Crusoe Osagie
Crusoe Osagie, the Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy to the immediate past Governor of Edo State Godwin Obaseki, has debunked claims by the Acting Chairman of the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Jarrett Tenebe, that the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP in the last governorship election, Asue Ighodalo, is in possession of 21 government vehicles.
Crusoe described the allegation as an impossibility and a product of ignorance of how the government of Obaseki functioned.
Osagie, in a video he released on Wednesday in Benin which has since gone viral in the state, strongly debunked the false claims made by Tenebe. Osagie described Tenebe’s accusation that Asue Ighodalo “stole 21 government vehicles” as baseless, ignorant, and completely detached from reality.
He outlined how the Edo State Government under Governor Obaseki’s second term, implemented a fleet management system to address wastage of government resources. According to him, the system popularly known as “Move Monkey” or “Edo Connect,” centralized the management of government vehicles.
Osagie revealed that the system ensured that no public official, apart from the governor, deputy governor, and a select few high-ranking officials, had personal access to government vehicles.
Instead, officials would request vehicles for specific assignments, and the vehicles, along with assigned drivers, would be returned to the fleet after the task was completed.
“There was no condition under which Asue Ighodalo could have been allocated 21 vehicles, as Jarrett Tenebe falsely alleged,” Osagie stated.
“The fleet management system simply doesn’t allow for such allocations, making Tenebe’s claim not only false but also a clear demonstration of ignorance about government processes.”
Osagie didn’t hold back in criticizing Tenebe’s repeated use of unfounded allegations to damage reputations. Describing Tenebe as a politician known for making “lousy, irresponsible comments,” Osagie stated that such behavior was unbecoming of someone in a leadership position.
“Statements should be guided and based on facts, not reckless falsehoods intended to offend and defame,” Osagie said.
He added that Tenebe’s remarks reflect a lack of decorum and responsibility expected of a highly placed politician.
The former media adviser concluded by demanding that Tenebe retract his comments and issue a public apology to Ighodalo. “If that will cut it,” Osagie said, emphasizing the seriousness of the damage caused by such false statements. He also urged Tenebe to “desist forthwith from such reckless and completely false statements.”
The video comes in response to a growing backlash against Tenebe, who has been accused of spreading falsehoods about Mr. Ighodalo, a prominent lawyer. Legal proceedings have already been initiated by Banwo & Ighodalo, Ighodalo’s law firm, against Tenebe and others complicit in propagating these allegations.
Osagie’s video has been gaining traction online, with many Edo State residents applauding the detailed rebuttal and calling for greater accountability in political discourse. The incident continues to fuel public debate about the ethics of political rhetoric in the state.
