The immediate past governor of Kogi State and gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Captain Idris Wada, has said he didn’t tamper with local governments’ revenue allocations from federation account when he was the Governor of the state between 2012 and 2015
He however challenged anyone to come out and prove him wrong.
Speaking at the ongoing consultations with stakeholders at the grassroots which began with media parley in Lokoja, the former Governor said the local government remained 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 said.
He also said percentage of 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 said the bail out funds which allocated N45 billion 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 as N5 million 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.
He said he had been under pressure to join the gubernatorial race and that he had no choice than to yield to the yearning of the people.
