Lagos PDP Tackles Ambode Over World Bank Loan

The governor of Lagos state, Akinwunmi Ambode, has come under criticism from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over a loan his administration is seeking to obtain from the World Bank, amounting to N3.94 billion his administration obtained from the World Bank

The PDP urged Ambode to forget the decision until the government have properly looked into the outstanding loans obtained by the previous administration.

The PDP also accused Ambode of being too weak to fight corruption and block wastage in the government’s purse because of its continual engagement with Alpha Beta, a tax consultant firm allegedly owned by former governor of the state and godfather of the governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, which the party posited is milking the state of her revenue.

In a statement by the party’s publicity secretary, Taofeek Gani, made available to National Mirror, the party alleged that the firm is milking Lagos state government dry.
The statement further said: “The history of loans in the state is very embarrassing and has plunged the state into local and foreign debts running into trillions of naira.

“Why indeed will a state still run after World Bank loan when such state realises average of N27 billion as monthly IGR. Governor Ambode should have a rethink and be prudent.
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Again we reiterate that this Ambode administration will not be different from the two previous administrations in the areas of amassing unwarranted loans and fighting corruption in the state. Governor Ambode does not have the will and cannot exert his authority to fight corruption in this state, otherwise all a governor should do in Lagos is to block the leakages and the monthly IGR now standing at N27 billion will definitely shore up.

“Until the services and activities of the firm in the state are probed, Lagosians will continue to hear huge figures of loans in spite huge IGR.

“It is also laughable that rather than probe the finance and administration of the state, the governor has decided to be diversionary by merely renaming the department. We ask to know whether this is also deliberate to cover up the numerous alleged frauds, mismanagement and embezzlement going on in the state since 1999?.”

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress has stated that the PDP cannot provide any worthwhile opposition if its spokesperson continues to issue convoluted and fustian statements