Edo APC Faults Gov. Obaseki’s Loan Facility

…Says rational for taking the loan, is to prosecute governorship election

…APC is pained by the achievements of the Governor Godwin Obaseki – Nehikhare

By Simeon OSAJIE

The Edo State Chapter of All Progressives Party (APC) has faulted the loan facility of N9 Billion by Mr. Godwin Obaskei, the governor of the state, alleging that the loan is meant to prosecute the forthcoming Edo State governorship election slated for September 22, 2024.

The9JaTREND reports that the Acting Chairman of the party, Emperor Garret Tenene at a press briefing stated that the actual loan the governor is asking for approval by the State House of Assembly is N17.5 billion as against the N9 billion as claimed by the governor.

According to Tenebe, “While Governor Obaseki led administration has swindled with an unassailable, humongous debt profile of MN135 billion and $35.6 Billion Dollars, the governor is unyielding and unstoppable in his characteristic design to leave Edo State in ruin, by asking for a facility of N17.5 billion Naira few days ago.

“It is important to state, that it is now in public and political space that the fiscal budget of Edo State was passed few weeks ago before the Edo State House of Assembly proceeded on leave without the commencement of the execution of the budget by the executive.

“It is most disheartening that the Edo State Government now is requesting for a facility of N17.5 billion Naira with no corollary of project attached there to the said facility and also that the facility is not contained as loan to be taken in the 2024 fiscal budget just recently passed. A cursory perusal of the entire budget does not reveal where the project for the facility is ever captured.”

Going further, the Edo APC Acting Chairman added:  “What impactful project is the said amount of money meant to execute, when the lifespan of this Government is less than 9 months?

“Why will the Governor and his co-travelers hitherto post N9 billion Naira when in actual fact the amount of the facility is N17.5 billion?

“Of all the facilities which have the Edo State Government has taken, which has the Government fundamentally use to impact the citizen of Edo State?”

The Edo APC further alleged that the only discernable conclusion to be drawn from the rational for taking this loan, is that the Governor has designed a conduct to take Edo State money to prosecute the next Governorship election.

While emphasizing that Edo people has been take through difficult and hard times by the Obaseki led administration, Emperor Tenebe added, “it is our request and most profoundly too that the Obaseki administration to hence forth stop these borrowings which its proceeds found their way into his pocket and that of his co-travelers, as Edo State has suffered enough decay in infrastructural and other developmental sects.

“Edo State is yearning for a bold change hence we are using this medium to call on the Edo People to completely reject the PDP and their shenanigans and vote massively for the APC that offers the best alternative to the present administration,” he said.

Reacting to the allegation, Edo State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr. Chris Nehikhare said the APC pained by the achievements of the State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki across all sectors of the State over the past seven years.

“Tenebe has been on a frenzy looking for lies to tell since he assumed office as Acting Chairman. Rather than focus on reawakening his completely comatose party, which is unable to provide constructive criticisms expected of a viable opposition, he has resorted to spreading misinformation in a desperate attempt to curry cheap popularity.

“In reality, our debt stock is not a secret and in fact, we are ‘under borrowed’. Emperor Tenebe would have known this if he understood the economics of governance, fiscal responsibility and debt-to-GDP ratio.

“The recent facility approved by the State Assembly was to amongst other projects, enable the State Government procure electric buses to enhance the state’s transportation system.”

Nehikhare’s statement further urged Tenebe and his ilk in the APC to stop chasing shadows but rather funnel those energies to reawakening their comatose party ahead of the September 2024 governorship election,” he added.