PDP faults Edo govt’s moves to recover $31m from former governor

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EDO State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday reacted to the state government’s moves to recover $31million, among others, from a former governor of the state and his associates, by accusing the state government of squandering over N1trillion allegedly received from the federation account from 2008 till date on perceived overpriced legacy projects.

The party described the moves to recover the $31 million allegedly fraudulently taken from the state’s coffers as political desperation and persecution.

But in a swift response, Special Adviser to Governor Adams Oshiomhole on Media Affairs, Prince Kassim Afegbusa, said: “Tell those PDP hawks to go and borrow their own money too, if it is that easy to extract loan commitment from the World Bank. If they have nothing to say, can you tell them to simply keep quiet instead of exposing their crass ignorance about governance. Or do they think World Bank is a village shrine where the more you pour libation, the more empty assurances you get? Let us get serious for once please.”

On the alleged receipt of over N1 trillion since its assumption of office in 2008, he said, “It is the same tradition of emptiness that keeps rearing its ugly head. Can you ask them to point at kilometers of roads they undertook when they presided over the state for 10 years?

“At least, Edo people can see for themselves what we have been able to do with allocations from the Federation Account. Even though it is nothing near half a trillion, let alone a trillion naira. We have been able to impact heavily on the state of our roads. We constructed new ones and rehabilitated a lot of existing ones. Because they are a bunch of shameless politicians, they feel the only way to be heard is to effuse such incoherent monologues as the immoral badge of courage. What a pity. We are still suffering from the regime of colossal and abysmal leadership failure of the PDP till date. We will not be distracted from doing the needful for the good people of Edo State.”

However, in its accusation, PDP, through its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Chris Nehikhare, at a briefing, claimed it was shameful and disgraceful that “it took the Oshiomhole administration seven years to wake up from its slumber to begin what is clearly a case of political witch hunting.”

He alleged that instead of confronting the challenges facing Edo State in the form of dilapidated roads, flood and others, Governor Oshiomhole was plotting how to perpetuate himself in office by installing his lackey as successor.

Nehikhare drew the attention of Edo people to what he described as a parlous state of roads in the state capital, listing some of the roads as Evbotubu Market road, Ugbiyoko Road, Upper Sakponba Road, St Saviour Road, Boundary Road, Ihama Road, Nekpenekpen Road, Upper Adesuwa Road, Ibiwe Street and Uwa Street.

Source: Vanguard