By Abubakar Malami
Yesterday, the Kebbi State Government issued a 1,500-word statement in response to my formal declaration of intent to contest the 2027 governorship election under the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The statement contained ad hominem attacks, unsubstantiated allegations, and a list of unverified achievements. Notably, it failed to refute any of the figures I cited.
The government’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity did not contest the following facts:
– 67.6% of children aged 6–15 out of school, according to national and international reports.
– Net school attendance rate of just 38%, among the lowest in Nigeria.
– Over 88% of children living in multidimensional poverty, lacking access to education, clean water, nutrition, and healthcare, according to UNICEF data.
– 608 severely malnourished child deaths between January and September 2025, according to the Kebbi State Nutrition Office.
– 81.5% malaria prevalence among children under five and 71% of pregnant women in rural areas without antenatal care.
– Persistent insecurity, including bandit attacks and kidnappings between 2021 and 2025 that claimed numerous lives, including the abduction of the Deputy Speaker of the Kebbi State House of Assembly.
In its response, the government accused me and the late former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration of mismanagement. However, the Buhari administration maintained fuel subsidies, electricity subsidies, a managed Naira exchange rate, and kept inflation in check—policy choices that protected citizens from severe economic shocks.
Over One Trillion Naira, Zero Excuses
The Kebbi State Government has received substantial resources over the past three years. Federal allocations increased significantly following subsidy removal, with monthly FAAC disbursements rising from N760 billion in 2023 to over N3 trillion subsequently. Kebbi State, including statutory allocations, local government funds, internally generated revenue (IGR), loans, and grants, has received in excess of One Trillion Naira during this period. The 2025 budget alone projects N235.2 billion from statutory allocations and N25.9 billion from IGR.
A 2025 SaharaReporters review indicated that between January and September 2025, the state generated only fourteen billion naira in IGR. Despite these resources, there is no visible transformation in school enrolment, healthcare for malnutrition cases, or security of farmlands.
I remain focused on the real issues. My declaration on May 9, 2026, centres on restoring security, rebuilding public education, strengthening healthcare delivery, reviving agriculture, creating opportunities for young people, and restoring dignity to governance. I have no personal agenda beyond service, accountability, and sustainable development.
The people of Kebbi State — farmers who have abandoned their lands, mothers who have lost children to malnutrition, and youth without jobs — will ultimately judge the government’s performance. A performing administration would highlight results rather than issue lengthy attacks on an aspirant.
The era of empty propaganda and ineffective leadership must end. We will rebuild Kebbi into a safer, stronger, and more prosperous state for all. There will be no retreat and no surrender in the collective struggle to rescue our state.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
