By Gabriel Enogholase

BENIN—EDO State Government, yesterday, debunked the statement credited to the state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, that Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s recent visit to Miami in the United States of America, was not a private one. It said the governor’s trip was on the invitation of Edo community in that country as a special guest to their annual convention.

A statement in Benin by the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Louis Odion, explained that the governor travelled by commercial airline and not a hired private jet that costs N18million as alleged by Chief Orbih.

It said, “Edo PDP Chairman, Chief Orbih, again exhibited his talents for lies and contempt for facts last weekend with a ludicrous claim that Oshiomhole chartered a private jet on a private trip to Maimi, USA last month at the cost of N18million. Ordinarily, one would not have bothered to dignify yet another of Orbih’s outbursts with response, but for the sake of the gullible, this clarification is made contrary to his mischievous lies. The governor visited Chicago not privately, but to honour Edo community in the United States on invitation as a special guest at their annual convention.

“Governor Oshiomhole travelled by commercial airline. Anyone who bothers to double-check would find that Oshiomhole is one of the few governors today who travels with the smallest entourage, if not totally alone, with a view to saving costs.”

Orbih while addressing a rally at Afuze and Sabongida-Ora, accused the governor of spending over N17milion to attend picnic at Miami Beach in the US.