By Kolade Larewaju
OPPOSITION party in Ogun State, the Action Congress (AC) yesterday reacted to controversy over the resolution of the State House of Assembly on the state’s financial profile, saying that it has been vindicated over its stand that the state had been plunged into debt. Chairman of the Party, Alhaji Tajuden Bello and its gubernatorial candidate in the 2007 polls, Otunba Dipo Dina who spoke differently both agreed that the financial situation of the state was precarious and that more debts should not be added.

Otunba Dina said he was sure that the eyes of the people had been opened to the reality of the situation as contained in his publications in 2005 which was hotly contested then by the government and eventually led to his being detained. The AC governorship candidate, who claimed the state owed over N70bn, recalled that he was vilified for alleging underhand dealings in the finances of the state.

“It is not a new thing. Way back in 2005, when I started publishing some of the financial recklessness of the government, the state got an injunction to stop me from further publications. Not only that, I was detained both in Eleweran and Lagos for three weeks because of the publications.

“Then, the debt profile of the state was 10bn. Now, I learnt from an authoritative source that the debt had climbed to N70bn and they still want to issue bonds so that this one will be a bonus; you know they are going. It is unfortunate that it has taken the people of Ogun State this long to discover this. Though, it is better late than never.

Alhaji Bello, who agreed with the position of Otunba Dina said the situation in the state was a result of the “wrongs” of the past, said the people would ordinarily get the kind of government that they deserved.

“It is an unfortunate situation because the people of the state deserve more than what they are getting now. It is a pointer to the fact that the government that the people want in power must emerge”.

The people have been able to see the performance of this government and their eyes have been able to see that a change is imperative in the administration of the state.”