…Says APC’s Lagos State is the highest indebted State in Nigeria, owing over N797.304 billion.
Executive Assistant on Communications to the Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and governor of Delta State, Olorogun Barr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, has said that the Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the State, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, is amazed and intimidated by the rapid socioeconomic and infrastructure development under Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, CON.
Oghenesivbe made the assertion on Sunday in a statement made available to newsmen in Asaba, saying that Lagos State of the APC party is the highest indebted state in Nigeria, with a debt profile of well over N797.304 billion, accounting for 16.26 percent of the subnational debts, which the government of Lagos State claimed it borrowed to speed up infrastructure development.
Okowa’s EAC further posited that bank loans or credit facilities are legal and always needed for capital projects that impacts positively on the people and the economy, provided that such loans or credit facilities were deployed prudently to facilitate infrastructure development, social harmony, peace building and counterpart funding that directly improve the living conditions and prosperity of the majority of citizens in a state or country.
Oghenesivbe who is also the Chairman of Coalition for Media Politics and Governance, CMPG, berated Delta APC governorship candidate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, for raising false alarm over credit facilities obtained and judiciously used by Delta State Government for infrastructure and socioeconomic development, job and wealth creation, airport upgrade, education and other sectors which ultimately triggered rapid urbanization of communities across the three senatorial districts, including the Asaba Capital Territory development and Uvwie, Effurun and Environs development.
He noted that several APC states are heavily indebted including; Ogun, Imo, Cross River, Kano, Kaduna and many others, too numerous to mention here, adding that multinational oil companies, developed and developing nations of the world secures loans and credit facilities from mega banks and international financial institutions for business expansion, infrastructure and major capital projects while repayments are spread over a reasonable period.
“Senator Ovie Omo-Agege is sounding like a broken record, talking about loans and credit facilities as if they are taboos or forbidden fruits. Delta State is in good standing and not borrowing to service debts like APC national government under President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Agege’s APC state of Lagos is the highest indebted state in Nigeria, for seven consecutive years and counting. Government of Lagos State claimed that the huge N797.304 billion was obtained for infrastructure and socioeconomic development.
“The question begging for answer is; Why is Agege praising Lagos State which is the highest debtor and demonizing Delta State with a lower debt profile? Your guess is as good as mine. It’s media propaganda because of governorship election, period!
“Deep down in his heart, Agege praises Okowa for his good governance strides, because his vehicles ply roads constructed and tarred by Okowa administration in Agege’s Orogun communities in Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state.
“It is very obvious that Agege’s negative statements against Okowa portrays a depressed and confused man, not fit and proper to occupy the highest office in Delta State. He lack business sense and financial dealings for socioeconomic and infrastructure development. He is totally bereft of ideas, which is why he could not make any policy statement during the inauguration of his kangaroo campaign council last week. It was blame game throughout the event.
“No wonder key members of APC moribund party in Delta State refused to associate themselves with the kangaroo campaign council inauguration. They are; Olorogun Festus Keyamo, Dr Cairo Ojuogboh, Dr. Barr Ibe Kachukwu, Engr Barr Victor Ochei, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, Hon Stella Okotete and Engr Dr Samuel Adjogbe. Their absence signifies monumental failure for Agege at the polls in 2023. Period!
“Agege is a mace runner and expert in document frauds as can be seen from the video released concerning the mace saga in the senate chambers; and his debarment (rusticated from practising Law) in the United States of America. All of these odious sins of Senator Agege stinks to high heavens and he cannot under any political dispensation become the governor of Delta State.
“The Sheriffied and excessive local content governorship candidate of PDP in Delta State, Rt Hon Oborevwori Sheriff Francis Orohwedor, JP, will effortlessly retire DSP Agege and Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi from active politics via his landslide victory at the polls in 2023,” Oghenesivbe said.
