TheCable

Ondo state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, says his administration inherited a debt burden of N220.58bn at its inception.

Akeredolu made this known in Akure on Wednesday while swearing-in commissioners and special advisers. He advised the people of the state to refrain from acts that could further push the state into deep economic crisis.

He said with a debt of more than N220 billion, it was not difficult for anyone to know that the government’s capacity for adjustment to cater for the people had been stretched to its limit.

According to him, internal debt of N53.15 billion constituted almost a quarter of the debt legacy.

He however promised to provide the needed leadership to move the state forward and make life more abundant for the people.

“We will continue to strive to keep that vow within the available resources. We can turn things around positively,” he said.

The governor also congratulated the commissioners and special assistants, adding that they should use this opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the people.

But his claim about the debt legacy was promptly attacked by a former commissioner for information during the Olusegun Mimiko administration, Kayode Akinmade, who said that Mimiko left N20 billion in the kitty of the state government.

Akinmade skirted the issue of debt and also did not explain why Mimiko failed to match the N38.64 billion left in the kitty of the state government by his predecessor, Olusegun Agagu.

Mimiko handed over to Akeredolu on February 24, 2017.