[Poll id=’49’]
By Okey Maduforo Awka
Against the allegation that Anambra failed to qualify for $500 million Hope funding from the , World Bank , Governor Charles Soludo has dismissed those claims contending that the state never assessed the said loan .
Rather Soludo stated that the loan in question was a Repayable Loan paid in the same currency adding that it would affect the on going developmental projects in the state. .
According to the statement by the Commissioner for Information Dr Law Mefor the loan offer is like a poisoned chalice that must be discountananced.
The statement contended that the claim that Anambra “failed” to qualify for HOPE funding is false, mischievous, and ignores both facts and policy.
“We Said No on Principle: Anambra State Government took a deliberate decision not to draw down this loan component”
“Like poisoned chalices before it, the HOPE terms would have compelled disbursements into consumption-heavy line items, not the capital projects, industrialization, and human capital investments Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration is executing”
“You may have seen recently a publication of a World Bank loan that came to about 35 states. The only state missing there is probably Anambra State; one day I will explain to you why we refused to take that loan.”
He withdrew Anambra to avoid “debt overhang”, declaring: “We don’t need to continue mortgaging the state with such loans.”
“We Choose Fiscal Sovereignty: Anambra will not take loans that dictate priorities contrary to our development blueprint or deduct from FAAC to fund recurrent expenditure. Our focus is infrastructure that lasts”
” Our Record Stands: Anambra has accessed and fully utilized grants aligned with our priorities — including SFTAS grants for meeting fiscal transparency DLRs”
“We were adjudged “Best State in Primary Health Care Nationally and in the South East” by the Federal Ministry of Health and partners”
The statement insisted that Anambra’s progress will be measured by schools built, hospitals equipped, and jobs created — not by loans we rejected to protect Ndi Anambra’s future.
