By Callistus Agwaza in Jalingo
The opposition All Progressive Congress (APC) in Taraba State have asked the state governor, Agbu Kefas to account for the N2b loan given to states by the federal government.
Addressing a press conference on Sunday Jalingo, the state capital, a chieftain of the APC, Aliu Zubairu, urged the governor to provide sufficient information about the palliatives.
He said, “The federal government under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu had in August last year offered N5b to states, N2b was disbursed in cash while the remaining money was to be disbursed in trucks of food stuff to cushion the removal of fuel subsidy.
“From the best of our knowledge as party members in the state, the federal government came out then and announced that any state that is not interested to take the loan should return the cash of N2b earlier disbursed to her, we have not, at anytime, heard that Taraba state government opted out of the loan.
“We have not also heard from the state government that this is what had been done with the money.
“This is now close to a year after the N2b was disbursed, we as citizens of the state are demanding to know, first, did our state collect the money? If yes, how has it been utilized?
Other states have since briefed their citizens on how their palliatives have been utilized, why is ours in Taraba different?”
The APC chieftain said asked the governor to explain how the N2 billion was used.
“Except otherwise, we are demanding accountability of the money as well as the food palliatives that were sent to the state from the federal government”, Zubairu said.
However, when contacted, the Taraba state commissioner for Information and Re-orientation, Zainab Jalingo, said “sleeping dogs” should be allowed to lay.
“What is your concern over the N2b palliatives, why can’t you let the sleeping Dog to lie, well, I have received your request and I will reply to you at the appropriate time” the commissioner said.
