DELTA State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has put paid to the lingering speculation making the rounds that he inherited huge debt from the erstwhile governor James Ibori, declaring that he (Uduaghan) did not inherit any debt.

Dr Uduaghan however disclosed that between September and November outstanding certificates worth about N25 billion were settled, stressing that as the payments were being made, new certificates were emerging.

He broke silence over the matter while addressing a meeting of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Delta Central Senatorial District Oghara yesterday.

According to him, "I did not meet any debt on assumption of office. What we saw on ground were contractual obligations which were normal in every administration and government. "By the time I will be leaving office, there will be contractual obligations for the in-coming administration and this is what obtains in other states and at the federal level," he added.

He said some developments and circumstances beyond the state informed the new regime of financial regulations and frugality adopted by the government.

Some of the developments, he said include the non-oil production for about two years in the state; loss of 89 oil wells to neighbouring Ondo State; and statutory allocation of 50 per cent of the state's 13 per cent derivation fund to the DESOPADEC.