Northern Nigerian Breaking News

Re-37 bank accounts linked to MD of FG’s Agency a rejoinder-Mainasara Yakubu Kurfi

By Mainasara Yakubu Kurfi

A recent publication in one of the online newspaper, The Eagle, which linked an alleged discovery of some 37 bank accounts to the BVN of the Managing Director of Rural Electrification Agency (REA) Engineer Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad, to say the least was the figment of the imagination of the writer.

37 bank accounts linked to MD of FG’s Agency a rejoinder-Mainasara Yakubu Kurfi
Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Mr. Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad.

 

I was completely dumbfounded after reading what I can simply described as a fabrication of lies, full of  mischief and malicious intent.

Ordinarily, one would not have join issues with the author of the unfounded publication which appeared on the Friday 28th April, 2023 edition of the newspaper because of unprofessionalism therein, hatred and kind of campaign of calumny aimed at tarnishing the hard earned image of a highly respected personality. however, for the purpose of not to misled gullible readers, it became necessary to make this rejoinder in order to bring to the fore the good character of engineer Salihijo as well  clear his name against all frivolous allegations.

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Although, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, of Rural Electrification Agency, Engr. Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad has responded to the baseless accusation appropriately on Daily Trust newspaper of Saturday 29th April, 2023. However, I felt as someone who is very familiar with the Agency’s operations and the successes it recorded under his leadership, I am duty bound to make this write-up with a view to making the records straight.

In the first instance, it is unimaginable to think in the present Nigeria’s banking system, an individual can operate 37 different bank accounts linked to one Bank Verification Number with variations in the names as allegedly insinuated in the said publication. This is ridiculous!

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After x-raying the accusation from a critical mind,  one, would but came to a conclusion that the publication was full of inconsistency as it lacked logical presentation thereby exposing the gross hatred to the personality of Salihijo.

The writer accused Engr. Ahmad of operating 37 bank accounts but ended-up mentioning foundations, firms and sister’s accounts linked to same BVN. How on earth can this be possible?

For the avoidance of doubt, the paper should have published the 37 accounts names, account numbers and the banks.

On the allegation of being a Director in a private company, Engr. Ahmad Salihijo, has denied serving as a Director in Velocity Logistics and Marine Services Ltd while serving his term at the Rural Electrification Agency.

It is gratifying to note that Engineer Ahmad had relinquished his position as a Director of Velocity since on April 25, 2019 almost nine months before his appointment to head the REA in December 29th 2019. Anyone can verify this fact with the Corporate Affairs Commission.

In fact, this young, intelligent and incorruptible Engr. Ahmad Salihijo should have been applauded for reinvigorating life into a hitherto comatose Agency. In the barely four years spent as head of REA, he recorded an indelible achievements  this include provision of a multi-billion naira Hybrid Solar Plant in some ten tertiary institutions across the federation some of which are; Bayero University, Kano; Federal University Dutsin-ma (FUDMA); Federal Medical Centre, Katsina; Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto; Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Bauchi; University of Benin, University of Maiduguri to mention but a few.

In addition, the Agency has also succeeded in electrifying many rural communities across the 36 states  and the FCT. These communities are empowered economically by boosting their small and medium enterprises.

It is therefore apt to say that the write-up was nothing but attempt to smear the reputation and character of Engineer Ahmad Salihijo Ahamd in order to distract him from consolidating his achievements through execution of more people oriented and meaningful projects that would positively have impact on the lives of the people of Nigeria particularly those in rural communities.

Therefore, I dare say the publication was orchestrated by the enemies of the nation whose stock in trade was to smear the names of any one who could not dance to their tune particularly by refusing to serve their personal aggrandizement.

As for Engineer Ahmad, please never be disrupted by  this kind of publications and any form of campaign of calumny, be focus and steadfast in your quest to serve your country with all sense of patriotism.

Finally, I advise the publisher and petitioner to retract this unfounded allegation, by apologising to engineer Ahmad in order  to set the records straight, and desist from further defamatory publications.

Kurfi a public analyst, writes from Kano and can be reached at mykurfi@gmail.com

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