Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, former Governor of Kano State
Immediate past Governor of Kano State, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, has declared that he is not afraid to face the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to answer questions relating to his eight years in government.
Shekarau refuted allegations by the new Governor of the state, Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, that he had thrown the state into a debt amounting to the sum of $209 million and leaving behind N77 billion liabilities.
The governor challenged his successor, Rabiu Kwankwaso to go to court if he has any claims against his administration, stating that he was ready to go to court if the need arises.
Speaking through his spokesman, Malam Sule Ya’u Sule, the former Governor said he left behind a cash balance of N4.36 billion naira, contrary to claims by his successor that he left behind an empty treasury.
Sule categorically stated that “Shekarau during his tenure from 2003 to 2011 has never from anywhere borrowed a single kobo f, and I challenge those making such false allegations to furnish you the name of the bank and the amount given to Kano State Government and for what purpose.”
THISDAY recalled that Kwankwaso had, in his inaugural speech after he was sworn in on May 29, challenged the Shekarau administration of bequeathing an empty treasury to him, and engaged in what he called “financial irresponsibility” that has resulted in N77 billion liabilities and a foreign loan of 209 million US Dollars.
Shekarau also accused the new government in Kano State of castigating the name of the former Governor, instead of settling down to the serious business of governance, saying “governance is a continuous process.
“The N77 billion they are talking about, is so mischievous, their mission is to come and castigate the previous administration. They are not coming to address the issue of development and progress from where we stopped. You should know their background anyway. . I want to tell you that from now till four years to come, we are even going to see the worst, “ Ya’u said.
Commenting on the N4 billion allegedly incurred by the past administration on hotel bills, Sule further explained that it was an accumulated bill incurred from hosting government functionaries, citing instance with the visit of the Vice President to Kano to reconcile the crises in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), hosting of National Assembly members during the recent induction workshop/retreat among others.
He explained that the actual amount spent by the immediate past government as hotel bills was N3.5 billion, pointing out that Shekarau had approved the payment of the bills but funds were yet to be released as at the time of handing over to the new government.
On the allegation by the PDP that the sum N3 billion was missing from the Pension Fund Scheme, the spokesman stated that “it was unimaginable for N3billion to suddenly disappear, it’s quite incredible for such a mischievous allegation to be made on the former administration”.
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