Adamawa govt to probe Nyako over N80bn debt

Adamawa acting governor, Honourable Umaru Fintiri, has revealed that the ousted Muritala Nyako administration plundered state financial resources to the tune of N80 billion, promising that a judicial panel of inquiry will be instituted to investigate the administration. He stated this in his maiden broadcast to citizens of the state on Tuesday, noting that “Never in the history of Adamawa State had “Executive Stealing” and institutionalised corruption been elevated to the level of statecraft as in the past administration.” He added that, “the high level of mindless plundering of the state treasury, the shameless and outrageous “Executive Stealing” that took place was on a scale far worse than the ravages that the insurgents had perpetrated in the North-East. He said the circumstances that led to the impeachment of the former governor and the change of government were also a confirmation of the maturity which our democratic institutions had attained. According to him, “the task before this administration is daunting, more so with a debt profile of more than N12billion in the Statutory Revenue Account apart from liabilities amounting N70billion in the state funds that have been diverted to non viable projects. The high level of mindless plundering of the state treasury, the shameless and outrageous “executive stealing” that took place was on a scale far worse than the ravages that the Insurgents had perpetrated,” he said. The acting governor promised to set up a judicial panel of inquiry and to synergise with all anti-graft agencies in the country to recover the stolen state funds through effective positive publicity, and bring to public notice the abuses that necessitated and justified the change of government in the state. He added that his administration had been repositioning the ailing machinery of government and to ensure peaceful progress through an irrevocable commitment to correcting the wrongs of the past and to reposition the state for future challenges. Speaking further, he said, “We have therefore mapped out strategies to reinvigorate the various sectors of the economy through which dividends of democracy can reach our citizens. “The Secretary to the state Government shall in due course, inform the world about these scandalous abuses and how the simple canons of Government activities were thrown overboard.” The acting Governor commended the Legislature, Judiciary, the Security Agencies and Citizens of Adamawa State for the positive roles they played in bringing about a peaceful change in the state. “We have mapped out strategies to reinvigorate the various sectors of the economy through which dividends of democracy can reach our citizens. These include giving a new lease of life to the Civil Service and machinery of Government which we have already began. “A reappraisal of our Health, Education, Infrastructural and social services as well as ensuring economic rejuvenation and provision of equity, justice, fairness and respect for all good and honest citizens,” Fintiri noted. However, he called on all citizens of the state to rally round the Government to correct the damage inflicted to the economy, democracy for the benefits of ‘’unity in diversity” saying that he was confident that with the resolve, determination and love for Adamawa State, the people shall triumph adding that posterity will judge his actions in bringing succor to the populace.