In defiance of any potential backlash, Godwin Obaseki, the governor of the state, remains resolute in speaking the truth to those in power.

He asserts that the Federal Government is attempting to drown out his voice by spreading lies about his stance on the removal of fuel subsidies.

Previously, Obaseki expressed his astonishment at the perceived lack of plans by President Bola Tinubu’s administration for the aftermath of subsidy removal.

In response, Mohammed Idris, the minister of information and national orientation, stated that the federal government empathizes with the difficulties faced by Nigerians after the removal of petrol subsidies.

Idris further alleged that Obaseki is diverting attention away from his own inadequate performance at the state level, and mentioned that the governor has been absent from National Economic Council meetings during the current administration.

In a statement on Sunday, Chris Nehikhare, the Edo commissioner for communication and orientation, the Edo government said it was unfortunate that the federal government wants to gag Obaseki over his opinion on subsidy.

Nehikhare described the minister’s claim as “blatantly false”, and that records are available to show that the governor was not absent at these meetings.

“It is unfortunate and sad that the federal government now wants to gag citizens and even a popularly elected governor from speaking truth to power and expressing himself in the light of the perilous times we have fallen into,” the commissioner said.

“The claim that governor Godwin Obaseki failed to attend the National Economic Council (NEC) meetings is blatantly false. The governor has attended all NEC meetings since the onset of this administration and records are there to prove this fact.

“The area where the minister may be referring to as non-performance should be the condition of the extensive federal roads running through the state, which the federal government has abandoned and even prevented us from intervening to repair claiming that contracts for their repairs have been awarded.”

The commissioner cited the recent achievements of the state in areas of education, agriculture and technology, adding that records of Edo state government’s performance are available for Nigerians to verify.