The All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, has thrown its weight behind Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State in the ongoing face-off between him and his estranged predecessor by challenging the former Governor, Mr Peter Obi, to produce evidence that he handed over N75bn to his successor as claimed in his handover note to Obiano some 18 months ago.
Addressing newsmen yesterday in Awka, the state capital, National Publicity Secretary of APGA, Chief Ifeatu Obiokoye explained that the party and Governor Obiano decided to keep mute for such a long time because they wanted peace to reign, more so when Obi was still a member of APGA family.
Vowing that both the uninformed and informed minds know that the controversial N75bn was not existing anywhere, Obiokoye said, “I believe Governor Willie Obiano was being cautious by coming up with the truth now which, if he had done before now, would have embarrassed his predecessor.
“What is clear is that even in the handover note the liabilities were not clearly spelt out.
“The other aspect was other monies that was not in liquid cash but in liabilities. What do we now do with the truth as revealed by Governor Obiano.
“I would say that it is time for all of us to seriously look at the financial position of the state in the light of the global recession that is also affecting the country,” he said.
The APGA spokesman, who maintained that the revenue currently accrued to the state was 48% less than what it used to get three years ago, charged the people of the state to find ways of raising internally generated revenue, IGR, to enable government meet up recurrent and capital expenditures.
While condemning the bloating of the state civil service with over 6,000 staff recruited by Obi at the terminal days of his administration, he praised Obiano for being able to pay workers on 25th of every month and pensioners as at when due.
Obiokoye described Obi’s reaction to the N75bn saga as pitiable, and explained that it became necessary the Governor told the people of the state the truth because the opposition championed by Obi amounts to playing politics which is aimed at dragging the reputation of Obiano to the mud.
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