The simmering feud between Kaduna state Governor Uba Sani and his predecessor, Nasir el-Rufai, is fast getting messier with some stakeholders pitting tent with the two political combatants, depending on where their loyalty lies.
Speaking at a town hall meeting Saturday in Kaduna, the governor had said his administration inherited $587 million, N85 billion, and 115 contractual liabilities from the immediate past administration.
But, the governor said this did not stop him from his obligations to people of the state.
The statement has since continued to generate a row from various stakeholders, including Bashir, the ex-governor’s son, and his brother, Bello, who is a member of the House of Representatives representing Kaduna North Federal Constituency.
Bashir had in a tweet on his X handle, attacked the governor whom he accused of only trying to cover his administration’s incompetence.
“These guys have realised that they are wholly incompetent and the only way to mask the nonsense is to deflect.
“From a Governor who is always sleeping in Abuja to a litany of incompetent aides who were only rewarded for foolish political reasons,” he had written.
…Bello differs, stands with governor
But in yet a counter tweet, Bello differed with his brother, saying he remains loyal to the governor.
Bello wrote: “It’s a known thing in politics that some people won’t rest unless there are fights between one another. I am in the middle, and I could even be meeting with the governor tonight in thirty minutes.
“Two weeks ago, I had to call my brother and tell him to drop a tweet. I did that today, but he refused. He is over 30 years old. People should stop confusing our handles.
“I am loyal to Governor Uba Sani, and I will not criticise him publicly. No one will make me do that. He mentored me, gave me my first government job, and believed in my election. This too shall pass. The rural development being done in Kaduna State is impressive.
“Nigeria, as a whole, not just Kaduna, is facing financial constraints. As leaders, we are all elected to do what we can with what we have and improve it. I honestly do not see what the fuss is about.”
The lawmaker further said: “The governor is the leader of the state, and for the sake of transparency, even though Mallam as the outgoing governor put it in his outgoing speech how much money he is leaving in the state, it is within the governor’s—let me take that back—it is the duty, of course, for the sake of transparency, to let the citizens of the state know the financial condition.
“And now, let me clarify, social media attacks will never shake my boss, Governor Uba Sani. So, a few attacks from people for obvious reasons coming at him is not the reason he did what he did.”
Also in another intervention, an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Ibrahim Ahmadu, described Bashir’s attack as “disrespectful and mannerless.”
“What is wrong is the inability of the former governor’s son to comprehend the rationale behind the disclosure to the public.
“His vituperations are unguarded and unacceptable, especially when the man involved has helped the family during hard times of political waves.
“Was is it wrong for Governor Uba Sani to address Kaduna citizens at a town hall meeting where he said he inherited a huge debt burden that was eating deep into the state’s allocation?” he said.
The party chieftain further said: “For us as citizens of the state, we cannot accept a situation where N7bn out of the N10bn allocation for the state in March was deducted to service the state’s debt.”
