TheCable

Labaran Maku, former minister of information and governorship candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in Nasarawa state, says his people have become beggars under the administration of Tanko Al-Makura.

Maku, who believes he won the April 11 governorship election in Nasarawa, lamented the condition of the state and called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) not to give the loan of N10 billion being sought by Al-Makura to the state government.

Speaking at a news conference in Abuja on Monday, the former minister said: “I am calling on the CBN to withhold any further loan to Nasarawa state government until there is a fiscal audit and evaluation on how previous funds were spent.”

“There is no respect for anybody in Nasarawa state, no accountability, and the government is a one-man show.

“As far as APGA is concerned, Al-Makura did not win the last election. He ought to have gone on May 29, and APGA would have rescued the state from the pit it is in now.

“If you go to Nasarawa state today, civil servants are beggars, farmers are beggars, the elite are beggars. The only people who are not begging are Al-Makura’s family and the people around him. Every other person is beggar. Why should our people be reduced to beggars after a state was created 19 years ago.

“Again, I am calling on the CBN not to release any loan for infrastructure to Nasarawa state government, but loan for workers’ salary should be released so that they could get their money.”

Maku also announced that he would appeal the judgment of the Nasawara state election petition tribunal, which was in favour of Al-Makura.

He described the tribunal as an advocate for the governor, adding that he would pursue all legal means to claim his mandate.

“The tribunal did a better job for Al-Makura than his lawyers. In the judgment, every effort was made to bend the law, but I am happy to tell you that I am heading for the tribunal.”