Sola Ojo, Kaduna

The senator representing Kaduna North senatorial zone in the red chamber of National Assembly, Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi , has accused the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, of lying and misleading the people in the state about the controversial $350 million loan requested by the governor.

The Kaduna State Government had, in 2017, applied for the loan of $350 million which suffered the Senate’s approval because the three senators from the state opposed it based on lack of clarity on how the money would be spent and repayment period.

The lawmaker, a member of ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), in an interview, in Kaduna, shed more light on why the loan was rejected saying, it was rejected in the interest of the state and its people who would bear the burden of repayment in addition to existing $231 million loan.

Said he, “It is very clear that we have been vindicated. From 1959 to date, the debt  profile of Kaduna state stands at $231 million.

“Why should one government take a loan of $350 million at one jumbo go in the year of election that nobody unless God is sure whether that government will succeed itself or other government will succeed it.

“Second, the debt management office has indicated that, taking $350 million loan with a five years grace period to be paid in 25 years will mean a burden Kaduna State may not be able to carry because its excruciating; $231 million plus another $350 million to be serviced.

“Third, we have said it that, why lied to Nigerians on an issue like that. You, Kaduna APC members and I are witnesses that this government has proved to us that, the loan profile will be paid in 50 years. Why did he lied to the people and painting the senators black?

Related News

“Four, just this past Friday, Nasir, in his anger, has pronounced and indicated that, the loan will be used for completion of roads, schools and other infrastructures which is not true.

“I have full access to Kaduna loan document and I am speaking as responsible representative of my people.

“Access to the document indicated that, there is no such things like roads, schools and other infrastructures for the purpose of the loan.

“The loan was signed by the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, on behalf of the Federal and Kaduna State Governments on the 29th September, 2017. Again, why lied to us?

“Most of the loan will be spent on three main areas. Surprisingly but not accidentally, those areas are all pointing to the governor’s office: that is, former Kaduna internal revenue service, an office under the ministry of Finance almost since inception of the state.

“But it has been removed from that ministry and they now report directly to governor’s office where the chunk of the money will be spent.

“Also, between Kaduna State Geographical Information Service (KADGIS) and the Board of Internal Revenue Service like I said have been transfered to governor’s office – in the name of boosting internally generated revenue (IGR). I am not against boosting IGR but again, why lied?” he asked.