The Massive And Monumental Corruption Under Governor Mohammed Abubakar As Exposed By Bauchi Citizen Ahead of Buhari’s Visit
Ahead of President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit, a Bauchi a citizen in an article has exposed to massive corruption going on under Governor Abubakar of Bauchi. In a piece titled; “Mr. President Sir, I Must Tell You This,” the author of the article Musa Azare stated thus; “Your Excellency Sir, it is my candid belief that this message represents the voices of the majority voiceless people of Bauchi state, your people, your Bauchi state – the home of the famous “A Kasa, A Tsare” doctrine that you preached during the height of our struggle for the exalted office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The last time you were in Bauchi was when you were still president-elect; you paid a condolence visit to the families of the fallen youths who stood their ground against rigging the presidential election, a decision for which they paid with their lives. A lot has happened since then. I will like to enumerate a few of problems we are facing today, under the leadership of Barrister Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, Esq, the Executive Governor of Bauchi state. Yes, that former INEC Commissioner turn politician, with whom you are very much familiar.”
According to Azare in his write up, stated that one of the things mitigating against the State, is large scale corruption and crackdown on Anti-Corruption Crusaders;
* LARGE SCALE CORRUPTION AND CRACKDOWN ON ANTI-CORRUPTION CRUSADERS:
Writing he said; “Your Excellency Sir, Bauchi state as you know very well, is a state that has some of the best officials in your government, who are helping in no small measure to shape the course of your administration in order to make it a success story in the face of obvious sabotage and natural human failings. Bauchi has one of the most politically sophisticated and most watchful people in Nigeria today. Our people are up and doing in keeping our leaders on their toes. We are all aware of the anti-corruption thrust of your administration, and the remarkable success it is recording. However, corruption is towering high in Bauchi state, contrary to the manifesto of the APC as a political party, and the firm stance of your government against the scourge.
“Between 28 December, 2015 and 19 April, 2016, the Secretary and Chairman respectively, of the foremost anti-corruption organization, Bauchi Coalition Against Financial Crime and Injustice, BACAFCI were arrested and incarcerated for months without trial, for the their patriotic duty of exposing the wanton corruption that is being perpetrated under the watch of Governor Abubakar. Among the issues of corruption raised by organization was the controversial loan of N4bn secured by the governor from United Bank for Africa, UBA less than one month after he was sworn-in on May 29th, 2015; without State House of Assembly authorization and State Executive Council approval. At that time, the 7th Assembly of the state was still in place, and there was no State Executive Council on ground. I hereby attach a copy of the document detailing the said loan as Exhibit IA and IB, for your ease of reference.
Secondly, the organization exposed a certain memo that emanated from the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Child Development, in which N5 million monthly was proposed as “imprest” to be given to the governor’s wife. The said memo was dated 22nd July, 2015 and, approval for N3 million was given by the governor on 30th July, 2015. Your Excellency Sir, that’s almost three times your basic salary as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria. I also attach the memo here as Exhibit II for your ease of reference.”
Thirdly, BACAFCI exposed another memo that shows that a certain ABUBAKAR SADIQ, strongly suspected to be the governor’s own son was paid 6,000 USD estacode for a trip to Czech Republic, whilst he has no input whatsoever in the said trip. I also attached the memo here as Exhibit III for your ease of reference.”
More so there were issues of contract scams in his write up also affecting the State under this government.
* CONTRACT SCAMS:
Musa said; “Your Excellency Sir, as at the time of writing this letter, not one project among those you are going to commission is completed. They are all work in progress, with a fire brigade approach, that renders them substandard. One of them is the 4.5km CBN Roundabout-Federal Low cost-Railway road, which was awarded at an Inflated cost of N2.3bn, approximately N517 million per kilometer. Arguably, the most expensive road project throughout the country.
“Your Excellency Sir, in the afternoon of Tuesday, April 24, 2018 the Bauchi State Commissioner of Information told newsmen at the state’s NUJ secretariat during a press briefing on your visit, that as at that day, he couldn’t tell which projects you are billed to commission. He simply mentioned “various projects” when asked by newsmen to be specific about those projects you are expected to commission. Basically, as at Tuesday, there were no projects ready for you to commission.
