The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State has raised concerns over the N17 billion bond secured by the state government, alleging that it was kept in a secret bank account. The opposition party has called on Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to provide a detailed account of the bond and its usage.
The PDP also urged the governor to focus on governance in the state instead of traveling across the country as the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.
During the inauguration of its ratified state executive members in Ilorin, the PDP Chairman, Alhaji Babatunde Mohammed, stated that the government had taken a N35 billion bond to fund various projects but had not adequately accounted for the funds. He emphasized the need for transparency and accountability, particularly in light of the state’s increasing debt profile.
The chairman questioned the allocation and utilization of N134 billion generated by the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service over the last three years, along with over N200 billion received from the Federal Government. He argued that despite these significant inflows of revenue, the state had not witnessed corresponding developments, particularly in terms of infrastructure projects.
In response, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s Chief Press Secretary, Mallam Rafiu Ajakaye, dismissed the PDP’s allegations, describing them as frivolous. He clarified that the funds from the bond had been directed towards several meaningful projects, many of which were ongoing and aimed at benefiting the people of Kwara State. Ajakaye listed specific projects such as road construction, garment factories, flyovers, and industrial parks that were being funded through the bond.
The governor’s office reiterated that the N17.2 billion in question was not sitting idle but was being disbursed as payments to contractors involved in the ongoing projects as they reached different milestones. The response challenged the PDP’s claims and emphasized the commitment of the state government to transparent and accountable governance.