Nigerians marked this year’s Independence Day anniversary with sober reflection on socio-economic and political development, while in Kebbi State, the occasion took on political undertones ahead of 2027.
In his goodwill message, Governor Comrade Nasir Idris expressed gratitude to the people of Kebbi State for their support, crediting APC stakeholders, traditional and religious leaders, civil servants, women and youth groups, and security agencies for the administration’s achievements.
He said education, infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture, and peaceful coexistence have witnessed unprecedented development, improving the socio-economic well-being of the people and solicited sustained support to deepen harmonious relationships and ensure results-oriented governance.
On the other hand, ADC governorship candidate and former Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami used his statewide broadcast to make pledges to civil servants, promising a “befitting Secretariat” and prompt payment of rights and privileges, in an attempt to louder his battered image resulting from his present predicament of being investigated and prosecuted by security agencies over allegations of accumulation of questionable wealth while in office as Minister of Justice for eight years.
The broadcast was criticized for ignoring existing achievements which included the recently commissioned ultra-modern Secretariat complex by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with 25,000 capacity, provision new coater buses for the transportation of civil servants to the state Secretariat, payment of over N7 billion inherited backlog of debts on gratuity, death benefits and leave grants, early implementation of the new minimum wage increased to N75,000 against the approved N70,000, and inclusion of the civil servants in benefiting from the palliatives including free farming inputs.
However, Abubakar Malami is presently on bail after prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), which has gotten court judgment for the forfeiture of properties worth about, 3000000usd. The candidate’s avoidance of making reference to state administration’s giant strides was said to be delibarate in view of the much publicised and talk about development witnessed in the state on one hand and his generally believed noticed failure to make any visible support individuals and contribution to community development throughout his eight years tenure as Minister of Justice, on the other hand.
In a swift reaction, the Kebbi State chapter of the NLC described Malami’s promises as “baseless political statements” aimed at deceiving citizens on issues already addressed.
State NLC Chairman Comrade Murtala Usman said it is against union policy to join issues with politicians, but the claims amounted to a direct attack on the union, noting that civil servants in Kebbi have never had it so good as under Comrade Governor Nasir Idris, who has ensured prompt payment of all rights and privileges.
Zuru is Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy to Kebbi State Governor.
