The Kaduna State chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) has dismissed allegations by former Governor Nasir El-Rufai that Governor Uba Sani diverted local government funds to acquire properties abroad.
In a statement made on Tuesday, ALGON’s spokesman, Alhaji Muhammad Shehu, labeled El-Rufai’s claims as “false, patently absurd, and ill-intentioned,” accusing the former governor of trying to discredit the current administration.
“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 stated.
El-Rufai, who recently defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), made the controversial claims in an interview on Freedom Radio, Kaduna.
He alleged that Governor Sani’s administration siphoned funds meant for local governments and used them to purchase properties in countries like Seychelles, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.
According to El-Rufai, “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.”
However, Shehu was quick to defend the Sani administration, emphasizing its commitment to transparency and accountability.
“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,” Shehu asserted.
He further highlighted that the current administration had made substantial strides in revitalizing rural economies and creating jobs.
“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 tenure, local government chairmen received less than half the monthly allocation they now receive, under conditions of harassment and intimidation.
“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 El-Rufai’s administration,” he stated.
In response to the allegations, the Kaduna State House of Assembly issued a stern warning to El-Rufai, threatening legal action over his comments. The former governor had described the lawmakers as “stark illiterates,” questioning their ability to investigate his administration.
Henry Marah, the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, responded by reminding El-Rufai that the lawmakers had met all constitutional requirements to hold office.
“It is disheartening to note that the former governor is ignorant of the provision of the constitution, specifically Sections 128 and 129, which empower the assembly to conduct investigations,” Marah said.
El-Rufai’s defection to the SDP has also drawn sharp criticism from the Kaduna chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who dismissed it as a “non-event.” They claimed that the former governor’s defection was a sign of his political decline.
“The defection of El-Rufai to the SDP has proved to be a non-event, with no person of substance or political relevance following them to the SDP,” the APC stated.
Despite the political controversies, ALGON urged the public to disregard El-Rufai’s allegations, labeling them as “wild accusations” without supporting evidence.