I fight corruption better than Jonathan –Kwankwaso

Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State over the weekend declared himself a better anti-corruption fighter than President Goodluck Jonathan, saying he always deals squarely with corrupt officials in his state while Jonathan merely “shoots the messenger.”

Reacting to a recent comment by Jonathan that the Kano government cannot account for money it received from the Federation Account, Kwankwaso said all money collected by the state government was judiciously spent and properly documented.

According to his spokesman, Hallilu Ibrahim Dantiye, the governor said at a meeting with APC stakeholders in Government House Kano that in making the comment, the president was only trying to judge people by his own standards.

He said Kano indigenes were satisfied with the way their money is being spent and the projects being embarked upon by the government are genuine, extensive and verifiable. He said he had been looking for people who steal government money to punish them and set as examples as his government does not and would never tolerate or encourage corruption.

“I challenge anyone, including the president, that if he finds anybody who siphoned local or state government money, to report to me and see what action my administration would take against the offender,” the governor said.

He said he is not under the president but under the people of the state who voted him into office, and therefore, they are the people who have the right to query him and not the president who is known to punish only whistleblowers.

He also noted that the recent PDP unity rally graced by President Goodluck Jonathan was attended by only a few outsiders, as the event was shunned by party stakeholders.

“These new associates of the president in Kano are not credible people, and do not have any supporters, therefore, they will only contribute to his failure and pave way for the APC to win the 2015 elections,” Kwankwaso said.