Kaduna Debt Controversy: “Yes, We Borrowed, But We Did Not Use It To Buy Houses In Dubai As  Others Before Us Did” – El-Rufai Fires Back

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, accused his predecessors of buying houses in Dubai with the loans they took on behalf of the State.

El-Rufai made this allegation when he rose in stout defence of his administration over allegations of plunging the state into a debilitating debt. He insisted  that all funds borrowed were channelled in to infrastructural development and other long term productive ventures.

El-Rufai’s response comes on the heels of Governor Uba Sani’s outcry that the huge debt profile inherited by his adminstration is frustrating the State Government from meeting its obligations to the people, particularly the payments of workers monthly emoluments.

At a Town Hall meeting with stakeholders on Saturday March 30 2024 ,the Kaduna State Governor said the N85 billion and $587 million domestic and foreign loans obtained by his immediate predecessor in office has considerably created a serious financial problem for the State. He added that a substantial part of Kaduna State statutory monthly earnings from the Federation Account goes into debt servicing.

According to him, the sad development has resulted in the state being left with little or nothing for other governance activities.

But reacting on Sunday March 31 through a message on one of his official sites, former Governor El’Rufai said much as his administration borrowed funds, they were not used for personal luxuries of life and aggrandizement as was the case during past regimes in the State.

“Those saying that we took loans can see their money on infrastructures.We didn’t take their money to go to Dubai to buy houses .

I became Governor with one house in Angwan Sarki Jabi Road Kaduna,and I finished with the same house” El- Rufai stated.

He said he was goaded into the service of Kaduna state not by the need to pursue opulence and personal fulfilment, but by commitment to public interests and progress of his state.

The former Kaduna  State Governor, had also during his hand over ceremony  to his successor on May 29 2023 equally  admitted living behind domestic and foreign debt portfolio of N80.60 billion and $577.32 million for his successor.

However, he assured that the impact of the debt burden will be mitigated by various receivables from reimbursements of infrastructure and security expenditures from the federal Government  to the tune of about N41 billion .

This according to him, is in addition to about N100 billion due to Kaduna state from accumulated stamp duties which his successor was to inherit before the end of 2023 ..

“Iam, therefore, optimistic that the incoming Government (Governor Sani’s regime) will, in due course, be in a position to settle all inherited liabilities, complete ongoing projects, and initiate new ones” El-Rufai had stated

However, before his reaction, one of his scions, Hon Bashir Nasir El’ Rufai had late on Saturday, March 30, berated Governor Sani for his outburst over the the debt inherited .

Hon Bashir, who is a member of the Green Chamber of National Assembly, called on his father’s successor to commit himself more into the serious business of governance, rather than  engage in needles blame game.

The younger El Rufai described Governor Sani’s administration as  not only incompetent, but also riddled with those he called clowns and unserious elements .

In a series of posts on his official handle , Hon Bashir ,admonished  the State Governor to stop  spending most of his time junketing in Abuja and concentrate on giving the Kaduna people good governance.