Ex-Rep can’t speak for Edo APC, says party chieftain
A chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and one-time Chairman of Owan East Local Government Area of Edo state, Sufianu Igbafen, yesterday said the former Deputy Whip of the House of Representatives, Pally Iriase has being expelled from the APC and lacks the locus standi to speak for the party.
Igbafen was reacting to a press conference where Iriase had challenged Governor Godwin Obaseki to account for an estimated N251billion that accrued to the state from internally generated revenue, allocation from the federation account, bail -out funds, Paris Club refund and loans amongst others.
The APC chieftain said Iraise was expelled for alleged anti-party activities, including the factionalizing of ward executives, non- attendance at meetings and funding of PDP at ward levels.
“With this, he longer enjoys membership of the APC. At the moment, his members of the PDP are parading themselves in Owan East as APC members. We expect him to address issues as PDP.
“I challenge him to point to any meaningful project he has done in the 22 wards and be placed side by side the constituency fund. He should first account for the constituency fund he has collected.
“He should give explanation why the General Hospital in Otuo is not functioning. He was the pioneer secretary to the state government between 2008 -2011 when he left office. He could not use his influence to make the hospital function.
“The Ihiwe -Ihiwe Ogbe Road contract was embarked on by Setraco, he prematurely terminated the contract. The people are happy today because Governor Godwin Obaseki visited the project and work will soon commence,” the APC chieftain added.
But, Iriase in a swift reaction said he won’t be dragged into the “gutter fight” with Igbafen whom he described as an unknown fellow.
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“I’m very sorry that governance has been reduced to such a low level that an unknown fellow, who is not an official spokesman will be procured and mobilised by the Edo state government to go on personal attack on the weighty issues raised by me. I won’t indulge in gutter fight.
“I gave figures of monthly receipts from November 2016 to November 2019, making three years assessment. I gave the credible sources of those figures. It is already in the public domain.
“In reply from official sources, we are told that 2,000km of roads have been constructed. People are asking where and which roads are they talking about?
“They point at renovation of secretariat building. People are asking for how much? The issues are beyond pedestrian name calling and personal attacks please,” he stated.
