Kaduna Assembly And El-rufai’s Probe -By Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua

The cold political war between the former governor of Kaduna State,Malam Nasiru Ahmed Elrufai and governor Uba Sani has taken another interesting dimension with the Kaduna State house constituted a committee to probe financial dealings, loans, grants, and project implementation from 2015-2023 in Kaduna State during the administration of ex-governor El-rufai.

If you can recall, last month, during a town hall meeting with stakeholders, governor Uba Sani, made a shocking revelation on the financial position of the state. The governor bemoaned how he inherited huge debt amounted to o $587 million, N85 billion, and 115 contractual liabilities from the previous administration, making it difficult for him to pay workers’ salaries. He explained that 7Billion out of the N 10 billion Federal Allocation due to the State in the month of March was deducted to service the debt. The disclosure about the state’s public debt had pitched the tent of former governor against the present government,leading to war by proxies.

Maryam Mai Rusau, an ally and staunch supporter of Elrufai, had to pay the supreme price for daring the governor. In an interview she granted to media,she accused governor Uba Sani for biting the fingers that feed him. Maryam mai Rusau was later suspended by the state’s chapter of All progressives Congress (APC). Bashir Elrufai has fired another salvo, describing the governor as incompetent and being surrounded by incompetent aides.

Another ally, Aisha Galadima,was arrested by DSS for allegedly posted incriminating views against governor Uba Sani on social media in February. She was later released.

Governor Uba Sani’s recent outburst about the state’s indebtedness and the hullabaloo it generated will shape the politics of the state in the coming days. The state house of assembly decision to probe the last administration is nothing but a quick and deliberate attempt to shift loyalty to the present government. When the last administration was using the loans and grants to implement infrastructural development or diverting the funds as they want us to believe, no one among them had raised an alarm or called the governor to order.

Some members of the state house of assembly are not first timers,including the speaker. They had served in the 9th assembly and failed to checkmate the former governor throughout his 8 years tenure, according to the doctrine of check and balance as enshrined in the constitution.

The lawmakers who were merely rubber stamp during the Elrufai’s administration suddenly found their voices when he left office. This amounts to double standard and treacherous. While the lawmakers can probe the former governor,summon his past officials and contractors to clarify issues, they shot themselves for not carrying out their oversight legislative duties during the last administration. Unless the state house of assembly is acting on the script of the governor,they should have known that he was part of the state’s indebtedness. As senate chairman house committee on finance in the 9th assembly, Uba Sani, helped the former governor to get the loans. Therefore,the governor is fully aware about the state’s loans. The handover notes has explicitly stated the assets and liabilities of the state. What is the furore and fuss?
Though, the former governor had boosted that he never stole a kobo from the loans and pointed out some projects he executed with the funds to his doubting thomases,he needs to come and prove his innocence.

For the state house of assembly,it needs to tarry a while and do what is expected of it,at the right time. If the members had exercised their constitutional rights, summoned the ex-governor to explain how he spent the loans and other financial dealings during his tenure,they would have saved the state from this unnecessary political feud. Alas, they remained toothless bull dog,but only bark today when the whole issues are being politicised.

Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua, Kaduna State 08169056963.