Edo State Chapter of APC has described alleged plans by the state Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, to borrow seventeen points five billion Naira to plunge the state into more debt and further impoverish the citizens.
Acting Chairman, Edo State APC, Jarret Tenebe, dropped the hint during a press conference in Benin City.
However, the state government, through the commissioner of communications and Orientation, debunks the claim.
A few days ago, the Edo State House Assembly gave the nod to Governor Obaseki to borrow 17. 5 billion Naira after scrutinising the reasons behind the loan.
However, the development did not go down well with the current leadership of Edo APC under the leadership of Jarret Tenebe.
The Acting State APC Chairman said the 17.5 billion naira loan was unnecessary, considering the backlog of debt the governor is yet to address
Mr Tenebe said if not for the intervention of some legislators, who were desirous to know the motive behind the loan, it would not have been discovered that what was given on the surface as nine billion Naira was indeed 17.5 billion Naira whereas no genuine reason has been given for the facility.
In the words of the Acting Chairman, “As of today, the state government is owing 135 billion Naira and 35.
6 billion dollars, so what is the essence of another loan?” he queried.
In a swift reaction, the state commissioner for communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, described the allegation of the Acting APC Chairman as baseless.
The commissioner said the Acting is just a busybody and trying to make himself relevant as Edo is seeing the good work Governor Obaseki is doing.
In his words, “We are perplexed to learn of the quite laughable and incredibly ridiculous tantrums attributed to the new acting chairman of the Edo State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Jarret Tenebe where he made baseless and spurious allegations on the fiscal management of our dear State by the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led government.”
The commissioner, however, advised the new Acting to be worried about the disorganisation in his party instead of making unfounded statements.
