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dicksonThe Bayelsa State All Progressives Congress (APC) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) have criticised State Governor Seriake Dickson over the recent approval granted him by the state House of Assembly to obtain a N25bn bank loan.
Though the governor said the loan was meant for the completion of ongoing projects in the state, the opposition parties said the purpose of the loan, barely five months to the governorship elections December 5 was suspicious and criminal.
The APC Ward Chairman in Kolokuma/Opokuma Abiye Stephen commended the Minority Leader and the member representing Brass Constituency 2, Sunny Igoli, for not taking part in the deliberations on the loan approved by the other Assembly members.
On his part, the APGA Chairman from Southern Ijaw Local Government, Ward 16 Fredrick Kuffor, said the decision to obtain a N25bn facility for purposes of completion of projects less than five months from the expiry of Dickson’s tenure was a deliberate diversion of state fund for PDP campaigns.
He said, “The processes adopted to obtain the approval is criminal and the purpose it is meant for is deceitful. How do you describe these actions by the State Assembly and the governor?
“This is a criminal way of obtaining money and using it for his bid for second term. He is trying to have a send forth package for himself with our money.
“How can he say he wants to use the money to complete the listed projects? Have you forgotten that he said he has completed payment for some of the listed projects? Where is the money he said he saved for Bayelsa people?”
The State House of Assembly last Thursday approved the request by Dickson to obtain N25bn loan for the completion of ongoing projects.
The approval, which was read on the floor of the House by Speaker Kombowei Benson, was sought by Dickson to enable his government to complete some ongoing projects in the state.
Among the projects highlighted in the Governor’s request letter were, the Ogbia-Nembe-Brass Road, the Sagbama-Ekeremor Road, the Yenagoa-Oporoma Road, the New Yenagoa Gateway-Igbogene Road, the Yenagoa Ring Road, the Opolo-Elebele Road, the Isaac Boro Road, among others.
The lawmakers unanimously approved the loan request which the Leader of the House Peter Akpe, and a few others described as long-overdue.
