Controversy has erupted following the claim by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration that Delta State’s debt burden has been reduced by over 40% in the past year. Barr. Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Communications, made the assertion during a radio program in Lagos, stating that the governor had slashed the state’s debt by more than ₦180 billion and saved over ₦205 billion through prudent financial management.
However, the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Delta State has sharply criticized these claims, labeling them as misleading and an attempt to deceive the public. The APC’s Publicity Secretary, Valentine Onojeghuo, dismissed the government’s assertions as “a pack of lies,” arguing that they were intended to placate the increasingly concerned citizens of Delta State regarding the state’s financial status.
In a statement titled “Delta State: A Tale of Misgovernance and Deceit,” Onojeghuo contended that the claim of reducing the state’s debt from over ₦500 billion to about ₦370 billion was “the most shameful lie ever peddled.” He accused the Oborevwori administration of continuing the legacy of debt accumulation left by the previous administration of Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, under whom Oborevwori served as Speaker of the State House of Assembly.
Onojeghuo further alleged that much of the state’s borrowed funds were misused for personal and political ambitions, including Okowa’s failed presidential bid and the installation of Oborevwori as his successor. He argued that the reduction in debt claimed by the government was merely due to federal revenue being automatically debited at the source to service the state’s debts, leaving little for capital projects.
The APC also criticized the state’s infrastructure, pointing out that Delta State is now one of the poorest in terms of capital development, with only the Effurun and Enerhen flyover projects being actively pursued. They contrasted this with the achievements of other states, such as Rivers, where former Governor Nyesom Wike used similar funds to construct multiple flyovers.
The statement also highlighted the deteriorating security situation in Delta State, referencing the recent kidnapping of a former commissioner and the increasing prevalence of decrepit roads that have become hotspots for criminal activities. Additionally, the APC criticized the state government’s handling of pension arrears, accusing it of failing to provide relief to struggling pensioners.
In conclusion, the APC called on Governor Oborevwori to take responsibility and address the socio-economic challenges facing the state, rather than relying on “propaganda economics” to create the illusion of progress.
