BY SEGUN ADEBAYO, ABUJA – The Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) has challenged Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra state and the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) to account for how the ₦143.6bn Anambra state 2021 budget was frittered, to warrant a N60 billion supplementary budget, barely two months ahead of the November 6, governorship election.
The ZLP is also asking the people of Anambra to take specific note of how the Obiano-led APGA administration, has become unsettled and issuing disjointed knee-jerk responses after it was caught in the alleged plot to waste a whooping N60 billion in the desperate bid to impose its unpopular candidate, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, on the people.
A statement by State Publicity Secretary of the ZLP Campaign Council, Afam Dozie Ofonta, noted that now that the APGA administration has admitted its plan to take a supplementary budget, the party as a coalition platform, choice and mouthpiece of Ndi Anambra, urges Governor Obiano to immediately tell Ndi Anambra how his administration squandered the N143.billion 2021 budget, particularly in the face of infrastructural stagnation and abysmal insecurity situation across the state despite the huge amount of security vote at its disposal.
According to the ZLP; “The APGA administration must account for how it dissipated the N86.888 billion provided for capital development as well as N56.766 meant for recurrent expenditure in the 2021 budget, with no landmark achievement or enhanced wellbeing of the people.
“Moreover, in its incoherent responses, the Obiano-led APGA administration could not explain or justify the nebulous items in the supplementary budget. Its only answer is the usual profligate assertion by treasury looters that every government goes for supplementary budget annually.
“Such brazen and arrogant parade of impunity is a huge slap on the sensibilities of Ndi Ananmbra and only points to the corruption, financial recklessness and unruliness of the APGA administration and the level of disdain it has for the people.
“We are aware that APGA have been having sleepless nights given that its candidate, Prof. Soludo is no match for the ZLP candidate, the people’s candidate, Dr. Obiora Okonkwo, who is now commanding the overwhelming support of majority of Ndi Anambra across board. As such APGA has become feverish and seeking ways to manipulate the electoral process against the wish of the people of Anambra, a project that is actually dead on arrival.
“ZLP, as a coalition platform of the people of Anambra, insists that Anambra money is for the development of Anambra state and not for manipulation of elections. Therefore, we call on Obiano to render account of how he spent the state 2021 budget as to warrant a request for another N60billion as supplementary budget.
“Standing shoulder to shoulder with the people, the ZLP therefore cautions Governor Willie Obiano and APGA to perish the idea of any supplementary budget until after the election in November.
“Anything short of this is a direct invitation to crisis as Ndi Anambra, the owners of the money, no longer have confidence in APGA and its inept administration,” it said.
The ZLP urged the people of Anambra to remain at alert and continue to work hard on the platform of the coalition ZLP in the determination to usher in a purposeful, transparent, resourceful and accountable government under the leadership of Dr. Obiora Okonkwo.
