Alia, PDP Trade Words Over N100bn UBA Loan

The Benue State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has faulted the approval by the State House of Assembly of the state government’s request to access a N100 billion term loan from the United Bank for Africa (UBA), describing it as “reckless and insensitive” to the economic realities facing the people.

In a statement signed by the state publicity secretary, Tim Nyor, the PDP said the borrowing lacked transparency and accountability, warning that the move could plunge Benue into another cycle of unsustainable debt.

But in a swift reaction, the Chief press Secretary to the  Governor, Tersoo Kula in a statement, said, “We read a press statement issued by the PDP Benue chapter through its publicity secretary, Tim Nyor, condemning the approval granted by the House of Assembly for the state government to access a N100 billion infrastructure loan.”

According to him, while the PDP’s outburst was not unexpected, given its history of clueless, reckless governance and mismanagement, it was important to set the records straight for the good people of Benue State who deserve facts, not political propaganda.

He said, “On the contrary, Governor Alia’s administration has demonstrated unparalleled fiscal discipline, transparency, and prudence in managing the state’s resources, a refreshing departure from the wasteful and opaque years of PDP leadership.

” For the avoidance of doubt, the PDP-led administration, especially, that of Samuel Ortom by their own admission, left behind a staggering direct debt burden of N187.7 billion, a weight that has constrained the state’s finances and development capacity.”

Kula maintained that Alia’s  administration later discovered that this figure was grossly understated and later uncovered another N170b owed through local government arrears.