Kindly allow me the singular opportunity to use your widely read medium
of mass communication to call on the Governor of Jigawa state, Sule
Lamido, courtesy of Obasanjo’s ‘do or die politics’ to use every
opportunity at his disposal to return the N36billion of state funds his
predecessor, Saminu Turaki stole from the coffers of the state and used
same to buy the oil block former President Obasanjo gave him.
Going by Turaki’s arraignment at a federal high court in Abuja last year
by the Economics and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, one is not left
in doubt about the allegations of conspiracy, corrupt enrichment, money
laundering, theft, bribery and looting of the state treasury by Turaki
during his eight years in office as its state Governor. However, the
citizens of the state are not too sure if Sule Lamido has the zeal,
capacity and moral standing to pursue the recovery and final transfer of
the recovered monies from Turaki at the court and from the EFCC and
consequently use the money for the betterment of the state and its
people.
I wish to in the same vein ask Lamido to look into the terms of
contracts with some companies in the state whose contracts numbering
about 65 and running into billions of Naira were recently revoked by the
state government. It is baffling hearing that out of the N74billion
contracts in water, roads, agriculture and health programmes awarded by
Saminu Turaki, only N3 billion jobs were verified by Lamido as projects
actually executed. I have the feeling that the state government should
go beyond revocation. They must be made to refund monies collected and
jobs not done. The erring contractors must be brought to face the full
wrath of the law. There must not be sacred cows. They must be tried and
punished accordingly for their failure to execute the contracts awarded
them by former Governor Turaki.
Worthy of mention also are politicians and public servants who aided
the looting of the state treasury must also be made to face the music.
This is the only way to stop further looting of the funds allocated for
the speedy development of the state.
Even though Lamido was also a beneficiary of the looting spree of the
Saminu Turaki administration largely because Turaki use state funds to
bankroll the campaign of Lamido for his primary and secondary elections,
he should summon courage to do what is right and just. He should not
accept the view that he lacks the moral right to pursue the matter
sincerely.
If Lamido’s claim of him and his regime being off-shoots of the late
Aminu Kano is to be believed, he needs to pursue a genuine populist
government that is all out to improve the lives of the people of the
state. All eyes are now on Sule Lamido to see whether or not he will be
a leader like Aminu Kano. would have wished.
HAJIYA HAFSAT M. ZANNA
(musahafsat@yahoo.com)
87, GAMBORU GALA STREET
MAIDUGURI