Gov Sani Accuses Politicians In Opposition Of Taking Advantage Of Nationwide Protests

The governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, has claimed that politicians in the opposition are taking advantage of #EndBadGovernance protests for “political revenge” because they lost elections.

Sani stated this during an appearance on Channels Television’s The August Protests programme on Friday.

According to Sani, members of the opposition are mobilising vulnerable people to join the protests.

He urged the aggrieved individuals to wait till the next general elections to “change the government through the ballot”.

The governor faulted some protest leaders, who he claimed left the protests to children instead of leading from the front.

Sani reminisced that in his younger years as an activist during the military era, he physically led protests against the excesses of the men in boots, and was detained at some points.

Sani claimed that some of his party men came to him to organise counter-protests, but he rejected the idea because he respected the right to protest and exercised the right during the military regime.

He also appealed to Nigerians to give President Bola Tinubu time for economic reforms.

Kaduna Electric Disconnects Govt House Over Electricity Debt

Meanwhile, the electricity connection at the Kaduna Government House has been disconnected by the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) over a ₦2.9 billion debt.

The company, in a statement released by the Head of Corporation Communication, Abdulazeez Abdullahi, said the government house had not paid for electricity consumed in seven months.

Recall that in the early hours of Friday, the state government through its tax agency, the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS) sealed the electricity coy over ₦600 million tax liabilities.

But Abdullahi said the disconnection took effect after extensive efforts to resolve the issue through consultations and reconciliations.

According to the statement, “In a dramatic move that underscores growing tensions between utility providers and state governments, Kaduna Electric has cut off electricity supply to the Kaduna State Government House and other state government accounts due to unpaid bills.

“Kaduna Electric announced the disconnection after extensive efforts to resolve the issue through consultations and reconciliations. The outstanding balance for electricity consumed from January 2024 to July 2024 alone amounts to a staggering ₦1,166 billion.

“This figure, including the historical debt, has left the State Government with a huge debt that currently stands at a total of ₦2,943 billion.”

He said despite a recent payment of ₦256 million made on May 9, 2024, for electricity consumed between September 2023 and December 2023, the Kaduna State Government’s debt remains significantly high, “This payment, though substantial, has not been enough to clear the accumulated arrears.

“Kaduna Electric’s decision to disconnect power came after repeated attempts to address the payment issues, including several consultations with state officials. In contrast, other states under the Kaduna Electric franchise, namely Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara, have maintained their accounts in good standing, regularly meeting their electricity payment obligations and other repayment obligations with Kaduna Electric

“A disconnection notice was formally issued on July 21, 2024, and was received by the Office of the Governor on July 22, 2024. The move reflects the company’s need to meet its own financial obligations amidst the broader challenges facing the electricity sector.”

He emphasized that the disconnection was a last resort after all other avenues for resolving the payment issue had been exhausted, noting that the company is now focusing on fulfilling its commitments to the electricity market and ensuring stability in its operations and sustainability as a company.