By Simon Ebegbulem

BENIN CITY — GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, reacted yesterday to criticisms against his administration by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and warned that he would not be intimidated by the alleged use of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to blackmail the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, lawmakers in the state House of Assembly.

The Governor declared that the state government had not borrowed money from any bank as alleged by the Chairman of the PDP in the state, Chief Dan Orbih, adding that the state could only borrow when it was necessary because it was determined to change the lives of the people of the state positively.

While announcing that the state government had awarded a contract of N30 billion to check erosion and flooding in some parts of Benin City, Oshiomhole said the people were witnessing rapid development because the money that could have been “taken to the godfather in Uromi, is what we are using to better the lives of our people.”

Oshiomhole, who spoke yesterday while commissioning the rehabilitated Oba Market Road and waste disposal trucks, said his government would not allow itself to be blackmailed or intimidated by anybody.

“This state is free for good. From Edo South, Edo North and Central god fatherism is buried and it is dead. If they like, let them bring all the resources from the Nigeria Port Authority, NPA, and give to political leaders. Those political leaders cannot compel our people to vote against their conscience, and we want to warn them, that those who were there before, that used NPA resources to manipulate election in 2007, we know their current address,” he added.