The Benue State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly criticized the State House of Assembly’s approval of the state government’s request to secure a N100 billion term loan from United Bank for Africa (UBA), labeling the decision as “irresponsible and insensitive” given the current economic challenges faced by the populace.
In an official statement released by the party’s publicity secretary, Tim Nyor, the PDP condemned the loan acquisition for its lack of transparency and accountability, cautioning that this financial move risks plunging Benue State into a fresh cycle of unsustainable debt.
Responding promptly, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Tersoo Kula, issued a statement addressing the PDP’s allegations. He remarked, “We have noted the press release from the PDP Benue chapter, conveyed through Tim Nyor, criticizing the House of Assembly’s approval for the state to obtain a N100 billion infrastructure loan.”
Kula emphasized that while the PDP’s reaction was predictable, considering its track record of mismanagement and poor governance, it is crucial to provide the citizens of Benue with accurate information rather than political rhetoric.
He highlighted, “Governor Alia’s administration has consistently upheld exceptional fiscal responsibility, transparency, and careful stewardship of the state’s finances, marking a significant improvement over the previous PDP-led administrations known for wastefulness and opacity.”
To clarify, Kula pointed out that the PDP government, particularly under Samuel Ortom, admitted to leaving behind a daunting direct debt of N187.7 billion, a burden that severely limited the state’s financial flexibility and developmental progress.
Furthermore, Kula revealed that Governor Alia’s team later uncovered that this debt figure was significantly underestimated, with an additional N170 billion owed through outstanding local government arrears, compounding the state’s financial challenges.
