AFRICA

Shekarau: I Never Collected Kickbacks From Contractors As Kano Governor

A former Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, says that for the eight years he served as Governor of Kano State, he never negotiated with any contractor for payment of kickbacks.

He also said that he never withheld Local Government allocations from the federation account.

Shekarau said these during a press conference in Abuja ahead of the 70th anniversary of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) in which he is chairman, scheduled for October 12.

He cited the moral teachings he received from the MSSN as the reason for his integrity.

The former governor, who is the chairman, organising committee for the event, said he never accepted kickbacks during his eight years in office and 44 years of public service.

Shekarau, who served as Governor from 2003 to 2011, challenged any contractor who worked with the state government during his tenure to come forward if they have evidence of him receiving kickbacks.

He said, “In 1980, I was school principal for 13 years. I became a General Director of Education, supervising over 20 schools. I became Director at the Headquarters in charge of Planning, Research and Statistics. I was a Permanent Secretary in Education, Permanent Secretary of Water Resources, Permanent Secretary in State Civil Service Commission, permanent secretary in the Cabinet Office for seven years before I became a Governor.

“So in these 44 years, I am bold to say that I’ve never negotiated with any contractor. When our school principal in the 1980s, we were buying almost everything in our schools from textbooks, exercise books, beds, mattresses but we always insist on quality value for our money.

“I have never negotiated any percentage with any contractor. I always challenge them back home. If any contractor that worked with me me the last 44 years knows that I’ve asked him for a percentage, or you have brought any money, let him come out to say it”.

Shekarau said none of his Commissioners has ever brought any money to him in the name of kickbacks from a contractor, adding that he also didn’t withhold local government allocation or collected a dime from a local government chairman.

He said, “All we did through the State House of Assembly, we created guidelines, rules and regulations governing their operations. We allow them to do their job with their councillors. You find a chairman executing a project of N100 million, N200 million, guided by the State government.

“If you want to, for example, construct a N200
million road, the Local Government doesn’t have all the engineering staff to do it. We bring them to the State, ask our engineers to do the details and work out everything. We give it back to them, go to your council and award the contract to whoever is fitting.

“So, these things are doable. Up till the end of my second tenure in 2007, I had no house of my own. I remember an elder statesman, who was my former teacher, few months to the election, came to me saying he wants to delve into my personal affairs. I agreed, he asked that suppose I lose the election of April 2007 which house will I go to, I told him I don’t know and I will go back to a rented house.

“At the time I contested the first election, I didn’t have up to N100,000 in my account. People saw what we did and saw what we contributed. I was literally dragged to participate. I voluntarily had to retire from public service in the year 2001 and by 2002 I joined ANPP. My governor, then sitting governor (Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso) was laughing and described me as a frustrated teacher but we beat him. I was the first person to defeat a sitting governor in that State.”

The two-term governor said issues of internal crisis that threatened the coherent existence of the MSSN have all been addressed.

Shekarau said the MSSN through its members, has contributed immensely to the development of the country, and ensured that its members are God-fearing, knowledgeable, united and with superior moral values.

He assured that the MSSN would strive to introduce new programmes and processes that would consolidate the fostering of unity and brotherhood, and encourage members to participate in politics and governance.

Friday Olokor