Less than a month after Kaduna Governor Uba Sani ignited a firestorm over the debt burden he inherited, the State Assembly is literally adding petrol to the flames
They have swung into action requesting the Finance Ministry to provide details of the loans Mallam Nasir El-Rufai obtained during his administration.
The Assembly’s request adds a new twist to the raging feud and public spat tearing the relationship between Governor Sani and his estranged godfather.
The letter the state’s assembly addressed to the finance ministry partly read, “(I) (a) Total loans from May 2015 to May 2023 with the approvals of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, the accounts into which the loans were lodged, and drawdowns as recorded by Project Finance Management Unit (PFMU) & Debt Management Office (DMO),”
Similarly, the Kaduna State Assembly equally constituted a committee to examine the state’s finances under the leadership of Mallam el-Rufai with a view to unraveling the financial profligacy that permeated his government.
However, this development has offered a new dimension to the ongoing brawl between Governor Uba Sani and his benefactor, Mallam el-Rufai, whom some observers said left the state in pariah financial state.
Back and forth
Following Governor Sani’s outburst on his predecessor’s stewardship on March 30, some observers have said there is nothing new about a governor leaving a massive debt for his successor.
They opined that what should be looked into is whether the supposed debts are commensurate with his projects and programs while he was steering the state affairs.
Mallam el-Rufai’s apologists, spearheaded by his son Bashir el-Rufai, have alleged Governor Sanni of trying to cover up his incompetence by digging into the legacy of his boss.
They also accused the Governor of sleeping around in Abuja while he abdicated his constitutional responsibilities to his appointees, who had little knowledge about governance.
While these allegations have been countered by the supporters of Governor Uba Sani, who claimed the former governor’s supporters were trying to cover up his financial malfeasance, the report of the committee constituted to assess the state’s finances, particularly loans under the el-Rufai government will vindicate either the Governor or his benefactor.
However, if it happens that the debt el-Rufai left behind commensurate with his projects and programs while he was on the saddle, observers who believe the governor raised the alarm over the debt burden because of the face-off between the duo will be proved right. And if it turns out otherwise, his acclaimed integrity will be put into question, and he may end up in the EFCC’s net.
Sani said, “Despite the huge debt burden of N587m, N85bn, and N115bn contractual liabilities sadly inherited from the previous administration, we remain resolute in steering Kaduna State towards progress and sustainable development.
“We have conducted a thorough assessment of our situation and are sharpening our focus accordingly.”
Regardless of who the report of the committee favours, the dogfight between the duo, observers say, will do more harm to the embattled state than good. Since Nigeria transitioned to the fourth republic in 1999, no state has benefited from the fight between godfather and godson.
