Edo Govt Faults PDP Over $75m World Bank Facility

The Edo State government yesterday faulted the claim of the state Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Dan Orbih who had in a newspaper publications on Thursday urged federal lawmakers not to approve the $75million Word Bank facility request presented to it by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The state Commissioner for Information, Hon Louis Odion, who lambasted Orbih, said it is surprising that the Edo PDP is against the progress of the state, adding that party is out “in its wicked desperation to poison the minds of federal lawmakers against the bill.”

He said, “As objective and right-thinking patriots, we have no doubt that the federal lawmakers will support the Edo State government to continue to improve the lives of our people by granting the approval to access the second tranche of the World Bank facility. If Orbih is truly an Edo citizen and sincerely loves his homeland, the least we expect of him this time is to, for once, stop playing politics with an issue that affects the wellbeing of our people.”

Pensioners protest 8 months arrears

Meanwhile, the Association of Local Government Pensioners of Edo State (LOGPENES) yesterday staged a peaceful protest in parts of Benin, asking the state government to pay their accumulated eight months pension arrears, gratuity, and death benefits. They also appealed to Governor Adams Oshiomhole to harmonise their pensions.

The aggrieved pensioners carried placards with various inscription such as “ Edo State government has decided to destroy old pensioners of LG and primary school with war weapon,” “No annual budget for Edo State LG pensioners since 2008 as provided by decree 20 of 1985,” among others.

SOURCE: LEADERSHIP