I Didn’t Receive Kickbacks In My Eight Years As Kano Governor – Shekarau

A former governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau, has asserted that he did not interfere with local government allocations throughout his eight-year tenure.

Naija News reports that Shekaru made this assertion during a press conference held on Wednesday in Abuja, in anticipation of the 70th anniversary of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), which is set to begin on October 12, 2024.

Shekarau expressed that the organization has significantly influenced his life both spiritually and in other aspects.

Furthermore, he emphasized that he did not accept any kickbacks from contractors during his time as a two-term governor.

He said: “When I contested the election, I had less than N100,000 in my account, and my entry into politics was not by choice but by persuasion.

“I have never taken any negotiating percentages with any contractor. I always challenge them—if any contractor who has worked with me in the last 44 years knows that I have asked him for a percentage or brought any money, let him come out and say so.

“Secondly, none of my commissioners has ever brought one naira to me in the name of feedback from a contractor.

“No local government chairman, during my eight years as governor, has ever given me one naira. I have never tampered with their allocations.”

Shekarau, who serves as the chairman of the organizing committee of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), stated that the association plans to implement new programs and initiatives aimed at strengthening unity and encouraging members to engage in political and governance activities.

Meanwhile, in 2018, a video clip went viral featuring former Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, purportedly accepting bundles of cash from contractors, which he concealed within his traditional attire known as “babanriga.”

In light of these allegations, the Kano State Government initiated an eight-count indictment against the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for purportedly receiving $200,000 from a contractor.

Furthermore, the state government accused Ganduje of accepting a kickback of $210,000 from various individuals and entities involved in the execution of contracts or projects for the Kano State Government, specifically related to the renovation of the Kantin Kwari textile market, allegedly as a bribe through one of the contractors (agents).