We left a debt of N4bn but APC now took it to N400bn ----PDP

By -
(Nigeria) The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State on Tuesday,  denied the allegation by a group, “Reform Mandate Group” that the party left a debt burden of N100billion for the All Progressives Congress, APC in 2008, insisting that it was blatantly false.
In a statement in Benin City,  by the state Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Chris Nehikhare, said while the APC government of Mr Adams Oshiomhole, inherited N4billion from the PDP administration in 2008, Edo State now owes over N400billion internally and externally making it the third most indebted state in the country.
He said, “APC inherited N4billoin debt from PDP in 2008; Edo State is now third most indebted state in Nigeria under APC, over N100billion borrowed in 10 years ((2008 – 2018).
“Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, APC National Chairman as governor took the African Development Bank (ADB) loan for the Ikpoba River dam water project, the PDP government preserved the materials that were purchased by that government, but the materials were sold by former Governor Oshiomhole through the office of the Secretary to the State Government, SSG and supervised by Godwin Obaseki as chairman of Oshiomhole’s Economic Team.
“PDP built two housing estates from the N2b collected from the capital market from issuance of Bonds- Iyekogba and Iguosa. But the APC government of Oshiomhole's N30b bond for storm water project unaccounted for. Evbotubu residents are exposed to the dangers of the abandoned project;  Edo APC government received N30b refund for PDP excess debt repayments. 
 “The APC is the architect of the present frightful cathedral of indebtedness in Edo State. The APC government has fleeced the state despite  incurring a humongous debt burden that makes us shudder and fear for the future growth of Edo State if left in the hands of those that know nothing but to trade with the fortune and future of Edo people.
“Did the PDP government leave behind such a debt burden? The answer is a  no. Did the PDP government take loans to facilitate infrastructure development in Edo State? Sure it did as any serious government would to fast track development.
“And as a responsible government,  the PDP made commendable effort to pay back all the loans that it took such that when Sen  Oserheimen Osunbor left office as governor after just a year and half, the PDP left a debt burden of only N4billionn to the APC. Of this N4billion, Osunbor inherited N2bn from Governor Lucky Igbinedion while Osunbor incurred the balance N2bn. This is a matter of public record. 
“It is rather unfortunate that almost 10 years after it took over, the APC will still be sponsoring falsehood and misinformation to cover up its financial recklessness and unaccounted borrowings that today makes Edo State the third highest indebted state out of the 36 states in Nigeria and Abuja. The APC as the records show has borrowed well over $283m which has not significantly been defrayed.
“Rather than be in deficit, the PDP government in Edo State paid back its loans in excess, a situation that has made the APC government under Governor Obaseki to enjoy a refund of over N30bn from the Paris Club – a group of creditor nations which the PDP government settled accumulated debts.
“It is therefore, a mischief of the highest order for the so-called Reform Mandate Forum to attribute N100bn indebtedness to the PDP government which records show left just N4bn unpaid.
“And is it not a pointer to the irresponsibility of the APC government that it has led Edo State from owing N4bn to owing hundreds of billions of naira, largely unaccounted for and dubiously wasted in the guise of such elephant projects like the abandoned N30bn Benin City Storm Water Project and the “world class” multibillion naira wing of the Central Hospital Benin, yet to be put into use over a year after its elaborate presidential commissioning.
“The list is endless of overinflated road projects which have been the APC’s sole developmental effort in the state in the past 10 years.”

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

UBTH @50: Obaseki hails institution’s role in strengthening Edo healthcare

By -
Image
(Nigeria) Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, has commended the staff and management of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH, for their unwavering commitment, dedication, and hard work in providing high-quality healthcare services to the people of Edo State and Nigeria in the past fifty years. Obaseki, at a dinner organized in honour of the Committee of Chief Medical Directors of Nigeria, at the Government House, Benin City, reassured the government’s continuous partnership and collaboration with the federal government-owned health institution to strengthen the health system and ensure quality health delivery to Edo people. The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Philip Shaibu, reeled out the gains of the government’s reforms in the health sector, commending the medical centre for bolstering the government’s efforts at transforming Edo State into a health hub. He said, "We came into a wilderness where you have to cut a part for yourself and fix it. We held...
Read more

Osun: S'Court ruling affirmed power resides with the people - Diri

By -
Image
*Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri (Nigeria) Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has said the ruling of the country’s apex court on the Osun State governorship election was an affirmation that power in a democracy resided with the people. Governor Diri, while congratulating Senator Ademola Adeleke in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, on Wednesday, expressed joy that the Supreme Court sealed the mandate freely given to the governor by the Osun people. The Bayelsa governor also said the verdict reflected the current mood of the country where those whose stock-in-trade is to promote electoral violence and subvert the will of the people have no place in our electoral system. He expressed the hope that introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, will instil more confidence in the electoral process, urging the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to deepen Nigeria’s democracy by also introducing electronic votin...
Read more

Fines on broadcast stations: NGE salutes court over perpetual order against NBC

By -
Image
(Nigeria) The Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, has commended the Federal High Court Abuja, over its order of perpetual injunctions restraining the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, from imposing fines on broadcast stations in the country. Ruling on originating motions marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1386/2021, instituted by the Incorporated Trustees of Media Rights Agenda against the NBC - as sole respondent in the suit, Justice James Omotosho, also set aside the N500, 000 fines imposed on March 1, 2019, on each of 45 broadcast stations. The judge also held that the NBC, not being a court of law, had no power to impose sanctions as punishment on broadcast stations. He further held that the Nigeria Broadcast Code, which gives the commission the power to impose sanction, is in conflict with Section 6 of the Constitution that vested judicial power in the court of law. In a statement by its President, Mustapha Isah and the General Secretary, Dr. Iyobosa Uwugiaren, on Wednesday, the Guild salut...
Read more