Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has revealed how former President Olusegun Obasanjo wasted about N16.447 trillion between 1999 and 2007.

The governor accused the ex-president of entangling the three tiers of government in a “paradox” without much to show for it after eight years, except his “do-or-die” politics.

Oshiomhole, who was one of the five governors invited to the Press Week celebration of the Delta State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) yesterday in Asaba, the state capital, said Obasanjo’s “impunity, rigging, subversion of the people’s vote, as well as foisting of absentee and short-sighted leaders on the people complicated the appalling living conditions in the country today”.

According to him, the enthronement of leaders without mandate is responsible for why more than 70 per cent of Nigerians live below $1 per day, the country has one of the highest child mortality rate highest in the world and the average life expectancy is 43 years.

He added: “Between June 1999 and May 2007 which spanned the eight years rule of President Olusegun Obasanjo, the three tiers of government shared a total of N16.447 trillion without much to show for democracy dividends.”

The comrade governor, who was represented on the occasion by his Special Adviser (Media), Mr. Tony Iyare, said no wonder that Nigeria’s ranking in the United Nations Human Development Report published yearly is pathetic.

He said the problem bedeviling the country is the burden of poor leadership, which by extension, leads to poor governance.

He commended President Goodluck Jonathan for appointing Prof. Attahiru Jega to reposition the “decayed” Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

While reiterating the urgent need to free the country from the shackles of fraudulent elections and enthrone an electoral process that is free and fair, he said: “We have a historical duty to enthrone leaders whose mandates flow from the people. Edo State is no longer the vineyard of godfathers.”

He charged journalists to allow the theme of the event, “The Media, Leadership, Development and Good Governance”, permeate their duty as they uphold the ethics of the profession and disallow desperate politicians from making it a laughing stock.

His Delta State counterpart, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, who was represented by his Commissioner for Information, Mr. Oma Djebah, appealed to journalists to report facts by analysing, explaining and interpreting the truth of the matter.

OBJ cant even take care of his own family.

It drives me nuts when I hear d figures these looters steal, though Oshiomole himself is corrupt too

if at the waste of such amount, nairalanders still believe obj to be the best president of nigeria, it means other presidents must have wasted N500trilion.
mr. do or die is an economic waste and ribadu is a national deciet.
only in nigeria will u see a man who cannot take care of his family taking care of the whole nation.

I feel rily disappointed wen leader mek such unsubstantiated allegations.perhaps,oshiomhole has 4gotten dat he's now a governor who shudnt just open his bucal cavity 2mek anyhow remark.can he prove his claims?does he ve d figures?its a pity!

JUST LIKE ANNENIH STOLE BILLIONS OF NAIRA MEANT FOR ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND REPAIR AND IS CURRENTLY DOIND ROUND TWO LOOTING AT N.P.A[b][/b]