Debt inherited from Kwankwaso not a crime, says Ganduje

Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje defended yesterday the debt profile of N294.5billion he inherited from ex-Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso.

He said the debt was not a crime.

Ganduje, who addressed reporters at the Government House, Kano, attributed the debt to the dwindling price of crude in the international market, saying it would not affect the state in the discharge of its responsibilities.

He said: “I admit that it is a huge debt. I’m part and parcel of the Kwankwaso administration and whatever may have happened, we all should take responsibility.

“On the issue of liabilities, yes, it is correct that we have a huge liability. But that does not mean it is a crime. We planned everything together with my boss (Kwankwaso). But unfortunately, what we envisaged did not work, as the price of oil fell. So, what do we do? We could not complete the projects because of lack of funds. This is not a problem.

“Now, it is a matter of re-planning and rescheduling. There is no problem. Even the contractors, we shall reschedule their payments. We shall pay them, which will be based on what we have on ground.

“Those people, who cry foul because of liabilities, are only being shortsighted, because by the time they complete their tenure, it will be the same story. I don’t want to cry because we have huge liabilities. Yes, we have huge debt and this is not a crime.

“Oil was more than $100 per barrel. Now it is $50 per barrel. It has come down by more than half. Then, we had already started projects. Do we cancel them? No, we cannot. So, we have to manage what we have—that is no problem to me.”