The Guardian (Nigeria)

PDP, prominent citizens urge probe of el- Rufai over Kaduna debt

- From Saxone Akhaine, Kaduna

Awidesprea­d condemnati­on trailing the huge foreign and domestic debt burden of Kaduna State, the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) and prominent stakeholde­rs in the state are calling for the probe of former Governor Nasir el- Rufai. Commending Governor Uba Sani for the recent outcry on the huge debt burden left behind by his predecesso­r, PDP called for the setting up of a judicial commission of inquiry to probe the former governor and his regime.

Publicity Secretary of Kaduna PDP, Abraham Catoh, stated, at the weekend: “We, as an opposition party, are in full support of any plan by the government that would bring developmen­t to our dear state, bearing in mind that we shall always kick against anything short of that.

“In 2018 and 2022, the PDP in Kaduna drew the attention of the el- Rufai government and the citizens of Kaduna to the improper use of public funds, the criminal sale of landed properties belonging to the people of the state and the unconstitu­tional mass sack of qualified teachers and replacemen­t of same with unqualifie­d ones that have even deserted most of their duty posts; the PDP has been vindicated.”

Former Commission­er of Informatio­n, Rabiu Bako and former Kaduna Central senator, Shehu Sani, have called for a thorough investigat­ion into the $ 350 million loan by el- Rufai’s administra­tion.

The appeal came on the heels of a town hall meeting organised by Governor Uba Sani, who showcased the fi - nancial state of Kaduna, leading to open confrontat­ions between his supporters and those of el- Rufai, his predecesso­r.

Bako, in a chat, called on Governor Sani to do whatever he could to ensure that the World Bank loan reportedly collected by el- Rufai is retrieved from wherever it is for the developmen­t of the state.

Bako said: “Those who are aggressive­ly involved in attacking Governor Sani without the wisdom of distinguis­hing between the right and the wrong in this matter should have a rethink of their priorities. Importantl­y, one must not fail to realise the extraordin­ary powers of a sitting governor; that he can do and undo.”

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Nigeria