The Bayelsa State House of Assembly has approved a request of N2.9 billion car loan for the governor, Douye Diri. Diri had requested for the loan in a
The Bayelsa State House of Assembly has approved a request of N2.9 billion car loan for the governor, Douye Diri. Diri had requested for the loan in a message to the House to enable the government to purchase operational vehicles for the governor, deputy governor, and other top government functionaries.
The approval of the loan followed a motion moved by the leader of the House, Monday Buluo-Obolo urging the House to grant the request as it would ensure the smooth running of government. According to him, the proposed loan facility has a repayment plan of 36 months and it would not affect other projects of the government. Buluo-Obolo’s motion was unanimously supported by other lawmakers.
Meanwhile, the APC in a statement by state Publicity Secretary, Doifie Buokoribo, wondered why the loan should be a priority for the new administration. Buokoribo said: “Coming less than three weeks as governor, this move is scandalous, unsympathetic and ungodly. Sadly, the Bayelsa State House of Assembly has approved the loan request. Diri is taking the loan at a time when civil servants and pensioners in the state have not been paid.
“This is a continuation of the frivolities of the PDP government of Seriake Dickson; a major reason the people of the state roundly rejected them at the poll. Unfortunately, Bayelsa in for another long haul under an illegitimate regime that does not feel any sense of commitment to the welfare and sensibilities of the people. This cannot be the government that the people of Bayelsa deserve. It cannot be the government the people voted for.”
But, the Bayelsa State chapter of the PDP said criticisms of the car loan were misplaced. The party’s publicity secretary, Osom Makbere, said, “On the criticism of the N2.9 billion loan obtained by the Diri administration for the purchase of cars for top government functionaries, this is very cheap and unintelligible blackmail. It is more laughable when you recall that the APC while waiting to be sworn in, had already taken an N8billion loan, with which it purchased cars for persons not yet accorded official portfolios. Sadly, the APC and its structure always look puerile in their role as an opposition party and this calls for deep concern.”
