Kano gov purchases N2.7bn vehicles for lawmakers

Reactions have continued to trail the gift of N2.7 billion worth of exotic vehicles from Kano state governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to the members of the state House of Assembly.

Daily Trust gathered that some of the 40 members of the state assembly have already taken delivery of the sports utility vehicles (SUVs) valued at N68 million each. The Kano Assembly is made up of 25 members from the governor’s New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and 14 from the All Progressives Congress (APC), with the election of one yet to be decided.

The gift is coming barely two months after a similar gesture from Kebbi state governor Nasiru Idris to the members of his state House of Assembly, state executive members, and heads of parastatals was greeted with condemnation.

In the case of Kano, while the governor’s spokesman could not be immediately reached for comments on the rationale behind the gift, the Chief of Staff to the governor, Shehu Wada Sagagi, told some journalists that they were entitled to sound working vehicles.

“The governor, having considered the economic situation, directed that the contractor be made to understand that we needed to spread the payment over a period of time, which the contractor accepted,” Sagagi was quoted as saying.

But the development has continued to generate critical reactions across social media platforms, with some residents also expressing disappointment in what they tagged as the government’s lack of prioritisation in view of the harsh economic realities.

Samaila Sani, a businessman at Kantin Kwari Market, said, “This government has failed to realise its priority. Spending such an amount is unnecessary. At a time when people are crying over the inadequate potable water supply in the state, the government chose to buy expensive cars for people who are not poor.”

Also speaking, another resident, Aliyu Sulaiman, said, “This development is unnecessary as far as I am concerned. They should be using the vehicles their predecessors left. I believe that’s what they are using now, and they are in good condition.”