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Justin Okonoboh, speaker of the Edo state house of assembly, has said that 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 parliament had approved the construction of a residential building worth N200 million for Oshiomhole and a house worth N100 million for Pius Odubu, his deputy.
In an interview with PUNCH, Okonoboh said: “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.”