A faction of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday threw its weight behind the N100 billion loan requested by the Governor Monday Okpeholo administration.
The Edo State publicity secretary of the PDP Caretaker Committee loyal to Chief Dan Orbih, Bob-Manuel Umoru in an apparent reaction to a statement signed by the caretaker chairman of the party, Tony Aziegbemi on Wednesday, said Aziegbemi lacked the authority to speak for the party.
Aziegbemi had on Wednesday faulted the N100billion loan approved by the Edo State House of Assembly.
In the statement, Umoru noted, “The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) wishes to categorically disassociate itself from a recent statement credited to one Tony Aziegbemi, the self-styled and shameless factional chairman of the now-defunct Obaseki camp.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Tony Aziegbemi is not the Acting Chairman of Edo PDP and lacks the legitimacy, moral standing, and party endorsement to speak on our behalf.
“It is both amusing and insulting that a man who stood idly by while Edo State was looted under Obaseki’s eight years of catastrophic misrule now attempts to preach financial prudence and offer unsolicited analysis on government borrowing.
“Where was his voice when his principal was plunging Edo State into unprecedented debt with nothing to show? No roads. No industries. No infrastructure. No transparency.
“Mr. Aziegbemi’s empty rhetoric failed to mention the total sum Obaseki borrowed, nor could he identify a single landmark project tied to those funds. The loans allegedly taken for agriculture, infrastructure, and other ‘classified’ purposes vanished into a black hole leaving Edo people to bear the burden of debt without a trace of development.
“Tony Aziegbemi’s outdated propaganda belongs in the graveyard of Obaseki’s failed legacy, not in the public discourse of today’s Edo. He should be more concerned about helping his former principal account for the hundreds of millions of dollars that disappeared under his watch.”
Umoru added , “Let it be clearly stated: the Edo PDP is not opposed to Governor Monday Okpebholo’s efforts to secure loans for meaningful infrastructural development. We urge him to ensure such loans are transparently utilised and directed at projects that will tangibly improve the lives of our people.
“As a party, we are committed to responsible opposition, constructive, not bitter. We will hold the ruling party accountable, demand performance, and ensure that the promises made to the good people of Edo State are not forgotten. But we will not allow impostors and political relics to speak for us”.
