Kano: APC charges FG to investigate alleged palliative diversion

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has called for independent investigation into Federal Government palliatives allegedly diverted by Kano state government officials.

The call came following the recent ransack of Arabic and Islamic Centre and the looting of several bags of Rice by the Federal Government branded by hoodlums during the #EndBadGovernment protest in Kano.

The Rice suspected to be part of FG palliative distributed by the Federal Government was allegedly diverted to the Arabic centre owned by the Chief of Staff to Kano state Governor, Shehu Sagagi.

A statement by APC Chairman in Kano, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, on Saturday, expressed regret over the recurring incidents of alleged diversion of palliatives by officials of the ruling New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) government in Kano.

Abba said the opposition would be compelled to institute legal action against the Kano state government’s failure to investigate and prosecute the culprits of the diversion.

The APC Chairman said “These recurring negative events, have asserted NNPP Government failure to take necessary action against its officials found to be involved in the diversion of the palliatives, it might be interpreted as acts being perpetrated with its tacit supports.

“It was unfortunate that last week, hundreds of bags of rice labelled Federal Government Food Security Program were discovered at a private school, Wada Sagagi Islamic School owned by the Chief Staff, Government House, Kano, Shehu Wada Sagagi.

“No convincing argument was put forward by Sagagi as to how the bags of rice that form part of the grains donated to the Kano state government to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal among the poor and vulnerable residents were found in his private residence turned Islamiyya school.”

Abbas added further “In December, last year, one Tasiu Al’amin-Roba, allegedly working for the Secretary to the State Government, Baffa Abdullahi Bichi, who was identified as Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Cabinet office, was arrested over alleged diversion of the state’s palliatives.

“The suspect was found repackaging the rice and maize at a warehouse located at Sharada and was subsequently arrested with a promise to drag him to court. The Government of Kano state is in the habit of rebranding and repackaging some parts of the grains they wanted to distribute, mostly to their members with the picture of the governor and logo of the NNPP.

“In September, last year, the Managing Director of the state Agricultural Supply Company (KASCO), Dr Tukur Dayyabu Minjibir was suspended for alleged involvement in an inappropriate sale of grains belonging to the Kano state government.

“It is therefore very important that the Kano state government should not stop at suspension or investigation. All actions taken should be concluded by prosecuting all those found to have been involved in these scandals to serve as a deterrent,” he said.

Abbas pointed out that recently, the Tinubu administration sent 70 trucks of fertilizer, seedlings and other inputs for free distribution to farmers in Kano, but the state government claimed the credit as if the state procured the items and was said to have been sold to farmers at N5, 000 per bag.

The Chairman described the actions of the NNPP government as a deliberate attempt to rubbish the effort of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in supporting the people during this trying period.

“At different times, the federal government donated truckloads of grains to the Kano state government for distribution to the needy, but apart from the symbolic official launch, these interventions have not been felt in the larger society,” the statement added.

He said: “To our knowledge, the Kano state government received 100 trucks of rice, 44 trucks of sorghum, and four trucks of maize. It was also apportioned 969 metric tons of maize, 1,320 metric tons of sorghum, and 417 metric tons of millet, to be distributed equitably across all local government areas. Just recently, 20 trucks of rice were also given to Kano state.”

The chairman observed that it was unfortunate the people have yet to see the impact of these efforts by President Tinubu in Kano state as evidenced by the level of frustration and expression of anger against the government.

When contacted, the Chief of Staff to the Governor denied the allegation, insisting that what he had in his Islamic School was rice he purchased with his money and some were donated to him by some people for the daily feedings of the students