I Am Not Spending Billions On A New Lodge – Udom Emmanuel

Gov Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom has refuted the allegation that he plans to spend a whopping N9.1 billion to build a new governor’s lodge in Lagos.

Emmanuel denied the allegation in Uyo on Saturday while answering reporters’ questions on the controversy surrounding the lodge.

He said that the allegation was the plan of some persons who continually come up with spurious and terrible stories against his administration.

He explained that only N1.2 billion and not N9.1 billion was allocated to the governor’s lodge in the budget wondered why people go about with mischief to tarnish his administration.

“Let me correct one mistake, budget is a public document. It is only when people try to change what is in the public document, it is no more than mischief.

“What we have in the budget is a paltry N1.2 billion, paltry sum.

“Let me say, there can only be one governor at a time and God gives a right vision to a right leader at one point in time.

“I think at this moment I need to let people who may not know to know that as at today that Akwa Ibom has a lot of fine property in Lagos.

“Let me also say that you can’t have such asset and allow it to waste.

“An asset is supposed to generate returns, but there are certain conditions you must put the asset under to get maximum returns.

“Some people misquoted the whole thing, saying have you finished building Akwa Ibom State, why are you going to Lagos,” Emmanuel said.

“You follow money to where money can be found and bring money to develop where you want to develop. I think that is the basic concept.

“Please allow us to put these asset to a level that can yield returns. This a time when states are govern by ideas.

“We don’t have so much money but we need ideas because people with ideas that will make the difference. ”