Edo PDP Confronts Oshiomhole Over N18bn Unbudgeted Funds
Edo PDP Confronts Oshiomhole Over N18bn Unbudgeted Funds
Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday called on the state House of Assembly to commence impeachment proceedings against the state governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, for allegedly spending about N18 billion unbudgeted funds to establish the Edo State University, Iyamho, in Etsako West local government area of Edo State.
Edo State Chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih, who made the call while briefing journalists in Benin also called for the resignation of the State Commissioner for Education and the state Accountant General, saying that “there is nothing to suggest that the House of Assembly approved the expenditures in establishing the university.”
Orbih alleged that the award of contracts and execution of same in the university did not follow due process as they were not advertised nor bided for, pointing out that? the contracts were ambiguously awarded within seven days in December, 2015.
The PDP Chairman named some of the contracts to include N12.28 billion for the teaching hospital of the university awarded to A & K Construction Limited, construction of Senate building to Messers Sageto Limited for N2.5 billion, construction of faculty building given to Messers Sageto Limited at N983 million and 168-room male hostel awarded to A & K Construction Limited for N1.88 billion.
According to him, Governor Oshiomhole must explain to the Edo people why the conversion of the College of Education, Ekiadolor, to Tayo Akpata University of Education has not seen the light of the day despite the fact that the conversion was made at about the same time Edo University Iyamho was established.
“I am from the Edo North and the Iyamho University is located in Edo North. I will, however, not watch the governor appropriate unbudgeted funds.
“The contracts are inflated and did not follow due process. At a time the country is facing recession, this is not the way state resources should be spent,” he said.
Reacting to PDP allegations, Edo State Government through State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Kassim Afegbua said Chief Dan Orbih lacked the basic understanding of governance and it’s dynamics.
“As government that has exhibited a high sense of prudence in the management of state resources, whatever we embark on by way of projects are usually captured in our budget proposal.
“The State Executive Council approves contracts when they have met all the requirements of bidding in line with procurement Act. We do not behave like PDP chieftains who defrauded the nation and the state with reckless abandon without respect for due process.
Commissioner Afegbua described the call for impeachment as “laughable, ridiculous and outlandish”, saying that the budget was a public document which captured the State’s general appropriation outlook for 2016 fiscal year.
