Ahead of the September 28 governor poll in Edo State, Governor Adams Oshiomhole has said that he borrowed money to develop the state, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government borrowed money to steal same.
Oshiomhole said the administration of Lucky Igbinedion, with Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu as Secretary to the State Government, diverted a N4 billion bank loan.
Reacting to comments made by Pastor Ize-Iyamu on the debt profile of Edo State, Governor Oshiomhole said available records showed how the sum of N4 billion was borrowed by Igbinedion, with the knowledge of Ize-Iyamu from Guaranty Trust Bank and Equitorial Trust Bank and the money paid to an address in Lagos.
Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Peter Okhiria, Oshiomhole said, “our attention has been drawn to the lies being peddled by one Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, a factional candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the debt profile Edo State.
“We make bold to state, and the facts are clear, that in spite of earning the highest revenues from the Federation Account, the PDP states in the South-South region are the most indebted in the region and not Edo State.
“The domestic debt profile released by the DMO as at December 31, 2015, the last time it was issued, lists Delta State as having a debt profile of N320,605 billion; Akwa Ibom had N147,575 billion; Cross River: N115,522 billion; Rivers, N134,9566 billion; Bayelsa N103,374 billion as against Edo, which had a far lower profile. While the other South-South PDP states have continued to amass domestic debts with high-interest rates, Edo is close to completely liquidating its domestic debt.
“Edo people are not deceived. They know that the PDP and Ize-Iyamu are the ones who have a record of borrowing to steal and not the APC government led by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
“Our records are open and we run a transparent government. No amount of planted or concocted stories by hack writers will distort the facts.”