By Aliyu DANLADI
The APC governorship candidate in Kwara, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has demanded more explanations from the State Government, on the N1billion loan it secured few days to the postponed Feb. 16 Presidential/National Assembly elections.
AbdulRazaq made the demand in Ilorin on Monday in a release signed by his media aide, Rafiu Ajakaiye.
TBI Africa said the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the state government had earlier admitted obtaining the loan, saying it was for the payment of workers’ salaries and pensions.
This followed the call by a group, Kwara Coalition for Good Governance and Accountability (Kwara-CGGA) on the EFCC to probe the government over what it called a “suspicious loan.”
“Having admitted taking N1billion loan on the eve of an election, there is the need for the state government to come clean on the legality of its action as well as answer some burning questions.
“The people of this state will like to know whether the government secured approvals for this loan from the State Executive Council and when it did.
“The public will like to know if and when the state government secured the approval of the House of Assembly for this loan,” he stated.
AbdulRazak further demanded to know when the loan was approved by the Debt Management Office, Fiscal Responsibility Commission and Federal Ministry of Finance as required by the law.
He said since government claimed to have obtained the loan on Feb. 13 to pay salaries and pensions, it would be fair to know if the salaries and pensions had been paid.
The APC candidate called on anti-graft agencies to investigate how the loan was utilised, given the “state-wide suspicion” that the money might have been diverted to funding PDP elections in the state.
