…“He’s just an attention seeker” – Governor’s Spokesman
By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
A Kaduna-based historian and opposition stalwart, Mr. Edward John Auta, has called on the Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Dahiru Liman, and other members to probe Governor Uba Sani’s administration over alleged incompetence, contract racketeering, and misappropriation of public funds — or resign from office.
In a personally signed statement dated July 28, 2025, and circulated in Kaduna on Wednesday, Mr. Auta, who hails from Narom Village in Zonkwa Ward, Zangon Kataf Local Government Area, accused the current administration of widespread malfeasance and a lack of transparency.
Titled “Dear Rt. Hon. Liman and Members of the Kaduna State House of Assembly: Probe Governor Uba Sani Now or Resign,” the statement called for immediate legislative action.
“The people of Kaduna State hold you in high esteem. However, your palpable silence in the face of allegations of numerous infractions by the Uba Sani-led administration has raised serious concerns,” Auta said.
He referenced the House’s earlier probe of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, which he said, despite its limitations, demonstrated the legislature’s capacity to take bold action.
“Today, allegations of incompetence, contract racketeering, and misappropriation of funds plague the current administration,” he added.
Auta also criticized the governor’s frequent absences from the state without transmitting power to his deputy, claiming this has led to delays in executive council meetings, policymaking, and project approvals.
According to him, commissioners and heads of agencies have allegedly been sidelined, with most government contracts awarded based on favoritism and kickbacks.
He further alleged mismanagement of local government allocations, describing the Ministry for Local Government as a “conduit” for diverting public funds and stalling grassroots development.
“The recent donation by the Governor to the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, also raises questions about transparency. Citizens deserve to know the total cost, the name of the vehicle supplier, and whether the funds were captured in the state’s budget,” Auta stated.
He urged the lawmakers to act swiftly:
“As the vanguard of democracy, you have a duty to investigate these allegations and make your findings public. This will promote accountability, uphold the constitution, and dispel the perception that the probe of El-Rufai was politically motivated.”
“Failure to act will amount to a breach of public trust and loss of credibility. If you cannot act, you should resign. The people deserve accountability,” he warned.
Government Reacts
When contacted for a response, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Sani, Malam Ibraheem Musa, dismissed the claims, describing Mr. Auta as an “attention seeker.”
“He’s just one of many exploiting democratic freedoms to seek relevance unnecessarily,” Musa said.
