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Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has denounced the recent approval of N170 billion loan request by Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, stating that the suspiciously swift passage of this request through the state House of Assembly has raised serious concerns, depicting a clear violation of the rights of citizens to transparent governance and fiscal responsibility.
The group, through its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, expressed concern over the unanimous endorsement of Mbah’s substantial loan request by the state Assembly.
HRIWA said: “This request encompasses a staggering N100 billion in bank guarantees, N10 billion in term loans, N10 billion in overdraft facilities, and N50 billion in credit facilities. These colossal figures demand rigorous scrutiny, and the absence of transparency surrounding this decision is deeply unsettling.
“It is apparent that the people of Enugu State have been left in the dark concerning specifics of this loan, and how it will serve the state’s betterment. The dearth of transparency surrounding this decision raises critical questions about who truly stands to benefit from these funds”.
The rights group, therefore, called on Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), residents of Enugu State and opposition political leaders, including senators and House of Representatives members, to unite and establish a coalition dedicated to safeguarding the proper utilisation of this substantial sum.
HOWEVER, a frontline socio-political pressure group, Save Enugu Group (SEG), has carpeted the state chapter of the Labour Party (LP) and the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) over their criticisms of Mba’s N170 billion loan request.
In a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Pascal Okolo, the group noted that “so long as a loan is not for consumption, there is nothing wrong with it. ”
Tackling LP in the state, the group noted that the party shot itself in the foot when it claimed that the purpose of the loan was not stated but tailored towards self enrichment and satisfaction of personal greed.
“On its part, HURIWA is merely seeking attention because its grouse was hinged on the speedy approval of the loan, assuming that “the people of Enugu State have been left in the dark concerning the specifics of this loan and how it will serve the state’s betterment.”
