I inherited over N100bn debt, N400m cash from Obiano –Soludo – Newstrends
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I inherited over N100bn debt, N400m cash from Obiano –Soludo

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2 years ago

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Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo

Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, yesterday, said he inherited a debt of over N100 billion and cash of about N300 or N400 million from his predecessor, Chief Willie Obiano.

The revelation came after Obiano was arrested for alleged corruption by the Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on his way to Houston, Texas, US, last Thursday  after handing over.

Soludo, who spoke on Arise Television programme,  said he inherited a state whose financial position was “not quite robust” but promised to run a transparent accounting system.

“In fact, let’s not talk about it. Our treasury is funny. I hope we shall make money henceforth to help us fulfil our promises for infrastructure and development of the state… But in terms of what I met in our coffers, my brother, it’s pathetic. Please let us not go there. God will help us…

“First, in terms of finances, there is an audited account of Anambra as at December 31, 2021 which is a public document which anyone can access. Between the audited accounts as at the end of the year 2021, everyone knows that the state finances are not quite robust. In terms of debt, it is in the range of over N100 billion and then cash at which the state has is N300 or N400 million, but we are still going to have all the reconciliations and all the accounts from January to the date we had the handover.

“Anambra State intends to have a transparent public finance management where we are going to publish our accounts so that everyone will have a knowledge of what is there and what is missing and what funds have been used for.”

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On insecurity, the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor said there were ongoing discussions with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and other stakeholders on how to tackle the menace and also end the sit-at-home order on Mondays.

“After the swearing in, I went into the office straight away and a few minutes after that I started the security council meeting of the state which lasted more than three hours. The conversations about that are still ongoing and I believe that we will get to crack it and the sit at home thing will definitely end.

“We are in discussions with the stakeholders, IPOB and everyone else and it is the people’s power that will prevail at the end of the day. The poor innocent artisans like keke driver, traders are suffering, but for the elite, they can afford to watch TV and so the state is losing out as its people are impoverishing. We are determined to restore law and order.”

Soludo in his inaugural speech last week Thursday in Awka had lamented the economic losses incurred by the South East states each day a sit-at-home is observed.

“Every day, there is a sit at home these poor masses lose an estimated N19.6 billion in Anambra alone. Due to the protracted breakdown of law and order, businesses are relocating outside Igboland, with growing unemployment, and traders who used to come to shop in Onitsha, Aba etc are going elsewhere. Who is losing? By forcing our children—the future of Igboland—to stay at home instead of being in school, while even the critically sick people (including pregnant women) cannot go to hospital, we harm our future,” he said.

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BREAKING: APC NWC in peace talks with Aiyedatiwa, other Ondo gov aspirants

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15 mins ago

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April 25, 2024

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BREAKING: APC NWC in peace talks with Aiyedatiwa, other Ondo gov aspirants

The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee (NWC) is currently holding a closed-door peace meeting with Governor Lucky Ayiedatiwa and fifteen other aspirants in the April 20 Ondo state governorship primary election.

Ayiedatiwa was declared the winner by Governor Usman Ododo-led Primary Election Committee in the early hours of Sunday, April 21, after the shadow election in the 203 wards of the 18 local government areas of the state.

All the aspirants but Hon. Wale Akinterinwa and Hon. Isaacs Kekemeke are in attendance.

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Those in attendance are Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, Olusoji Adewale Ehinlanwo, a former member of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Olugbenga Omogbemi Edema, and business magnate, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim Folorunsho.

Others are Engr. (Mrs.) Funmilayo Waheed-Adekojo, Hon. Akinfolarin Mayo Samuel, legal luminary, Chief Olusola Alexander Oke, SAN, Ohunyeye Olamide Felix, and Barr. Morayo Lebi.

Also in attendance are Garvey Oladiran Iyanjan, Prof. Francis Adebayo Faduyile, and Engr. (Mrs) Judith Folakemi Omogoroye, President Unilag Alumni (Worldwide), Engr. Ifeoluwa Olusola Oyedele and Hon. Omo’Oba Okunjimi Odimayo John.

BREAKING: APC NWC in peace talks with Aiyedatiwa, other Ondo gov aspirants

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I broke the chains of godfatherism in Oyo politics – Makinde

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7 hours ago

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April 25, 2024

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Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde

I broke the chains of godfatherism in Oyo politics – Makinde

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State says he has dismantle the shackles of godfatherism that once characterised the State politics.

Makinde said Oyo State was once known for ‘who is your father’ politics, stating that such style of political arrangement has ended with him.

Makinde spoke on Wednesday at Students’ Legislative Summit organised by the Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly and chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, Honourable Adebo Ogundoyin, in conjunction with the Students’ Representative Council, University of Ibadan.

Makinde disclosed that his father was not wealthy or influential and the Oyo State people still gave him the opportunity to lead.

The governor underscores the need to get youths into leadership position, imploring Nigerian youths to become more actively involved in governance by increasing their participation.

Makinde said that the issue of leadership is imperative in preparing the youth for the future and governance.

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“For us here, we have seen the common situation where ‘who is your father’ was the order of the day but we have been able to break that in Oyo State. My father was a ‘nobody’ and the Oyo State people still gave me the opportunity to lead.

“We may not be able to prepare the future for the youth, but we can prepare the youth for the future. Please, don’t see this event as just an opportunity to look at the issue of leadership in this country. And, in me, Seyi Makinde, the youth have an ally and we will prepare the leaders of the next generation amongst the youth.

“I am here this afternoon to encourage the youth. If you look at the history of Nigeria, we had our independence in 1960 and six years after, in 1966, the person that became the Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, was 31 years and some months old. After him, during the Second Republic, former President Obasanjo retired as a General at the age of 39.

“You should dream big; people have ruled this country at very tender ages. So, for you, don’t think that at 29 or 30, you are too young to rule and I am glad, because this is almost like catching them early.

“You have the students here and in about three years, some of you will be out there to move on. If I were you, I wouldn’t start looking for work; I would start doing my own thing at a very early age of 24 or 25. With the kind of energy you still have, you can pull down the kingdom of Satan.”

I broke the chains of godfatherism in Oyo politics – Makinde

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Updated: Rivers crisis worsens as attorney-general, finance commissioner resign

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23 hours ago

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April 24, 2024

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Updated: Rivers crisis worsens as attorney-general, finance commissioner resign

The power tussle in Rivers State took a new turn on Wednesday as Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Zacchaeus Adangor, resigned his appointment and as a member of the state executive council.

This is after the commissioner had rejected his redeployment by Governor Siminalayi Fubara as Commissioner for Special Duties.

Similarly, Isaac Kamalu has resigned as  Commissioner of Finance after he was redeployed to the Employment Generation and Economic Empowerment Ministry by the governor.

Zacchaeus on 14 December first resigned his position as the Attorney-General of the state following the face-off between Governor Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Zacchaeus and other commissioners who resigned due to the political crisis in the state, however, returned to the government after being reconfirmed by the state House of Assembly.

Fubara, earlier in the week, reshuffled his cabinet and redeployed Zacchaeus as the commissioner for Special Duties (Governor’s Office).

In a letter addressed to the Secretary to the Rivers State government, Zacchaeus rejected his new office.

In his resignation letter, he accused Governor Fubara of interfering with the performance of his duties as the state’s attorney general.

For Kamalu, who served as commissioner for Budget and Economics under former Governor Wike, he forwarded his resignation letter to Governor Fubura and the Secretary to the Government, Tammy Danagogo.

He accused Fubara of lying about the internally generated revenue of Rivers State.

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