Edo State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress and Peoples Democratic Party has engaged in a war of words over the proposed N111.5bn state budget proposal sent to the House of Assembly for approval by Governor Adams Oshiomhole for the year 2016.
The budget tagged ‘Budget of Finishing Well’, earmarked N58.9bn earmarked for capital expenditure, representing 52.84 per cent of the total budget, while recurrent expenditure was pegged at N52.6bn, which represents 47.16 per cent.
PDP State Chairman, Chief Dan Orbih who renamed the budget, budget of misappropriation while speaking with journalists during a press briefing said “While Oshiomhole budgeted N10m as medical treatment for senior citizens in the 18 councils of the state, he has been doling out N4m to his aides in the name of medical treatment.
“Considering previous allocations to the Accident and Emergency ward at the Benin Central Hospital, the ward could go down in history as the most expensive hospital ward.
He said the budget showed the insensitivity of the state government to the plight of residents of the state.
APC State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Godwin Erhahon in reply to PDP’s statement said “a failed party is not in a position to speak about a performing party.”
He added that “When they (PDP) were there, what was their contribution to the growth of health services and facilities in this state? What can they point to at the Central Hospital that they left for the succeeding regime? And therefore, they remain who they are – frustrated partly because they have lost touch with the people.
“Edo people know who is an expert in misappropriation. If you look at what Comrade Oshiomhole has done in the last seven years, nobody can dispute the fact that he has been a performer. Somebody who believes in misappropriation cannot do one-third of what he (Oshiomhole) has done so far. The PDP failed woefully because their interest was in misappropriation.”