The spokesperson of former Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, Mr. Crusoe Osagie has said that it was impossible for the state governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Asue Ighodalo to be in possession of 21 government vehicles given the system of centralised management of government vehicles in that administration.
The acting Chairman of the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Jarret Tenebe had made that allegation against Ighodalo a few days ago.
Ighodalo had filed defamation charges against Tenebe after his seven-day notice to retract the allegation expired.
In a video he released on Wednesday in Benin City, the state capital, Osagie described the allegation as an impossibility and a product of the ignorance of how the Obaseki administration functioned.
According to him, the system ensured that no public official, apart from the governor, deputy governor, and a select few high-ranking officials, had personal access to government vehicles.
Instead, officials would request vehicles for specific assignments, and the vehicles, along with assigned drivers, would be returned to the fleet after the task was completed.
Osagie emphasised: “There was no condition under which Asue Ighodalo could have been allocated 21 vehicles, as Jarret Tenebe falsely alleged.
“The fleet management system simply doesn’t allow for such allocations, making Tenebe’s claim not only false but also a clear demonstration of ignorance about government processes”.
He said Tenebe’s allegation was baseless, ignorant, and completely detached from reality.
Osagie outlined how the state government during Obaseki’s second term implemented a fleet management system to address wastage of government resources. According to him, the system, popularly known as ‘Move Monkey’ or ‘Edo Connect’, centralised the management of government vehicles.
Osagie did not hold back in criticising Tenebe’s repeated use of unfounded allegations to damage reputations. Describing Tenebe as a politician known for making “lousy, irresponsible comments”, he stated that such behavior was unbecoming of someone in a leadership position.
“Statements should be guided and based on facts, not reckless falsehoods intended to offend and defame”, Osagie admonished.
He added that Tenebe’s remarks reflect a lack of decorum and responsibility expected of a highly placed politician.
The former media adviser demanded that Tenebe retract his comments and issue a public apology to Ighodalo. “If that will cut it”, Osagie said, emphasising the seriousness of the damage caused by such false statements. He also urged Tenebe to “desist forthwith from such reckless and completely false statements”.
