C’ttee: Shekarau spent N4bn on hotel bills

Governor Ibrahim Shekarau’s outgoing administration in Kano State incurred hotel bills of nearly N4 billion in the past eight years, according to findings of the transition committee raised by governor-elect Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso.

Of this amount, N3 billion has already been paid to the three hotels, which operate in the state, while the government still owes them N805 million.

Spokesman for Kwankwaso, Malam Jaafar Jaafar, who announced the findings of the transition committee in a statement in Kano yesterday, did not name the hotels affected.

“Kano State government under Shekarau is transacting with many other hotels in Kano, Abuja and Lagos. This amount is just for three hotels, and the transition committee is trying to know the cost incurred in the other hotels,” Jafar said.

But Shekarau’s media aide Sule Ya’u Sule said he doubted the committee’s claims, saying he was not aware of such expenses.

A source in the Kwankwaso committee said the spending was at the expense of the once vibrant state-owned Daula Hotel which suffered neglect by the outgoing administration.

The source said if the hotel was in proper shape, more revenue would be generated for government in addition to cutting hotel expenses for government officials and other guests.

Jafar, the Kwankwaso committee spokesman, said the transition committee was facing some hitches in trying to know the actual amount the state government spent on the other hotels apart from the mentioned three.

While expressing dismay over the enormous nature of the liabilities, the spokesman also said the cost was “uncalled for in view of the economic hardship Shekarau administration plunged the state into.”

“To say the truth, this is beyond politics. It is sheer mismanagement and misapplication of public funds. It is sad that the money that should otherwise be channeled to the public schools or hospitals is being wasted in hotels,” he said.

He said the committee’s findings indicated that most of the hotel rooms and suites were not used for official purposes but were permanently kept for years by government officials and politicians.

“Although one cannot rule out seeking the hotel services, the cost is obviously outrageous,” he said.

Reacting to the committee’s findings, spokesman for Shekarau, Malam Sule, said he was not aware of such expenses. He said such kind of things were normal and expected when an opposition party took over the reins of power.

“We are not surprised at all over all these findings because we all know what Kwankwaso will do to tarnish the image of the outgoing administration,” he said.

Shekarau, who tenure ends on Sunday, May 29, took over eight years ago from Kwankwaso after winning a fiercely contested election. The two had a running battle over how Kwankwaso run his four-year term between 1999 and 2003.

Shekarau raised an inquiry commission into Kwankwaso’s administration, which returned an indictment but which Kwankwaso challenged in court.

With the defeat by Kwankwaso of Shekarau’s anointed ANPP candidate in last month’s elections, there have been fears across Kano that the incoming administration would be vindictive.