The Peoples Democratic Party in Kaduna State has criticised Governor Uba Sani over his comments linking the state’s N6.7 billion monthly loan deductions to the administration of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
The PDP, in a statement issued on Saturday by its Kaduna State chairman, Edward Percy Masha, urged Sani to accept responsibility for the $350 million World Bank loan and explain how his administration plans to handle the financial burden.
The party said the governor, while serving as the senator representing Kaduna Central and chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, played a major role in the approval of the loan by the ninth Senate in March 2020.
According to the PDP, the loan had earlier been rejected by the eighth Senate before it was later approved during Sani’s tenure in the Senate.
The party also recalled that Sani had publicly supported the loan at the time and expressed confidence that the El-Rufai administration would use the funds properly.
The PDP argued that the governor could not support the borrowing process, defend its use and accept responsibility for how it was handled at the time, only to distance himself from the financial obligations arising from the loan several years later.
The party said the current N6.7 billion monthly deduction is putting pressure on Kaduna State’s finances and should be addressed through clear plans rather than political arguments over the past administration.
It called on Sani to explain how his government intends to continue funding essential services while meeting the state’s debt obligations.
The PDP also asked the governor to provide details of measures being taken to reduce the financial pressure created by the monthly deductions and protect the interests of residents.
The opposition party accused the governor of trying to shift responsibility and urged him to focus on finding practical solutions to the state’s financial challenges.
The dispute comes amid continuing political tension between supporters of Sani and El-Rufai over the financial and administrative decisions taken during the former governor’s tenure.
The PDP maintained that records surrounding the loan approval and repayment obligations should be made clear to the people of Kaduna State.
It further urged the governor to focus on managing the state’s current financial situation and ensuring that the debt does not affect government services and development programmes.
The party said accountability should apply to all those involved in decisions that have created financial obligations for the state, regardless of their current political positions.