Toba Owojaiye reporting
Benin City, Edo State
The outgoing Obaseki administration has been widely commended for its effective handling of the transition process, ensuring a seamless handover to the incoming government led by Governor-Elect Monday Okpebholo.
This careful and structured approach reflects a commitment to continuity and stability, even as the Edo State citizens anticipates the court’s ruling on the Ighodalo case.
Truth Live News gathered that Edo Governor-Elect Monday Okpebholo has refuted claims that he is seeking a $45 million loan from a Chinese agency for the construction of flyovers in Benin City.
In a statement released by his media aide, Godspower Inegbe, Okpebholo clarified that the rumors were baseless and likely spread by affiliates of the outgoing administration. He noted that recent viral photos from his visit to the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, may have been misinterpreted, sparking the false claims.
The statement emphasized that Okpebholo has no authority to secure loans on behalf of the state government and remains focused on addressing the significant debt left by the outgoing administration without corresponding infrastructure development. Okpebholo’s team stressed that the governor-elect was invited by the Chinese ambassador for a visit and did not engage in any agreements for loans, contrary to the claims circulating online.
In response to the speculation, Edo State Commissioner for Information, Chris Nehikhare, dismissed the rumors, clarifying that they did not originate from Obaseki’s administration. He further noted that the transition process remains on track, with the new government set to assume office on November 12.