'My dad lent me money to pay salaries while I was Governor of Edo State' - Lucky Igbinedion
Category: Nigerian National News
Former Edo state Governor, Lucky Igbinedion, during an interview with
journalists on Friday, May 9th, said while he was Governor, he had to
borrow money from his father, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion and
PDP Chieftain, Chief Anthony Anenih, to offset the backlog of salaries
the past administration owed the Edo state civil servants when he came
into office. According to him, Edo state had been a broke state and no
bank wanted to do business with it at the time he assumed office
"This is the first time I am saying this. Two people
that I owe a lot of gratitude to in Edo State that made my tenure
successful. My father and (Chief Tony) Anenih. In the darkest of days,
when the state was broke, we could not pay salaries, we could not do
anything, I run to the two of them and they will lend the state money.
They will loan the state money, it is documented, it is there, when
banks will not even touch us, I would go to them. When pensioners will
go to him crying or lie in front of Govt House, a couple of times I
went to Chief Anenih and he gave money just to make sure the government
ran smoothly.” he said.
The Former Governor who was at a time declared wanted
by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says his travail
with the anti-graft body was politically motivated. He said it was all
the handiwork of former President Olusegun Obasanjp, who labeled any one
corrupt once such a sperson is opposed to his ideology. According to
him, the EFCC officials confided in him that his conviction was all an
order from above
"They (EFCC) are doing their job. They challenge you,
you answer their questions. I have nothing to fear. I was outside the
country, when they said I was declared wanted, I came back. If I had
fear, I would keep running but I was confident that I had nothing to
fear. In fact, if anything, it is the state that owes me money, not me
owing the state money. For me to loot, there must be something to loot.
Edo State had no money to loot. I borrowed money from my father; and
from Chief Anenih. They went round and round and after a while, they
came to the Code of Conduct, they said I failed to disclose an amount of
N3.3 million in my account. That’s what I was charged and fined for.” he
said.
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