N200bn Debt: Group Vows To Resist Fresh Loans By Gov Ishaku

A group, Taraba State Watchdog for Good Governance (TWGG) has vowed to block Governor Darius Ishaku from taking fresh loans after allegedly incurring N200 billion debts in seven years.

In a statement made available to LEADERSHIP in Jalingo, the state capital, the group said it would be “unpatriotic” for the people of the state to allow the governor to secure fresh loans that would not be used to develop the state.

The group’s coordinator, Alhaji Sanusi Ahmed and secretary, Joseph Ali Tukura, who signed the statement, alleged that the governor had proposed to obtain another N1 billion loan in the name of the caretaker chairmen of the 16 local government areas.

Ahmed said the governor, through the permanent secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Bello Yerro, summoned the 16 local governments’ caretaker chairmen to secure a new loan from one of the commercial banks in Jalingo.

He said, “The meeting was held in Jalingo where the local government caretaker chairmen were made to sign a bond of N62.5 million each on the directive of the state governor through the permanent secretary.”

Ahmed said the move was to enable the governor secure another N1 billion loan following the refusal of the state House of Assembly to grant him a request of N10 billion in December last year.

“It has become very imperative for us to come out and speak to secure the future of our dear state from being completely mortgaged.

“As we speak, we are aware of the plans by the state governor Darius Ishaku through the Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Bello Yerro, to take a loan of N1bn to enable him complete ongoing projects in the state.

“This is apart from several billions of naira loans he has already incurred without anything commensurate to show for it. He inherited N20 billion from the last administration in 2015, the state debt now stands at over N200 billion under his seven years, what can he show that he has done to leave such a huge debt for the state?

“This is a governor that has said on several public functions that he has completed all projects that he was supposed to execute in eight years under seven years, so what projects is he borrowing to complete again?

“As we speak, go to Pantisawa/Yorro road, go to Pamanga/Dakka road, go to Wukari/Tsukundi road, go to Mararaba/Baisa/Abong road and the three General Hospitals in Gembu, Bambur and Wukari. None of these has been completed. Even the Jalingo Dual carriageway may not be completed before the end of his tenure despite several claims that he has completed the projects.

“We see this loan as a conduit pipe by the governor to siphon the funds to his private pocket. This is a governor that has taken the state backward in all ramifications and just as the people are preparing to heave a sigh of relief that his time is finally coming to an end, he is trying to inflict even more damage before his exit.

“We wish to call on the EFCC to come to the aid of the state and advise all commercial banks not to grant any loan request to the governor in the name of Taraba State government,” he said.

Efforts to speak with Yerro on the issue were unsuccessful as his mobile lines were inaccessible.

The special adviser to the governor on media and publicity, Mr Bala Dan Abu, denied knowledge of the development and declared that the statement was politically sponsored to blackmail the governor.