Former Senator Shehu Sani, who represented Kaduna Central, emphasized that if his warnings regarding former governor Nasir El-Rufai’s loan acquisitions had been heeded, Kaduna State would not be grappling with its current multi-million dollar debt situation.
In response to statements made by Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State regarding the state’s debt, Shehu Sani expressed his perspective to reporters. He recalled being criticized for opposing the $350 million World Bank loan request during the El-Rufai administration, asserting, “the hour of reckoning has come for every citizen of the state.”
Sani drew parallels to biblical figures like Lot and prophets who issued warnings that went unheeded, likening his own warnings about the consequences of the loan to those of the past. He lamented that despite his caution, promises of prosperity were made, but the reality now reflects the dire consequences of the debt.
Reflecting on his previous predictions about the state, Sani asserted, “there has never been any of my predictions that has not come to pass,” pointing out the current challenges faced by Kaduna due to the unpaid loan.
Governor Uba Sani, during a Town Hall Meeting on Saturday, echoed concerns about the debt burden, emphasizing its impact on the state’s finances, particularly the Federal Allocation.
“I was insulted for saying no to that loan. The hour of reckoning is here for every person in Kaduna state.
“Just like the way Lot (in the Bible) warned people, prophets of the past warned people, but they refused to hear…”
“In the same way, I warned the people of this state, but they were told that the money will bring paradise , land of milk and honey.”
“Today, you can see the problems at hand as far as that loan was concerned. If you look at what I said about this state, there has never been any of my predictions that has not come to pass..Today the state is strangulated because of that money which we couldn’t pay,” he said.
Governor Uba Sani had during a Town Hall Meeting on Saturday said, the huge debt burden was eating deep into the State’s Federal Allocation.
Sani, lamented that, due to the rise in the exchange rate, Kaduna state is now paying back almost triple of what was borrowed by the previous administration of Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai.
According to him, seven out of the N10billion Federal Allocation for the Kaduna State in March, was deducted to service the State’s debt.
The Governor further lamented that the state was left with N3billion, an amount which is not enough to pay salary, as the state’s monthly salary bill stands at N5.2 billion.
