Bisi Olaniyi, Southsouth Bureau Chief

Members of civil society groups under the aegis of Joint Forces for the Defence of Democracy (JOFDES) have protested in Benin and its environs against Edo Governor Godwin Obaseki’s move to obtain N20 billion loan.

They alleged the loan was for the Governor’s re-election bid.

JOFDES, through its leaders, Osewmengie Isere, a lawyer and Kola Edokpayi, declared that Obaseki’s administration had no justification to obtain another N20 billion loan that would become a burden to Edo people and the unborn generations.

The protesters, armed with placards bearing various inscriptions, chanted anti-government songs.

Some of the inscriptions on the placards were: “We reject the N20b loan by Edo State Government”; “Do not sell the future of Edo State, because of political interest”; “Edo is one of the states in Nigeria with highest debt profile” and “N20b loan will be diverted for Obaseki’s re-election campaigns.”

JOFDES said: “Just some weeks to the September 19 Edo State governorship election, Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is making a desperate attempt to secure another loan from the stock market.

“The most shocking part of it is that Obaseki is about taking the loan when Edo State currently services the $150 million facility his administration obtained from the World Bank.

“Edo State’s domestic debt profile currently stands at N84.76 billion. Edo State has the highest domestic debt in Nigeria second only to Lagos State. Edo State has the highest external debt in the entire South-South zone, with an external debt of $257.92 million, as at March 2020.

“We find these developments not only worrisome, wicked, reckless, irresponsible and ignominious,but calculated attempts to completely mortgage the future of the youths and other people of Edo State. At no time in the history of our dear state that we have come under the volume of indebtedness that we face today in Edo.”

Members of JOFDES also called on President Muhammadu Buhari, other top officials of the Federal Government and its agencies to do everything within their powers to prevent approval for Obaseki’s loan.

Obaseki, reacting through his Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy, Crusoe Osagie, accused the Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, of sponsoring the protests.

He however stated that such actions would not distract voters.

Obaseki said: “Edo people are too intelligent to be swayed by such tantrums and staged drama of the absurd, being displayed by Pastor Ize-Iyamu and his sponsored protesters.

“We subscribe to the principle that every accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty, but we are worried by his (Ize-Iyamu’s) apparent phobia to face the judge and the court, and his resort to diversionary tactics.”

But Ize-Iyamu, responding through the Chairman, Edo State APC Media Campaign Council, Prince John Mayaki, declared it was ludicrous and insulting to the people of Edo state, known for their independence of thought, for the Governor to suggest the anger the protesters expressed on the streets of Benin over the N20 billion loan was done at his behest.

He maintained that Edo youths and other people of the state were able to read the news, interpret them and understand the implications of a failed government seeking loans, towards the end of its tenure.

Ize-Iyamu said: “Edo State government has refused to directly speak to the reports on the N20 billion loan acquisition. Are you obtaining a loan or not? What is the loan for? Why are you seeking a N20 billion loan during the heat of an election you are already guaranteed of losing? These are some of the questions that need answers.

“We do not sponsor protests and we do not claim to control the minds of the people. If Obaseki and his aides have such an arrangement, through which they channel funds to people to protest on the streets, they should come out and tell the world, as that is not part of the APC’s modus operandi.”

https://www.google.com/amp/s/thenationonlineng.net/massive-protest-against-obasekis-proposed-n20b-loan/amp/

Obaseki where's gelegele port??

Where's central park??

Where's industrial park?

Where's emotan garden?

Where's the new propose city in Edo south?

Where's Royal museum?.

Your only achievement in office is celebrating painting of Secretariat building and stadium despite billions we received monthly?.

We’re tired of reading about Edo everyday. September where art thou.

APC are bunch of fools. when will they protest against Buhari's Myriad of loans?? Bloody hypocrites..

EDO is not LAGOS

You claim you hate godfather but was brought in by oshiomole.

You claim you hate godfather but you went to beg tinubu and oshiomole to forgive you.

You claim you hate godfather you disorder court order and made a speaker without majority vote.

You can only fool your supporters.

Since you can't show your achievements in for years you need to go

Massive ko

Cleverly, the word 'massive' must have a new meaning in your dictionary.

Massive indeed !

Trumpcard05:
Hmmm

Which hmmm? Why is he borrowing now? Your speechless.obaseki is evil,he will lose

CilicMarin:
The Message We Have In Edo Is All About The Simple Agenda...

Vote Nze Iyamu! Vote APC...

Together We Recover Edo From The Hands Of The Tax Collectors...

