The Kaduna State Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has advised Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State to constitute a commission of inquiry to uncover the actual amount of the substantial debts inherited from his predecessor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai.
Addressing a press conference in Kaduna on Monday, the Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, Kaduna State, Hon. Ahmed Tijani Mustapha, accompanied by his executives, emphasised that as custodians of democratic ideals, norms, and good governance, as well as beacons of democracy, IPAC will continue to play a vital role in shaping Kaduna State’s political landscape and promoting the collective interests of the people, government, and its diverse political parties.
“We will continue to promote enabling good governance and accountability in governance,” he stressed.
He further stated, “It is indeed disturbing and disheartening to hear His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Distinguished Senator Uba Sani, speak at a Town Hall meeting last Saturday, where traditional rulers, elders of the state, religious clerics, politicians, civil society groups, organised labour, and various stakeholders were invited. His Excellency discussed how his administration inherited a huge debt burden of $587 million, N85 billion, and 115 contractual liabilities from the previous administration, making it difficult for the government to even pay workers’ salaries.
“The selfish and fraudulent arrangement not only denied our state the means of development and growth but also made the state financially embarrassed, including using our state IGR as collateral for some indigenous banks.
“To this end, the Kaduna State Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria (IPAC) supports this unique transparent leadership.
“Because of the above happenings and as stakeholders in democratic norms, good leadership, good governance, and accountability in Nigeria and Kaduna State, the Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria (IPAC) Executives in Kaduna support His Excellency’s desire to get our dear state out of these messes despite the humongous debt burden on the state government.
“We are highly amazed and proud of His Excellency’s vision and wisdom with all these huge debt burdens that were eating deep into the state’s monthly federal allocation of funds and with the state finding it difficult to pay monthly salaries, but he remains resolute and focused on trying to build a better renewed Kaduna State without borrowing a single kobo in the last nine months of his administration.
“We call on His Excellency, as a matter of urgency, to constitute a commission of inquiry that will unravel the selfish mystery of these huge debt burdens of 587 million dollars / 85 billion naira in systematic executive corruption and the 115 contractual liabilities he inherited.
“The findings of such a commission of inquiry should be presented to the good people of Kaduna State via the same Town Hall meeting.
“Once again, we declare our support for open government by our Governor and assure him of the Kaduna State Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria (IPAC) Executives’ willingness to continue to assist in proffering solutions, suggestions, and providing advice that will be beneficial to our people and Kaduna State,” it concluded.
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