Bayelsa APC kicks against Assembly’s approval of N2.9b for Gov. Diri

By The Nigerian Voice
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The Bayelsa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has berated the state House of Assembly for the approval of N2.9 billion loan to Governor Douye Diri to purchase cars.

The Publicity Secretary of the APC in Bayelsa, Doifie Buokoribo, expressed the party’s position while reacting to the approval in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria in Yenagoa on Thursday.

NAN reports that Abranhama Ingobere, Speaker, Bayelsa State House of Assembly, who announced the decision of the House at Wednesday’s plenary, said the loan, from commercial banks, had a three-year tenure

Ingobere explained that the loan would be deployed to purchase operational vehicles for the governor, his deputy and top officials of the Bayelsa State Government.

Buokoribo, however, described the move by Diri as self serving, insensitive when the state was yet to meet outstanding obligations to civil servants and pensioners.

He said: “The decision of Senator Diri to take a bank loan of N2.9 billion for the purpose of buying operational vehicles for the governor, his deputy and other top government functionaries is regrettable

“Coming less than three weeks as governor, this move is unsympathetic.

“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 (Peoples Democratic Party) government of (Seriake) Dickson, a major reason the people of the state roundly rejected them at the poll.

“This cannot be the government that the people of Bayelsa State deserve.

“It cannot be the government the people voted for.”

The APC spokesman recalled that the PDP government came to power through the February 13 Supreme Court decision that nullified the victory of APC’s David Lyon.

He added: “Legally, Douye Diri is the governor of Bayelsa State, but in the hearts and minds of our people, he is illegitimate.

“He was not the one they voted for.
“He will bear the burden of illegitimacy throughout his tenancy at Creek Haven, Government House, Yenagoa.”

NAN also reports that the Assembly had in Februafry 2017 approved a loan request of N3 billion by Dickson for the purchase of cars for his use and those of 24 Assembly members.