We stand by our story
.By Mohammad Lawal Maikudi
The Projects Verification Committee set up by Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has refuted media reports that some contractors collected money and abandoned projects sites.
The committee chairman Sabi’u Sani said, in the rejoinder, that he was misquoted or quoted out of context and therefore issued a rejoinder to clarify himself.
He alleged that the story went viral and generating unfavourable feelings and comments from the general public especially in Kaduna State.
His remarks concerning contractors collecting money and abandoning project sites is further justifying allegations, in some quarters, that the disagreement between Governor Uba Sani and Nasir el Rufa’i is widening gradually.
There were allegations within the All Progressives Congress, APC in Kaduna State that the former governor insisted that Governor Uba Sani must retain some key persons in some key and lucrative appointments in the state.
But Governir Uba Sani reportedly resisted the imposition but only to a certain level as some of them have been retained.
Some key question that political observers ask is: what warrants setting up the committee when Sen Uba Sani has been part and parcel of the el Rufa’i administration for the last eight years ?
Is Governor Uba Sani targeting some officials in the el Rufa’i administration especially those who attempted thwarting his aspiration of becoming the Kaduna State governir towards the build up to 2023 elections?
Could it be the reason for the decimal failure of the APC at the presidential and National Assembly elections ?
In any case, the comments by Sabi’u Sani during the inspection visit will continue to be cited as the fulcrum of crises between Governor Uba Sani government and political select group of el Rufa’i desiring to load it on Governor Uba Sani.
To address the allegations of quoting Sabi’u Sani wrongly or out of context, kindly listen to him in the following audio and read his reactions in the rejoinder he issued after the viral story.
CLARIFICATION ON THE STATEMENT CREDITED TO ME REGARDING ONGOING PROJECTS IN KADUNA STATE
My attention has been drawn to a statement circulating in the media that quoted me as stating that some contractors in the previous administration received payment and abandoned projects in Kaduna State. I wish to clarify that I was misquoted and my statement was completely taken out of context.
The primary mandate of the committee is to determine the status of ongoing projects and those in the pipeline, in order to ensure the speedy completion of all priority projects in the state. I shared with the media information on the extent of work on some of the projects and what the contractors informed us are required to speedily complete the projects. The statement credited to me that some contractors collected payments and abandoned their projects is incorrect and merely a product of the fertile imagination of the reporters.
Regarding the Committee’s visits to some project sites and our interaction with the media, I wish to state as follows:
The committee visited some project sites on Friday, 14th July 2023. At the end of the visits, I addressed the media on the Committee’s mandate, our findings so far and next steps. In the course of the interaction, some media team members attached to the Government House asked some questions on the visitation which I responded to as follows:
a) That we are amazed by the number and quality of projects so far completed.
b) That several projects are at completion level with some requiring minimal funds to complete.
c) I also mentioned that some were being delayed due to ongoing compensation issues, especially where some residential areas are affected.
d) I also said that some contractors even did work more than the value of advance payments made to them
e) One reporter then asked a question about those who collected payments and abandoned their project sites, to which I responded that every project has its record. If there is a proven case of collection of payment and abandonment of project, the State Government knows the right step to take in the circumstance.
f) I further said that, It is our hope that our report will guide the Government in prioritising some projects and speedily completing them in fulfillment of its promises to the people of Kaduna State.
The foregoing is my honest recollection of my interaction with the media after our site visits. I was therefore shocked to read the misleading and sensational caption in the media of my interaction with the Government House Media Crew.
It is important for the media to always verify information before disseminating to the public. The media must ensure accuracy in its reporting and avoid spreading misleading reports that may undermine the reputation of contractors or create unnecessary concerns among the public.
Signed
Sani Sabiu
Chairman
Committee to Determine the Status of Ongoing Projects and those in the Pipeline
15th July, 2023
