– Legislature considers legal option
The Kaduna State Chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) has said that the allegations levelled by ex-Governor Nasir el-Rufai regarding the siphoning of funds are false, patently absurd and ill-intentioned.
ALGON further said that “the allegations are meant to mislead the public, create disaffection, and ridicule the all-inclusive, pro-poor and people-oriented administration in Kaduna State.”
It will be recalled that the former Governor had accused Governor Uba Sani of diverting local government funds to purchase property in Seychelles, South Africa and the United Kingdom.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, the spokesperson of ALGON, Alhaji Muhammad Lawal Shehu said that “the Governor Uba Administration stands for the rule of law and due process.
“Transparency and accountability are its watchwords. It supports and respects the financial autonomy of Local Governments. It has never tampered with the funds of local governments,” he said.
The spokesman further added that on the contrary, the Uba Sani administration “has been taking measures and executing programmes and projects to complement the efforts of local governments.”
Alhaji Muhammad recalled that “some of us served as Local Government Chairmen when Mal. Nasir el-Rufai was in office as Governor. We can testify to the fact that what we have been receiving as monthly allocation since Senator Uba Sani became Governor is more than double the amount we received during Mal el-Rufai’s administration.
“Apart from enhanced monthly allocations, we have been operating in an atmosphere devoid of harassment and intimidation, unlike Mal el-Rufai’s era that was marked by highhandedness and coercion,” he added.
The spokesman further recalled “that during his turbulent and divisive administration, Malam Nasir el-Rufai introduced and recklessly implemented ‘Riot Damaged Deductions’ targeted at local governments in Southern Kaduna.
“It was a policy of ‘collective punishment’ for Southern Kaduna people for not supporting his administration. This ill-advised action created disharmony and deepened inter-ethnic tensions in the state. Thankfully, this divisive policy has been reversed by the Senator Uba Sani Administration,” he added.
