Edo governor-elect Okpebholo appoints Fred Itua as chief press secretary ahead of inauguration

Edo State Governor-Elect Monday Okpebholo has approved the appointment of Fred Itua as Chief Press Secretary ahead of Tuesday’s assumption of office.

Itua’s appointment which will take effect on November 12, 2024, marks the first official designation of the incoming administration.

Itua, a distinguished journalist with extensive experience, previously served as the Assistant Political Editor at The Sun newspaper.

It is said that his expertise and commitment to high standards in journalism and public communication will be valuable assets to the new administration as it prepares to deliver on its mandate for the people of Edo State.

The appointment underscores Senator Okpebholo’s commitment to fostering transparent and effective communication within his administration.

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) transition committee has clarified that outgoing Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, was not invited to the inauguration of Senator Monday Okpebholo as the new governor due to his alleged efforts to undermine the event.

Okpebholo, the APC candidate, won the 2024 governorship election and is set to succeed Governor Obaseki, whose two terms in office conclude on November 12, 2024.

Okpebholo triumphed over his closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and 15 other candidates in the September 21, 2024 election.

Prince Kassim Afegbua, a member of the APC transition committee, issued a statement in Benin City, titled “Obaseki and His Lamentations”, where he criticized the outgoing governor for attempting to disrupt the transition.

Afegbua claimed that instead of planning the inauguration, as is customary, Obaseki was busy creating obstacles to the smooth transfer of power.

In response to allegations by Obaseki, who claimed that the governor-elect had borrowed between N2 billion and N5 billion from the state’s N27 billion reserved for project payments, the APC committee rejected the accusation.

They called it “laughable” and “self-indicting,” noting that such statements were a result of the PDP’s loss in the elections.

Obaseki had raised concerns during a PDP event on Friday, saying that the inauguration would cost between N2 billion and N5 billion, suggesting that funds were being misused for an extravagant ceremony. He also expressed his frustration over not being invited to the event.

In its reply, the APC transition committee emphasized that Obaseki’s claims were unfounded.

They pointed out that in other countries, outgoing leaders organize the inauguration of incoming officials, but Obaseki’s actions were an attempt to frustrate the smooth transition of power.

The committee accused him of creating unnecessary obstacles, such as demanding an inauguration budget, which the APC declined to provide.