A new political crisis looming in Kaduna state, after Governor Uba Sani said his government will not be able to pay workers’ salaries because of the huge debt he inherited from the immediate former governor Malam Nasir El-Rufa’i.
Governor Uba Sani, on Saturday in Kaduna, said he inherited a debt of $587 million equivalent to N85 billion and the money of 115 contractor companies.
He said that N7 billion was taken to pay off debt out of the N10 billion allocation given by the federal government to the state in March, leaving the state N3 billion, whereas the state is paying a salary of 5.2 billion every month.
Recall that WikkiTimes review of the budget performance report of states has shown that Kaduna State spent the sum of N27.6 billion on debt servicing in 2023.
The review also shown that five Northwestern states with available data for public debt charges spent over N81 billion for debt servicing in 2023 with Kaduna State recorded the highest debt services.
Public debt charges are largely interests paid on accumulated debts by states. Experts have argued that these monies hinder development as they gulp billions of naira from the pockets of states, monies that could have been used for other developmental purposes.
Governor Uba Sani insisted that the increase in the exchange rate has made the state pay three times the previous debt.
However, the revelation by the governor did not go well in the ex-governor’s camp. Bashir El-Rufai, son of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai tackled the Governor for saying his father plunged the State into debt.
Bashir El-Rufa’i, the son of the former governor wrote on his X page that Governor Sani was seeking to hide and cover up the failures of his government with the state debt profile.
“These people have proven that they are incompetent and only looking for ways to distract people. From a Governor who is always sleeping in Abuja to a litany of incompetent aides that were only rewarded for political reasons.
However, in video footage posted by Na Bello El-Rufa’i, Hon Mohammed Bello El-rufa’i, a Member representing Kaduna North Federal Constituency and also a son to the ex-governor vowed that they would not allow mischief makers to hijack the political scene of the state.
“So long as I am alive, I will never allow mischief makers to precipitate a crisis between my father, Mal. Nasir Elrufai and my mentor Governor Uba Sani.
Governor Uba Sani was the anointed candidate of El-Rufa’i for the 2023 governorship election in Kaduna State after his four years as a Senator representing Kaduna Central from 2019 to 2023.
