Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has revealed that he personally funded the purchase of his office chair after his predecessor, Godwin Obaseki, left with the one bearing Nigeria’s Coat of Arms.
Speaking on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, on Thursday evening, Okpebholo explained that while he would not initiate a personal probe into Obaseki’s administration, the system would eventually investigate financial matters and ensure that any misappropriated funds were recovered.
“I am not the one probing them. The system will probe them. I’m telling you, so much money is tied to a different thing. Those monies will come out when the time comes. I’m not going to hide anything,” he stated.
The governor, who was elected under the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform on September 22, 2024, secured victory with 291,667 votes, defeating the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo, who polled 247,655 votes.
Recounting his experience after assuming office, Okpebholo disclosed that he had to buy his own chair because Obaseki took the previous one.
“Even when I entered government, I had to use my money to buy my seat. Obaseki took his seat. The chair, yes. It was in the office with the Nigerian Coat of Arms. He took it. Somebody who can take an office chair, tell me what he will not take,” he said.
The governor attributed his electoral success to divine intervention, insisting that he would still win even if he contested again in two decades.
“Can you even point out one godfather who was pushing me?” the governor queried when asked about his political lineage.
“God was using people to help me, to support me, to get to where I am today.”
“Let me tell you, Edo people spoke. We were hungry for a change. Even in the next 20 years, I will win. When I won my Senate seat, there was a sitting senator. At that time, everything was working against us. There was no water in my place, there was no light, there was no road, there was no money, no fuel. Everything was against us. Compared to the PDP that was favoured. But yet, we won,” he asserted.
