Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration recently claimed to have significantly reduced Delta state’s debt by more than 40% over the past year, sparking controversy.
During a radio program in Lagos, Barr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, the Executive Assistant to Governor Oborevwori on Communications, asserted that the governor had slashed the state’s debt by over N180 billion and saved another N205 billion through prudent financial management.
The All Progressive Congress (APC) has refuted these claims, labeling them as misleading and aimed at deceiving the people of Delta State.
In a statement titled “Delta State: A Tale of Misgovernance and Deceit,” APC’s Publicity Secretary in Delta State, Valentine Onojeghuo, dismissed the assertions as “a pack of lies” meant to pacify the increasingly concerned Deltans regarding the state’s financial state.
Onojeghuo further critiqued, “It is not a secret that Delta State is one of the states with the highest FAAC allocations and IGR, but with nothing meaningful to show for it in the last 20 years of PDP misrule.”
He continued, “The truth behind the state’s debt reduction claims by officials of the state government is that over half of federal revenue accruals to the state is being debited at source in strict compliance with irrevocable standing payment order already issued by the state government and used to service these debts that were piled up by both Okowa and Oborevwori, leaving the state with no funds to execute capital projects.”
The statement also highlighted the lack of significant development projects in Delta State, pointing out that infrastructure is deteriorating with roads turning into death traps and fueling criminal activities such as kidnappings.
Reflecting on the dire situation faced by pensioners in the state, Onojeghuo criticized the administration for its insensitivity and failure to address the economic challenges facing its citizens. He emphasized the need for the governor to take responsibility and act promptly.