PDP under fire as APC governor accuses it of accumulating debts, grossly mismanaging state’s finances
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state has stated that the state’s debt were mostly incurred when it was led by the PDP. The governor made the comment through his Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy.
- The PDP has been accused by Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state, of incurring huge debts which he is now paying off
- The governor pointed out a N30bn debt from the African Development Bank for water infrastructure, as well as a Union Bank loan
- Obaseki chided the PDP for having the guts to talk about the debts, when in fact, they were the ones who incurred them
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state has stated that the state’s debt were mostly incurred when it was led by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), The Nation reports.
The governor made the comment via his Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr Crusoe Osagie.
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NAIJ.com gathers that Obaseki said that when it came to external borrowing, his administration had been very prudent. He further stated that all credits had been utilized judiciously to fund various projects.
The governor lamented over the fact that the PDP had incurred most of the debt his administration is now paying off.
He pointed out that there is a Union Bank loan in the balance sheet of Edo Line, and a N30bn debt from the African Development Bank (AfDB) for water infrastructure.
Obaeki stated that the state government was only able to access facilities from multilateral organizations when the APC came into government and reformed its finances.
He chided the PDP for making unfounded claims about the management of the state’s finances when they were the ones who threw the state into debt in the first place.
He stated: “These are besides several other such borrowing, which officials of the PDP government took privately and converted to state liability. The state government is still paying these debts.
“The PDP is still raising evil guts to talk about these debts, when in fact, they are the ones who threw the state into the debts.
“The PDP was so irresponsible in debts and loans that the World Bank placed a ban on Edo state government. These loans were of single digit interest and the moratorium ran into 10 years.
“It was during the administration of the PDP that the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) pulled out of the state because of the irresponsibility of the government at the time. The PDP lacks the credibility and moral standing to make any comment.
“They are made up of people who lack the capacity to frugally allocate resources for positive outcomes.
“Debts at low interest rates are actually good for development and show the state as viable. It is even better when the debts are used to fund developmental projects.”
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Meanwhile, NAIJ.com previously reported that the All Progressives Congress (APC) won all the 18 chairmanship seats in the March 3 local government elections held in Edo state.
The last time elections were held at the local government level in the state was in 2013 under the then governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; and, since 2016 when the tenure of the chairmen and councillors ended, the councils had been run by Heads of Services.
However, the major opposition party in the state, PDP, boycotted the polls, making it an easy victory for the ruling party.
APC chieftains in Benue state say PDP has nothing to offer - on NAIJ.com TV:
Source: Naija.ng