* Calls For Impeachment Of Okowa
Almost two weeks after his allegation against Delta state governor, Ifeanyi Okowa of running the state with a blank budget, Cairo Ojougboh, has again came up with another strong allegation. This time around, Mr. Ojougboh is accusing Mr. Okowa of converting 50% of the Paris Club Refund from share of the state to foreign exchange to finance his super ranch in Atlanta Georgia, USA and his housing estate in South Africa.
In a press statement titled “Press Statement On The Poor State Of Affairs, Incompetence, Lack Of Capacity And Fraudulent Budget Process In Delta State”, signed by Cairo Ojougboh, Coordinator, Leaders Council of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), and mailed to HardReporters, described Okowa’s mission was to loot and kill Delta state.
“This press statement is issued on behalf of APC Committee of Like Mind Leaders, Delta State. Recall that on the 4th October 2017 I issued a press statement in Abuja titled ‘‘Open letter to Mr. President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhamadu Buhari (GCFR) on the issue of a blank Budget by the Governor of Delta State to the Delta State House of Assembly.
“We want to start this press conference by congratulating President Muhamadu Buhari (GCFR) for the exemplary way he has been handling the country, most especially his fight against corruption and in the handling of the security challenges in the North-East. We also congratulate leaders of the South-East for their visit and support for President Muhamadu Buhari. The President’s anti-corruption war has yielded fruit and the fruit will now manifest as positive changes in the economic and infrastructural development of the Country.”
Below are the itemised issues the former federal lawmaker, Ojougboh addressed.
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“THE FRAUDULENT AND BLANK BUDGET 2017: On the 4th of October, I wrote an open letter to Mr. President and I gave the DTHA 48 hours to produce a signed copy of the 2017 budget. Ten days after, the DTHA has not been able to produce a copy of a budget that was passed on Wednesday 1st February, 2017. I hereby present to you the order paper, votes and proceedings and the report of the Finance and Appropriation Committee of the said budget.
“The verbatim report and the video clip of the proceeding will prove that there was not body to the budget. OKOWA DIPS HIS UGLY, STICKY AND WICKED FINGERS INTO THE STATE TREASURY WHICH IS NOW IN HIS POCKET TO RUN DELTA STATE AS OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES.
“DESOPADEC: The 2017 DESOPADEC budget is nonexistent and we hereby call on the members from the Oil producing areas to produce the budget for their constituents to peruse.
“LAME DUCK STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND SLEEPING STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: The governor of Delta State awarded to himself an approval limit of N250,000,000. He then uses four (4) memos to corner One Billion Naira for his personal use. The State Executive Council approved this fraud for him. The Commissioners do not have mandate for any approval whatsoever, not even for ten naira (N10).
“DTHA is aware of this fraud and will do nothing about it. Even in Ibori and Uduaghan Administrations, the Governor’s approval limit was N50 Million Naira. We call on DTHA to quickly address these anomalies otherwise there will be no Delta in 2019.
“PARIS CLUB REFUNDS: The over twenty billon refund released by the federal government has vanished . Okowa released 50% as commission to the so called consultant, his family member and converted 50% to foreign exchange to finance his super ranch in Atlanta Georgia, USA and his housing estate in South Africa.
“FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BAIL-OUT FUNDS: The bailout was never used for payment of salary arrears. It was completely stolen by Okawa and family.
“ARREARS OWNED PENSIONERS: Pensioners have now habitually turned Asaba to protest ground on daily basis. They are owed 2 years arrears. The money meant for their payment has been mismanaged, misappropriated, misapplied and embezzled.
“DELTA LINE: The Nigeria Labour Congress bidded N2 billion to purchase 51% of Delta Line. But Okowa sold 60% of the company for N161 million, while owing workers 12months salaries. We call on DTHA to annul the sales and investigate this heinous crime.
“INCOMPETENCE: The PDP Government is completely incompetent. The State Executive Council has only one man who can be said to be qualified to be in the council i.e David Edebvie. Kingsley Emu is a known undertaker of dead enterprises. The State EXCO cannot deliver and this Government must go now.
“FRAUDULENT LOANS: The DTHA has approved over 15 tranches of loans for the personal used of the Governor. We have the copy of the illegal approvals that were accented to without details attached.
“CAPACITY: The Government as constituted lacks capacity to run a State .The PDP Government has failed and impeachment proceedings should commence immediately.
“OUTRAGEOUS ACCEPTANCE FEE AT DELSU: While other States, especially the APC controlled States are declaring free education at all levels, the Delta State government is charging exorbitant and outrageous acceptance fee for Deltans seeking admissions into the state owned University, Abraka. Students and pupils of Delta State origin now pay fees in primary and secondary schools.
“Finally, APC is the true face of Democracy and is ready to takeover Government immediately. The members of the oil producing areas are advised to ask questions and Delta should get ready for an APC Government that will deliver the goods. Okowa is indeed smart. He has out-smarted the DTHA and the generality of Deltans. Prosperity for all has become prosperity for Okowa and his family.”
According to our sources, the press statement was part of the speech read on Saturday by Mr. Ojougboh during a press conference held at the ancestral home of governor Okowa, Agbor, headquarters of Ika South local government area.
