Kebbi govt fires back at Malami over criticism

By Musa Baba Adamu with agency report

The Kebbi State Government has dismissed recent comments by former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, accusing him of misrepresenting the situation in the state following his entry into the 2027 governorship race.
The government said Malami’s claims on insecurity, poverty, healthcare and education in Kebbi were misleading and failed to acknowledge the role of past federal administrations in the country’s current challenges.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Governor Nasir Idris, Yahaya Sarki, the state government reacted to remarks made by Malami after obtaining the African Democratic Congress, (ADC), governorship nomination form.
Malami had reportedly declared a “state of emergency on misgovernance” in Kebbi, alleging worsening insecurity, economic hardship, poor healthcare delivery and declining educational standards in the state.
However, the government maintained that while the former minister had the constitutional right to seek elective office, his criticism of the administration was filled with what it described as false claims aimed at advancing his political ambition.
According to the statement, many of the issues raised by Malami became entrenched during the period he served in the federal government as Attorney-General of the Federation.
The government argued that former public office holders who served during that era should share responsibility for the economic and security problems currently confronting the country.
It further accused some former federal officials of failing to effectively address banditry, terrorism and poverty while they held office, insisting that insecurity escalated significantly during those years.
Defending the performance of Governor Idris’ administration, the government said ongoing reforms had been implemented across critical sectors including healthcare, education, agriculture, road construction and security.
The statement added that rehabilitation works were ongoing in general hospitals across Kebbi State, while several primary healthcare centres were also being upgraded.
The government maintained that the present administration inherited major governance and infrastructure deficits in 2023 but had continued to pursue reforms aimed at improving the welfare of residents across the state.