COVID-19 : PDP faults Obaseki's claims on N 1bn spent to fight Corona.

The opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State yesterday faulted the claim by Governor Godwin Obaseki that over N1 billion had so far been spent by his administration in the fight against the Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) in the state.

This was as the party described the governor’s Sunday Covid-19 speech as “disappointing, curious and scandalous as it failed to address pressing economic issues of the state. "

Publicity Secretary of the PDP in the state, Chris Nehikhare, had in a statement in Benin, the state capital, cautioned officials of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led state government to stop using the COVID-19 pandemic as gateway for corrupt profiteering and fleecing of the state treasury.

“We reject the humongous figures already being bandied to have been spent by the state government in the fight against coronavirus,” he said, even as PDP lamented the financial opaqueness surrounding this fight against the pandemic given the disclosure by Governor Obaseki that over N1 billion had been spent on COVID-19 and provision of palliatives to over 50,000 vulnerable people in Edo State.

The governor had in his statewide broadcast on Sunday said that “…we have started distributing food items to over 50,000 vulnerable families…” The reality is that there are allegations of diversion of palliatives to vulnerable citizens which is frustrating the commitment by the people of Edo State and other well-meaning groups in the overall effort to combat the spread of the scourge in our state.

But, Nehikhare, however, noted: “We are saddened that Governor Obaseki again failed to show leadership and displayed total lack of a touch with reality as he failed to address the issue of palliatives diversion.

“It is more painful that Governor Obaseki could not address the immediate needs of SMEs and its employees or provide a trajectory that will take care of their future as the month of April draws to an end.

“Business owners are going to ponder how they will meet their wage bill demands when they have not done any business, but must make their utility payments; electricity, telephone and rent. There was no mention of plans to subsidise, assist or intervene in one way or the other. "

“Sadly, the unemployment catastrophe we predicted was imminent is real. Edo PDP rejects the attempt by rogues in government circles to use the COVID-19 pandemic to fleece our treasury. This is especially as the APC administration is reputed to be a haven of corrupt individuals, treasury looters, certificate forgers and election riggers. "