The Delta State government has issued a firm warning, emphasizing that it will not overlook any issue that poses a threat to the security of lives and property within the state.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr Kingsley Emu, issued the warning while addressing protesters from the Ubulu-Okiti community in the Aniocha South local government area in Asaba.
The protesters, who were numerous and carried placards with various inscriptions, were peacefully protesting the activities of land grabbers in their communities.
Emu commended the protesters for their peaceful disposition and assured that the government would investigate the matter comprehensively once the Commission of Enquiry’s report was presented.
“We have listened to your complaints, and the governor, in his wisdom, through the State Security Council, has actually set up a Commission of Enquiry to look into most of these allegations that have been brewing,” he said.
Earlier, the leader of the protesters and youth president of Ubulu-Okiti community, Ifechukwude Nwabuebo said they have been suffering for over two years, and are begging the government to intervene in this matter.
Similarly, the state government reiterated that it has not borrowed any money since Governor Sheriff Oborevwori took over governance in the state on May 29, 2023.
The state commissioner for Finance, Chief Fidelis Tilije, said contrary to reports, the state government had not entered into any borrowing relationship with any institution.
According to him, “this state has not entered into any borrowing relationship whatsoever, whether partnership, individual, corporate, bank, local, national or international. We have not borrowed a dime since this administration took effect on the 29th of May, 2023.
“I can state categorically in any forum I found myself, that Delta state remains, in terms of financial terms, the strongest financial state standing in this country.
“I say so with every emphasis because I know the finances of the state, and I say that we are clearly, clearly the strongest financial state in Nigeria.”
For his part, the State Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, said the administration has embarked on a number of projects in the last 19 and a half months and that all those projects are being funded by the state’s funds.
“We are only using what is available to us from our entire state. We have not borrowed a penny, and so we were surprised when we saw a report in one of the online platforms suggesting that we are number one in terms of borrowing.
“We don’t know where that came from because, as a state, we are on a platform of solid liquidity. We are not only liquid, but we are solidly liquid to be able to deal with the problems that we have, and that tells you the management skills of the Oborevwori administration,” he said.
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