Former Gov. Obaseki, To Face Probe Panel Over $10M Spent On Observer Newspaper
By: Oriaifoh Godwins
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo has hinted of plans to probe the claimed sinking of a whopping $10 million in Edo State-owned newspaper, The Nigerian Observer by the immediate-past governor of the State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki.
The above revelation, is contained in a Press release titled: "GOV OKPEBHOLO TO PROBE OBASEKI OVER $10M SPENT ON OBSERVER NEWSPAPER", dated Tuesday, 18 March, 2025 and signed by Fred Itua, the Chief Press Secretary to Edo State Governor.
According to the Press release, Governor Okpebholo disclosed this when he led top officials of his administration on an unscheduled visit to the premises of the Observer titles to inspect facilities on ground.
The Governor and his entourage were shocked as they could not gain access to the buildings where all the machines purportedly bought by the previous administration were kept.
The release, also pointed out that, Obaseki’s Special Adviser on Media Projects, Crusoe Osagie as well as the Publicity Secretary, Edo PDP Caretaker Committee and former Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Osa Nehikhare were the foot soldiers used by Obaseki on the project.
"The once vibrant newspaper organization was closed by Obaseki for the purpose of revamping it and ensuring it competes favourably with other national dailies but instead of delivering on his administration’s promise to Edo people, the Media house has been worse off". The Press release stated.
Continuing, the press release, also revealed that, Governor Okpebholo, who was not happy as he could not gain access to the facilities, promised to revisit the premises again to inspect the buildings and see for himself the machines Obaseki claimed to have bought with Edo state tax payers' money.
Continuing, the development, the governor said; “I have come to the premises of The Observer Newspaper company to see for myself the money claimed to have been spent by the former governor, Godwin Obaseki on revamping the State owned media outfit.
“The former governor claimed to have used $10 million to revamp the newspaper house just before election. Everywhere was locked because there is nothing inside, I could not even see a cleaner in the premises as those we met on ground, are not working there.
“I need to be here again myself, and I need to inspect the buildings housing the equipment bought by the previous administration led by Godwin Obaseki. I will check inside the buildings myself to be sure that the machines are there. I can’t really say for now if there are machines there because I couldn’t go inside. If the place was working, people would have been there, especially considering the resources spent there.
“Edo people need to ask what happened to their money spent in revamping The Observer Newspaper. I am here as their governor to provide them with the answers. Hence, the visit to the organization became necessary.”
It will also be recalled that, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, in like manner, promised to restructure the state owned University, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, to meet with, according to him, "World class standard", but when Obaseki left the seat of Government, the university became a shadow of itself, as it was gasping for breath, before governor Monday Okpebholo gave the university a new lease of life, that now made the institution to begin to breathe some fresh air.