• Allegation laughable —Govt
Lawmaker representing Edo South district of Edo State in the National Assembly, Senator Matthew Urhoghide, has disclosed that Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has dipped his hands into the $75 million World Bank loan released to the state, for prosecution of the September 10 governorship election.
Senator Urhoghide, who is the Director-General of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, campaign organisation, said it was ironical that while Governor Oshiomhole daily castigates the Goodluck Jonathan administration for using security votes to fund a presidential election, he has been busy sharing the World Bank loan designed for developmental projects to fund a governorship election.
He added that the Oshiomhole-led administration had plunged the state into debt in excess of $500 million, pointing out that the PDP in the state was computing the total sum of loans collected by the Oshiomhole’s administration, adding that it would inform the people of the state the exact figure, before the governorship election.
He declared that the Oshiomhole administration had no policy framework, pointing out that “he is ruled by instincts that are sudden. His government has always been propelled by his instincts, and there is no basis or principles that guide his government.”
“He said he was going to create jobs in the private sector with the first tranche. Jobs were not created. He said he was going to use it for industrial development in the private sector, but he didn’t do it,” he said.
Edo State Commissioner for Information, Kassim Afegbua, however, has denied the allegation, saying the allegation was laughable, adding that it was impossible to divert loan made available for development projects by a reputable organisation such as the World Bank.
“World Bank loan is an infrastructural loan tied to specific projects. You can’t take from the World Bank and spend it on election; it is not possible. But with the PDP, anything is possible. If they can spend Nigeria’s savings, why won’t they think like that?
“At first, Dan Orbih (Edo PDP chairman) said we used black market to change the money. Now, a senator from a padding National Assembly, is telling us another story. I think they are confused.”