Controversy has erupted over recent claims by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration regarding the significant reduction of Delta State’s debt burden. The administration boasted of a 40% decrease in debt, amounting to over N180 billion, and touted savings of over N205 billion through what it called prudent financial management. However, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has fiercely challenged these assertions, labeling them as misleading and deceptive.
Barrister Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Communications, made the initial claims during a radio interview in Lagos. He praised Governor Oborevwori’s efforts, claiming that the state’s debt had been significantly reduced within the past year. But the APC’s Delta State Publicity Secretary, Valentine Onojeghuo, has strongly refuted these statements, calling them “a pack of lies.”
In a statement titled “Delta State: A Tale of Misgovernance and Deceit,” Onojeghuo accused the Oborevwori administration of fabricating the debt reduction story to placate Deltans who are increasingly worried about the state’s financial situation. He described the claim as “the most shameful lie ever peddled,” asserting that Delta State remains one of the most indebted states in Nigeria, despite receiving high Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations and internally generated revenue (IGR) over the past 20 years under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) rule.
Onojeghuo pointed to the previous administration of Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, under whom Governor Oborevwori served as Speaker of the State House of Assembly, as responsible for the bulk of the state’s debt. He alleged that the majority of the loans obtained were dubious and were funneled into Okowa’s failed presidential bid and the installation of Oborevwori as his successor.
