Oshiomhole allegedly withdraws N500m for Christmas celebration

• Edo State Government: Let Your Expenses Reflect The Sign of The Times! – PDP

Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has warned the governor, Adams Oshiomhole on his reckless spending despite the current financial situation.

dan orbih

PDP in a statement signed by the state Chairman, Chief Dan Osi Orbih urged Oshiomhole to let his expenses reflect the sign of the times.

Chief Orbih was reacting to the speculation that the governor has withdrawn N500m ahead and in preparation of Christmas celebration.

The PDP Chairman said ” Information available to us is that Edo State Government has concluded plans to withdraw about N500m for a phantom Christmas celebration. We call on the Governor to stop this hideous and senseless intention. Let your expenses reflect the sign of the times! We recall that last year, Edo State Government spent over N220m for Christmas mainly using vouchers listed below :

EXT/GOV/GHSP/2586/14

EXT/GOV/GHSP/2580/14

EXT/GOV/GHSP/2563/14

EXT/GOV/GHSP/2578/14

EXT/GOV/GHSP/2522/14

EXT/GOV/GHSP/2521/14

“In the past few weeks we have witnessed protest from different segments of our society over unpaid salaries, pensions and gratuities. We have also witnessed protests over transferred economic burden resulting from mismanagement, misappropriation of funds, harsh and brutish state economic policies.

“Those directly affected that have cried out loud are the tipper drivers, market women, civil society groups, tenants, landlords as well as students and parents over arbitrarily increased school fees.

Governor Oshiomhole

“In the face of these harsh economic policies of Adams Oshiomhole’s Government, key officials of the Government have continued to spend state resources in an embarrassing and reckless manner. Those that used to wear Khaki now wear linen and silk. Champagne is now their drink of choice. All at the expense of taxpayers.

“This year’s plan to continually deplete state fund by doubling the amount spent last year have reached an advanced stage.”

This is coming at a time the state is engulfed in a huge and unmanageable debt portfolio as well as unprecedented fraud in various government department and agencies.

Recently, government reluctantly acceded to a longtime revelation to the monumental fraud in the ICT department by sacking the principal officers.

It could be recalled that Edo PDP blew the whistle on the fraud in ICT when it described the department as a “cesspool of corruption”.

Chief Orbih added “This action taken by the governor so far to say the least is face-saving and “scape-goatism” . The truth is that the Governor should take responsibility for the fraud in the ICT department. The department was created by Governor Adams and all principal heads were brought in by Governor Adams and they reported directly to Governor Adams.

“The innocent victims of this sack action can be likened to punishing the bus conductor for the accident of the driver. The governor should own up and accept responsibility for the fraud.”

Oshiomhole allegedly withdraws N500m for Christmas celebration