PRESS STATEMENT
PDP’S RED HERRING OVER 280M USD LOAN
Earlier today, the Felix Obuah faction of the Rivers State chapter of
the People's Democratic Party (PDP) issued a misleading and mischievous
statement accusing the Rivers State Government of taking a new loan of 280m
USD. The release, which was a tissue of lies, claims that the Rivers State
Government tabled a fresh request for loan before the Rivers State House of
Assembly. The PDP also claims that the loans were to enable the Governor source
money for 2015 elections and to sponsor the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi administration takes its insistence on
transparent and accountable governance. It would therefore continue to put out
the facts of the matter as it concerns the finances and economy of Rivers state
for its employers (the Rivers people) to see.
The facts of the matter are as follows:
·The Rivers State Government applied for and secured a loan package from
the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the World Bank in 2012 for the World
Bank-assisted water scheme in Rivers State.
· The rule is that the national government would need to endorse the
release of the loan after the Rivers State House of Assembly would have
approved.
· Everything else was done but for reasons unknown to the Rivers State
Government, the responsible officers on the Ministry of Finance failed to sign
off the release of funds, thereby delaying the Rivers State Government robust
water sector’s complete overhaul and rejuvenation; therefore denying the people
of the state access to good water.
· Not willing to give up, the Rivers State government continued to push
and the scheme with the loan was again approved in the 2014 budget. Now, the
Federal Government has finally signed off for this fund to be drawn down for
work to start, but due process required that the Rivers State House of Assembly
endorsed it once more. This is what necessitated the re-presentation of the old
loan to the House.
But true to type, Obuah’s PDP, uncaring of the truth and in what has
become its masterful display of ignorance and blind mischief has announced that
the Rivers State Government is taking a fresh loan and that this is for the
2015 elections.
Unfortunately unlike the PDP, the Rivers State government is focused on
ensuring governance and service-delivery to its people until its last day. Again
much unlike most of the PDP controlled states, Rivers State has remained one of
the least indebted states in the country. Its financials have been reported as
strong not only by international rating agencies, but also by the Federal
Government agency responsible for monitoring states indebtedness, the Debt
Management Office (DMO). Whenever the DMO releases debt figures, Rivers State
remains unmentioned (in blue) where the PDP states who earn the same and in
some cases more than Rivers State are in Crimson red, owing debts that will
hang on the head of successive governments up to the 4th and 5th
generations.
Despite this obvious disparity and the excellent rating of the finances
and economy of Rivers State, the PDP shamelessly keeps going to the media with
stories of enslaving the future of the state as if the party knew anything
about future of a nation. The tales by moonlight often told by the PDP are as
embarrassing as they are contrived. It is unfortunate that Obuah’s PDP
continues to revel in these lies of an unhealthy economy and mortgaging of the
future.
It is not news any longer that the PDP has led the nation’s economy on a
downward spiral because of its lack of prudence and irresponsible stewardship
of its resources. Nigerians are still waiting for the report of the probe into
the 48.9 billion dollars NNPC funds. In the meantime, delegates at the National
Conference have alleged another missing N730 billion from the Nigeria Ports
Authority, NPA. Rather than address these issues, the PDP is sending Nigerians
off on a wild goose chase. But while the PDP can deceive some of the people,
some of the time, it cannot deceive all the people, all the time.
The Rivers State Government is grateful to Rivers people for the
confidence it has reposed in us and for always seeking clarification when the
rabble-rousers begin their mumbling.
We are thankful for these engagements and wish to assure you that the
Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi-led administration will never take your loyalty for
granted nor breach this sacred trust, which you have reposed in us. The
finances of our state are in the most credible hands, and we will ensure that
they are used only to secure the lives of our present and future generations in
our Rivers of Possibilities.
Signed
Ibim Semenitari
Hon Commissioner of Information and Communications,
Rivers State
July 7, 2014
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