By Simon Ebegbulem & Gabriel Enogholase
BENIN — THE Edo State People’s Democratic Party, PDP and the state government yesterday traded words over the 2018 State budget recently signed into law by Governor Godwin Obaseki.

Obaseki

While the PDP described the budget as fraudulent and full of inconsistencies that failed to address the fundamental problems facing the people, the Government described as laughable, comments by PDP declaring that the 2018 budget and the previous ones done by former governor Adams Oshiomhole were geared towards fixing the 10 years damage inflicted on the people of the state by PDP alleged misrule in the state.

Edo State chairman of PDP at a briefing accused the governor of allocating 10 percent of the total budget of N150.9billion to the Governor’s office and gave the break down as follows: “N1.5billion to the governor’s office, N4billion as Security Vote, N2.5billion for Central Administration, N2.150billion for Entertainment and Protocol and N1million monthly for essential drugs for himself and family among other allocations. Since Obaseki took over the reins of government in the State, crime rate has risen astronomically, rampant cases of kidnappings, armed robberies, murders, assassinations and arsons have become the order of the day in Edo State.

“Whereas, in other States of the country, government assists security agencies in the provisions of security gadgets, vehicles and communication equipment, the same cannot be said of Edo State, security has since broken down.”

Even, security agencies in the State are complaining that they have not received any form of assistance from the government”

He claimed that whereas the government allocated N50million to the Ministry of Employment and Wealth Creation for jobs creation, N50million for Micro Finance, the government allocated N100million for Consultancy.

On allocations to tertiary institutions in the State by the government, Orbih said, “ The government budgeted the sum of N946million for construction of buildings, lecture theaters, office equipment etc   in Edo University, Iyamho, huge sums of money for the construction of Edo University Teaching Hospital, Iyamho which is supposed to be  a government and private sectors venture.

On the Central Specialist Hospital in Benin which was commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari in November, 2016, the Edo State PDP chairman said that the sum of N469million was budgeted for the provisions of equipment, and the completion of the hospital and other N120million budget for the same hospital for unknown reasons.

But responding, Special Adviser to the governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr Crusoe Osagie while dismissing PDP allegations, insisted among others, that the budget was hailed by experts in the development circles, academia and civil society for its focus on fortifying growth enabling sectors of the economy and forthrightness.

According to him: “Some roads that will be constructed this year were budgeted for by the PDP in the past and money was released that ended up in their private hands. These roads were not constructed. We have the same issues in the education sector where money was released to build schools, only to be stolen. But under Governor Obaseki, we are seeing roads being fixed everywhere and this will continue in the years to come. The PDP is bitter because there is no more money to share for birthday parties and ego trips. This budget will address the needs of ordinary Edo people.”

“Hard as they tried, they cannot say that Governor Obaseki allocated any sum to himself, his family or his political party, as is the stock in trade of the PDP. The budget is clear in its purpose. Specifically, given the need to fast-track development, the 2018 budget is focused on key areas that can easily spur growth. Over 60 percent of the budget went to infrastructure; around 20 percent to growth enablers, such as job creation and agriculture. Law and order got 10 percent because the PDP bastardized the state when it held the helm of affairs and almost succeeded in turning the state to a place without order.”