*Ogun State, Nigeria* –
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State has voiced alarm over the rapidly escalating debt incurred by Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration. According to a recent report by PLATFORM TIMES, data from the National Bureau of Statistics reveals that Ogun State’s total debt has surged to a staggering 379 billion naira within just four years of Governor Abiodun’s assumption of office.
This debt burden has catapulted Ogun State to become the third-highest indebted state in Nigeria, closely following Lagos and Delta states. The PDP, through its Publicity Secretary in the state, Asiwaju Bankole Akinloye, contends that the magnitude of the state’s debt appears disproportionate when compared to the visible development of public infrastructure and social amenities.
The PDP has labeled Governor Abiodun’s administration as incompetent and accused it of steering Ogun State perilously close to insurmountable bankruptcy. While the party acknowledges that borrowing can be a necessary means to finance developmental projects and infrastructure, it questions the absence of substantial developments commensurate with the additional 300 billion naira debt accrued during Abiodun’s tenure.
The PDP’s statement reads, in part: “The Ogun state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is increasingly worried about the relentless zeal with which the outgoing administration of Prince Dapo Abiodun has plunged Ogun state and its coming generations into the irreversible pit of indebtedness.”
The PDP calls on stakeholders and the state house of assembly to investigate how the funds have been utilized by Abiodun’s government over the past four years. It further emphasizes the need for transparency and accountability in handling public finances.
In response to these allegations, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Abiodun, Lekan Adeniran, expressed dissatisfaction with the reporting and criticized the veracity of the data. Adeniran asserted that there should be decorum in journalism and questioned the fairness of the reporting.
The rising debt levels in Ogun State have raised concerns among residents and political observers, prompting calls for a thorough examination of the state’s financial management practices and the utilization of borrowed funds to ensure the well-being and development of the state.
