Okpebholo: Obaseki spent $10m on newspaper company with no staff

Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has announced plans to probe the $10 million allegedly spent on the state-owned newspaper, The Nigerian Observer, by former Governor Godwin Obaseki.

Okpebholo made the announcement during an unscheduled visit to the Observer premises with top officials of his administration to inspect the facilities in Benin, the capital of Edo State, on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.

Okpebholo noted that the once-vibrant newspaper was shut down by Obaseki for supposed renovations, adding that the company’s condition had worsened instead of meeting the goal of competing with other national dailies.

Okpebholo, frustrated by his inability to access the premises, promised to return for a more thorough inspection of the buildings and the machines allegedly purchased with taxpayers’ money.

The governor expressed concerns about the $10 million claimed to have been spent by Obaseki to revive the newspaper, with the premises locked and devoid of staff.

He said: “I visited The Observer newspaper company to verify the claims of $10 million spent by Obaseki to revamp the media outfit.

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“The premises were locked, and no machines or staff were visible. If there had been equipment, people would have been working there, especially given the resources spent.”

Okpebholo stressed that the people of Edo State deserved answers regarding the misuse of their funds, adding that his visit was part of his efforts to ensure accountability.

However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Publicity Secretary, Chris Nehikhare, urged the governor to ask the Edo State Commissioner for Information, the Chief Press Secretary, and others about the machines they allegedly took on February 7 at the Observer’s premises.

Nehikhare, in a statement on Tuesday, expressed amazement at the governor’s statement, where he said he wanted to probe the previous administration’s efforts concerning the newspaper.

“It is absurd to order the sack of employees in November 2024 while still expecting them to be present during his visit,” he added.

The Star