N16bn probe: PDP defends Tambuwal, queries Aliyu’s spending
The Peoples Democratic Party in Sokoto State has queried what it termed outrageous spending of Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s administration in the state, in the face of economic hardship.
The party, in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Hassan Sanyinawal, said, “We find it regrettable that under Ahmed Aliyu, Sokoto State is, right now, proving to be the pacesetter in governmental financial recklessness.”
This is as the party defended the administration of the immediate-past governor, Aminu Tambuwal, against the allegations of N16.1bn shares diversion.
It condemned the current administration for its controversial procurement and expenditure, stating that it was the most scandalous in the history of the state leadership.
“The current government in Sokoto has, not even halfway through its tenure, recorded milestones in mindless and suspicious misappropriation of public funds.
“Apart from the N1.2bn for the repair 25 boreholes racket and N30bn expenditure on the erection of wire fences on the streets of Sokoto metropolis, close to a billion naira has been allocated for the installation of streetlights in the state capital, even though the poles were old and repainted.
“Ahmed Aliyu’s spending spree includes the allocation of N1.2bn to repair five roundabouts in Sokoto metropolis and another over N500m to erect archways on all streets leading to the Government House.
“Our party deems as the most unfortunate aspect of these outrageous and white elephant projects, their execution in total defiance of due process and the best procurement practices,” the party said.
It added that the governor’s spending was also causing concern and drawing opposition from within his political party, the All Progressives Congress, as discontent was fast spreading through the ranks of the party.
“The governor is currently under a two-week deadline issued by the APC member of the House of Representatives for Gudu Tangaza Constituency, Sani Yakubu, to account for the over N200bn federal allocations to local governments in the state.
“There is, however, not much to account for Ahmed Aliyu’s one-and-a-half-year regime. All his cosmetic projects are concentrated in the state capital and virtually confined within the vicinity of the Government House and GRA.
“The rural areas, as Sani Yakubu observed, are totally neglected, without any development project carried out with their huge allocated funds,” the statement added.
The PDP expressed sadness over the current situation in the state, lamenting that the state was catching the attention of the nation for a negative reason.
“That is against the unfolding scandal of the governor’s wife trailing the media space for the infamy of partaking in a reckless birthday dollar spray, despite the dire economic conditions of the masses of her state.
“Governor Ahmed is sustaining the negative tempo by spending outrageous billions on the wire fencing of streets in Sokoto metropolis. This is ironically in one of the states that are hardest hit by the effects of the bad economic policies of the APC government at the federal level.
“We find it regrettable that under Ahmed Aliyu, Sokoto State is right now, proving to be the pace-setter in governmental financial recklessness,” it added.
The party said contrary to reports from the current administration, Tambuwal and members of his executive council willingly appeared before the commission of inquiry, whenever they were summoned.
On Tuesday, the state petitioned the commission of inquiry against the alleged diversion of N16.1bn worth of shares through the state investment company by the immediate-past administration.
Counsel for the commission, Amanzi Amanzi, while briefing newsmen, said the proceeds were from sales of government shares sold between 2018 and 2023 and the proceeds were allegedly unaccounted for.
He said the commission received the petition from the Permanent Secretary, Political, Abdullahi Yabo, who asked the commission to investigate the whole process of transfer and eventual sales of the state government-owned share and the whereabouts of the proceeds of the sales.
“The petition which was written by the Permanent Secretary, Political, Office of the Secretary to the State Government, Abdullahi Yabo, calls for investigation of the sales of government shares through Sokoto State Investments Company Limited sometime in the year 2018
“The Accountant General then transferred all the state government shares through a letter to the Sokoto State Investment Company Limited, between 2018 and 2023, all the shares were sold and the proceeds were not accounted for.
“The commission was called to investigate into the sales and whereabouts of the said proceeds which was put at N16.1bn,” Amanzi stated.
He further said the petition also alleged that a sum of N4bn was said to have been shared through some private and corporate accounts.
Reacting, the PDP spokesperson said instead of addressing the squandering attitude of the government, the administration was still chasing shadow, in a plot to make false accusations against Tambuwal.
“Our party is however bold to assert that Senator Aminu Tambuwal and his entire cabinet have never shied away from subjecting themselves to any investigation of their tenure in the government of Sokoto State.
“The former governor, members of his executive council and senior officials have willingly appeared before the commission of inquiry, whenever summoned, though no tangible progress has been made in proving the trumped up allegations of wrongdoing against them, both individually and collectively,” the statement said.
Sanyinawal added that Tambuwal ran the most accountable and transparent government in the history of Sokoto State, a fact acknowledged by global assessment agencies.
