Secret Reporters No place to hide
More facts have emerged on the purported approval given to the former Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, by the State House of Assembly, to borrow the sum of N40 billion.
Contrary to the rumors that the former Speaker, Rt Hon Peter Onwusanya, was lured into allowing the governor’s letter of request for approval to borrow the money, it has been confirmed authoritatively from THE PRESS investigation that the State merely guaranteed a bank facility for some contractors of the state government.
According to information available, some major contractors who had earned certificates for various jobs and were not paid to complete the job, approached the State Government to guarantee them loans to be issued by Zenith Bank.
It was however learnt that following the request by the governor, after the State Executive Council had given its own approval, the House of Assembly then passed a resolution.
Detailed documents obtained by THE PRESS reveals the following contractors involved and the amount.
Nigercat N3 Billion, Setraco N4 billion, Peculiar N600 million, Planet Projects N2 billion, All Infrastructure Ltd N700 million, Arc Marine Limited N2.1 billion, Hi-Tech Construction Ltd N1 billion, Tratrix N1.5 billion, CCC N1 billion, Obakpor Engineering Limited N2.2 billion, and Levant N600 million.
Others are Vicomech Int. Limited N1 billion, Murphendriks Int. Limited N1.5 billion, ULO Construction N2 billion, and Disimpro N1.4 billion.
A House of Assembly source who pleaded anonymity told THE PRESS that misinformed public had campaigned against the house led by Hon. Onwusanya, for allowing the out gone governor to borrow the N40 billion and put the state into unnecessary debt.
“Some political enemies had also used the lie to embark on campaign of calumny against the former governor and former speaker, alleging that Hon. Onwusanya was given N200 million to facilitate the House resolution. ”
Another government source who does not want his name to be mentioned said Governor Okowa was also fed with the same whereby he scorned Hon. Onwusanya, until the facts emerged recently. He was reportedly surprised by the facts, telling a close confidant that the truth was hidden from him.
While another competent source at the Ministry of Finance wondered why a mere state transaction should be used to witch-hunt personalities who performed their responsibilities sincerely.
“The political effect of the development was that Hon. Onwusanya was denied the Deputy Speakership on the pretence that equity demands that since the Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District is from Aniocha/ Oshimili Federal Constituency, and the governor from Ika axis, the Deputy Speaker should be zoned to Ndokwa.” he said.
Continuing, he said, “the degree of the politricks emerged when Senator Nwaoboshi nominated Hon. Pat Ajudua as Majority Chief Whip from same town, Ibusa and the same local government area, Oshimili North, while the Minority Leader is from Ika, the same area with the governor. ”
“I’m a political leader from Delta North and your question has opened my eyes to the campaign against the former governor. Unfortunately, those accusing him knew these facts and had been deceiving the people”, a PDP chieftain from Aniocha-North said.
When THE PRESS approached Governor Okowa’s media aides to comment on this, they shunned the press apparently because of fear of being labeled disloyal by the present administration.
Source: The Press NG
