Legal Adviser to Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, Andrew Ewanta, has debunked speculations that the governor is deliberately stalling the constitution of a full cabinet pending the outcome of the Supreme Court judgment on the 2023 governorship election.
Naija News reports that Ewanta, while speaking in Akure, insisted that Governor Okpebholo’s decision to appoint only nine commissioners so far is not politically motivated and has no bearing on the court case.
Reacting to claims that the administration was treading cautiously due to the ongoing legal tussle, Ewanta said, “That is not the reason. If he were waiting for the Supreme Court judgment, he would not have appointed the first set of commissioners. This is the first governor in Edo history to announce cabinet members on the day of inauguration.”
He emphasised that the governor has already appointed heads of agencies and special advisers in key ministries, adding that the administration is running “full throttle.”
“Some people joined us from the Labour Party and the PDP. We have to accommodate them. The appointments are strategic and based on merit, not fear,” he further stated.
Ewanta also shed light on the slow pace of road infrastructure across the state, attributing the delay to the ₦600 billion debt inherited from the Godwin Obaseki administration.
He said, “When the government came on board, the debts the previous administration owed, only for road contracts, were over ₦600bn.
“In the twilight of that administration, they began awarding contracts to their cronies. Those are now under review.”
He assured that Governor Okpebholo remains committed to completing all inherited projects and fulfilling promises made to communities across the state.
Addressing the controversy surrounding the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) project, Ewanta clarified that the governor had not reversed course but only expressed dissatisfaction with the previous administration’s handling of certain aspects.
He said, “The Governor never said he was going to revoke anything. He just expressed dismay with the manner some of those transactions were done. Edo State committed ₦3.5bn to the building of MOWAA. It provided premises. And again, the fact that you had to make a change of views, you had a hospital there, you had to demolish a hospital. I think that was what angered the Governor. It is not that he was going to abandon the project because of international interest involved, because funding for that place, more than 80% of the funds, comes from Europe. I mean, for lovers of art and the rest.
“The Governor is already partnering with them, and he said all projects from the previous administration will be completed. He will complete them.”
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