Former Edo State Governor and ex APC National Chairman Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole has shed more light on the true state of affairs when he handed over to his successor, Godwin Obaseki.
Adams Oshiomhole, who spoke at the APC’s Edo South Senatorial campaign flag-off in Benin City, refuted claims that he left the state in debt.
According to the Deputy DG of APC Presidential Campaign Council, when his administration came on board, he increased the state’s IGR from N250 million per month to N2.1 billion – a feat he said was accomplished within a month of his emergence.
Oshiomhole also told his audience that the only loan he obtained while serving in office was a bond, which was repaid within the allotted time.
“As governor of Edo state, the only local loan I took was bond, N25 billion and we paid it over a period of seven years and we conveniently paid it by December 2016.
“When we had a World Bank budget support of $221 million and they paid two tranches of $75 million when naira was N165 to a dollar, the third tranche of $75 million paid to my successor, and I am not going to mention any body’s name but it was paid to my successor”, he stated.
According to Oshomole, he used some of the money to repair the Benin-Lagos road and other several federal roads, and President Buhari repaid the entire amount – N18 billion, which was refunded to Obaseki.
He said, he regretted supporting Obaseki, who the public is accusing of being autocratic.
“I don’t want you to make my mistake. I made my mistake in 2016, and I tried to correct it in 2020, but people didn’t listen and today people are crying.
Oshiomhole thanked the Benins for their support in advancing his political career and claimed that he never would have gotten this far without them.
God knows Edo people have been nice to me and in history, I am the only governor in Edo who won election in all the 18 local government areas, and the only governor who won the 77 wards in Edo South, I owe you the truth but you must take your decision,” he said.
The senatorial candidate for Edo North reaffirmed his support for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidency and urged Nigerians to vote wisely in the upcoming general elections.