Former Edo State Governor and ex-APC national chairman Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole shed more light on the true state of affairs when he handed over to his successor, Godwin Obaseki. Adams Oshiomhole, who spoke at the APC’s Edo South senatorial campaign flag-off in Benin City, refuted all false claims that he left the state in debt.
According to the APC deputy DG of its Presidential Campaign Council, when his administration came on board, he increased the state’s IGR from N250 million per month to N2.1 billion per month, and this feat was accomplished within a month of his emergence.
Furthermore, Oshiomhole assured his audience that the only loan he obtained while serving in office was a bond, which was repaid within the allotted time.
“As governor of Edo state, the only local loan I took was bond, N25 billion and we paid it over a period of seven years and we conveniently paid it by December 2016.
When we had a World Bank budget support of $221 million and they paid two tranches of $75 million when the naira was N165 to a dollar, the third tranche of $75 million was paid to my successor, and I am not going to mention any body’s name but it was paid to my successor.”
Oshiomhole stated that he used some of the money to repair the Benin-Lagos roads and several federal roads, and fortunately, Buhari repaid the entire amount, totaling N18 billion, which was refunded to Obaseki.
According to him, he regretted bringing Obaseki, whom the public accuses of being autocratic.
“I don’t want you to make my mistake. I made my mistake in 2016, and I tried to correct it in 2020 people didn’t listen and today people are crying.
Oshiomhole thanked Benin for their support in advancing his political career and claimed that he never would have gotten this far without them.
God knows Edo people have been nice to me and in history, I am the only governor in Edo who won election in all the 18 local government areas, and the only governor who won the 77 wards in Edo South, I owe you the truth but you must take your decision,” he said.
The senatorial candidate for Edo North reaffirmed his support for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidency and urged Nigerians to vote wisely in the upcoming general elections.
Osigwe Omo-Ikirodah is the Chairman and CEO of Bush Radio Academy.