Gov. Godwin Obaseki:

Jethro Ibileke/Benin

The Peoples Democratic Party has kicked against an alleged N7 billion travel allowances for Governor Godwin Obaseki allegedly captured in the 2019 budget of Edo State.

The state chairman of PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, has kicked against the alleged travel allowance, describing it as a misplaced priority.

He stated this during campaign rally on Friday at Ikpoba-Okha local government area of the state.

The state government however debunked the claim as pack of lies, saying that there was nothing as N7 billion travel allowance in the budget.

Orbih alleged that Obaseki legitimised corruption under the guise of attracting foreign investors to the state, in the face of worsening economic challenges.

According to him, “In this year alone, he (Obaseki) has provided N7 billion for foreign trips. He says he is looking for foreign investors to come to the state.

“He (Obaseki) had travelled to Malaysia, Indonesia, China, etc, looking for foreign investors and he came back with nothing! All we hear is campaign sounding promises!

“That Governor is busy signing memorandum of understanding (MoU) everywhere and with every group, society, union and even in some case, progressive unions… hence he is now referred to as MOU governor.”

In his reaction, Crusoe Osagie, the Special Adviser on media and publicity to Governor Godwin Obaseki, described the allegation as PDP’s tall tales.

He said: “First and foremost, there is no N7 billion. All those are just normal slander that the PDP list up when they have nothing to say. The PDP has nothing to say so they just whip up sentiment by talking about things that are non existent.

“Am waiting for what they are going to say again tomorrow. It’s one day, one lie, one day, one story that does not have any basis. There is no such provision in the budget.

“They think we are still in the era when you can just open your mouth and tell lies. That era has changed, the government we have now is a transparent government and no amount of slander and lies can change that.”