The embattled Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has dissociated himself from the shameful arrest of the Commissioner for Arts, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora Affairs, Mr. Osaze Osewengie-Ero.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie and circulated by the over 30 Special Assistants on Digital Media, they claimed the arrest of the commissioner has nothing to do with the state government.
Mr. Osagie also said the state government could not confirm the arrest of the honourable commissioner. He, however, did not immediately deny same.
According to him, “We learnt about the alleged arrest of the Arts, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora Commissioner, Hon. Osaze Osemwingie-Ero from unreliable sources on social media and we are unable to confirm either the alleged arrest or what might have led to it.”
“But we can confirm without equivocation that whatever the issues might be, they are totally personal and have nothing whatsoever to do with the Edo State Government or Governor Godwin Obaseki,” he added.
The social media space has been awash with news of the arrest of the Commissioner in far away France over alleged money laundering offences to the tunes of $2 million.
Ero was alleged to be on transit in France with Governor Obaseki on their way back from China where the governor must have gone for one of his many MoU signing voyages.
Governor’s spokesman (Crusoe Osagie) did not confirm or deny that the Commissioner was arrested in company of his boss, neither did he deny or confirm that Ero was in possession of $2 million cash as at the time of his arrest.
The watery statement released by Mr. Crusoe Osagie Monday night seems to have raised more questions than provide answers.
Checks by CAMPUS GIST shows that Osagie and Gov. Obaseki have received heavy backlash over the nonchalant manner they have handled and responded to the arrest of the Commissioner.
Mr. Ero, whose number is still unreachable as at the time of filing this report, was said to have been arrested by INTERPOL a month back.
Some Edo citizens are wondering why the Governor should learn about the arrest of his Commissioner in the media about a month after his arrest.
Mr. Obaseki is seeking re-election next year. With this development, it is being alleged in some quarters that the governor may have been pulling cash abroad to prosecute the elections.
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