El-Rufai says he has never stolen, challenges predecessors to prove innocence
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Nasir el-Rufai says he has never stolen public funds and has challenged those who preceded him as Kaduna Governor to swear they have never looted the treasury.
He explained in an interview in Hausa monitored on local radio and television stations that stealing is not his philosophy in governance because leadership is a trust bestowed by God and one day, a leader must stand before God to give account.
“I’m happy that we constructed quality roads that would last for years. Not those kinds of roads they’ve constructed in the past which after two years, after two rainy seasons, the roads would be bad,” he said.
“We still have work to do … our plan is that we want all roads in Kaduna to be tarred. Anyone who comes to Kaduna would not see a muddy road, every part of the town you visit will have tarred roads and solar powered street lights.
“That’s what we envisaged everywhere in Kaduna, in Kafanchan, in Zaria and in all Local Government Areas such as Soba, everywhere. That is what we want to see.
“However, we couldn’t realise all our development plans because of the situation this government met. In fact, we had to seek for loan to execute those projects.”
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Projects executed visible statewide
“The people can see that we executed those projects with the loan we secured. We did not syphon the money to Dubai and bought houses or go to Jabi Road and build a mansion,” El-Rufai said, per reporting by Vanguard.
“We are not like such people. I became the Governor of Kaduna State with only one house located on Danja Street in Unguwan Sarki Kaduna. I’ve completed my tenure, Alhamdulillah … that is my only house. I don’t have any other house. I didn’t built a mansion. I don’t even need it.
“I did not steal anybody’s money and I am challenging those who governed Kaduna to come out and swear that they’ve never stolen money, they should swear that they’ve not taken a kobo from Kaduna State.
“Wallahi, l am ready to swear. I am challenging them [former Governors] to come out, face the people of Kaduna State and swear that they’ve never stolen the people’s money.”
“We know them, they are neither the children of Dantata (legendary Kano billionaire) nor the children of Dangote. We know them right from our school days. Where do they get the money to build those houses? What was their profession?”