Former Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki has knocked his successor, Governor Monday Okpebholo over the allegation that his administration left behind a debt of ₦600 billion.

Obaseki, in a statement by his media aide, Crusoe Osagie said:

“I think it has become important for us to underscore the dangers in some of these irresponsible comments that they are making. Nigeria, we can say safely, is currently facing an existential threat.”

“The head of the government of another nation has declared our government an irresponsible, shameful, and disgraced government.”

“So, when comments like this begin to come out of a state like Edo, also governed by the All Progressives Congress (APC), it gives credence to the attitude that we are receiving from foreign nations.”

“Nigeria has a Debt Management Office in Abuja. There is no government that has the power, at whatever level, local, state, or federal, to draw loans or enter into any debt arrangement without the knowledge and approval of the Debt Management Office.”

“Can you kindly ask: is the N600 billion he is speaking about recorded in the Debt Management Office?”

“If Obaseki took such loans or had such indebtedness, at least you would find it in the DMO.”

“So he just comes out and spews lies and makes this statement, giving the impression that the state is being governed by touts.”

For those who don’t know, the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Kassim Afegbua, during a media briefing to mark Governor Okpebholo’s one year in office, revealed that over ₦178 billion was owed to road contractors.

He accused Obaseki of instructing contractors to obtain loans and work without provisions for payment.