The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State has accused the state government of fraud through its purchase of Prado jeeps for the 18 local government council chairmen in the state.
Chairman of PDP in the state, Chief Dan Orbih on Sunday in a press statement, claimed the Edo State government recently asked council chairmen in the state to remit the sum of N18 million each for the purchase of the jeeps, asking, “when did the state government become the transport officers for the councils?
“Nowhere in the world is a Prado jeep sold for N18 million. We are aware that the car is sold for between N9 and N11 million and good discounts are given for bulk purchase. We call on the state government to refund the balance of the money for the development of the councils. We also call on the National Assembly to take a second look at the Local Government Autonomy Bill so as to save the councils from the governors,” Orbih pleaded.
However, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Lucky James and Special Adviser to Governor Adams Oshiomhole (Media Affairs), Prince Kassim Afegbua, in their separate reactions, said the allegation was untrue as the state government had no hand in the purchase of the jeeps.
According to the commissioner, “there is no truth in the allegations at all. Each local government council bought its own jeep, the government had nothing to do with it.”
Afegbua, in defence of his boss said, “The local government councils are on their own with their legislative houses. They prepare their budgets which they present to their legislative councils for approval. So, it is not the business of Governor Adams Oshiomhole to pry into the activities of the local government councils. Whatever they do is not the business of the state government.”
