I didn’t tamper with LG funds ― Wada

The immediate past governor of Kogi state, Capt Idris Wada, on Monday said that he did not tamper with local governments’ revenue allocations from federation accounts when he was governor between 2012 and 2015.

He stated that while he was the state’s chief executive, he allowed the council chairmen to utilise the available resources within the provisions of law.

Wada, who is also a governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the coming election in the state, said the local government remained the third tier of government and he respected that constitutional provision.

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He said,” I challenge anyone to come out and prove me wrong if I took any money from the accounts of local governments “.

Speaking at the ongoing consultations with stakeholders at the grassroots in Lokoja the former governor said, “As long as I was in office, Local Governments got their allocations directly,” he maintained.

He further explained that the percentage of salary payment had been in existence due to dwindled resources and debt obligations of local governments before he assumed office in 2012.

While acknowledging the enormity of human tragedy occasioned by non-payment of salaries, he noted that the bailout funds which allocated N45billion to council areas would have redeemed council workers from their depression.

According to him “some local government workers would have happily gone home with as much N5million if the All Progressives Congress (APC) led administration had not manipulated the process and denied me the chances of accessing the bailout fund.”

He noted with dismay that the situations of workers in the state and the council areas were perilous as suicides pervade the landscape.

“I receive as much as 50 text messages every day. Some people in this state asked for as little as N500 because of the poverty level created by the APC led government. I’m glad that nobody committed suicide during my time” he said.

He further lamented that there are workers in the state who have not been paid for 38 months, saying the governor seemed not to be bothered.

Contrary to claims in some quarters, his government, he said, received allocations for 48 months and paid 46 months salaries.

He maintained that had he been under pressure to join the gubernatorial race, adding that he had no choice other than yielding to the yearning of the people.