Bayelsa: Gov Diri frowns at alleged diversion of N8 bn agric loan by cabinet members
Gov Douye Diri of Bayelsa has confirmed that members of Bayelsa Executive Council are beneficiaries of a N8 billion Agric loan currently surrounded by controversy bothering on diversion.
Investigations show that historically the state has been repaying agriculture loans from its monthly revenue accruals from the federation account gulping hundreds of millions in monthly deductions at source.
Diri says the alleged diversion of N 8 billion agriculture loan by members of his cabinet would not be tolerated by his administration.
Diri, who spoke at a Wednesday’s Executive Council meeting is Yenagoa directed the Commissioner for Agriculture Prof Beke Sese to provide an update on the loan disbursed in 2022.
He noted that his administration, which seeks to use agriculture to drive a policy of food security cãnnot afford to pay lip service in the sector.
“I do not want the impression that we collected money and shared amongst ourselves.
“We did not collect any money. The money is a loan for agriculture and not for any other purpose and we want to set examples from members of our cabinet.
“The Commissioner for Agriculture is directed to go into the matter and provide a response on past and present members of this cabinet,” Diri said.
However, when contacted for comments on the development, Beke, the Commissioner for Agriculture said there was no cause for alarm on the loan.
Sese, was appointed Commissioner for Agriculture in Diri’s second term
On the situation report, the Commissioner said : “There’s no situation about the Agric loan. Everything is fine & going according to stipulated plans.
“I am just getting my team adequately prepared to deploy the 3rd traunch for the forthcoming dry season farming & beyond. That will effectively commence immediately after the threat of flood is behind us,”.
It would be recalled that in 2020 Dr John Idumange, a former General Manager of Bayelsa Broadcasting Corporation had alleged diversion of N3 billion agricultural loan.
Idumange, who was arrested and prosecuted for raising the alarm, claimed the loan was disbursed amongst government appointed who had no business in the agric sector.
He claimed that he recorded 17 cases of diversion of the N3 billion loan, but the trial was discontinued and case struck out.
