Edo State’s Transition: Obaseki Hands Over To SSG, Eboigbe, Jets Out Of Nigeria With Wife To Italy

By Efosa Osagie

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has reportedly left Nigeria with his wife barely few months before the end of his tenure.

The governor, before departing the country was said to have handed over power to Joseph Eboigbe, Secretary to the State Government and former Finance Commissioner.

Eboigbe will oversee the government until November 11, 2024.

It was gathered that the governor had during a virtual meeting, instructed his executives to direct requests to Eboigbe, who has until October 30 to finalize handover documents for the incoming governor.

Obaseki had earlier set up a 20-man transition committee, chaired by Eboigbe, comprising key officials including rhe governor’s kitchen cabinet members and agency heads.

The governor’s decision to appoint Eboigbe was reportedly contingent on his preferred candidate, Asue Ighodalo, losing the September 21 governorship election.

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According to report in News Annex Online, Obaseki and his wife departed for Venice, Italy, to attend the 60th Biennale Foundation International Cultural Exhibition, which ends in November.

They are expected to stay at their vacation mansion, reportedly intended as their retirement home.

The report reads; “According to a Government House source believed to be a very close confidant of the Governor, the reason the Governor appointed Eboigbe as Secretary to the State Government was to place on him the responsibility of running a one-month transition government, in the event the Governor’s preferred candidate, Asue Ighodalo lost the September 21 2024 Edo governorship election.

“Before Obaseki left Benin city by road to Lagos in the late hours of Thursday the 27th of September, he formally handed-over the reins of power to Eboigbe.

“According to our source, exactly at 8.56 pm, Obaseki and his wife, Betsy boarded a Turkish airline transit flight Tk626 at the international wing of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport via Istanbul to Venice, Italy.

“They arrived Instabul on Saturday the 28th of September 2024 at 5.40 am. Upon arrival in Instabul after boarding the connecting Turkish Airline flight Tk1867 from Instabul to Venice the flight took-off exactly 7.02 am and arrived at their final destination 8.29 am. Obaseki and his wife will remain in Venice to attend the 60th Biennale Foundation International Cultural Exhibition, which will end in the third week of November 2024.

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“In 2017 Obaseki was appointed the Commissioner of the Nigerian pavilion at the 57th Venice Biennale Exhibition by the Buhari administration. It was in that capacity he attended the Venice Biennale Exhibition in April 2024. The Obasekis’ are believed to have a posh vacation mansion in Venice, Italy, which they plan to make their retirement home”.