The number of missing government vehicles has more than doubled from initial estimates, climbing from 200 to nearly 500 according to state officials. This development marks a significant escalation in the ongoing controversy between the new administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo and his predecessor, Godwin Obaseki.
Fred Itua, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Okpebholo, disclosed this information during Monday’s edition of Channels Television’s “Lunchtime Politics,” painting a picture of widespread asset displacement that has left the current administration struggling to function effectively. The revelation comes as the state’s asset recovery committee, led by Kelly Okungbowa, continues its investigation into the whereabouts of government property.
The scope of the missing assets has grown dramatically since the committee’s initial report. In a particularly striking development, Itua revealed that 21 vehicles were traced to a single high-ranking appointee from the previous administration. An additional cache of approximately 15 vehicles was reportedly found at the residence of another former top official, suggesting a pattern of unofficial retention of state assets.
Despite these concerning findings, the recovery efforts have yielded modest results thus far, with only about 10 vehicles successfully retrieved. The disparity between the number of missing vehicles and those recovered highlights the challenging nature of the asset recovery process and raises questions about the fate of the remaining fleet.
The impact of this situation extends beyond mere numbers, as Itua emphasized that current administration officials are operating without official vehicles, suggesting a significant disruption to government functions. His assertion that the Okpebholo administration “inherited nothing” from Obaseki’s government adds another layer to the unfolding controversy.
This vehicle scandal has become a focal point in the increasingly strained relationship between the current and former administrations. The political undertones are impossible to ignore, given that Okpebholo, representing the All Progressives Congress (APC), secured victory over Obaseki’s chosen successor, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the September 21 governorship election.
The investigation into the missing vehicles is part of a broader probe into Obaseki’s administration, which the new government says aligns with its commitment to “probity, accountability, and transparency in governance.” However, this characterization has been strongly contested by the former administration, with Obaseki’s camp dismissing the investigations as political theater.
Crusoe Osagie, Obaseki’s media aide, has launched a forceful counterattack, describing the probes as “diversionary” and a “smokescreen” designed to mask what he terms as Okpebholo’s “incompetence and unpreparedness for office.” Osagie went further, suggesting that the investigations are an attempt to legitimize what he described as a “stolen mandate.
The escalating rhetoric from both sides reveals the deep political divisions that continue to shape Edo State’s governance landscape. While the current administration frames its actions as necessary steps toward accountability, the former governor’s team portrays them as politically motivated distractions from more pressing governance issues.
The state’s asset recovery committee faces the challenging task of continuing its work amid these political crosscurrents. Their mandate extends beyond mere vehicle recovery to encompass other state assets, suggesting that additional revelations may emerge as their investigation progresses.
This situation raises broader questions about the transition of power in Nigerian states and the mechanisms in place to ensure proper handover of government assets. The sheer scale of missing vehicles – nearly 500 in total – points to potential systemic issues in asset management and accountability that extend beyond any single administration.
As the story continues to unfold, the focus remains on the recovery committee’s efforts to locate and retrieve state property. Their success or failure could have significant implications not only for the current administration’s ability to function effectively but also for the broader discourse on governmental accountability and transparency in Edo State and Nigeria as a whole.
The controversy shows no signs of abating, with both sides deeply entrenched in their positions. As the Okpebholo administration continues its probe and recovery efforts, the coming weeks may reveal more about the fate of these missing vehicles and the political implications of this expanding scandal.
