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I inherit N70b debt —Agagu
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It’s not true —Adefarati
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Ladoja inherits N5b debt
AYODELE ADESANMI, Akure and AKIN DURODOLA
THE governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, disclosed on Thursday in Akure
that his administration inherited a debt of about N70 billion out of which N45
billion was on road contracts awarded by the Adefarati administration.
Dr. Agagu noted that N14 billion was allocated to capital projects in the four years of the past administration.
The governor, who made this known while receiving the executive members and trustees of Akure Community Development Forum, revealed that the financial situation of the state was so bad that it would require God’s intervention before the state could break even.
Dr. Agagu, who assured that his administration would overcome the financial problem, promised to rebuild the Erekesan Market with the joint efforts of the state government, local government and the traders.
He, therefore, promised to make available, alternative markets for the traders on Adesida and Arakale roads to ease vehicular traffic and make the streets clean.
On potable water, Dr. Agagu wondered why the taps were not running in the state capital in spite of the fact that the immediate past administration claimed in its handing over notes that Ondo/Owena, Alagbaka and Oshinle water works had been completed and commissioned.
He assured that the multipurpose Owena Dam, when completed within the next nine months, would provide water for Akure, Owo, Idanre, Ondo and Ore, saying that before then, other water works in the state would be rehabilitated to provide water for the populace.
Earlier in his address, Engr. Ralph Alabi, the chairman of Akure Community Development Forum, congratulated Dr. Agagu on his victory at the polls and the successful assumption of office.
Engr. Alabi said he was sure Dr. Agagu would succeed in office, believing that he was patriotic, progressive and professional.
The chairman, who intimated the governor with some of the needs of the community, said that the forum was established to foster peace, progress and prosperity of the people of Akure.
In his reaction, the former governor of Ondo State, Chief Adebayo Adefarati, through his Commissioner for Works, Chief Erastus Akeju, debunked Gov. Agagu’s claim of inheriting N70 billion debt, saying that it was an exaggeration.
According to him, the total value of contracts awarded was based on the number of valued certificates that had been issued and certified.
Chief Akeju said that as at the time the Adefarati administration wounded
up, N2.7 billion was the only outstanding payment to contractors on roads
in addition to N210 million outstanding payment to consultants, also on roads.
He said the total figure of less than N3 billion represented the amount the
state government was to have paid for contracts which had been certified for
payment.
He disclosed that the money accumulated that much because the state was no longer getting its share of the derivation fund from the federal government as at the time the Adefarati regime disengaged.
“What we were doing was to pay contractors after certifying the quality of job done. I don’t know where the N75 billion came from,” he said.
Meanwhile, Oyo State governor, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, has disclosed that a N5.2 billion debt was inherited by his administration from the administration of Alhaji Lam Adesina.
Apart from this, the governor said there was an overseas loan of $170 million.
While speaking with the governor’s office correspondents, Senator Ladoja noted that he was not out to witchhunt, but wished to put the records straight.
According to him, some newspapers (not the Nigerian Tribune) had reported that the immediate past administration had left N.5 billion in the coffers of government as enunciated in the handing-over note, adding that what was actually left was a deficit of N52 million.
“There is no cash, but despite this, I can tell you that we will survive. I like challenges,” he stressed.
On whether he would probe the past administration, the governor explained that he had no time to do that, adding, “if anybody believes he has (facts about) any misdeeds, he can go to Akanbi Commission and if Akanbi Commission asks for any information, we will give it”.
Senator Ladoja, who was accompanied to the press centre, venue of the briefing by his deputy, Otunba Christopher Bayo Alao-Akala, and other aides, including the Special Adviser on Strategy and Media Matters, Prince Ade Adekanmbi, hinted that his administration would look at “every loan before we take it”.
On the focus of his administration, the governor emphasised that his major priority was water supply to the whole of Ibadan, pointing out that currently, the Asejire and Eleyele dams could not meet more than 40 percent of the water requirement of Ibadan when working at their installed capacity.
He said efforts would be made to provide water works at strategic locations to serve the needs of the people.
The governor also said he would pursue free but qualitative education in line with Federal Government’s Universal Basic Education (UBE) scheme, adding, “my intention is also to pursue free health as much as possible by laying emphasis on Primary Health Care (PHC).”