Their wives are damn pretty unlike that of

Sometimes, these politicians get it wrong. He should know that people will protest against this move owing to recent developments in their state. No matter what he intends to do with the money, this is tactically the 'wrongest' of times to borrow. Everybody (as we have known them... politicians) will say it's for re-election. They should think sometimes.

I don't support APC but seeking for 20billion this time should be rebuffed,

Maxymilliano:
Cleverly, the word 'massive' must have a new meaning in your dictionary.

Massive indeed !

Does he want to borrow or not? Yes.he wants to.he has expended the small money edo has in getting the pdp ticket and he is now cash strapped.with two months to go,no one will allow him borrow any external loan.the senate must approve and lawan will never approve it.he is losing big time

naijanaso:
Sometimes, these politicians get it wrong. He should know that people will protest against this move owing to recent developments in their state. No matter what he intends to do with the money, this is tactically the 'wrongest' of times to borrow. Everybody (as we have known them... politicians) will say it's for re-election. They should think sometimes.

He wants to use it to buy voters and mobilize his few artificial supporters

He surely knows he is leaving the Government house come September 2020 hence is decision to take a loan and leave the burden for the incoming Governor to bear.

Dansuqi:



Which hmmm? Why is he borrowing now? Your speechless.obaseki is evil,he will lose

Calm down! I just use the hmmm book space first u can go and read my full comments now.

We are not ready to vote in a self confessed cultist, popularly labeled a thief and facing fraud charges in court. In a sane country, Ize will not be contesting for any position at all.

Charmingrascal:
He surely knows he is leaving the Government house come September 2020 hence is decision to take a loan and leave the burden for the incoming Governor to bear.

Exactly he knows he's a goner, he's trying to have a retirement plan

Dansuqi:


Their wives are damn pretty unlike that of

My brother forget Studio pictures with make-ups oh...I don't any picture of any woman these days, except na early morning before make up. Don't you see how God of men pose with their wives on bill boards of their church after a two hours carefully edited studio photo? Come enter church see the women naa...you go think say na their mothers

Is that liberator also the one caught looting million of dollars of Edo money into France with his now imprisoned commissioner or your brain is damaged sire ?!

Trumpcard05:
LOL... massive protest indeed! As much as this is an unfounded protest, all I see is a few thugs, paid to carry a banner, the meaning of the inscription on which they don’t even know.

It’s a pity that the same people who are being liberated from the shackles of their oppressors are doing this for them. We wonder why the country is the way it is & turn later to protest for cultists, corrupt politicians facing fraud charges in court?? Last last we go dey alright sha

Dansuqi:


Their wives are damn pretty unlike that of

My brother forget Studio pictures with make-ups oh...I don't dig any picture of any woman these days, except na early morning before make up. Don't you see how God of men pose with their wives on bill boards of their church after a two hours carefully edited studio photo? Come enter church see the women naa...you go think say na their mothers

CilicMarin:
The Message We Have In Edo Is All About The Simple Agenda...

Vote Nze Iyamu! Vote APC...

Together We Recover Edo From The Hands Of The Tax Collectors...

See Ize-Iyamu thief eye , na once you go know say naa better crook

naijanaso:
Sometimes, these politicians get it wrong. He should know that people will protest against this move owing to recent developments in their state. No matter what he intends to do with the money, this is tactically the 'wrongest' of times to borrow. Everybody (as we have known them... politicians) will say it's for re-election. They should think sometimes.

Paid protesters!!! Oshiomole should tell us what he did with the 30million dollars world bank loan..

Exclusive101:
Is that liberator also the one caught looting million of dollars of Edo money into France with his now imprisoned commissioner or your brain is damaged sire ?!

No need for insults bros. I believe u can make your case or argument without resorting to insults. By the time u start resorting to insults, it portrays u as uncivilized and that you really don’t have any point to make. Please take note, it is not healthy.

Maxymilliano:
Cleverly, the word 'massive' must have a new meaning in your dictionary.

Massive indeed !

The the most funniest part of it na lagos-ibadan express media propaganda that is reporting about it.

Dansuqi:


Their wives are damn pretty unlike that of

Sense fall on you

You are too childish.

Only God knows if Edo state will be able to recover from the debt mess that Obaseki has plunged the state into. He disappointed the people with his all round failure. Shocking for someone touted for his financial background which made Oshiomhole import him from Lagos. Ize Iyamu will have so much cleaning up to do.

The greatest harm sometimes comes from the BEST intention.


~ Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander