In a surprising turn of events, outgoing Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has reportedly left the country, sparking controversy by abandoning governance in the face of a court order reinstating his estranged Deputy, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu. Obaseki’s sudden departure comes after handing over the reins of power to his close ally, former Commissioner for Finance, Joseph Eboigbe, in what many view as a violation of due process.
Obaseki, along with his wife, Betsy, departed Benin City late on Thursday, 27th September 2024, en route to Lagos by road. They boarded Turkish Airlines Flight Tk626 at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, heading for Venice, Italy, with a layover in Istanbul. They arrived in Istanbul at 5:40 am on Saturday, before taking a connecting flight to Venice, where they will remain until the conclusion of the 60th Biennale Foundation International Cultural Exhibition in mid-November.
Criticism has followed Obaseki’s move, as he purportedly handed over the day-to-day administration of the state to Eboigbe, now acting as Secretary to the Edo State Government and Chairman of the Transition Committee. The handover was done without legislative approval of the governor’s terminal leave request, which he reportedly sent to the Edo State Legislature. However, Obaseki opted to leave before any formal approval was granted, leading some to speculate that he was fleeing the state under pressure.
His absence was further highlighted during this week’s executive council meeting, held virtually, where he directed cabinet members to address their concerns to Eboigbe. The governor also instructed Eboigbe to finalize handover documents by October 30th for submission to the incoming administration on November 12th.
This situation has raised questions about Obaseki’s priorities as his tenure winds down. Many recall that, in 2017, Obaseki was appointed Commissioner of the Nigerian Pavilion at the 57th Venice Biennale by the Buhari administration, a role that saw him attend the same exhibition in April 2024. Now, rumors swirl that the Obasekis own a luxurious vacation home in Venice, a property believed to be their planned retirement residence. This development has also cast doubts on Mrs. Betsy Obaseki’s continued role at the Bank of Industry.
As the controversy surrounding Obaseki’s departure intensifies, the people of Edo State are left to ponder the implications of a leader leaving the state in turmoil, with governance now effectively in the hands of an appointed ally.
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