The Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole has described former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Godsday Orubebe as a charlatan who should be cooling his heels in jail.
On Tuesday, Orubebe had described Oshiomhole as an ingrate and a popular villa sycophant who is only interested in sharing the national cake.
Oshiomhole said the ex-minister was afraid of being probed by President Muhammadu Buhari over the multi-billion naira East-West Road contract.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Peter Okhiria, Oshiomhole said “Is it not a shame that Orubebe, who should be cooling his heels in jail for that failed plot to truncate the country’s democracy, has now found a convoluted voice?
“We are not surprised at the timing of Orubebe’s latest outburst. It is, no doubt, unconnected with the planned probe by President Muhammadu Buhari of the billions of naira allocated to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, even as the East-West Road remains in bad shape and the probe of the fleecing of amnesty funds under his watch.
“It is no surprise that former President Goodluck Jonathan failed woefully because he surrounded himself with such charlatans as Godsday Orubebe, whose only credential is his ethnic origin and the large size of his bowler hat.
“Does Orubebe really think Nigerians are fools? Does he truly believe Nigerians have forgotten so soon the ignoble role he played in his attempt to truncate the release of the election results and announcement of the eventual winner of that election, a move which could have plunged the nation into another civil war?
“We are aware that Orubebe, the perpetual noise maker has raised the decibel of his noise a notch higher so that he would have a ready-made defence of witch-hunt if he is indicted in the planned probe of amnesty funds.”
Orubebe in reply to the statement described Oshiomhole as a garage boy who should be a motor park tout.
He said “I am proud to have been a vital instrument used by God to take the once abandoned East- West Road project to an admirable 80 per cent level of completion. It is unfortunate that our respected Niger Delta could produce the likes of Oshiomhole who is a garage boy that should be at the motor park.
“I will disgrace him publicly and tell the world about his dubious deeds as governor as well as his role in the botched Third Term Bid of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
“I am going to open his can of worms to the point that Nigerians will stone him if seen on the streets. I don’t talk carelessly as I have my facts to prove my points.”
On the accusation of embezzlement, Orubebe said “Every reasonable Niger Deltan and Nigerians at large knows that I am the admired face of the East West Road, I can stand tall, anywhere and anytime to defend my administration as well as account for every dime that was allocated for the several projects we embarked upon.
“My Co- ministers and every other person who was a member of the Federal Executive Council under former President Jonathan’s watch can attest to the fact that I was a vessel par excellence, who had result oriented contributed to make towards moving the nation forward.”