“The Commissioner, who accompanied to the press briefing by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, also told the newsmen that you are going to launch the distribution of 500 tractors which the government procured for farmers. However, when asked how the tractors were procured; at what cost and through which means, his reply was dodgy. The SA Media and Strategy has to intervene and told the newsmen that the tractors were procured through a partnership with one company. When asked the name of the company, he said it was not handy. When a journalist volunteered with the name of the company, and demanded to know the terms of the partnership, and the cost of each tractor, the SA Media and Strategy himself had no idea. In fact, he queried the journalist that raised the question about these tractors, asking her whether she works at the “audit department of NUJ.” It was gathered that only a few samples of the tractors, which at the time of writing this letter are being transported from a neighbouring state, will be shown to you for launching. I implore Your Excellency to insist on taking a unit count of each of these 500 tractors, because you are definitely going to be toyed with.”
* SECURITY:
On the issue of Musa Azare also scored the Governor low, as he said; “Your Excellency Sir, security is also another area of serious concern to your administration. Despite obvious challenges, your administration’s scorecard in this regard is excellent. The importance of a free and secure society cannot be overemphasized. However, in Bauchi state, there is an aura of insecurity, especially for people that are not in the good books of the state government.
“Recently, some people known to be opposed to this government were attacked in their offices in a broad day light, and macheted to near death by the dreaded “Sara Suka” political thugs. Although the State’s Police Command has on 20th April, 2018 issued a press statement detailing the arrest of nine suspected political thugs accused of perpetrating the attack, and charged them to court on the same day, the suspects were immediately released on bail contrary to the provision of Section 4 of the BAUCHI STATE THUGS AND THUGGERY PROHIBITION LAW, 2008. Pundits believed that their release may not be unconnected to the suspected involvement of the state government, as lawyers from the State Ministry of Justice were seen in the court holding brief for these suspected criminals.”
* DEATH OF INNOCENT, HAPLESS PENSIONERS:
Your Excellency Sir, let me bring to your notice that no fewer than 20 pensioners perished as a result of a poorly organized verification exercise that is gulping the state’s meager resources without any tangible result. The chairman of Nigerian Union of Pensioners, NUP Alhaji Abu Gar stated this to newsmen in May 2016. Despite a counter claim by the state government, Alhaji Abu Gar maintains his claim. As at today, over N15bn is being owed to pensioners in Bauchi state, with no definitive time for settling this debt. This is in spite of the bailout funds and Paris Club refunds of over N20bn your government gave Bauchi state.
Your Excellency Sir, while I warmly welcome you to Bauchi state, and wish you a hitch free visit, I also want plead with you on behalf of voiceless people of Bauchi state to kindly use your good offices to save Bauchi state from the clutching grip of maladministration occasioned by the amateurish leadership style of Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, Esq.
Meanwhile, many citizens of the State who spoke with this medium stated, that the coming of the President is not because the Governor has done anything in the State, that will warrant Mr. President to come to the State; “there is nothing in the State that the President will commission, the Governor has not done anything.”
“For instance, we are aware that when his Commissioner for Information Umar Sade addressed Journalists at the NUJ Press Center, and Journalists asked him the projects the President is commissioning, he couldn’t tell which projects the projects is billed to commission, rather he simply mentioned “Various projects, that will tell you there are no state executed projects on ground for the President to Commission.”
For instance according to Musa Azare he said; “Your Excellency Sir, in the afternoon of Tuesday, April 24, 2018 the Bauchi State Commissioner of Information told newsmen at the state’s NUJ secretariat during a press briefing on your visit, that as at that day, he couldn’t tell which projects you are billed to commission. He simply mentioned “various projects” when asked by newsmen to be specific about those projects you are expected to commission. Basically, as at Tuesday, there were no projects ready for you to commission.
“The Commissioner, who accompanied to the press briefing by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, also told the newsmen that you are going to launch the distribution of 500 tractors which the government procured for farmers. However, when asked how the tractors were procured; at what cost and through which means, his reply was dodgy. The SA Media and Strategy has to intervene and told the newsmen that the tractors were procured through a partnership with one company. When asked the name of the company, he said it was not handy. When a journalist volunteered with the name of the company, and demanded to know the terms of the partnership, and the cost of each tractor, the SA Media and Strategy himself had no idea. In fact, he queried the journalist that raised the question about these tractors, asking her whether she works at the “audit department of NUJ.” It was gathered that only a few samples of the tractors, which at the time of writing this letter are being transported from a neighbouring state, will be shown to you for launching. I implore Your Excellency to insist on taking a unit count of each of these 500 tractors, because you are definitely going to be toyed with.
See The Audio of the press briefing with Journalists Below:
