On Wednesday last week, the Kaduna State House of Assembly indicted former governor, Nasir El-Rufai and several of his aides for allegedly siphoning over N423 billion of the state’s resources from 2015 to 2023. Presenting the report during plenary, the chairman of the 13-member ad hoc committee and the Deputy Speaker of the House, Magaji Henry Danjuma, said most of the loans obtained under the El-Rufai administration were not used for their intended purposes.

Since the shocking findings by the assembly, the ex-governor has been uncharacteristically quiet. Though, his former aides and son Bashir have kicked against the allegations, describing the probe and the finding as baseless and politically motivated, the former governor has to do the needful to clear his name. The huge amount of funds said to have been squandered under his watch demand full explanation if only to establish his innocence.

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Nigerians might want to recall that the same El-Rufai, had during an interview with BBC Hausa service while still in office, accused the past PDP government of mismanaging billions of naira loans. At the time, he also challenged whoever accused his government of diverting the state’s loans to look at the infrastructural development executed across the nooks and crannies of the state.

Governor Uba Sani has since come under barrage of attacks for being complicit in the loans debacle. This is because, in 2019 when Governor Uba Sani was in the senate, he actually facilitated the loans. This was after earlier attempt by the ex-governor were scuttled by senators Suleiman Hunkuyi and Shehu Sani, representing Kaduna North and Kaduna Central respectively in the 8th National Assembly. Not only did El-Rufai curse those two senators for not endorsing the loans request, but ensured they did not return to the senate. Later, Senator Uba Sani and Abdu Kwari who found their way to the 9th Senate through the support of El-Rufai, would assists his government to obtain the loans with relatively ease.

Governor Uba Sani has since countered that he facilitated the loans in good faith, believing the ex-governor will judiciously utilise the funds.

Although, El-Rufai supporters and associates have described the probe as politically motivated, it is high time the former governor broke silence on the weighty allegations against his government. The state House of Assembly committee’s recommendations which advised government to refer those indicted to relevant anti-graft agencies is certainly in order. The brazen abuse of office being alleged should not be swept under the carpet. If the ex-governor has no skeleton in his cupboard, this is the time to break silence in defence of his government.

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