The People Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State yesterday differed over the debt profile of the state which the PDP alleged is N1.2 trillion.
The PDP Niger North vice chairman, Yahaya Ability, who fired the first salvo, said no projects were commissioned in the two years of Governor Mohammed Bago administration to justify the loans and other statutory receipts.
In response, the Niger APC publicity secretary Musa Sarkinkaji said the amount given was an imagination of a depleted opposition party.
Ability, in an interview with LEADERSHIP, said bridges and other projects started close to two years ago are yet to be completed.
He further challenged the governor to publicly account for the statutory money and loans collected so far. He also asked him to make the procurement process public.
The PDP vice chairman, who has been critical of the government, alleged that the water supply system has collapsed in the state, said “Tell me the projects Bago has executed with N1.2 trillion debts and the monthly statutory receipts that has increased from N4 billion to about N9 billion following removal of subsidy.”
But, the APC publicity secretary Musa Sarikinkaji, faulted Ability’s claim, and accused him of taking the wrong path of opposition propaganda.
In an interview with LEADERSHIP, Sarikinkaji who said “The leadership versatility of Governor Bago was clear and has blazed the trail”, added that “The debt of N1.2 trillion claimed by the opposition is a fabrication of a dying opposition.”
Noting that such a loan does exist, the party spokesman said “Many of them are coming to APC because they all attested to the achievements of the Farmer Governor, in Agriculture, Health, Infrastructure and many other sectors”.
The APC spokesman said the PDP should not use lies to seek sympathy and support as no amount of propaganda could affect the popularity of APC and Bago’s government in Niger State.