The major opposition political party in Delta State, the All Progressives Congress (APC), has raised alarm over the approved loan by the Delta State House of Assembly for the state governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, recently.
According to APC, “The ₦4 billion loan was not only approved hastily but was done in a commando style without any due diligence or questioning by the House of Assembly of the sincerity and purpose of the loan”.
A press statement on Saturday July 3rd 2021, by Sylvester Imonina, Esq., Publicity Secretary (Caretaker), expressed worries that the hurriedly approved loan was not tied to any specific project (s).
“Delta APC and most Deltans are worried because the said approved loan was not tied to any specific project (s)!
“The projects to be funded with the loan were not mentioned, yet the “Honourable members”, without raising eyebrows and ensuring that they act in the best interest of Deltans, quickly approved same. What an amalgam of people! A rubber stamp legislature at best.
“Information at the disposal of Delta APC is that the approved loan is to be used to fund the buying of utility vehicles, and/or financial inducements to some politically unstable Deltans that the PDP led-Government of the State wants in the PDP at all costs. In other words, the approved loan is to be used as a slush fund.
“A Goverment with any scintilla of transparency ties projects to loans sought for. Hence, the Federal Government ties all her loans to specific projects. But in Delta State, the reverse is the case!
“Delta APC dare to say that her information about what Govr. Ifeanyi Okowa intends to use the loan for is iron cast. If the Governor feels otherwise, we challenge him to make public the projects that the loan is approved for, how much is the worth of those projects and how much has been paid for the said projects before now.
“The future of Deltans and generations yet unborn cannot continue to be mortgaged because of the greed of a few in Government circle.
“We therefore call on Deltans to stand up for their rights and demand accountability and good governance from the PDP led-Government of the State”.