Kula Tersoo, DC of Alialization-Alia/Ode Campaign Organisation 2023, has accused the Titus Uba-led Benue State House of Assembly of discreetly approving the sum of N1billion revolving overdraft for outgoing state governor, Samuel Ortom.
In a statement on Friday, Tersoo said Uba, who is also the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 18 election, sneaked into the House at an ungodly hour to approve the overdraft.
According to him, some members of the House “sneaked into the chambers, and to properly machinate their sinister complot, barred the media from covering the schemed sitting where they speedily approved a loan facility for Ortom once more.”
The statement, entitled: “As Uba again discreetly approves another N1bn revolving overdraft for Ortom,” said it “gathered on good authority that last Tuesday, the gubernatorial candidate of the People’s Democratic Party PDP, Mr. Titus Uba led Benue State House of Assembly covertly approved a N1bn revolving overdraft for Governor Samuel Ortom’s led executive.
“Though we are not surprised as Uba has already acquired a meritorious title of a “Reckless Loan App” RLA among the Benue mass; what perplexes us at this time is why someone who wants to govern Benue state will continue indulging in mischief targeted at increasing the already frightening burden for the leadership to come.
“Moreover, it will interest the public to know that the BSHA has been on recess for quite some time now, and is to resume sitting after the rescheduled Governorship and Houses of Assembly elections.
“However, last Tuesday, 10 out of the 30 members of the Benue State House of Assembly sneaked into the chambers, and to properly machinate their sinister complot, barred the media from covering the schemed sitting where they speedily approved a loan facility for Ortom once more.
“The question is, why is Ortom still desperately finding ways to multiply the debt burden of the state at the twilight of his administration? What is it that Ortom thinks he can achieve within the remaining two months of his reprehensible tenure that he is now viciously adding to the unprecedented heavy garbage he has already incurred for the state?
“On the other hand, could it be that Titus Uba has given up his ambition of governing the state already and now wants to intensify his unpiting connivance with Ortom to impishly deepen the sorrows of the state?
“Consequently, we are using this opportunity to sound this warning to all commercial banks operating in Benue state, especially, Access Bank, UBA, Fidelity Bank etc. that the state operates accounts with, not to give any overdraft to the Ortom led government again.
“Moreover, commercial Banks should know that their responsibility is more than only dispensing loans. According to the regulations of the Central Bank of Nigeria, commercial banks are empowered to dispense loans and monitor development carried out with the loans.
“In the case of Benue, the already Ortom led government has in conspiracy with the Titus Uba led BSHA dragged the state to unprecedented borrowings incurring loans that generations yet unborn will have to grapple with to offset.
“A word is enough for the wise.”
But in a swift riposte, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ortom, Mr Nathaniel Ikyur told THE CONCLAVE that there was nothing new or dramatic about the overdraft.
He said it had been in existence since 2020, adding that it had been approved by the State Executive Council and the House of Assembly.
Ikyur explained that because the new CBN policy required that the State House of Assembly passed a resolution approving the overdraft, the deposit money bank(s) insisted that the House must pass a resolution in accordance.
Ikyur said the overdraft was to augument the shortfall in monthly federal allocations to the state in order to be able to meet payment of salaries obligation and other bills.
Published hereunder, in extenso, is the press statement by the Alialization-Alia/Ode Campaign Organization
Press Statement
(Friday, March 10th, 2023)
OUR STAND!
As Uba again discreetly approves another N1bn revolving overdraft for Ortom
We have gathered on good authority that last Tuesday, the gubernatorial candidate of the People’s Democratic Party PDP, Mr. Titus Uba led Benue State House of Assembly covertly approved a N1bn revolving overdraft for Governor Samuel Ortom’s led executive.
Though we are not surprised as Uba has already acquired a meritorious title of a “Reckless Loan App” RLA among the Benue mass; what perplexes us at this time is why someone who wants to govern Benue state will continue indulging in mischief targeted at increasing the already frightening burden for the leadership to come.
Moreover, it will interest the public to know that the BSHA has been on recess for quite some time now, and is to resume sitting after the rescheduled Governorship and Houses of Assembly elections.
However, last Tuesday, 10 out of the 30 members of the Benue State House of Assembly sneaked into the chambers, and to properly machinate their sinister complot, barred the media from covering the schemed sitting where they speedily approved a loan facility for Ortom once more.
The question is, why is Ortom still desperately finding ways to multiply the debt burden of the state at the twilight of his administration? What is it that Ortom thinks he can achieve within the remaining two months of his reprehensible tenure that he is now viciously adding to the unprecedented heavy garbage he has already incurred for the state?
On the other hand, could it be that Titus Uba has given up his ambition of governing the state already and now wants to intensify his unpiting connivance with Ortom to impishly deepen the sorrows of the state?
Consequently, we are using this opportunity to sound this warning to all commercial banks operating in Benue state, especially, Access Bank, UBA, Fidelity Bank etc. that the state operates accounts with, not to give any overdraft to the Ortom led government again.
Moreover, commercial Banks should know that their responsibility is more than only dispensing loans. According to the regulations of the Central Bank of Nigeria, commercial banks are empowered to dispense loans and monitor development carried out with the loans.
In the case of Benue, the already Ortom led government has in conspiracy with the Titus Uba led BSHA dragged the state to unprecedented borrowings incurring loans that generations yet unborn will have to grapple with to offset.
A word is enough for the wise.
Kula Tersoo
D C, Alialization-Alia/Ode Campaign Organization 2023.
Stay ahead with the latest updates! Join The ConclaveNG on WhatsApp and Telegram for real-time news alerts, breaking stories, and exclusive content delivered straight to your phone. Don’t miss a headline — subscribe now!
