*Says opposition on futile mission to discredit government
The Kano state government has dismissed as mere fabrication the news making the rounds that the administration of Governor Abba Yusuf diverted the sum of N6.5 billion.
In a statement on Monday, Sanusi Bature DawakinTofa the Director General, Media and Publicity Government House, said the administration has confidence in the Director General, Protocol Directorate, Kano State Government House, Alh. Abdulahi Rogo whose office is central to the alleged case.
Dawakin -Tofa added that despite the fact that the matter is already a subject of litigation, the state government is obliged to avail the public with the nitty-gritty of the Directorate of Protocol’s operations at Kano Government House, which he said is not different from structures obtainable in other states and even the federal government.
“First, government makes bold to say every cash outflow into Ministries, Departments, and Agencies is properly budgeted with clear codes well spelt out in the fiscal policy of the state. Hence, no individual in government MDAs handles public funds without proper designated purpose.
“The Directorate of Protocol, Kano State Government, handles critical responsibilities in Government House and key operations in the Office of the Chief Executive of the state. These responsibilities cover but are not limited to logistics, accommodation, welfare, and management of the Governor’s itineraries within and outside the country.
“The Directorate of Protocol is equally entrusted to provide required logistics to VIPs and VVIPs, which include the Presidency, Ministers, foreign aides, and other diplomatic visitors on official state visits to the Governor. The large number of personalities captured in this category also includes ordinary citizens that mostly attract the special attention of the Governor.
“Expectedly, over 95 % of the responsibility of the Directorate involves large volumes of financial transactions and more often than not, settles liabilities incurred on the state at the instance of His Excellency.
“While the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf will remain focused on governance and maintain its position on financial prudence, accountability, transparency, and zero tolerance for corruption, the government will not sacrifice the integrity of its aides to deliberate acts of political blackmail being orchestrated by unpatriotic elements of society”.
The statement further added that the administration will not succumb to blackmail by the opposition who were alleged to have secured an office from where they dish out falsehood and malign the state government.
“Kano State Government is aware of the nefarious activities of a particular opposition group seeking to pull the present administration down. The opposition party is struggling hard, using the digital space to overblow the matter to misinform the general public.
“The government is aware that the opposition group in Kano has set up an office solely for writing petitions against officials of the present administration just to distract the leadership from fulfilling its campaign promises in an attempt to scandalise key officials and weaken their support for the governor in building a prosperous Kano.
“While the government will allow them to continue running after shadows, we wish to also reawaken the consciousness of the public to how the immediate past Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, through the Protocol Directorate, spent over N20 billion from the state treasury in just three months between February and May 2023 after his party, the APC, lost woefully to the NNPP.
“The previous administration recklessly governed Kano for eight corruption-driven years with traces of multiple accounts operated by the former First Lady and purchases of houses in Dubai and Saudi Arabia”.
Notwithstanding, the administration promised to continue to run a transparent and open government in line with the egalitarian Kwankwasiyya Gida-Gida movement.
