THE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has kicked against the state government’s bid to take a fresh loan put at seven billion Naira and the demolition of commercial containers across the state capital, Akure.

This was contained in a statement by the party’s Director of Media and Publicity in the state, Steve Otaloro, who noted that the bid for the loan earlier turned down, has now been approved by the state’s House of Assembly.

The statement reads: “The attention of the Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been drawn to a story making the rounds that the “always ready” State House of Assembly has approved another whooping sum of N7 billion loan for the state government.”

The party said it would not have objected to the loan if previous loans had been used for the purposes they were taken and for the development of the state

The APC recalled with sorrow that a government that inherited over N38billion from its predecessor could resort to taking loans now and then as its past time and priority.

One other reason for our apprehension in the APC is the fact that a government that is yet to satisfactorily disburse the bail-out funds granted it by the Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government has again gone cap-in-hand to borrow more money.”

Otaloro also alleged that “the bail-out funds meant for the payment of worker’s salaries and benefits of pensioners has been squandered on purchasing cars for recent appointees of the state governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko as well as his 18 caretaker chairmen he appointed for the 18 local councils in the state.”

According to him: “The party is hereby calling on Governor Mimiko, who has barely 14months to leave office to tread softly and learn from former governors who are currently facing various court cases across the country over their stewardship.
“APC recalls that the bail-out loan will take 30 years to redeem, which means that Ondo State citizens yet unborn will have to pay back, through their sweat, what Mimiko is committing Ondo State to in terms of loans and bonds today.

The APC also wishes to remind the Jumoke Akindele led House of Assembly that its members should stop being a mere “rubber stamp” in the hands of the executive.

It is regrettable that in spite of all the bonds and loans hitherto taken by Mimiko’s administration, roads all over the state are in a state of dilapidation, portable water for the masses has become a forbidden fruit, not to talk of lack of electricity supply to the Southern Senatorial District of the state for years.”

His words: “APC wishes to finally remind Governor Mimiko the old adage which says ‘He who goes a-borrowing will one day go a-sorrowing.’ This latest borrowing to our mind in the APC, is uncalled for, callous and smacks of suspicion as election to local councils in the state is being hurriedly arranged.

Similarly, the party criticized what it described as “the illegal demolition of containers of traders across Akure by officials of the State Ministry of Transport.”
The demolition exercise in the metropolitan city, according to the party, “has led to the looting of goods worth several millions of Naira.

The actions of the Ministry of Transport was nothing but a callous one targeted at driving these traders out of business and pave way for the Shoprite Mall being promoted by the state government.
“It is appalling that the government has since not made any statement on these illegal and inhuman demolitions carried out in a gangster manner at midnight on private property by the officials of the State Ministry of Transport.”

The APC pointed accusing fingers at the Police, saying “when the Police was informed by some of the affected traders, it claimed ignorance of the demolitions.
“This callous action of the state government was most unfortunate and meant to further increase the hardship currently being faced by the people living in the state.

We condemned outright, these demolitions and the subsequent looting that followed on the wares of these traders by the officials of the state Ministry of Transports.”
The party chieftain said: “We therefore sympathise with the people affected by these day-light robbery by the government officials.

We however enjoined them to continue to maintain the peace in the state and bear the present un-favourable hardship in doing business in Ondo State, through the government’s multiple taxation and other un-favourable government policies targeted at businesses in the state.
“One thing that is assured is that at the end of the dark tunnel will come the light. The wind of change that blew across the nation will also blow across our state very soon and we shall start to enjoy the dividends of democracy in Ondo State.”

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The party said it would not have objected to the loan if previous loans had been used for the purposes they were taken and for the development of the state
“The APC recalled with sorrow that a government that inherited over N38billion from its predecessor could resort to taking loans now and then as its past time and priority.
“One other reason for our apprehension in the APC is the fact that a government that is yet to satisfactorily disburse the bail-out funds granted it by the Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government has again gone cap-in-hand to borrow more money.”