Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State and the immediate past governor of the state, Tanko Almakura, unanimously cleared the air over the news making the rounds in some media platforms, not BusinessDay, that the later left N18.9 billion debt for the state.
The duo made this known while addressing journalists at a meeting in Abuja, saying the bail-out funds should not be seen as debt but a deduction from the allocation coming to the state.
Governor Sule, who said, “As I mentioned, you can’t call bail-out debt, you can’t call budget support debt, but these are a deduction that is coming and has to be refunded.
“I also mentioned that today we are having a deduction, which affects every state, not Nasarawa State alone.
“We are having bail-out refunds, excess crude account, and all these are actually reducing the amount of money we receive,” he said.
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On his part, Tanko Al-Makura, senator representing Nasarawa South Senatorial zone, cautioned journalists in the state to desist from the speculative reports and be objective and accurate, calling on them to always seek clarity on issues before going to press.
“For any journalist that wants to do the right thing than rather speculate and indicting one person or the other, His Excellency the Governor, Deputy Governor and I can always be reached out to either by phone or contact to put some clarity to some of these concocted statements.
“I am saying with every sense of security and honesty that I did not go to any bank to take the loan for the state.
“Like what happened, we did a practical thing and he appreciated all the things he met, and the issues that some of you consider as a debt I think they are a national and general thing. It was bailout the Federal Government gave like it was said by the Federal Government; bailout was not done out, they were soft intervention that would be repaid in due time with very soft conditions.
“And for the avoidance of doubt, the Paris Club is not a debt or loan, is a refund. So, those of you that maybe ignorance of it that’s how it is.
“The budget support and excess crude and bail-out support were things that supposed to cushion the hardship of the state, and that was done by the magnanimity of the president to ensure those states that have difficulties in paying salary were bailed out.
“So, I have no objection if a person would start looking for a way of indicting us. No government operates without having one burden or the other, like when I can onboard in 2011, I was made to pay the debt of my predecessor, removing N209 million every month for four years,” he explained.
Al-Makura further used the platform to assure the people of the state of the love, unity and respect for one another, adding that the whole nation should note that Nasarawa State was peaceful and united.
“Whoever is wishing to see that we join issues or have frictions with this administration, that person is chasing a mirage. This government and other citizens of the state put in place that would not undermine to put the state stagnant,” he said.
He stressed that he would continue to support the present government, “because we share the same values, vision, and hope for better Nasarawa State.”
Anthony Adgidzi, Lafia
