It was strange and voodoo-like.
Oshiomhole was charmed by his would be beneficiary’s hoax and facades, who unknown to all had his eyes on the seat of power to consolidate on what he has taken from the state through the backdoors in the guise of consultancy. Obaseki’s service to the state was more of an investment for future benefits than service to the people as it was made to believe.
Oshiomhole had in one of his public expression of regrets, where he appeared to have been unbind from Obaseki’s charm, said “Obaseki pretended for almost eight years, while he did not believe in what I was doing as the governor”.
Godwin Obaseki’s stance today and the many allegations with evidences told about him have vindicated APC leaders who warned Oshiomhole in 2016 and disapproved of his candidacy.
There is a strong connection between the man Obaseki and strange things as his credentials have proven during his screening by the ruling APC, which of course led to his disqualification by the party over fear of losing the state to the opposition on a platter of gold.
Like some Nigerian leaders, questions about Obaseki remain unanswered. Was his background properly checked before he was given the responsibility to run a state as big and strategic like Edo? These are the untold stories about Obaseki.
Suffice it to say that, while Obaseki was doing what many were made to believe as “community service” to the state, his company, Afrinvest was warming up to feast on our common patrimony to build a business empire from.
With his reelection hope sinking by the day, Edo State purse now serves as his personal purse. In less than four years in the affairs of the state, allegations of billions of dollars against him have become common place in several media spaces.
Even with millions shared among his lerkays to suppress reports about the looting spree ongoing in his goverment, the people’s voice still echoes.
In two separate petitions to ICPC and the Central Bank of Nigeria recently, a group know as Concerned Edo PDP Stakeholders had asked the anti-graft body and the Apex Bank to investigate allegations of corruption against Godwin Obaseki, who they alleged using his office to influence state contracts to his company, Afrivest.
They group had also alleged that Obaseki diverted security votes for the state from 2016 till date in the tune of N7.5 billion into Afrivest Limited bank account.
It was also alleged in the letters that the said security votes of over N7 billion breathing in Afrivest Limited account and other illegally obtained profits, are already signed as start up capital to resuscitate PRIMUS BANK, which Godwin Obaseki, through his proxies is now seeking approval for to operate as a regional bank.
Apart from calling on authorities to investigate the Obaseki’s administration even as the Governor is currently immuned of any form of prosecution as provided by the constitution, the PDP group had called on ICPC to invoke section 19 of the Independent Corrupt Practice and other related offence Commission Act 2000 and immediately swing into investigating Obaseki’s contravention the said section.
The group had wondered how could a man who in 2016, while contesting for governorship, had little personal resources, both as an individual and as the Chairman of Afrinvest Board of Directors, could not raise even N10 million naira in both personal and professional capacity, following years of barely staying above water and was approaching insolvency has suddenly become a billionaire.
The group had also raised eyebrows over a financial boom for Afrinvest Limited since Obaseki became Governor, leading to the firm winning contracts, notably from the Edo State Govenment, and making astounding profits it never posted since its establishment.
Also in the document is how Obaseki abused his office as Governor without the approval of the state assembly single-handedly awarded a N1.8 billion consultation contract on the Water Slorm Project to Afrinvest Limited without justification of the inflated sum and the nature of the contract.
Does this truly contravene Section 19 of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences commission (ICPC), Act 2000? Yes it does.
This is just one among many other contracts awarded to Afrinvest Limited through the influence of Obaseki who continue to use the company as a front and conduit pipe for the diversion of state funds through bogus contracts and budgetary allocations.
There is no way to tell for sure the countless times Obaseki had abuse his oath of office but it could well be that some of the figures of his alleged loot are loot inside a loot inside another loot and everything is just one giant loot pyramid.
Whichever way it falls, Edo people have tolerated one too many big fraud from Obaseki and his co con travelers and it is time to act fast to save Edo State from total bancruptcy.
The people of Edo are calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to save the state from Obaseki and his company. The people have total confidence in him and trust on his anti-graft war.
They are aware that since ascending to the position in 2015, President Buhari’s anti-corruption campaign has targeted widespread graft in Nigeria without sparing any sacred cow.
They hold on the President belief that deeply rooted corruption in Nigeria contributes to income inequality and compromises the legitimacy of the country’s efforts. The people demand justice, holding that it was Buhari’s anti corruption stance that won the hearts of most Nigerians who believe in his anti corruption stance that won him and the APC the 2019 general elections.
