Stakeholders and elders from Abia state has cautioned the governor of the state, Okezie Ikpeazu against taking any fresh loan thereby worsening the economic situation of the state.
This is coming following several reports that the state is perfecting arrangements to take N6 billion fresh loan from a certain commercial bank.
A certain statement circulating online read:”Multiple sources confirmed that the Government wants to use a proxy to fraudulently obtain the loan since by law, and owing to unsavory circumstances, the Government is not qualified to borrow directly from any bank.
“To make matters worse, the company that Ikpeazu wants to use to obtain the dubious loan has been blacklisted by the EFCC and is unfit to obtain the loan.“Currently, the Governor is said to be mounting pressure on the officials of Central Bank of Nigeria and management of the bank to approve the loan as election is fast approaching.
“The Government is assuring the authorities that it will guarantee the loan since it is incapacitated from borrowing directly. They want to use that system to circumvent the rules guiding lending to government.”
Reacting, former Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Dr Uche Ogah, called on banks and commercial institutions to avoid any shoddy deals with state government stressing that any incoming administration will not turn blind eyes to any dirty deal done with this administration.
The governorship aspirant said, “Let us pray for God to give us a change. If we get a good government, these banks are going to vomit that money because we are going to trace what they used the money to do.“
Asked what he will do about it if he becomes governor, he said, “Once I look at the records and see that my predecessor used it judiciously, then the state will repay because government is a continuum.
“But if I discover it was borrowed and squandered, then it has to be vomited”.
Similarly, another governorship aspirant, Alex Otti, reacting to the reports through his media aide, Ferdinand Ekeoma who described the fresh loan as very unnecessary, as there is no development on ground to justify previous borrowings, said if Abians elect him as governor in 2023, he will prove loans and disbursements.
“There is no justification for another loan because Government has gotten enough funds from statutory allocations and internally generated funds, bailout funds, Paris Club refunds, and other cash inflows.
“Government has borrowed from different financial institutions and when you look at what is on ground, you will find out that it is not commensurate with what they have received.
“Government is still owing workers and pensioners for many months. Government cannot account for resources it received, we think it is dangerous for Government to continue with this endless borrowing spree. It’s not in the interest of the state.”
Reacting to the stories, Commissioner for information in the state, Eze Chikamnayo described those commenting on the alleged loan as members of the opposition stressing that you cannot ask the government to confirm or deny if they are obtaining a loan.
“When last did you ask the Federal Government to deny or confirm if they are obtaining or giving out loans?”
Continuing he said:” Those making those allegations are mostly members of the APC that has borrowed and over-borrowed until even their own National Assembly is trying to put a wedge on their borrowing spree.
“If they can’t question the Federal Government that has gone haywire with borrowing, what morality do they have to come and start looking for what?”
In the same line, Obinna Ichita, member representing Aba South state consituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, said he was not aware of any communication for the consideration of any loan request from the Government to the House.
The APGA leader added that “when the House resumes sitting, we will ask the right questions”.
