Taraba group asks EFCC to stop banks granting loans to Gov Ishaku | Tellwell Newspaper
Tellwell Newspaper, Abuja – Nigeria:
From Godwin AGIA, Jalingo
A pressure group, Taraba State Watchdog for Good Governance (TWGG), has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to advise commercial banks operating in the country not to grant additional loans to Governor Darius Ishaku.
The group in a press statement issued to newsmen in Jalingo, alleged that the state governor has proposed to obtain another loan in name of the 16 local governments in the state.
According to the statement signed by the group coordinator, Alhaji Sanusi Ahmed, a meeting at the instance of the Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Bello Yero with the 16 local government Caretaker Committee Chairmen was held in Jalingo where the chairmen were made to sign a bond of N62.5 million each on the directives of the state governor.
The statement explained that the move was to enable the governor secure another one billion facility from one of the commercial banks in the state, following the refusal of the state House of Assembly to grant a 10 billion naira loan request of the governor late last year.
“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 Yero, to take a loan of N1bn to enable him complete ongoing projects in the state,” the statement said.
“This is apart from several Billion Naira loans he has already incurred without anything commensurate to show for it. 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?,” it queried.
The statement listed several uncompleted projects including Pantisawa/Yorro, Pamanga/Dakka, Wukari/Tsukundi Mararaba/Baisa/Abong road projects and three General Hospitals in Gembu, Bambur and Wukari that have been completed by the Gov Ishaku administration.
The statement also expressed concern that even the ongoing Jalingo dual carriage way may not be completed before the end of Ishaku’s tenure on May 29, despite several claims that he has completed the project.
“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 the state” The statement reads.
“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.
“It has become very imperative for us to come out and speak to secure the future of our dear state from being completely mortgaged,” the statement said.
Efforts to reach Alhaji Bello Yero, the Permanent Secretary Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for his reactions were not successful as his mobile phones were switched off.
Meanwhile, Mr Bala Dan Abu, Special Adviser to Governor Darius Ishaku on media and publicity, denied knowledge about the development and declared that the statement was a politically sponsored move to blackmail Governor Ishaku.
