Delta Acting Governor Sam Obi On A Spending Binge
Posted: December 3, 2010 - 16:43
By Citizen Reporter
*Secures N15billion loan from bank

*Awards N1billion Contract to Fix Roads in His hometown

*Pursues Personal Agenda.

The three months period in office as Acting Governor of Delta State awarded to Hon. Sam Obi by the Court of Appeal has provided opportunity for the former Speaker of the State House of assembly to milk the purse of the state dry.

Sources informed this reporter that Sam Obi who is said to be running the state like a military sole administrator is throwing due process, transparency and accountability overboard in a bid to enrich himself and a clique of dubious politicians around him.

The recently reconstituted executive council of the state which he dissolved upon assumption of office to ensure complete loyalty to him, was said to have been railroaded into approving what sources described as “various anomalies in hurried record time.”

One of such startling approval according to inside sources, is that of a N15billion loan facility from a commercial bank ostensibly to pay contractors’ bills even though the same Acting Governor suspended all mega projects till further notice.

Obi had promised to pay outstanding debts owed contractors in the state during the swearing-in ceremony for commissioners where he also ordered the suspension of all mega projects in the state.

Sources said the Commissioners were forced to make the N15 billion loan approval “even though some due process procedures were yet to be undertaken and sound accountability debates and transparency questions were not allowed. Commissioners did not even have the opportunity to properly peruse the memos before they chorused a unanimous approval to satisfy their new master as some of them had just survived sack by a hair’s breadth.”

Another mind-blowing approval made by the exco was a N1billion road project for the community of the Acting Governor in Ika North-east local government area of the state. A staggering 50% mobilization totalling about N500million was approved as down payment for the contractor who is also believed to be acting for him.

Worse still, the Acting Governor was said to have directed that virement of funds be made to the budget sub-head for the 10km road project having been exhausted by previous contractual commitments.

“All these were done without following due process and the speed with which the commissioners were nominated, screened by the House and sworn-in same day the exco meeting was convened showed a sinister motive behind the mad rush,” said a source who confided in our reporter.

Our sources also gathered that a former SSG of the state who is renown as the political godfather of the Acting governor is back fully in the scheme of things attending council meetings and other sensitive meetings of government without any official portfolio.

“If things continue unchecked like this, the financial and political situation of the state will become worse and Delta State will be exposed to more ridicule as EFCC may pounce on the situation to destabilize the state.” Said the source.


http://www.saharareporters.com/news-page/delta-acting-governor-sam-obi-spending-binge

When will the citizens have a voice in this country?

I hope EFCC is taking notes. He will soon be through with the short tenure.

Same Old Dog, What do you expect?

he must chop.god help us.

So there is no one to be trusted in PDP. Another thief on the loose. I think it is about time nigerians call for the scrapping of the ineffective organisation EFCC

politicians are political armed robbers