By SULE MUSA DUTSE
The first civilian Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Dr. Muhammadu Abubakar Rimi, has condemned the use of public funds in purchasing expensive vehicles for Senators from the State, Members of the House of Representatives, the Kano Emirate Council and the District Heads by the administration of Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau. This declaration was made in a radio program, titled 'Kowane Gauta', aired by Freedom Radio.
Abubakar Rimi condemned the State government for using public funds in executing that huge expenditure, saying that none of those given the vehicles deserved the gesture.
The former Governor who was one time Minister of Communications and one of the founding members of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) stated that there was no reason whatsoever why the government would undertake such venture while there are a lot of social commitments undone. He said that Senators are placed on high salaries and special allowances and they also have their official vehicles. The Members of the House of Representative are also being paid good salaries, huge allowances and they also have official vehicles in the National Assembly. He wondered what they are given Jeeps/Honda or Peugeot by the state government for.
He further revealed that the Emirate Council is an authority under the state government and is being allocated with funds every year while the District Heads are employees of the Local Government Councils and are all allocated with official vehicles.
The former Governor who condemned the misappropriation of funds by the Shekarau's administration describing it as “wasteful expenditure” noted that, decisions aught to have been taken for the provision of drinking water, building of more classrooms in primary and secondary schools across the state to decongest the classrooms with over 100 pupils per class, the construction of good roads and also reducing the levels of poverty among the people of the state. He observed that there are some schools where the children are still learning under trees without classrooms and other teaching aids.
As the former Governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Abubakar Rimi expressed displeasure over the government's gesture he also noted that in a situation where some people in the state cannot afford two square meals in a day, pay their children school fees and are experiencing untold hardships, the wasteful expenditure of purchasing over-priced Jeeps and other vehicles should not have taken place.
He made a declaration calling for God Almighty's justice on the government for the wasteful expenditure using public funds saying, 'Allah ya isa' that they would not forgive the gifts.
It would be recalled that in the wake of criticisms after the government had presented the expensive vehicle to the beneficiaries, the Kano state Governor, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau explained that the government had decided to undertake the exercise in appreciation of the beneficiaries' immense contributions and cooperation to the state government. He said that they also assist the government in maintaining peace and stability in the state.
Reacting to former Governor Abubakar Rimi's criticism, one of the strongmen of Governor Shekaraus's administration, Dr. Musa Ilyasu Kwankwaso warned the former Governor of making any further comments against the administration of Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, otherwise he would expose some things against him.
Speaking in a Radio Kano Program, Hon Dr. Salisu Kosawa further stated that former Governor Rimi has benefited a lot from Shekarau's government and wondered why he went on the air making, what he called “baseless comments and criticisms” against the government that satisfied some of his needs.
Opinions gathered from anonymous sources over the gesture indicated that since the Government has sufficient funds to doll out cars to some individuals in the state, abandoned projects, such as Magwan Water Restaurant should be considered fore rehabilitation. One of the opinionists suggested that the abandoned hotel project whose parts have deteriorated could be turned into a Conference Centre and if this is considered, it would provide employment to large a lot of youths and also generate revenue for the government. Magwan Water Restaurant, built by the government of late Alhaji Audu Bako (1970-1974) was abandoned by successive governments until 1980 when former Governor Muhammadu Abubakar Rimi's administration expanded it with large sums of money but was again abandoned by successive military and civilian administrations in the state.■