.. Says Okowa’s Prosperity For Deltans Means More Poverty
The All Progressive Congress, (APC) in Delta State has lampooned the government of Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and the State Legislature, for further plunging the state into debt mess with the recent House approval of the governor’s letter requesting for N12 billion loans.
Reacting to the swift approval of the loan request letter by the House of Assembly, the Director of Publicity for the APC in the State, Dr. Omene Odafe, described it as the peak of avarice and financial recklessness of Okowa and the PDP government in the State, alleging that it is a highly suspicious transaction which is particularly insulting given the current robust financial status of the state.
Omene who noted that given the robust allocations accruable to the State since the beginning of Okowa’s administration in the State, said with prudent financial management, Okowa has no reason to borrow to finance the administration of the State. He added that poorer states in the country whose monthly allocation is nothing to write home about do not plunge their states into debt, even when they execute more outstanding capital projects more than Delta State.
The former chairman of Ethiope West Local Government Council, accused Gov. Okowa of conniving with the Delta State House of Assembly to obtain the loan in a questionable manner for highly questionable purposes, adding that it has no practical relevance to the people of Delta State. According to him, the request and approval of the loan is yet another case of ‘share-the-money’, adding that the duo of Okowa and the House of Assembly were bent on piling debt for Deltans and the unborn generation.
He said: “Once again the cash and carry People’s Democratic Party, PDP-led administration of Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has connived with the Delta State House of Assembly to obtain a humongous loan of 12 billion naira in a most opaque manner and for highly questionable purposes of absolutely no relevance whatsoever to the good people of Delta State.
“While it has been quite obvious to Deltans that the avarice and financial recklessness of Okowa and the PDP are without bounds, this highly suspicious transaction is particularly insulting given the current robust financial status of the state.
“If truth be told, Delta State is arguably the last state in Nigeria that needs to borrow or should be going for any loan. This is clearly a case of share the money and hang the debt on the neck of the people. It was of course to be expected that the rubber-stamp and clueless House of Assembly would just go through the motions and approve any amount requested by Okowa and PDP.”
Omene however warned the Okowa-led administration that for every kobo it allegedly misappropriated, it will be held accountable for it someday, noting that all those involved in the looting of the State fund shall be made to pay dearly for it sooner or later.
“Every dime misappropriated or unaccounted for will eventually be recovered and absolutely every Kobo stolen from the people of Delta State will be coughed out at the right time. Indeed, all those involved in the wanton looting of Delta State that has been going on in the name of governance will pay dearly for their crimes against the good people of this state”, he said.
He stated that the APC is vehemently opposed to any more borrowing by the outgoing Okowa-led administration, adding that enough is enough for the looting and stashing same into their pockets while Deltans continue to wallow in abject poverty and squalor.
“Delta APC says a big and resounding capital “NO” to any more borrowing by an administration already awash with way too much money that keeps steadily disappearing into the pockets of a few while the generality of the people of the state continue to wallow in abject poverty in spite of the “prosperity for all Deltans” charade of the present administration. It is very obvious now that Okowa’s propaganda of ‘Prosperity for All Deltans Is Indeed More Poverty for Poor Deltans”, Omene concluded.
It would be recalled that Governor Okowa, in a letter to the State House of Assembly recently, requested for approval for N12 billion loan facility, explaining that it was meant to “cushion the effect of resumption of repayment of the Federal Government’s intervention facilities on the expiration of the forbearance period”, and “to defray arrears of unpaid certificates earned by contractors with respect to completion of some critical ongoing legacy projects awarded by this administration.”
Our correspondent reports that the Majority Leader of the House moved a motion for the approval of the governor’s request after the letter was read to the members by the Speaker of the House.
Meanwhile, data sourced by The New Diplomat’s investigation from the Debt Management Office (DMO) indicates that as at the end of the third quarter of 2021 (September 2021), Delta State’s debt stock stood at N207.15 billion placing it the fourth most indebted state in the country behind Lagos State with N532.12, Akwa Ibom State – N234.85 and Rivers State – N226.35.
