Malam Isa Yuguda, the former governor of Bauchi State, has called on his successor, Governor Mohammed Abubakar, to focus attention on bringing more developments and dividends of democracy to the residents of the state.
In a statement issued by his media team, signed by Jeff Kachikwu, Yuguda noted in spite of various developments in the state, his administration left the state “without an overdrawn account.
“The state raised a bond of N15 billion and N7 billion was used for repayment of previous loans while the balance was used for the completion of the Mega Specialist Hospital and Bauchi airport.
“Today, Bauchi does not owe any bank but it owes N14 billion for gratuities and contractors are owed about N1.4 billion.
“Others include the World Bank 50-million dollar educational intervention loan and it was got on merit. It is a 25-year facility.
“Only Anambra, Ekiti and Bauchi qualified for the facility from Nigeria. There is also a 70-million dollar water intervention fund by the World Bank with a 30 year tenor that the state has not drawn.
“There was N8-billion overdraft we inherited from the previous administration to be repaid over eight years. We reviewed it and liquidated a good percentage of that loan.”
Yuguda said the information of the state’s debt status was contained in the handover notes, which were duly signed by Abubakar.
He said a statement credited to Abubakar at an event recently describing the state as being in immeasurable financial recklessness that culminated in massive indebtedness, therefore, raised a concern.
He urged the new administration to concentrate on equipping the 17 new hospitals, rehabilitation of schools, specialist hospital, university and other projects that he (Yuguda) inaugurated.
“Leaders should look for ways to continue from where the past administrations stopped instead of undermining the performances,” he said.
NAN.