By Abel Johngold Orheruata
Crusoe Osagie, the Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy to former Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, has dismissed claims by Jarrett Tenebe, Acting Chairman of the Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC), that Asue Ighodalo, the PDP candidate in the last governorship election, is in possession of 21 government vehicles.
Osagie described the allegation as baseless and reflective of ignorance about the operations of the Obaseki-led government. In a video released on Wednesday in Benin, which has since gone viral, he firmly refuted Tenebe’s accusations, labeling them “absurd and completely detached from reality.”
Osagie explained that the Edo State Government under Obaseki had implemented a fleet management system during the governor’s second term to curtail resource misuse. Known as “Move Monkey” or “Edo Connect,” the system centralized the management of government vehicles, ensuring that no public official, aside from the governor, deputy governor, and select high-ranking officials, could have personal access to such vehicles.
He further clarified that government officials were required to request vehicles for specific assignments, after which the vehicles, along with their assigned drivers, would be returned to the fleet once the task was completed.
“There is no scenario where Asue Ighodalo could have been allocated 21 vehicles, as Tenebe has falsely claimed. The system simply does not allow for such allocations,” Osagie stated.
Osagie also criticized Tenebe for his history of making what he described as “reckless and unfounded allegations” to tarnish reputations. He called Tenebe’s behavior unbecoming of a person in a leadership position, urging him to ensure his statements are fact-based and responsible.
“Political discourse should be informed and respectful, not filled with careless falsehoods designed to defame,” Osagie remarked. He added that Tenebe’s remarks lacked decorum and the responsibility expected of a senior political figure.
Concluding, Osagie demanded that Tenebe retract his allegations and issue a public apology to Ighodalo. He also warned against further propagation of such defamatory statements, emphasizing the harm caused by misinformation.
The video has sparked widespread reactions, with Edo residents applauding Osagie’s detailed rebuttal and calling for higher standards in political communication. Meanwhile, legal proceedings initiated by Banwo & Ighodalo, Ighodalo’s law firm, against Tenebe and others linked to the false claims continue to escalate public interest in the matter.
