The Lagos state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has queried the Lagos state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, for obtaining a N39.4 billion loan from the World Bank despite the huge amount the state generates from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
Reports say that the party, while requiring a detailed and public defence of the loan, also urged the governor to retract the decision pending the book check on all previously obtained loans in the state, especially by the last administration.
In a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Taofik Gani, the PDP described Ambode as a weak governor who lacks the capacity to fight corruption and block leakages in the state with the continual services of the tax consultant firm, Alpha Beta, which the party posits is milking the state of her revenue.
The state’s major opposition party said it issued the statement “on the heels of the reports of another World Bank loan and the recent announcement by the governor to scrap the state’s finance and administration department whilst renaming it administration and human resources department.
“The history of loans in the state is very embarrassing and has plunged the state into local and foreign debts running into a Trillion Naira.
“Why indeed will a state still run after World Bank loan when such state realises an average of N27 billion as monthly IGR? Governor Ambode should have a rethink and get prudent.
“Again we reiterate that this Ambode administration will not be different from the two previous administrations in the areas of amassing unwarranted loans and fighting corruption in the state.
“Governor Ambode does not have the will and cannot exert his authority to fight corruption in this state; otherwise all a governor should do in Lagos state is to block the leakages and the monthly IGR now standing at N27 Billion will definitely shove up.
“But alas! This governor is jittery to fight corruption and block the financial leakages because the state’s tax consultant firm, Alpha Beta, is believed to the company of the governor’s god father”.
The statement further revealed that, “Until the services and activities of the firm in the state are probed Lagosians will continue to hear huge figures of loans in spite huge IGR”.
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