The All Progressive Congress (APC) in Sokoto State has criticized the Sokoto State government over its plan to secure N28.7 billion loan.
Addressing a press conference on Sunday, the chairman-elect of the party, Isa Sadiq Achida, said they were seriously disturbed by the recent disclosure that the Sokoto State Government was going to receive another huge loan of N28.7 Billion.
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“With this development, Sokoto State is set to become the second most indebted state in Nigeria, second only to Lagos.
“We are disturbed by the fact that a State like Sokoto, with an economy that is weak, is further being impoverished with loans that are most likely to be squandered on non-profitable ventures.
“It will amount to an act of wickedness to saddle our unborn children with debts that are inexplicable, loans that cannot be translated into tangible projects,” he said.
The party also chided the PDP-led government over what it termed “shady” projects being executed in the state, just as it alleged the removal of its supporters on the payroll of local government areas.
Reacting, the Publicity Secretary of PDP, Abdullahi Yusuf Hausawa, said all state governments are indebted, including the federal government, adding that the loan was meant to execute meaningful projects in the state.
“There is a process of collecting loan, one of which is that the executive must notify the state House of Assembly, stating their reasons and seeking its approval.
“You know that the current Speaker of the House is a member of APC and half of legislators belong to the party but none of them objected to this because they all have the state at heart,” he said.
He also said no genuine local government staff was removed from the payroll.