The Legal Adviser to the Edo State Governor, Mr. Andrew Ewanta, has refuted claims that Governor Monday Okpebholo is stalling the full constitution of his cabinet pending the outcome of the Supreme Court ruling on the September 21, 2024 governorship election.
Since assuming office on November 12, 2024, Governor Okpebholo has appointed only nine commissioners, a development that has drawn criticism from some political observers and opposition voices. However, Ewanta, speaking during a press briefing on Sunday, insisted that attributing the delay to the anticipated court verdict is both misleading and inaccurate.
“If the governor were waiting for the Supreme Court judgment, he would not have appointed any commissioners at all,” Ewanta said. “He is, in fact, the first governor in the history of Edo State to announce some members of his cabinet on the very day of his inauguration.”
The Legal Adviser emphasized that the administration had taken meaningful steps to ensure continuity in governance, pointing out that heads of key agencies and special advisers have been appointed. He also noted that the governor’s approach is deliberate and inclusive.
“Several individuals have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Labour Party and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and we must take them into consideration in forming a balanced cabinet,” he added.
Ewanta also shed light on the challenges inherited by the Okpebholo administration, noting that the new government is intent on laying a solid foundation for its five-point development agenda. “The governor does not want to make excuses later. He wants competent people in place who can deliver results from day one,” he said.
On the controversy surrounding PDP chieftains whose properties were marked for demolition over alleged involvement in cult-related activities, Ewanta confirmed that investigations are ongoing. “The police are still probing the matter, and we are allowing the process to take its full course,” he said.
Responding to concerns about stalled construction projects across the state, Ewanta disclosed that the previous administration under Godwin Obaseki left behind a staggering debt of over N600 billion in road contracts alone. He accused the former government of hastily awarding contracts in its final months, many of which are now under review.
“In the twilight of that administration, contracts were being handed out to political cronies without due diligence. These are some of the issues we are confronting,” he explained.
Despite the current challenges, Ewanta maintained that the Okpebholo administration remains committed to delivering on its promises, stressing that the government is operating at “full throttle.”
The post Edo gov’s lawyer explains cabinet delay, how Obaseki left N600bn debt on road contracts alone appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from Ripples Nigeria.
