The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State today urged the Delta State Board of Internal Revenue (DBIR) to be clear on how the 143 per cent revenue generation performance it claimed was generated
Delta State APC Publicity Secretary, Valentine Onojeghuo Esq., said this in a statement made available to our correspondent in reaction to DBIR’s claims that a remarkable 143% revenue was generated based on its performance.
The APC expressed deep skepticism, questioning the validity and transparency of these bogus claims, which are desperate attempts aimed at painting the abysmal performance of Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration in a positive light.
The APC acknowledged the importance of revenue collection in the state but raised concerns over the administration’s claims.
“We find it troubling that the administration has continued to boast of inflated figures without any verifiable data or tangible proof to substantiate such claims, which are now presented merely as political rhetoric designed to mask the failings of Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration and to conceal the widespread cases of corruption for which the DBIR is notoriously known,” it said.
“The people of Delta State deserve transparency and accountability, and such claims should not be treated as mere propaganda.
“This has culminated in the investigation of the former governor over allegations of financial indiscretion totaling 1.3 trillion naira of 13% derivation funds that have gone missing.
“The APC believes that this narrative is part of a broader attempt to cover up the state’s lack of fiscal responsibility, mounting financial mismanagement, and endemic corrupt practices that have become synonymous with the Okowa/Oborevwori administrations over the last nine years.”
The APC also urged the Delta State Government to provide a comprehensive breakdown of the supposed 143% performance, including an itemized account of how the funds have been utilized and their beneficial impact on the lives of ordinary Deltans.
It said the state government should move beyond claims and present a clear and transparent roadmap for how its revenue generation efforts will translate into improved infrastructure, quality healthcare, better education, and job creation.
“Only then will the people of Delta State believe that these performance figures are not simply a smokescreen to conceal widespread cases of corruption and financial recklessness.”
The APC said it remained resolutely committed to ensuring that the present state government adheres to the principles of fiscal responsibility and accountability as a means of strengthening good governance.
The people of Delta State deserve the truth about the state’s revenue generation efforts, as the government cannot simply conjure inflated revenue figures without transparency,” it said.
According to the APC, “Deltans will recall that the APC has called for reforms in revenue generation, urging the government to address the leakages in the system, improve tax collection efficiency, and make the process more inclusive and equitable.”
“Regrettably, the current administration of Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori continues to fall short in these areas, which only reinforces the perception of a government more concerned with political self-aggrandizement than with the economic welfare of the people of Delta State.”
