Kogiflame.com
Kogi State former Governor and gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Captain Idris Wada, has reiterated that he did not tamper with Local Governments’ revenue allocations my from federation account when he was the Governorof the state between 2012 and 2015
He said” I challenge any one to come out and prove Me wrong if I took any money from the accounts of Local Governments “.
Speaking at the ongoing consultations with stakeholders at the grassroots which began with media parley in Lokoja, the former Governor said the Local government remains a third tier of government and he respects that constitutional provision.
He stated that while he was the state’s Chief Executive, he allowed the council chairmen to utilise the available resources within the provisions of law.
” As long as I was in office, Local Governments got their allocations directly,” he maintained.
He further explained that percentage salary payment had been there due to dwindled resources and debt obligations of local governments before he assumed office in 2012.
While acknowledging the enormity of human tragedy occasioned by non payment of salaries, he noted that the bail out funds which allocated N45billion to council areas would have redeemed council workers from their depression.
According to him “, some Local government workers would have happily gone home with as much N5million if the All Progressives Congress (APC) -led administration had not manipulated the process and denied me of the chances of accessing the bail out fund.”
He noted with dismay that the situations of workers in the state and the council areas are perilous as suicides pervades the landscape.
“I receive as much as 50 text messages everyday. Some people in this state asked for as little as N500 because of the poverty level created by the APC -led government. I’m glad that nobody committed suicide during my time” he said.
He further lamented that there are workers in the state who have not been paid for 38 months and yet the Governor seems not to be bothered.
Contrary to claims in some quarters, his government, he said, received allocations for 48 months and paid 46 months salaries.
He maintained that had he been under pressure to join the gubernatorial race, adding that he had no choice other than yielding to the yearning of the people. Consequently ,he added, ” I have thrown my hat into the ring”.
