Rita Odafe
Governor Ahmed Aliyu
The Sokoto state branch of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has requested the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s administration in connection with a ₦30 billion street fencing initiative in Sokoto metropolis.
In a statement released by its Public Relations Officer, Hassan Sahabi Sanyinawal, the party criticized the project as extravagant and a misuse of taxpayer money.
They urged for a thorough examination of the financial dealings within the state government.
The PDP also conveyed its willingness to be scrutinized concerning the operations of the former administration led by Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.
The party emphasized that the former governor, alongside his executive team and high-ranking officials, would comply with any summons from the state’s Commission of Inquiry.
This request for an EFCC investigation is prompted by a grievance from the Sokoto State government regarding an alleged misappropriation of ₦16.1 billion in shares by the previous administration through its investment company.
Amanzi Amanzi, the commission’s legal advisor, disclosed that the financial returns from government shares sold between 2018 and 2023 seemed to be unrecorded.
In retaliation, the PDP criticized Governor Aliyu for what they termed “financial misconduct,” pointing to his expenditure on seemingly unnecessary projects, such as fencing in a state facing serious economic issues.
Additionally, they noted the ₦1.2 billion allocated for the repair of 25 boreholes as another instance of financial mismanagement.
“The citizens of Sokoto are still reeling from the N1.2 billion spent on fixing 25 boreholes, and now the governor is pursuing another extravagant fencing project costing N30 billion,” the statement asserted.
The PDP alleged that the governor is trying to divert public scrutiny away from his administrative failures by falsely accusing Senator Tambuwal and his cabinet.
They reiterated that Tambuwal’s tenure was characterized by transparency, as corroborated by international evaluation agencies.
