The All Progressives Congress (APC) and Kano state government have exchanged words over alleged plot to misappropriate over N8 billion councils’ fund in the state.
The Kano State chairman of APC, Abdullahi Abbas, in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, alleged that the political uncertainty on what will be the outcome of the Supreme Court judgement on the disputed governorship election was pushing the New Nigeria People’s Party-led government in the state to misappropriate N8,080,190,875.13 billion.
The APC helmsman also warned local government councils and commercial banks to “halt the process of clearing the release of the funds at this critical period of the NNPP’s unreliability.”
Recall that the election petitions tribunal and court of appeal had in their separate judgements sacked Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of the NNPP and declared candidate of the APC, Nasir Gawuna, as winner of the March 18 governorship election in Kano State. But Yusuf has filed an appeal at the Supreme Court. The apex court is yet to adjudicate on the matter.
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Abbas said, “The APC in Kano has gotten a copy of the letter of conveyance of approval from the ministry for local government directing the 44 local councils to release the sum of N101,655,000.38 and N3,607,370,858.00each for the construction of Dan’Agundi and Tal’udu Interchanges respectively.
“The approval letter, which was sent to all council chairmen, copied to the Auditor-General, local government audit and all zonal inspectors of the ministry, was for the contribution of the councils to the projects.
“Just on Friday, the government removed and posted new Directors of Personnel Management (DPMs) and treasurers to ensure that there are no hitches in muscling the local councils through the embezzlement of their funds.”
He claimed that the decision to embark on such projects at this time has come under attack even by people within the NNPP’s fold and called on the government to reconsider it in the interest of development of the state.
But reacting, the Kano State Commissioner for Information, Baba Halilu Dantiye said, “It’s a well known fact that the Kano State government under the able leadership of Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf has within the last seven months built a reputation of accountability and judicious deployment of resources.
“So it’s not only surprising but utterly mischievous to even imagine that it will engage in act of looting or condone such act, as did the immediate past administration in State.
“And the government of Gov. Abba Kabir Yusuf will not be distracted by people who are bitter not only for losing elections but because they have also lost their sources of pilfering government resources.”
