ALGON Dismisses El-Rufai’s Allegations Against Kaduna Governor

The Kaduna State Chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria has dismissed allegations made by former Governor Nasir El-Rufai that Governor Uba Sani diverted local government funds to purchase properties abroad.

The ALGON spokesman, Alhaji Muhammad Lawal Shehu, described the allegations as “false, patently absurd, and ill-intentioned,” meant to mislead the public and create disaffection in the state.

“The allegations are meant to mislead the public, create disaffection, and ridicule the all-inclusive, pro-poor and people-oriented administration in Kaduna State,” Shehu said.

The former governor had accused his successor, Governor Uba Sani, of diverting local government funds to purchase properties in Seychelles, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.

El-Rufai, who recently defected to the Social Democratic Party from the All Progressives Congress, made the allegations in an interview with Freedom Radio Kaduna.

“As I speak, no local government in Kaduna receives more than N50 million per month. Once the allocation arrives, they siphon it, exchange it into dollars, and use it to buy properties in Seychelles, South Africa, London, and other places,” El-Rufai alleged.

But Shehu, while addressing newsmen on the matter in Kaduna on Tuesday, noted that the Uba Sani administration stands for transparency, accountability, and respect for the financial autonomy of local governments.

“Transparency and accountability are its watchwords. It supports and respects the financial autonomy of Local Governments. It has never tampered with the funds of the local governments,” he said.

He added that governor Uba Sani’s administration has been working to revitalize rural economies, create jobs, and restore security and peace.

“Governor Uba Sani’s Administration’s Rural Transformation Programme has been pivotal in revitalizing rural economies and giving rural dwellers a new lease of life,” Shehu added.

Shehu also recalled that during El-Rufai’s administration, local government chairmen received less than half the monthly allocation they receive now, and operated under an atmosphere of harassment and intimidation

“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 high-handedness and coercion,” he added.

ALGON advised the public to disregard El-Rufai’s allegations, stating that they are “wild allegations not supported by facts.”

ALGON Dismisses El-Rufai’s Allegations Against Kaduna Governor is first published on The Whistler Newspaper