Nigeria Content Online

The governor of
Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel, has evaded a challenge by the House of
Assembly for a live television debate on the controversial N100billion
bond.

The lawmakers,
while ruling out the possibility of granting the governor’s wish for
the bond as a result of alleged loopholes in the documents backing the
bid, said if Mr Daniel is not satisfied with their position on the
matter, he should present himself for a public debate.

Reacting to the
challenge, the state’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Sina
Kawonise, at a press conference held at Governor’s Office press centre
yesterday, said the lawmakers were trying to make mockery of the
governor, therefore Mr Daniel would not engage in such a debate.

“We will not drag
ourselves to gutter level. It is childish, a serious government should
not be part of the shenanigan. It is insulting to the integrity of
people of Ogun State. It is ridiculous. Assembly wants to make mockery
of serious issue,” Mr Kawonise said.

“Debate what? Who is to be the judge? We will leave people of Ogun State to judge them.”

The information commissioner said he was optimistic the current set of legislators will not be in the Assembly in 2011.

“All of these funny
characters in the assembly will not be part of history when the next
legislature comes into place, to grant the bond.”

He alleged the
lawmakers have an agenda to kill the ruling Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) in the state and move to another party.

Indebted to PHCN

In another
development, Mr Daniel said as a result of the poor financial status of
the state, the government is owing Power Holding Company of Nigeria
(PHCN) a huge sum of money that it cannot pay. He said the company has
since sent a letter threatening to disconnect power supply to a number
of government offices.

Mr. Daniel claimed that the State House is one of the premises marked for disconnection by the company.