By The New Diplomat political desk
A civil society organization, the Bayelsa Coalition for Accountability and Good Governance, has criticised Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State for allegedly approving a whopping N25 billion for the purchase of a new aircraft.
The coalition, in a statement issued by its spokesman, Mr Perekeme Oweifa, described the development as reckless.
Oweifa, in the statement, also wondered why Diri is moving to expend such an amount on a new aircraft when the state is facing a mounting debt profile.
According to the organisation, the move is not only ill-timed but also indicative of the government’s disregard for the financial well-being of the state’s residents.
In a statement, the coalition also said that the sum of N11 billion had already been purportedly spent by the governor for the same purpose, with no visible results.
The statement reads in part: “States like Akwa Ibom judiciously deployed their resources for the benefit of their citizens, while Bayelsa State’s resources might have been diverted into the private pockets of the Sampou-born politician and his cronies.
“This is in addition to bank loans worth about N179 billion taken by the governor with no projects to show for it. The Diri administration is characterised by fraud, deceit, excessive borrowing, and ‘squandermania’ without due process.
“It is heart-wrenching that Bayelsa State, which ranks 3rd in derivation funds, is the 2nd poorest state in Nigeria. This is unacceptable,” he reiterated.
