Following Governor Lalong’s pronouncement of a debt profile of N104 Billion inherited from the Jang administration and the subsequent reply by Jang’s media aide, Mr Clinton Garuba; the following press release has been made available by the Director Press and Public Affairs, Mr Samuel Emmanuel Nanle, to counter some of the arguments presented my Mr Clinton Garuba.

The recent Press Release of former Governor Jonah David Jang endorsed by his media consultant Clinton Garuba on the 3^rd day of June, 2015 did not come to us as a surprise. Ordinarily we would have just treated it as one of those desperate statements made in a bit to divert attention from the facts that are beginning to unveil with the assumption of office of Governor Simon Bako Lalong. But for the fact that misinformation of this nature have a way of assuming the position of truth if not corrected, it has become incumbent on government to respond.

It is regrettable that when it is expected of the immediate past Governor to exercise restraint in making public comments while awaiting an official confirmation of the veracity of the true statement of the State of Affairs and finances of Government as handed over by the Jang Administration, he would rather join issue prematurely to declare that the debt profile of the state is 18 Billion naira instead of the N104 Billion detailed in the handing over note. The debt stock of the Jang Administration covers contractors arrears, commercial bank loans, pension and gratuity arrears, severance gratuities, internal loans, judgment debts and other sundry indebtedness which are liabilities on the incoming administration of Governor Lalong. Need we mention that the lack of prioritization of Government expenditure on none essentials have no doubt allowed essentials to remain as debts which the Jang administration have transferred; and for which the Lalong Administration in her commitment to the social wellbeing of the citizenry will have to address.

It is necessary to state that the APC Government of Rt. Hon. Barr Simon Bako Lalong is starting on a difficult footing with the insolvent position of Government finances as inherited; the near absence of operation vehicles, office consumables and the disturbing state of indebtedness which will make it a near impossibility for any take-off financial life line from the banks that the state is indebted to. To therefore call the issue of the over N104 billion indebtedness ‘trivialities’ is to say the least laughable.

Governor Lalong has repeatedly stated in his campaign and inauguration speech that he is not interested in witch hunting anybody, this however does not preclude the right of Plateau State people to hold accountable anyone who has plundered the common wealth of the state. This will no doubt be in conformity with his change mantra of respect for the rule of law and good governance best practices. The days of groping in the dark are over and as the facts agree with the truth on the statement of Affairs of the State as inherited from former Governor Jang when the transition report is received for which it will be incumbent on government to make known to the good people of Plateau; let the Jang led Team allow sleeping dogs lie.

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N104Billion Debt: Director of Press, Mr Samuel Emmanuel Nanle replies Jang’s Media Aide, Mr Clinon Garuba