Kogi State chapter of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has raised alarm over the stupendous amount it claimed the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the government wasted N2bn on a ‘Kangaroo’ rally, last Saturday in Lokoja.
The State PDP, Director Research and Documentation, Achadu Dickson, made the claim in a statement yesterday, stressing that the mega rally organised by Gov Yahaya Bello as a colossal waste of the state meagre resources.
The party alleged that lavishing N2 billion on a rally when 22 months of salaries and pensions arrears were to yet to be paid clearly showed not just lack of vision but shows that the government is wicked, callous, inhuman and insensitive to the plight of Kogites.
“Spending of a whooping N2billion tax payers fund to organise a rally that is of no significance to the lives and well-being of Kogi People is disheartening and a glaring show of man’s inhumanity against man.
“We wondered why Governor Bello would dole out N750, 000 per polling unit in mobilization, while council administrators were also directed to mobilize 500 persons at N5000 per person when INEC has not announced the commencement of political activities”, the party said.
The party expressed worry over alleged plan by Gov Bello to sell off state assets to fund 2018 budget, noting that hiring a private jet for the APC National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun to attend “the cash and carry jamboree”, was disgraceful.
Also, the PDP accused the governor of diverting two months Local Government Council allocation for the months of January and February 2018 to fund the jamboree in Lokoja at the expense of workers’ emoluments.
The party sympathises with Kogi State people over the hardship they are being subjected to under the present administration, but assured that it would only be for awhile, as his actions are those of a drowning man.
“Governor Bello will certainly account for all the several billions he has collected on behalf of people of the state, as judgment day is soon to catch up with him.”
They called on INEC to investigate the early campaign by the governor and the APC; and also for EFCC to probe into the allege spending of the N2 billion used for the rally.
