Rights group knocks Obiano for allegedly spending N1.4bn on Christmas decoration

A rights group, The Human Rights, Liberty Access and Peace Defenders Foundation on Monday chided the Anambra State governor, Willie Obiano, for allegedly spending N1.35bn on beautification of major cities in the state for the oncoming Yuletide.

In a statement by the leader of the group, Uzor Dede, it accused the governors of the South-East geopolitical zone of profligacy, calling on the Economic and Financial Crime Commission to beam its searchlight on the expenditure public funds of the area

It lamented the abysmal performance of the governors in the area stressing that the place was facing huge infrastructural decay.

HURIDE queried the rationale behind spending N1.35bn for Christmas decorations, whereas the sum of N181m was allocated to the rehabilitation of bad roads in the area in the 2019 budget.

It said the action showed the insensitivity and callousness of the government, wondering the benefits of Christmas and new year decorations to the economy and welfare of the citizens that such whopping sum would be expended on them.

"The sane thing to do was to channel the entire money to the rehabilitation of damaged roads in various parts of the state, particularly in Onitsha, the commercial nerve centre of the state which virtually all the roads are in a deplorable state.

"It's pathetic because throughout the year the Anambra people have been crying for road rehabilitation but the government allocated a paltry sum of N181m on that.

"No wonder all the roads in Onitsha still remain unattended to inspite of promises by the governor and his aides to rehabilitate them before Christmas.

"We are therefore calling on EFCC operatives to beam their searchlight on the finances of the South East States and South-South states to restrain the excesses of the governors in using their funds for frivolous things like Christmas decorations when roads, education, health sector are suffering" Uzor stated.

Reacting, the Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C-Don Adinuba described the allegation as unfounded.

Adinuba said the Yuletide decorations in the state were being done by corporate organisations (free of charge) as part of their corporate social responsibility to the state.