Edo PDP, APC clash over FG bailout

Alexander Okere, Benin

The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party and its All Progressives Congress counterpart in Edo State have disagreed over the recent bailout loan received by the state government from the Federal Government to cushion the effects of dwindling oil revenue.

Edo, being part of the beneficiaries of the bailout, had received the sum of N3.1bn to enable it to meet up with its financial obligation to local governments’ workers.

But the state Chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, said that the move by the Federal Government would “encourage corruption” and “monumental mismanagement” of local governments’ allocations in Edo and other states.

Orbih, who spoke on Saturday during the official opening of the party’s new state secretariat located on First East Circular Road in Benin, therefore, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to discontinue any further disbursement to the states.

Also in attendance were serving and former National Assembly members from the party, including Senator Matthew Urhoghide (Edo South), Senator Ehigie Uzamere and Senator Odion Ugbesia, as well as leaders of the PDP in the state.

However, the chairman, who said that Oredo council allegedly received only N102m, out of its statutory allocation of N1.067bn between January and September, 2015, urged the President to probe the allocation of council funds by the Edo State Government.

He also called for the immediate reinstatement of the suspended council chairmen, which he described as politically- motivated and not based on accountability.

Orbih said, “There is, no doubt, that there is monumental mismanagement of local government allocation in Edo State under Adams Oshiomhole. That is why on this very occasion of the official opening of the PDP headquarters in Benin City, I want to call on President Buhari to stop the present practice of payment of financial bailout.

“Financial bailout by Buhari is a way of encouraging corruption in Nigeria. They (governors) have enough allocation for the local governments; so, the question the President should ask is: what is responsible for this government not being able to meet its financial obligations to the people in various local governments?”