El-Rufai’s son knocks Sani on fiscal priorities as APC suspends leader for ‘defaming’ gov

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Nigeria’s 36 state governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to “widely publish copies of the loan agreements and spending details of some N5.9 trillion and $4.6 billion loans obtained by their states and the FCT, including details and locations of projects executed with the loans.”

SERAP also urged them to “promptly invite the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the spending of the domestic and external loans obtained by your state and the FCT.”

SERAP’s request followed the disclosure last week by Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State that the immediate past administration of Nasir el-Rufai left $587 million, N85 billion debt and 115 contractual liabilities, making it impossible for the state to pay salaries.

In the Freedom of Information (FoI) request, dated March 30, 2024, and signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “It is in the public interest to publish copies of the loan agreements and details of how the loans obtained were spent.”

SERAP said: “Nigerians have the right to know how their states are spending the domestic and external loans obtained by the governors. Widely publishing copies of the loan agreements and spending details of the loans obtained would ensure that persons with public responsibilities are answerable to the people for the performance of their duties in the management of public funds.”

The FoI request, reads in part: “We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel you and your state to comply with our request in the public interest.

“SERAP is seriously concerned that many of the country’s 36 states and the FCT are allegedly mismanaging public funds, which may include domestic and external loans obtained from bilateral and multilateral institutions and agencies.

“Transparency in spending of the loans obtained by your state is fundamental to increase accountability, prevent corruption, and build trust in democratic institutions with the ultimate aim of strengthening the rule of law.”

SERAP noted further: “According to Nigeria’s Debt Management Office, the total public domestic debt portfolio for the country’s 36 states and the FCT is N5.9 trillion. The total public external debt portfolio is $4.6 billion. Many states and the FCT reportedly owe civil servants’ salaries and pensions. Several states are borrowing to pay salaries. Millions of Nigerians resident in your states and the FCT continue to be denied access to basic public goods and services such as quality education and healthcare.

“Several states are also reportedly spending public funds, which may include domestic and external loans to fund unnecessary travels, buy exotic and bulletproof cars, and generally fund the lavish lifestyles of politicians.

“SERAP is seriously concerned that the domestic and external loans obtained by your state and the FCT are vulnerable to corruption and mismanagement. Your government has a responsibility to ensure transparency and accountability in how any loans obtained by your state are spent, to reduce vulnerability to corruption and mismanagement.

“Publishing copies of the loan agreements obtained by your state and the FCT would allow Nigerians to scrutinise them, and promote transparency and accountability on the spending of public funds including the loans obtained.

“SERAP believes that providing and widely publishing details of the spending of the domestic and external loans obtained by your state and the FCT would enable Nigerians to effectively and meaningfully engage in the management of the loans.”

THE former Director General of the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF), Salihu Lukman, yesterday, reacted to the claim by Governor Uba Sani, that given the huge debt of $587 million, N85 billion, and contractual liabilities, he was finding it difficult to honour the state’s monthly salary obligation of N5.2 billion to workers after a deduction of N7 billion from the N10 billion due the state from federal allocation.

Lukman, in a statement, titled: ‘Kaduna State’s Political Theatrics’, said: “It is not simply about Mallam Nasir vs Mallam Uba. Already, I have seen young people jumping into the debate in a very disrespectful manner. We must caution that as much as everyone is welcome to make contributions, such contributions must be about what needs to be done to resolve the challenge, which is a function of knowledge. After all, we pride ourselves in Kaduna State as a centre of learning. Being a centre of learning requires that our politics should be about the application of knowledge.”

He added: “My final appeal to Uba and all our leaders both in Kaduna State and at the national level is that we must summon the courage to admit our failure as a political party. Whatever could have been the shortcomings of Nasir el-Rufai as a governor of Kaduna State between 2015 and 2023 would have been strengthened by the absence of a strong functional party structure, which could have checked or, at the least, moderated the excesses of Mallam Nasir.

“Those realities are still there today, and if allowed to continue, could lead Mallam Uba also in the wrong direction, which implication may only become another subject of contestation between him and his successor.

“The point is, we need to move away from noise making to substantive issues of strengthening governance. Without prejudice to all the initiatives being taken by the government of Mallam Uba, the debate about the huge debt profile of Kaduna State must be about strengthening the capacity of government to resolve the challenge.”

MEANWHILE, in defence of Nasir el-Rufai, his son, Bashir, who is a House of Representatives member, dismissed Governor Uba Sani’s claims, saying on X: “The current administration in Kaduna is building a banquet hall for N7 billion and is lamenting debts left by the previous administration.”

Also, in a fresh twist, a loyalist of Nasir el-Rufai and All Progressives Congress (APC) women leader in Kaduna State has been suspended.

The suspension of Hajiya Maryam Suleiman, popularly known as Mai Rusau, was said to have followed alleged anti-party activities and outburst against Governor Sani.

The suspension was carried out by the Badarawa/Malali Ward APC executive committee in Kaduna North Council.

Suleiman had, in a series of videos posted on social media on Saturday, condemned Sani for revealing the debt burden he inherited from the Nasir el-Rufai administration.

In the suspension letter signed by the Badarawa/Malali Ward chairman and secretary, Ali Maishago and Zakkah Bassahuwa, respectively, the party leaders said she was suspended over unauthorised publicity of the party’s dispute, thereby discrediting the person of Governor Sani.

The letter reads in part: “The Badarawa/Malali Ward APC executive committee, after due deliberations and careful examination of the viral video clip released on March 30, 2024, via social networks – Facebook, Whatsapp, and Tiktok, which is against the constitution of our dear party, APC, as stated in Article 21.2 (V);

“In view of the above, below are the gross misconducts the subsequent suspension relied upon: defamation of the character of the executive governor of Kaduna State Malam Uba Sani; unauthorised publicity of the party’s dispute that discredited the personality of the executive governor.

“Furthermore, from today Sunday, March 31, 2024, the leadership of APC Badarawa/Malali Ward unanimously resolves to suspend Hajiya Maryam Suleiman (Mai Rusau) from the party, pending further investigation on the matter by a constituted authority.”

Also, in a telephone interview, the Kaduna State APC Secretary, Yahaya Pate, confirmed the development, saying: “Yes, she is suspended from the party by her Badarawa/Malali Ward. She is now suspended as state women leader.”