Nasarawa Governor, Abdullahi Sule Open Can of Worms Says His Administration Paid Over N50bn Domestic Debt

Rabiu Omaku

Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule has said that his administration has cleared over N50bn loan he inherited from his predecessors even as he added that money is also being saved for the rainy day.

Governor Sule made this known when he addressed critical stakeholders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Government House on Monday.

Recalled that the incumbent Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule during an interactive session with Journalists at the former Governor’s office at Jabi ShopRite, Abuja debunked some newspaper reports that his predecessors left no debt to him.

Also the immediate past Governor and former Senator representing Nasarawa South, Senator Umar Tanko Al-Makura while reacting over the report at his office opposite Jabi ShopRite, Abuja said Nasarawa State is debt free”.

The reactions followed reports by four national dailies that the State was insolvent with a loan of N89.9bn, a revelation made by the Debt Management Office as the source of the information published on the website of DMO giving the breakdown of the 36 States of the Federation.

There were mixed feelings over the recent revelation by the State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule saying he was able to clear a domestic debt of N50bn, A debt incurred by his predecessors.

Recalled that the former Minister of Information, Labaran Maku during his 2019 Governorship campaign hinted that Nasarawa State was indebted to the tune of N80.5bn

According to Governor Sule” though the removal of fuel subsidy by President Ahmed Bola Tinubu has brought along hardship that is being experienced by the people, the money being shared across all tiers of Governments has however made it possible for his administration to not only offset the debt, embark on development projects but also save money for the State for a rainy day.

“The President has done a wonderful thing to say the money derived from the removal of fuel subsidy should be shared between the Federal, State and Local Government Areas. I am proud to tell you that Nasarawa State used to get a certain amount of money before but now we are getting twice of it.

“That is the reason why we have been able to do whatever that we are doing. With due respect to my predecessors, I am not sure if they have ever seen the kind of resources that some of us are seeing today.

 And this is all over the states. That is the reason why we can afford to do certain things we are not able to do.

“In fact, I will tell you one of the biggest things we have done. Nasarawa State is one of the few States that we have gone and because of certain resources that are coming to us, we took that resources and we have offset a debt of over N50bn that we inherited.

“Still, that has not stopped us from carrying out various other responsibilities that we did. That is the good part that I want you to see. That has not also stopped us from having a good savings for the rainy day,” he stated.

Governor Sule who used the opportunity of the meeting to reel out the scorecard of his administration, emphasizing that the APC administration desires to leave behind legacy projects across the state.

He highlighted the giant strides recorded thus far, especially in the areas of industrialization, agriculture, education, and petroleum resources, with President Tinubu expected to commission one of the largest lithium processing plants in the country, just as the President of the African Development Bank is also expected to grace the second biannual investment summit billed for May 15th and 16th.

Commenting on the significance of the meeting, the Governor harped on the need for internal unity amongst party members and stakeholders for the APC to move ahead.

While noting that there remains many things be done to further unite the party, Governor Sule said this is especially so considering the disagreements ensuing before, during, and after the 2023 general election.

“This is the reason why at the end of this conversation, I must beg you to forgive each other so that we can move forward.

“We can’t do all these wonderful things and allow someone to come and rubbish it.

Someone who doesn’t have what we have. Somebody who doesn’t have the capacity that we have. Somebody who doesn’t have the knowledge that we have. Somebody who doesn’t have the experience that we have. Somebody who doesn’t have the commitment that we have,” he said.

The Governor equally used the opportunity to reiterate his earlier call for his political appointees nursing political ambition ahead of 2027 to resign their appointments in order not to distract his administration.

He however assured that he would do everything possible when the time comes to hand over to another APC governor in the state.

“I will support whoever comes from APC even if that person is my greatest enemy.  I promise you today that is who I will support. I will support somebody who will come from me. Somebody responsible.  Somebody loyal. Somebody honest. Somebody who shares the vision with us to come and take over from me to come and continue to build from where I will stop,” he assured.

In his address, the Speaker, Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon.  Danladi Jatau, charged the stakeholders on the need to sell the laudable development strides of the present administration under Governor Sule, which would further attract more people into the party.

Rt. Hon Jatau equally spoke on the need to ensure discipline within the party, stressing that anyone found wanting should be disciplined.

Also speaking, Prof. Abdulkarim Kana, National Legal Adviser of APC, urged the stakeholders to continue to remain united in order to win future elections in the state and the country at large.

Prof. Kana, who is also a member of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), described Governor Sule as one of the best Governors the State has produced so far.

In his speech, the immediate past Governor of the State, Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura commended Governor Sule for his vision, disposition, and cosmopolitan ideas about ensuring economic survival and promotion in the State.

Senator Al-Makura was confident that with the number of things his successor has done through his initiative in various sectors of the economy,  Nasarawa State  would be a State ofto beat in the next few years.

He called on the stakeholders not to lose sight of the status of Nasarawa State in the scheme of things, considering the role played by the state in the formation of the ruling party.

Earlier, State APC Chairman, Hon Aliyu Bello said that the meeting was aimed at discussing issues that would move the party forward.

“I want to thank you all for your valuable and immeasurable support which has taken the party under my leadership thus far, in our determined efforts to ensure that APC remains the leading political party in Nassarawa State.

“Our commitment towards making the party united and formidable remains unshakable,” he said.

While appreciating Governor Sule for his efforts in taking the state to the next level of development, the APC Chairman appealed to all stakeholders to put behind all disagreements, grievances, and conflicts that took place during the 2023 general election.

Others who spoke during the meeting include Senator Solomon Ewuga, Hon Abubakar Hassan Nararaba, Member representing Awe/ Doma/Keana Federal Constituency, Hon Mary Enwungulu, Dr. Zainab Ahmed, all commended Governor Sule for his developmental strides across the State while urging the stakeholders to continue to unite and support the administration.

For more information about the debt profile of Nasarawa State go to the Debt Management Office website for full detail with names of 36 States including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.