By Jennifer Omiloli
The governor of Kaduna state, Nasir Elrufai has disbursed the sum of N54mn to Islamic cleric in the state to mobilise worshippers towards his second term bid for the governorship of the state this Saturday.
In an internal memo dated March 4, emanating from the office of the Director General (interfaith), Eng. Muhammed Namadi Musa in the office of the Secretary to the Government of Kaduna state titled, “disbursement of funds to imams” the DG interfaith requested the approval of the funds to support imams in the state for a favourable Friday sermon before the Saturday election.
The funds are to be disbursed in two tranches with the final payment expected to be made on the eve of the election to attain maximum impact and logistic support.
Part of the memo reads: “in line with the agreed plan of providing logistics support to Imams of Jummat Mosque towards a favourable Friday sermon the Friday preceding the date of the gubernatorial elections, the 1st batch of the 50% disbursement was released”
Those listed as beneficiaries of the disbursement are: Sheik Tukur Adman of Al-Munar Mosque together with Sheik Murtala Shanono of Malali Mosque both got N500,000 thousand naira each; Sheik Aminu Kuwait of U/Rimi Mosque, Shiek Saidu Abubakr of SMC Mosque, Khamis Almiziri of Hayin Malam Bello Mosque, and Sheik Albani Samaru of Zaria Mosque all got N250,000 thousand naira. Other beneficiaries are Sheik Bala Lau and Sheik Kabiru Gombe who got N2.5 m each.
The memo further revealed that the sum of N20m has also been disbursed to the above-named Imans to share among other Islamic scholars that can “preach towards our cause of retaining the seat of power in Kaduna state”
It noted that the 2nd phase of the 50% balance disbursement would be made before Friday to fulfil agreement reached.
