A recent claim made by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration stating that the state’s debt burden has been significantly reduced by over 40% in the past year has sparked controversy.
During a radio program in Lagos, Barr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, the Executive Assistant to Governor Oborevwori on Communications, asserted that the governor had decreased the state’s debt by more than N180 billion and saved over N205 billion through effective management.
The All Progressive Congress (APC) has criticized these claims as misleading and deceptive to the people of Delta State.
Valentine Onojeghuo, the APC Publicity Secretary for Delta State, refuted the claims, describing them as a “pack of lies” intended to reassure Deltans who are concerned about the state’s financial standing.
In a statement titled “Delta State: A Tale of Misgovernance and Deceit,” Onojeghuo debunked the notion that Governor Oborevwori’s administration had significantly reduced the state’s debt, labeling it as the “most shameful lie ever peddled.”
The statement further highlighted that a significant portion of the state’s revenue is being used to service debts accumulated during the tenures of Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and Sheriff Oborevwori, leaving little room for capital projects.
It also criticized the lack of notable projects beyond the Effurun and Enerhen flyover projects, contrasting Delta State’s infrastructure development with that of other states like Rivers State.
The statement emphasized the dire state of infrastructure, decaying roads, and alarming rates of kidnappings in Delta State, attributing these issues to the mismanagement and deceit of Governor Oborevwori’s administration.
The dire situation faced by pensioners in the state, who are owed significant amounts in arrears without payment of retirement gratuities, was also highlighted as a result of the administration’s insensitivity and lack of action.
The statement concluded by calling for the governor to take responsibility and address the economic challenges faced by the people of Delta State.