TheCable

Justin Okonoboh, speaker of the Edo state house of assembly, says the N200 million approved for former governor Adams Oshiomhole cannot buy him a house in Lekki, Victoria Island or Banana Island – the choice residential areas for Nigeria’s richest.

The Edo state house of assembly had approved the construction of a residential building worth N200 million for Oshiomhole and a house worth N100 million for Pius Odubu, his deputy.

If the bill is assented to by Godwin Obaseki, the new Edo governor, the duo would both also enjoy pension benefits.

But in an interview with PUNCH, Okonoboh said the said sum could not buy a house of the past governor in Lekki or Banana island in Lagos state.

The Edo speaker explained that there was no time frame fixed to when the past governor and his deputy would get their benefits, as it depends on when the state got the funds.

“Some say that N200m is too much. We do not believe so. I live in Lagos; N200m cannot buy you a house in Victoria Island, let alone Lekki or Banana Island. When we make a law like this, we must put something that will make the law to last for at least some time,” Okonoboh said.

“I can tell you (that) in 10 years, N200m will mean nothing. People who want to build a house then would be talking about a billion naira or something like that. So, a law must be made in such a way that, next year, you do not start doing an amendment.

“That is why the budget is there. And it is subject to availability; we didn’t give any time limit. For the people (governor and deputy) who just left their offices, if it is (after) 20 years that the state has the money, that is what the law says.

“So, it is not something that will stretch the state’s resources or anything. So, we want those who do not understand to come so that we can explain to them.”

Asked if they had done the right thing, he said: “What the law knows is that they were on salaries and allowances. If you are imagining other things, they are not known to the law. I want people to know that this is not a person; it is a law.”