More on criticism and its enemies - Vanguard

EGODE and Iwara, irrespective of the quantum of crumbs they are getting, or expect to get, from their masters, must pause and think deeply about the situation of things in Delta State. Is life much better now for the struggling underprivileged indigenes of Delta State than it was before May 29, 1999?

Are there things on ground to show that Ibori utilized wisely the hundreds of billions of naira that accrued to the state between 1999 and May 28, 2007 for the upliftment of “the wretched of the earth” in Delta State? Has Uduaghan taken concrete steps to show that his government would be an improvement on Ibori’s performance? These are some of the questions Egode and Iwara should be pondering, rather than waste time defending those who spend public funds recklessly.
Turning now to the general issue of profligacy in government, available reports indicate that President Umar Musa Yar’Adua is not prepared to inaugurate a regime based on strict prudent spending of public funds. In Sunday Vanguard of November 18, 2007, for instance, it was reported that in the 2008 federal budget, N827.4m has been set aside for refreshments in the presidency, while another N474.06m is for the procurement of foodstuff.

This means that the Presidential Villa would be spending N2.3 million and N1.3 million daily on refreshments and foodstuff respectively. Of the N65 billion earmarked for the National Assembly for the fiscal year, members of the House of Representatives would spend N10.33 billion for travels within and outside the country, an amount different from N268.8million meant for travelling for training-related purposes. N5.032 billion of taxpayers’ money is meant for the “general” travels of Senators, whereas N278.2million has been earmarked for their training-related travels as well. The President and his cohorts are to spend N1.27 billion for local and international trips next year, besides another N760.8 million to be spent on travels relating to training presidency aides. Full Story