APC demands probe of alleged diversion of FG’s rice in Kano
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that it has been piqued by the recurring incidents of diversion of palliatives by officials of the ruling New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) government in Kano and called for an independent investigation and prosecution of the culprits or else it takes legal action.
A statement issued by Kano APC Chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, on Saturday asserted that the government’s failure to take necessary action against its officials found to be involved in the diversion of the palliatives may be interpreted as acts being perpetrated with its tacit support.
The statement said it was unfortunate that last week, hundreds of bags of rice labelled “Federal Government Food Security Program” were allegedly discovered at a private school, Wada Sagagi Islamic School owned by the Chief Staff, Government House, Kano, Shehu Wada Sagagi.
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It insisted that 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 at his private residence turned Islamiyya school.
‘’The chairman stated that 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 statement said.
SolaceBase reports that the statement said that the suspects were found repackaging the rice and maize at a warehouse located at Sharada, and was subsequently arrested with a promise to drag him to court.
According to the statement, 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.
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‘’The party chair noted that 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 it procured the products and was said to have been sold to farmers at N5, 000 per bag.
The party chair 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, 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 in the level of frustration and expression of anger against the government.
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