Debt Crisis: El-Rufai And Sani Continue Their Cold War
Hajiya Maryam Suleiman is a well-known el-Rufai's supporter and one the party's state leaders.
According to the sources, Sani's decision to keep the members from the former governor's team in his cabinet was a way of thanking El-Rufai for helping to push him to prominence.
However over the weekend, the apparent cold war escalated when Sani claimed that the state's inability to pay employee salaries was due to the massive debt load left by his predecessor. According to Sani, during a town hall meeting in Kaduna, the previous administration left him with a massive debt load consisting of $587 million, N85 billion, and N115 billion in contractual liabilities. He further stated that Kaduna State is currently repaying nearly three times as much as it borrowed from the previous administration due to the increase in exchange rates.
However, during his handover to the new Governor last year, immediate-past Governor Nasir El-Rufai had stated he left a domestic debt of N80.60 billion and a foreign debt of $577.32 million for his successor. He had also stated he left N5 billion and $2.05 million in the state treasury.
He also criticized the fact that the state was left with N3 billion, not enough to cover the N5.2 billion monthly salary bill, after N7 billion of the N10 billion federal allocation owed to the state in March was taken out to pay off the debt.
Although the governor revealed the extent of the state's debt, Bashir El-Rufai, the son of the outgoing governor, criticized the governor for disclosing that his father had placed a heavy load on the state.
Bashir, taking to his X handle, accused his father's political ally and successor of avoiding his responsibilities by living in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja and avoiding contact with the state.
Senator Shehu Sani, who had opposed el-Rufai's borrowings, claimed he has been vindicated by the developments.
On his X handle, the former lawmakers said, “To the glory of our Lord Almighty, posterity has vindicated me on the Kaduna Loan and Debt profile.” El-Rufai's backing allowed the governor to unseat the former lawmaker and replace him in the Senate.
APC Removes Former Governor's Woman Leader and Loyalist
The APC Badarawa/Malali executive committee has suspended Hajiya Maryam Suleiman, also known as Mai Rusau, the women's leader of the party in Kaduna State, for allegedly defaming Governor Sani's character. This move seems to be a remnant of the Cold War.
In a number of videos, the state women head of the APC, who is a supporter of El-Rufai, criticized Sani for disclosing the amount of state debt he inherited from the previous government.
The state-suspended APC women's leader was informed in a letter of suspension signed by the chairman and secretary of the APC Badarawa/Malali ward, Alhaji Ali Maiishago and Zakkah Bassahuwa, that she had been suspended from the party due to unapproved publicity surrounding the party dispute that damaged Governor Sani's reputation.
The letter begins with the following: “The Badarawa/Malali Ward APC Executive Committee after due deliberations and careful examinations on the viral video clip released on 30* March, 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 where the subsequent suspension relied upon. (1) Defamation of character of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kaduna State Malam Uba Sani. (2) Unauthorised publicity of the party dispute that discredited the personality of the Executive Governor of Kaduna State.”
“Furthermore, from today Sunday 31" of March, 2024, the leadership of APC Badarawa/Malali Ward unanimously resolved to suspend Hajiya Maryam Suleiman (Mai Rusau) from the Party pending further investigation on the matter from the constituted authority.” the suspension letter said.
Yahaya Pate, the secretary of the APC in Kaduna State, affirmed the state women's leader's suspension, saying, “Yes, her Badarawa/Malali ward has suspended her from the party.” He remarked, “She is currently a suspended state women leader.” According to Leadership media.
The growing division coincides with the former governor's recent political discussions with PDP and APC members, as well as the national leadership of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Since then, speculation that he intends to leave the APC and run for president in 2027 has been prompted by these meetings. His media staff has refuted both conjectures.
El-Rufai had been in a type of slumber until his most recent political contacts, as the Senate had rejected his appointment as a minister by President Bola Tinubu in response to a petition against the nomination.
Lukman, a native of Kaduna, issued the appeal in response to the state's enormous inherited debt load.
In a statement released on Sunday, the APC chieftain stated that the lack of a robust and functional party structure would have contributed to any shortcomings Elrufai may have had as governor of Kaduna State between 2015 and 2023. This would have prevented or at least curbed his excesses.
He claimed that those realities still exist today and that allowing them to persist might likewise push Sani in the wrong way, which would only serve to fuel further disagreements between him and his successor.
Additionally, Lukman called on all members of the APC in Kaduna to accept full responsibility for the dire circumstances the state finds itself in. He also encouraged Governor Sani to take all necessary measures to inventory the state's debt and its allocation.
According to the former director general of the Progressive Governors Forum, determining if there have been instances of diversion—which, if proven, ought to be recovered—is among the essential tasks that need to be completed right away.
He stated that in order to address the issue of the massive debt load that the state is currently facing, new initiatives beyond what is being done now must be developed in order to mobilize fresh resources for the state.
Lukman emphasized that Governor Sani should form a group to examine the problems that are now facing and make recommendations for short-, medium-, and long-term solutions.
The ex-APC national officer added, “It's evident that some of the loans total hundreds of millions of dollars, without getting into specifics.”
He requested that action be taken by the state government to assess these loans and address any circumstances that may have prevented the loans from accomplishing their intended goals.
"The hard truth also is that Mallam Uba was one of his strongest collaborators in Kaduna State. The reality was that everything Mallam Nasir did during his eight (8) year tenure was endorsed and supported by Mallam Uba.
“Certainly, the decision of Mallam Nasir to anoint Mallam Uba as his successor must have been informed by the consideration of their strong personal relationship. That shortly after taking over, the two friends are falling apart is most unfortunate and only reminds one about what played out between Alh. Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi and Arc. Namadi Sambo between 2007 and 2010.
“These were very close friends and business partners, on account of which Alh. Makarfi anoint Arc. Sambo to emerged as his successor in 2007. Till today, the relationship between the two is still very bad,” Lukman added.
Hajiya Maryam Suleiman, the APC's suspended women's leader, has stated that she will stick by her remarks regarding Kaduna debts.
“I stand by my statement that all the debt was supported by Governor Uba Sani as a senator representing Kaduna Central senatorial district at the 9th National Assembly. He is not being fair to former Governor Nasir El- Rufai,” she said.
She stated to have only learned of her suspension from the APC in the state through the news, albeit she declined to comment on it.
No comments:
Leave comment here