‘He paid people to attack me in the UK’ – Obaseki fires at Okpebholo

Former Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has fired back at Governor Monday Okpebholo, saying the governor has no power to stop him from entering Benin City and has already crossed the line by sponsoring attacks against him in the United Kingdom.

Obaseki spoke in a viral video on Monday while reacting to Okpebholo’s claim that he (Obaseki) is no longer loved in the state and “cannot step foot in Edo.”

Over the weekend, Okpebholo boasted that Edo is fully behind President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid, insisting he would resign if the President fails to win. He also mocked Obaseki, saying even children would reject him if he tries to campaign in the state.

“Everybody is for Asiwaju. Who is Obaseki? Let him come here now. He cannot come. His record will not let him enter Edo. If Asiwaju doesn’t win, I will resign,” Okpebholo declared.

But Obaseki has now hit back hard.

In his video, the former governor accused Okpebholo of going too far, claiming the governor even paid people to attack him during an event in Manchester, UK.

“He started with violence, so he will reap violence,” Obaseki said. “For one year since I left office, I did not say a word about his government. I wanted to give them space to shine. Suddenly, he began attacking me and threatening me. This week, this governor had a disgraceful press conference, threatening me. A villager threatening someone born in Oredo? He even brought people to Manchester to attack me. When I am ready to come to Benin, we will all come. This is an insult.”

This clash is the latest in their long-running political battle.

Earlier this year, the Edo PDP warned Okpebholo against claiming credit for Temboga Road and other projects the party said were completed under Obaseki. The state government responded by accusing Obaseki of trying to claim glory for “failed projects.”