As part of efforts to get a firm grip on governance, Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo plans to probe the sinking of $10 million in the state-owned newspaper, The Nigerian Observer by the immediate-past governor of the State, Godwin Obaseki.

This was revealed in a statement in Benin City on Tuesday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Edo State Governor, Fred Itua.

According to Itua, his principal made the disclosure when he led top officials of his administration on an unscheduled visit to the premises of the Observer titles to inspect facilities on ground.

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The Governor and his entourage were shocked as they could not gain access to the buildings where all the machines purportedly bought by the previous administration were kept.

Obaseki’s Special Adviser on Media Projects, Crusoe Osagie as well as the Publicity Secretary, Edo PDP Caretaker Committee and former Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Osa Nehikhare were the foot soldiers used by Obaseki on the project.

The once vibrant newspaper organization was closed by Obaseki for the purpose of revamping it and ensuring it competes favourably with other national dailies but instead of delivering on his administration’s promise to Edo people, the media house has been worse off.

Gov Okpebholo, who was not happy as he could not gain access to the facilities, promised to revisit the premises again to inspect the buildings and see for himself the machines Obaseki claimed to have bought with tax payers money.

On the development, the governor said: “I was in the premises of The Observer Newspaper company to see for myself the money claimed to have been spent by the former governor, Godwin Obaseki on revamping the State owned media outfit.

“The former governor claimed to have used $10 million to revamp the newspaper house just before election. Everywhere was locked because there was nothing inside, I could not even see a cleaner in the premises as those we met on the ground were not those working there.

“I need to be there again myself, and I need to inspect the buildings housing the equipment bought by the previous administration led by Godwin Obaseki. I will check inside the buildings myself to be sure that the machines are there. I can’t really say for now if there are machines there because I couldn’t go inside. If the place was working, people would have been there, especially considering the resources spent there.

“Edo people need to ask what happened to their money spent in revamping The Observer Newspaper. I am here as their governor to provide them with the answers. Hence, the visit to the organization became necessary.”

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Obidike Chukwuebuka, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State, stating that the move effectively saved Governor Siminalayi Fubara from impeachment.

In a statement on Wednesday, Obidike asserted that Governor Fubara owes a debt of gratitude to President Tinubu for stepping in at a critical moment.

He noted that the intervention not only prevented an imminent removal of the governor but also helped restore stability amid the escalating political crisis in the state.

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Citing Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, Obidike explained that Tinubu acted within his constitutional powers to declare a state of emergency, which temporarily suspends the authority of the Governor, Deputy Governor, and other state institutions.

According to him, this provision allows the President to assume control when a state faces a major crisis that threatens governance and security.

“President Tinubu has demonstrated leadership by ensuring that Rivers State does not descend into chaos. His decision prevented what could have been a turbulent political showdown that might have destabilized governance in the state,” Obidike stated.

While the exact details of the alleged impeachment plot against Fubara remain unclear, Obidike emphasized that Tinubu’s actions have reshaped the political dynamics in Rivers.

The President’s recent meeting with Governor Fubara and other key stakeholders, he noted, underscored the importance of peace and cooperation in resolving the crisis.

“As the situation unfolds, Governor Fubara’s political future remains closely tied to President Tinubu’s influence, with potentially far-reaching consequences for the state,” Obidike concluded.

His remarks come amid a wave of mixed reactions across the country, with legal experts, opposition parties, and civil society groups questioning the legitimacy of Tinubu’s decision.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly opposed the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, arguing that President Bola Tinubu does not have the constitutional power to suspend the state’s elected governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

In a statement on Tuesday, PDP spokesman Debo Ologunagba criticized the move, calling it a violation of the 1999 Constitution and an attack on democracy.

“The unconstitutional declaration by President Tinubu of the suspension of the democratically elected Governor of Rivers State, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and appointment of an unelected individual, Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd), to govern the State is a clear attack on our nation’s democracy,” Ologunagba stated.

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He further alleged that the decision was part of a larger strategy by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to destabilize Rivers State and take control of its governance.

According to him, “It is the climax of a well-oiled plot to forcefully take over Rivers State for which the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been bent on stoking crisis to ensure that democracy is ultimately truncated in the State.”

The PDP also warned that the move was not just about Rivers State but a broader attempt to weaken the opposition and establish a one-party system.

“The PDP alerts that the unwarranted imposition of emergency rule in Rivers State is part of the larger vicious plot to foist a siege mentality across Nigeria, decimate opposition, impose a totalitarian one-Party State and turn the country into a fiefdom,” Ologunagba said.

He also challenged Tinubu’s legal justification for the emergency rule, arguing that Section 305 of the Constitution does not grant the president unilateral power to enforce such a decision without approval from the National Assembly.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Section 305 (2) provides that ‘The President shall immediately after the publication, transmit copies of the Official Gazette of the Government of the Federation containing the proclamation including the details of the emergency to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives… to consider the situation and decide whether or not to pass a resolution approving the proclamation,’” he explained.

The PDP has called on Nigerians and the international community to resist what it sees as a dangerous abuse of power, warning that it could set a troubling precedent for governance in the country.