Since Saturday’s Kaduna town hall meeting, where Governor Uba Sani cried out over debt burden his government inherited from his predecessor, the politics in Kaduna seems to be heating as war of words rages.
The first causality was Hajiya Maryam Mai Rusau, the Kaduna State All Progressives Congress, APC Women Leader in the state who was suspended for challenging Governor Uba Sani over his remarks on the debt burden he inherited from his predecessor, Makam Nasir el-Rufa’i.
This singular step has sent jitters to the el-Rufa’i loyalists in Governor Uba Sani government, who are left to either maintain their loyalty to el- Rufa’i or abandon him for Gov Uba Sani.
While many groups are calling on Governor Uba Sani to probe the inherited loans, some others are of the opinion that Governor Uba Sani was part and parcel of whatever the previous government had done in the state, therefore bringing the issue to the public domain is a distraction and seeking public sympathy for government’s failure to live up to its billing.
Although the amount of debt is huge, especially with the current economic situation in the country, the fundamental issue is whether the loans were utilized for the purposes they were secured.
Last year the government set up a committee to study all contracts awarded and ascertain the level of each project so that it can take appropriate steps to ensure it gets works worth its money..
If someone or group is found wanting, appropriate measures should be taken to ensure those found wanting are appropriately sanctioned.
It is believed that the current political tension generated after the debt comment by the state governor and the suspension of the party’s women leader has put the question mark on El-Rufai’s loyalists in the current administration. Apart from the party’s women leader who openly spoke her mind on the issue by defending the former governor, others have remained silent, at least publicly, for fear of the unknown, according to political observers.
It was reported that a serving adviser to Governor Sani, who pleaded anonymity while speaking on the situation, said all appointees of the former governor in the current cabinet have a big task ahead of them, which is to prove their loyalty to the governor.
Some reports also say some political observers in the state have noted that part of the reasons cited for the strained relationship between the past administration and Governor Sani’s was the embrace of some politicians perceived to be at odds with El-Rufai’s camp, especially those from the northern and southern parts of the state.
Such politicians include Dr. Dan Fulani, a known critic of El-Rufai’s administration from southern Kaduna, who is now among the appointed senior advisers to Governor Sani. A former House of Representatives Member for Kaduna North, Sama’ila Suleiman, also parted ways with El-Rufai, which led to his replacement with El-Rufai’s son during the 2023 elections. Suleiman has since been appointed as an adviser to the governor.
Others like Sadiq Mamman Lagos, the present commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, and even people from the opposition party like former Executive Director of Kaduna Media Corporation (KSMC), Yakubu Lere, and the former governor of the state, Ramalan Yero, who also decamped from his former party, the PDP, to join the ruling party, have also been seen as parts of Governor Sani’s consolidation moves.
Daily Trust newspaper reported that Mohammed Ibrahim Zaria, a former Assistant Legal Adviser of the APC in the state, expressed concerns about the timing of Governor Sani’s comments, suggesting that something must have triggered him to speak out after nearly ten months.
Asked if the recent comment by Governor Sani will further affect their relationship with El-Rufai, he said, “Let me tell you the basic truth: their relationship has gone sour since last year, August 2023. It was not out then, but it was brewing; maybe it has now reached the peak to let the cat out of the bag,” he said.
According to him, it was believed that Governor Uba was changing things he met on the ground, which was believed to be contrary to why El-Rufai supported him to become the governor.
Another adviser to Governor Sani, who doesn’t want to be named, attributed the genesis of the problem to the alarming debt profile inherited by the present administration. He noted that attacks from individuals associated with the former governor’s camp, including his son and the state women’s leader, may have further strained their relationship.
He also emphasized their readiness to defend Governor Sani’s administration and highlighted the suspension of the state women’s leader for her disparaging remarks against the governor as an example of what would befall those who stood against the governor.
