Igbinedion’s govt diverted N4bn loan —Oshiomhole •The gov is a shameless liar — Ize-Iyamu

Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, on Friday, alleged that a former governor of the state, Lucky Igbinedion, diverted N4 billion bank loan under the watch of a former Secretary to the State Government and now Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) gubernatorial candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

Chief Press Secretary to Governor Oshiomhole, Peter Okhiria, in a statement alleged that in spite of earning the highest revenues from the federation account, the PDP states in the South-South region were the most indebted in the region with the exemption of Edo State.

The governor was reacting to reports credited to Ize-Iyamu on the debt profile of Edo State as released by the Debt Management Office (DMO).

Part of the statement read: “our attention has been drawn to the lies peddled by one Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, a factional candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the debt profile of Edo State.

“We make bold to state, and the facts are clear, that in spite of earning the highest revenues from the Federation Account, the PDP states in the South-South region are the most indebted in the region and not Edo State.

“The domestic debt profile released by the DMO as at December 31, 2015, the last time it was issued, lists Delta State as having a debt profile of N320,605 billion; Akwa Ibom had N147,575 billion; Cross River: N115, 522 billion.

“Others include, Rivers, N134,9566 billion; Bayelsa N103,374 billion as against Edo which had a far lower profile.

“While the other South-South PDP states have continued to amass domestic debts with high-interest rates, Edo is close to completely liquidating its domestic debt.

It said “while Ize-Iyamu continues to peddle his falsehood, we have the record of the N4 billion borrowed by the PDP government of Mr Lucky Igbinedion with the knowledge of Osagie Ize-Iyamu as Secretary to State Government from Guaranty Trust Bank and Equitorial Trust Bank and paid to an address in Lagos.

In a swift reaction, however, Ize-Iyamu described the governor as a liar and dared him to publish the entire debt profile of Edo State.

“The man is shameless liar, if there was no truth in it, why has he not reported to the EFCC.

“Throughout my time in government, I didn’t steal any kobo. I have a clean name”, he said.