The Edo State Government on Monday described as a “mischievous lie” the allegation by the state Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Dan Orbih, that the state governor, Adams Oshiomhole, spent N18m to charter a private jet for a trip to Miami, the United States of America, to attend a convention.
Orbih had earlier alleged that N26m was given to 13 All Progressives Congress lawmakers, who attended the convention while seven traditional rulers in the state got N17m to attend the same convention.
He added that the sum of N22.5m was given to the governor’s Chief of Staff and other aides to attend the summit while the governor as well as the chairman of the state economic team got N14.7m and N17.1m to go to New York and Miami respectively.
Orbih, who claimed that about N428m was spent on what he described as “socio picnic,” noted that the amount could have been used for infrastructural development in the state.
However, the Edo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Louis Odion, said the PDP Chairman “exhibits hatred for Edo unity.”
In a statement on Monday, the commissioner, who could not be reached for further comments on other allegations, explained that the governor travelled to the United States, “not privately” but on a request by the Edo community resident there, on a commercial airline.
Odion said, “Edo PDP Chairman, Chief Dan Orbih, again exhibited his talent for lies and contempt for facts last weekend with a ludicrous claim that Comrade Adams Oshiomhole chartered a private jet on a private trip to Miami, United States, last month at the cost of N18m.
“Ordinarily, one would not have bothered to dignify yet another of Orbih’s comical outbursts with a response; but for the sake of the gullible, this clarification is made.
“Contrary to his mischievous lie, the Comrade Governor visited Chicago not privately, but to honour Edo community in United States on an invitation as a Special Guest at their annual convention.
“Governor Oshiomhole travelled by commercial airline. Anyone who bothers to double-check would find that Comrade Oshiomhole is, perhaps, one of the few governors today who travel with the smallest entourage, if not totally alone, with a view to saving costs.
“By his latest idiotic lie, we are left wondering what is Orbih’s motive. Whatever it is, one thing is clear: Orbih, a poor student of History, is obviously against building and cementing the bond of unity in Edo State.”