Edo PDP wants EFCC to prosecute Oshiomhole

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Edo State chapter has stated that the financial crisis in the state that has made local government councils in the state unable to pay salaries was caused by the governor, Adams Oshimhole.

The party therefore called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to probe into the finances of the state under the Oshiomhole administration, even as it claimed, “we have more than enough materials to nail the corrupt practices of the political leaders in Edo State starting with the governor.”

Chairman of the party in the state, Dan Orbih while addressing a media briefing on Sunday, stated that the threat by Governor Oshiomhole to stop the security votes of the council chairman if the salaries were not paid was laughable and immoral.

Orbih, said the council chairmen earn between N1.7million and N1.2 million each every month as security votes, while the legislative arm of the councils earns about N1 million each as security votes.

He however noted that the combined sum of N42 million was nowhere close to the over N500 million Governor Oshiomhole earns every month as security votes.

“Here is a governor asking council chairmen to forfeit N1.2 million per month but who cannot forfeit N500 million. The total security vote of the councils in a year is about what Oshiomhole collects every month.

“He brought this hardship upon the people and he is now trying to absolve himself. He impressed upon the council chairmen not to cry out but one good thing is that the Edo people already know the truth. Edo people must sit up and reflect on the deception of Oshiomhole and his party and make the right choice next year”, he stated.

The party alleged that though 15 of the 18 local governments in the state are currently owing workers’ salaries ranging from three to 10 months, the problem was not because the councils were not getting money, but because the state government was taking money meant for the councils every month.

Read also: Edo PDP takes Oshiomhole to task

According to Orbih, the sum of N212.278 billion has been released to the 18 local governments in the state since the inception of the Oshiomhole administration into office in November 2008, till April 2015.

He posited that Governor Oshiomhole has no moral right to talk about accountability and transparency in Abuja while fleecing Edo of her resources, challenging the governor to return the money he has collected as security votes as Edo has never experienced security challenges under his watch.

Orbih, who also spoke on the flood and erosion problem confronting Benin City, said there was nothing on ground to justify the N30 billion facility obtained from the capital market and the N5 billion received from the World Bank to curtail the twin menace as many houses and properties were lost to downpour last week in the state capital.

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